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Zhu Z, Zou Q, Wang C, Li D, Yang Y, Xiao Y, Jin Y, Yan J, Luo L, Sun Y, Liang X. Isl Identifies the Extraembryonic Mesodermal/Allantois Progenitors and is Required for Placenta Morphogenesis and Vasculature Formation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400238. [PMID: 38923264 PMCID: PMC11348239 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The placenta links feto-maternal circulation for exchanges of nutrients, gases, and metabolic wastes between the fetus and mother, being essential for pregnancy process and maintenance. The allantois and mesodermal components of amnion, chorion, and yolk sac are derived from extraembryonic mesoderm (Ex-Mes), however, the mechanisms contributing to distinct components of the placenta and regulation the interactions between allantois and epithelium during chorioallantoic fusion and labyrinth formation remains unclear. Isl1 is expressed in progenitors of the Ex-Mes and allantois the Isl1 mut mouse line is analyzed to investigate contribution of Isl1+ Ex-Mes / allantoic progenitors to cells of the allantois and placenta. This study shows that Isl1 identifies the Ex-Mes progenitors for endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, and most of the mesenchymal cells of the placenta and umbilical cord. Deletion of Isl1 causes defects in allantois growth, chorioallantoic fusion, and placenta vessel morphogenesis. RNA-seq and CUT&Tag analyses revealed that Isl1 promotes allantoic endothelial, inhibits mesenchymal cell differentiation, and allantoic signals regulated by Isl1 mediating the inductive interactions between the allantois and chorion critical for chorionic epithelium differentiation, villous formation, and labyrinth angiogenesis. This study above reveals that Isl1 plays roles in regulating multiple genetic and epigenetic pathways of vascular morphogenesis, provides the insight into the mechanisms for placental formation, highlighting the necessity of Isl1 for placenta formation/pregnant maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyue Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Qicheng Zou
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Chunxiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Dixi Li
- Department of Hematology, Tongji HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Yan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Ying Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Yao Jin
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Jie Yan
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Lina Luo
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia of the Ministry of Education of ChinaEast HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghai200120China
| | - Yunfu Sun
- Shanghai East HospitalTongji University School of Medicine150 Jimo RoadShanghai200120China
| | - Xingqun Liang
- Shanghai East HospitalTongji University School of Medicine150 Jimo RoadShanghai200120China
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2
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Álvarez-Sánchez A, Grinat J, Doria-Borrell P, Mellado-López M, Pedrera-Alcócer É, Malenchini M, Meseguer S, Hemberger M, Pérez-García V. The GPI-anchor biosynthesis pathway is critical for syncytiotrophoblast differentiation and placental development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:246. [PMID: 38819479 PMCID: PMC11143174 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05284-2] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthetic pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is crucial for generating GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), which are translocated to the cell surface and play a vital role in cell signaling and adhesion. This study focuses on two integral components of the GPI pathway, the PIGL and PIGF proteins, and their significance in trophoblast biology. We show that GPI pathway mutations impact on placental development impairing the differentiation of the syncytiotrophoblast (SynT), and especially the SynT-II layer, which is essential for the establishment of the definitive nutrient exchange area within the placental labyrinth. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of Pigl and Pigf in mouse trophoblast stem cells (mTSCs) confirms the role of these GPI enzymes in syncytiotrophoblast differentiation. Mechanistically, impaired GPI-AP generation induces an excessive unfolded protein response (UPR) in the ER in mTSCs growing in stem cell conditions, akin to what is observed in human preeclampsia. Upon differentiation, the impairment of the GPI pathway hinders the induction of WNT signaling for early SynT-II development. Remarkably, the transcriptomic profile of Pigl- and Pigf-deficient cells separates human patient placental samples into preeclampsia and control groups, suggesting an involvement of Pigl and Pigf in establishing a preeclamptic gene signature. Our study unveils the pivotal role of GPI biosynthesis in early placentation and uncovers a new preeclampsia gene expression profile associated with mutations in the GPI biosynthesis pathway, providing novel molecular insights into placental development with implications for enhanced patient stratification and timely interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Álvarez-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Johanna Grinat
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Doria-Borrell
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maravillas Mellado-López
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Érica Pedrera-Alcócer
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Malenchini
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Meseguer
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Myriam Hemberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Vicente Pérez-García
- Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Calle de Eduardo Primo Yúfera, 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Martinez-Mayer J, Brinkmeier ML, O'Connell SP, Ukagwu A, Marti MA, Miras M, Forclaz MV, Benzrihen MG, Cheung LYM, Camper SA, Ellsworth BS, Raetzman LT, Pérez-Millán MI, Davis SW. Knockout mice with pituitary malformations help identify human cases of hypopituitarism. Genome Med 2024; 16:75. [PMID: 38822427 PMCID: PMC11140907 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01347-y] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) and its associated syndromes, septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and holoprosencephaly (HPE), are midline defects that cause significant morbidity for affected people. Variants in 67 genes are associated with CH, but a vast majority of CH cases lack a genetic diagnosis. Whole exome and whole genome sequencing of CH patients identifies sequence variants in genes known to cause CH, and in new candidate genes, but many of these are variants of uncertain significance (VUS). METHODS The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) is an effort to establish gene function by knocking-out all genes in the mouse genome and generating corresponding phenotype data. We used mouse embryonic imaging data generated by the Deciphering Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) project to screen 209 embryonic lethal and sub-viable knockout mouse lines for pituitary malformations. RESULTS Of the 209 knockout mouse lines, we identified 51 that have embryonic pituitary malformations. These genes not only represent new candidates for CH, but also reveal new molecular pathways not previously associated with pituitary organogenesis. We used this list of candidate genes to mine whole exome sequencing data of a cohort of patients with CH, and we identified variants in two unrelated cases for two genes, MORC2 and SETD5, with CH and other syndromic features. CONCLUSIONS The screening and analysis of IMPC phenotyping data provide proof-of-principle that recessive lethal mouse mutants generated by the knockout mouse project are an excellent source of candidate genes for congenital hypopituitarism in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Martinez-Mayer
- Institute of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (iB3), University of Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Michelle L Brinkmeier
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, 1241 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Sean P O'Connell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Arnold Ukagwu
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, 1135 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Marcelo A Marti
- Instituto de Química Biológica de La Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mirta Miras
- Hospital De Niños de La Santísima Trinidad, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria V Forclaz
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria G Benzrihen
- Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leonard Y M Cheung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, 1241 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophyscis, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, 1241 Catherine St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5618, USA
| | - Buffy S Ellsworth
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, 1135 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Lori T Raetzman
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Maria I Pérez-Millán
- Institute of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Translational Biology (iB3), University of Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Shannon W Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
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Jäger R, Geyer SH, Kavirayani A, Kiss MG, Waltenberger E, Rülicke T, Binder CJ, Weninger WJ, Kralovics R. Effects of Tulp4 deficiency on murine embryonic development and adult phenotype. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:854-866. [PMID: 38115643 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24476] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse models have the potential to unravel fundamental biological processes and provide mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of human diseases. We have previously observed that germline genetic variation at the TULP4 locus influences clinical characteristics in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. To elucidate the role of TULP4 in pathological and physiological processes in vivo, we generated a Tulp4 knockout mouse model. Systemic Tulp4 deficiency exerted a strong impact on embryonic development in both Tulp4 homozygous null (Tulp4-/-) and heterozygous (Tulp4+/-) knockout mice, the former exhibiting perinatal lethality. High-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) of day 14.5 embryos allowed for the identification of multiple developmental defects in Tulp4-/- mice, including severe heart defects. Moreover, in Tulp4+/- embryos HREM revealed abnormalities of several organ systems, which per se do not affect prenatal or postnatal survival. In adult Tulp4+/- mice, extensive examinations of hematopoietic and cardiovascular features, involving histopathological surveys of multiple tissues as well as blood counts and immunophenotyping, did not provide evidence for anomalies as observed in corresponding embryos. Finally, evaluating a potential obesity-related phenotype as reported for other TULP family members revealed a trend for increased body weight of Tulp4+/- mice. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: To study the role of the TULP4 gene in vivo, we generated a Tulp4 knockout mouse model. Correlative analyses involving HREM revealed a strong impact of Tulp4 deficiency on murine embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Jäger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Imaging Cluster, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anoop Kavirayani
- Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities GmbH, Austrian BioImaging/CMI, Vienna, Austria
| | - Máté G Kiss
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Waltenberger
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rülicke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Imaging Cluster, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Kralovics
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Huth EA, Zhao X, Owen N, Luna PN, Vogel I, Dorf ILH, Joss S, Clayton-Smith J, Parker MJ, Louw JJ, Gewillig M, Breckpot J, Kraus A, Sasaki E, Kini U, Burgess T, Tan TY, Armstrong R, Neas K, Ferrero GB, Brusco A, Kerstjens-Frederikse WS, Rankin J, Helvaty LR, Landis BJ, Geddes GC, McBride KL, Ware SM, Shaw CA, Lalani SR, Rosenfeld JA, Scott DA. Clinical exome sequencing efficacy and phenotypic expansions involving anomalous pulmonary venous return. Eur J Hum Genet 2023; 31:1430-1439. [PMID: 37673932 PMCID: PMC10689790 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-023-01451-4] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anomalous pulmonary venous return (APVR) frequently occurs with other congenital heart defects (CHDs) or extra-cardiac anomalies. While some genetic causes have been identified, the optimal approach to genetic testing in individuals with APVR remains uncertain, and the etiology of most cases of APVR is unclear. Here, we analyzed molecular data from 49 individuals to determine the diagnostic yield of clinical exome sequencing (ES) for non-isolated APVR. A definitive or probable diagnosis was made for 8 of those individuals yielding a diagnostic efficacy rate of 16.3%. We then analyzed molecular data from 62 individuals with APVR accrued from three databases to identify novel APVR genes. Based on data from this analysis, published case reports, mouse models, and/or similarity to known APVR genes as revealed by a machine learning algorithm, we identified 3 genes-EFTUD2, NAA15, and NKX2-1-for which there is sufficient evidence to support phenotypic expansion to include APVR. We also provide evidence that 3 recurrent copy number variants contribute to the development of APVR: proximal 1q21.1 microdeletions involving RBM8A and PDZK1, recurrent BP1-BP2 15q11.2 deletions, and central 22q11.2 deletions involving CRKL. Our results suggest that ES and chromosomal microarray analysis (or genome sequencing) should be considered for individuals with non-isolated APVR for whom a genetic etiology has not been identified, and that genetic testing to identify an independent genetic etiology of APVR is not warranted in individuals with EFTUD2-, NAA15-, and NKX2-1-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Huth
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaonan Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nichole Owen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pamela N Luna
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ida Vogel
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, C, Denmark
| | - Inger L H Dorf
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Shelagh Joss
- West of Scotland Genomics Service, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK
| | - Jill Clayton-Smith
- Manchester Centre For Genomic Medicine, Manchester University Hospitals, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Michael J Parker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Sheffield, Children's Hospital, UK
| | - Jacoba J Louw
- Pediatric Cardiology Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Gewillig
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Pediatric Cardiology University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Breckpot
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alison Kraus
- Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, LS7 4SA, UK
| | - Erina Sasaki
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK
| | - Usha Kini
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Trent Burgess
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tiong Y Tan
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ruth Armstrong
- East Anglian Medical Genetics Service, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | | | - Giovanni B Ferrero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Città della Salute e della Scienza University Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Gabrielle C Geddes
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Kim L McBride
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephanie M Ware
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Chad A Shaw
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Seema R Lalani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Daryl A Scott
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Radford BN, Zhao X, Glazer T, Eaton M, Blackwell D, Mohammad S, Lo Vercio LD, Devine J, Shalom-Barak T, Hallgrimsson B, Cross JC, Sucov HM, Barak Y, Dean W, Hemberger M. Defects in placental syncytiotrophoblast cells are a common cause of developmental heart disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1174. [PMID: 36859534 PMCID: PMC9978031 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36740-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental abnormalities have been sporadically implicated as a source of developmental heart defects. Yet it remains unknown how often the placenta is at the root of congenital heart defects (CHDs), and what the cellular mechanisms are that underpin this connection. Here, we selected three mouse mutant lines, Atp11a, Smg9 and Ssr2, that presented with placental and heart defects in a recent phenotyping screen, resulting in embryonic lethality. To dissect phenotype causality, we generated embryo- and trophoblast-specific conditional knockouts for each of these lines. This was facilitated by the establishment of a new transgenic mouse, Sox2-Flp, that enables the efficient generation of trophoblast-specific conditional knockouts. We demonstrate a strictly trophoblast-driven cause of the CHD and embryonic lethality in one of the three lines (Atp11a) and a significant contribution of the placenta to the embryonic phenotypes in another line (Smg9). Importantly, our data reveal defects in the maternal blood-facing syncytiotrophoblast layer as a shared pathology in placentally induced CHD models. This study highlights the placenta as a significant source of developmental heart disorders, insights that will transform our understanding of the vast number of unexplained congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany N Radford
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tali Glazer
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Malcolm Eaton
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Danielle Blackwell
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Shuhiba Mohammad
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Lucas Daniel Lo Vercio
- Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jay Devine
- Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tali Shalom-Barak
- Magee-Women's Research Institute, Dept. of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Benedikt Hallgrimsson
- Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - James C Cross
- Dept. of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Henry M Sucov
- Dept. of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Division of Cardiology, Dept. of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC, 29403, USA
| | - Yaacov Barak
- Magee-Women's Research Institute, Dept. of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Wendy Dean
- Dept. of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Myriam Hemberger
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada.
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7
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Investigation of SAMD1 ablation in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3000. [PMID: 36810619 PMCID: PMC9944271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29779-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
SAM domain-containing protein 1 (SAMD1) has been implicated in atherosclerosis, as well as in chromatin and transcriptional regulation, suggesting a versatile and complex biological function. However, its role at an organismal level is currently unknown. Here, we generated SAMD1-/- and SAMD1+/- mice to explore the role of SAMD1 during mouse embryogenesis. Homozygous loss of SAMD1 was embryonic lethal, with no living animals seen after embryonic day 18.5. At embryonic day 14.5, organs were degrading and/or incompletely developed, and no functional blood vessels were observed, suggesting failed blood vessel maturation. Sparse red blood cells were scattered and pooled, primarily near the embryo surface. Some embryos had malformed heads and brains at embryonic day 15.5. In vitro, SAMD1 absence impaired neuronal differentiation processes. Heterozygous SAMD1 knockout mice underwent normal embryogenesis and were born alive. Postnatal genotyping showed a reduced ability of these mice to thrive, possibly due to altered steroidogenesis. In summary, the characterization of SAMD1 knockout mice suggests a critical role of SAMD1 during developmental processes in multiple organs and tissues.
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Reissig LF, Geyer SH, Winkler V, Preineder E, Prin F, Wilson R, Galli A, Tudor C, White JK, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. Detailed characterizations of cranial nerve anatomy in E14.5 mouse embryos/fetuses and their use as reference for diagnosing subtle, but potentially lethal malformations in mutants. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1006620. [PMID: 36438572 PMCID: PMC9682249 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1006620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Careful phenotype analysis of genetically altered mouse embryos/fetuses is vital for deciphering the function of pre- and perinatally lethal genes. Usually this involves comparing the anatomy of mutants with that of wild types of identical developmental stages. Detailed three dimensional information on regular cranial nerve (CN) anatomy of prenatal mice is very scarce. We therefore set out to provide such information to be used as reference data and selected mutants to demonstrate its potential for diagnosing CN abnormalities. Digital volume data of 152 wild type mice, harvested on embryonic day (E)14.5 and of 18 mutants of the Col4a2, Arid1b, Rpgrip1l and Cc2d2a null lines were examined. The volume data had been created with High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) as part of the deciphering the mechanisms of developmental disorders (DMDD) program. Employing volume and surface models, oblique slicing and digital measuring tools, we provide highly detailed anatomic descriptions of the CNs and measurements of the diameter of selected segments. Specifics of the developmental stages of E14.5 mice and anatomic norm variations were acknowledged. Using the provided data as reference enabled us to objectively diagnose CN abnormalities, such as abnormal formation of CN3 (Col4a2), neuroma of the motor portion of CN5 (Arid1b), thinning of CN7 (Rpgrip1l) and abnormal topology of CN12 (Cc2d2a). Although, in a first glimpse perceived as unspectacular, defects of the motor CN5 or CN7, like enlargement or thinning can cause death of newborns, by hindering feeding. Furthermore, abnormal topology of CN12 was recently identified as a highly reliable marker for low penetrating, but potentially lethal defects of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas F. Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan H. Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viola Winkler
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ester Preineder
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabrice Prin
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wolfgang J. Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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9
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Geyer SH, Maurer‐Gesek B, Reissig LF, Rose J, Prin F, Wilson R, Galli A, Tudor C, White JK, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. The venous system of E14.5 mouse embryos-reference data and examples for diagnosing malformations in embryos with gene deletions. J Anat 2022; 240:11-22. [PMID: 34435363 PMCID: PMC8655187 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately one-third of randomly produced knockout mouse lines produce homozygous offspring, which fail to survive the perinatal period. The majority of these die around or after embryonic day (E)14.5, presumably from cardiovascular insufficiency. For diagnosing structural abnormalities underlying death and diseases and for researching gene function, the phenotype of these individuals has to be analysed. This makes the creation of reference data, which define normal anatomy and normal variations the highest priority. While such data do exist for the heart and arteries, they are still missing for the venous system. Here we provide high-quality descriptive and metric information on the normal anatomy of the venous system of E14.5 embryos. Using high-resolution digital volume data and 3D models from 206 genetically normal embryos, bred on the C57BL/6N background, we present precise descriptive and metric information of the venous system as it presents itself in each of the six developmental stages of E14.5. The resulting data shed new light on the maturation and remodelling of the venous system at transition of embryo to foetal life and provide a reference that can be used for detecting venous abnormalities in mutants. To explore this capacity, we analysed the venous phenotype of embryos from 7 knockout lines (Atp11a, Morc2a, 1700067K01Rik, B9d2, Oaz1, Celf4 and Coro1c). Careful comparisons enabled the diagnosis of not only simple malformations, such as dual inferior vena cava, but also complex and subtle abnormalities, which would have escaped diagnosis in the absence of detailed, stage-specific referenced data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H. Geyer
- Division of AnatomyMICBioImaging Austria/CMIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Barbara Maurer‐Gesek
- Division of AnatomyMICBioImaging Austria/CMIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Lukas F. Reissig
- Division of AnatomyMICBioImaging Austria/CMIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Julia Rose
- Division of AnatomyMICBioImaging Austria/CMIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Fabrice Prin
- Crick Advanced Light Microscopy FacilityThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | | | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Trust Sanger InstituteWellcome Genome CampusCambridgeUK
| | - Catherine Tudor
- Wellcome Trust Sanger InstituteWellcome Genome CampusCambridgeUK
| | | | | | - Wolfgang J. Weninger
- Division of AnatomyMICBioImaging Austria/CMIMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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10
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Tao X, Che Y, Li C, Ruan W, Xu J, Yu Y, Yang F, Wang J, Li H. Novel SNX13 Frameshift Variant in an Individual with Developmental Delay. Cytogenet Genome Res 2021; 161:514-519. [PMID: 34879376 DOI: 10.1159/000520296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of genes have been associated with global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID). The sorting nexin (SNX) protein family plays multiple roles in protein trafficking and intracellular signaling. SNXs have been reported to be associated with several disorders, including Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome. Despite the growing evidence of an association of SNXs with neurodegeneration, SNX13 deficiency has not been associated with GDD or ID. In this study, we present the case of a 4-year-old boy with brain dysplasia and GDD, including language delay, cognitive delay, and dyskinesia. Exome sequencing revealed a 1-bp homozygous deletion in SNX13 (NM_015132.5: exon8: c.742_743del; p.Tyr248Leufs*20), which caused a frameshift and predicted early termination. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was inherited from his parents respectively. Our findings associate SNX13 variation with GDD for the first time and provide a new GDD candidate gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xicheng Tao
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yueping Che
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wencong Ruan
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jialu Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yonglin Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Cipher Gene, LLC, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Cipher Gene, LLC, Beijing, China
| | - Haifeng Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Artefacts in Volume Data Generated with High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM). Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111711. [PMID: 34829939 PMCID: PMC8615656 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
High resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) produces digital volume data by physically sectioning histologically processed specimens, while capturing images of the subsequently exposed block faces. Our study aims to systematically define the spectrum of typical artefacts inherent to HREM data and to research their effect on the interpretation of the phenotype of wildtype and mutant mouse embryos. A total of 607 (198 wildtypes, 409 mutants) HREM data sets of mouse embryos harvested at embryonic day (E) 14.5 were systematically and comprehensively examined. The specimens had been processed according to essentially identical protocols. Each data set comprised 2000 to 4000 single digital images. Voxel dimensions were 3 × 3 × 3 µm3. Using 3D volume models and virtual resections, we identified a number of characteristic artefacts and grouped them according to their most likely causality. Furthermore, we highlight those that affect the interpretation of embryo data and provide examples for artefacts mimicking tissue defects and structural pathologies. Our results aid in optimizing specimen preparation and data generation, are vital for the correct interpretation of HREM data and allow distinguishing tissue defects and pathologies from harmless artificial alterations. In particular, they enable correct diagnosis of pathologies in mouse embryos serving as models for deciphering the mechanisms of developmental disorders.
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12
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Mallery CS, Carrillo M, Mei A, Correia-Branco A, Kashpur O, Wallingford MC. Cellular Complexity of Hemochorial Placenta: Stem Cell Populations, Insights from scRNA-seq, and SARS-CoV-2 Susceptibility. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2021; 7:185-193. [PMID: 34697582 PMCID: PMC8527817 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-021-00194-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The placenta is a transient organ that forms de novo and serves a critical role in supporting fetal growth and development. Placental oxygen, nutrients, and waste are transported through processes that depend on vascular structure and cell type-specific expression and localization of membrane transporters. Understanding how the placenta develops holds great significance for maternal-fetal medicine. The purpose of this review is to examine current information regarding placental progenitor populations. Recent Findings Recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provide unprecedented depth for the investigation of cell type-specific gene expression patterns in the placenta. Thus far, several mouse placenta scRNA-seq studies have been conducted which produced and analyzed transcriptomes of placental progenitors and cells of the fully developed placenta between embryonic day (E) 7.0 and E12.5. Together with human placenta scRNA-seq data which, in part, has been produced through coordinated research campaigns in the scientific community to understand the potential for SARS-CoV-2 infection, these mammalian studies lend fundamental insight into the cellular and molecular composition of hemochorial placentae found in both mouse and human. Summary Single-cell placenta research has advanced understanding of tissue-resident stem cells and molecules that are poised to support maternal-fetal communication and nutrient transport. Herein, we provide context for these recent findings by reviewing placental anatomy and cell populations, and discuss recent scRNA-seq mouse placenta findings. Further research is needed to evaluate the utility of placental stem cells in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of wound healing and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. Mallery
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Texas A&M University - San Antonio, One University Way, San Antonio, 78224 USA
| | - Maira Carrillo
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Odessa College, 201 W University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79764 USA
| | - Ariel Mei
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Simmons University, 300 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Ana Correia-Branco
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Olga Kashpur
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Mary C. Wallingford
- Tufts Medical Center, Mother Infant Research Institute, 800 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 USA
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13
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Vinsland E, Baskaran P, Mihaylov SR, Hobbs C, Wood H, Bouybayoune I, Shah K, Houart C, Tee AR, Murn J, Fernandes C, Bateman JM. The zinc finger/RING domain protein Unkempt regulates cognitive flexibility. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16299. [PMID: 34381067 PMCID: PMC8357790 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Correct orchestration of nervous system development is a profound challenge that involves coordination of complex molecular and cellular processes. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is a key regulator of nervous system development and synaptic function. The mTOR kinase is a hub for sensing inputs including growth factor signaling, nutrients and energy levels. Activation of mTOR signaling causes diseases with severe neurological manifestations, such as tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cortical dysplasia. However, the molecular mechanisms by which mTOR signaling regulates nervous system development and function are poorly understood. Unkempt is a conserved zinc finger/RING domain protein that regulates neurogenesis downstream of mTOR signaling in Drosophila. Unkempt also directly interacts with the mTOR complex I component Raptor. Here we describe the generation and characterisation of mice with a conditional knockout of Unkempt (UnkcKO) in the nervous system. Loss of Unkempt reduces Raptor protein levels in the embryonic nervous system but does not affect downstream mTORC1 targets. We also show that nervous system development occurs normally in UnkcKO mice. However, we find that Unkempt is expressed in the adult cerebellum and hippocampus and behavioural analyses show that UnkcKO mice have improved memory formation and cognitive flexibility to re-learn. Further understanding of the role of Unkempt in the nervous system will provide novel mechanistic insight into the role of mTOR signaling in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Vinsland
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pranetha Baskaran
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Simeon R Mihaylov
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Carl Hobbs
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Hannah Wood
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, PO82SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Ihssane Bouybayoune
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kriti Shah
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, 3401 Watkins Drive, Boyce Hall 1415A - MURN, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Corinne Houart
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Andrew R Tee
- Cancer and Genetics Building, Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park Way, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jernej Murn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, 3401 Watkins Drive, Boyce Hall 1415A - MURN, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, PO82SE5 8AF, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 4th Floor, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Joseph M Bateman
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
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14
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Santana González L, Artibani M, Ahmed AA. Studying Müllerian duct anomalies - from cataloguing phenotypes to discovering causation. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:269240. [PMID: 34160006 PMCID: PMC8246269 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.047977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Müllerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are developmental disorders of the Müllerian duct, the embryonic anlage of most of the female reproductive tract. The prevalence of MDAs is 6.7% in the general female population and 16.7% in women who exhibit recurrent miscarriages. Individuals affected by these anomalies suffer from high rates of infertility, first-trimester pregnancy losses, premature labour, placental retention, foetal growth retardation and foetal malpresentations. The aetiology of MDAs is complex and heterogeneous, displaying a range of clinical pictures that generally lack a direct genotype-phenotype correlation. De novo and familial cases sharing the same genomic lesions have been reported. The familial cases follow an autosomal-dominant inheritance, with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. Furthermore, few genetic factors and molecular pathways underpinning Müllerian development and dysregulations causing MDAs have been identified. The current knowledge in this field predominantly derives from loss-of-function experiments in mouse and chicken models, as well as from human genetic association studies using traditional approaches, such as microarrays and Sanger sequencing, limiting the discovery of causal factors to few genetic entities from the coding genome. In this Review, we summarise the current state of the field, discuss limitations in the number of studies and patient samples that have stalled progress, and review how the development of new technologies provides a unique opportunity to overcome these limitations. Furthermore, we discuss how these new technologies can improve functional validation of potential causative alterations in MDAs. Summary: Here, we review the current knowledge about Müllerian duct anomalies in the context of new high-throughput technologies and model systems and their implications in the prevention of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Santana González
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Mara Artibani
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.,Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Ahmed Ashour Ahmed
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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15
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Cheung MYQ, Roberts C, Scambler P, Stathopoulou A. Setd5 is required in cardiopharyngeal mesoderm for heart development and its haploinsufficiency is associated with outflow tract defects in mouse. Genesis 2021; 59:e23421. [PMID: 34050709 PMCID: PMC8564859 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects are a feature of several genetic haploinsufficiency syndromes, often involving transcriptional regulators. One property of haploinsufficient genes is their propensity for network interactions at the gene or protein level. In this article we took advantage of an online dataset of high throughput screening of mutations that are embryonic lethal in mice. Our aim was to identify new genes where the loss of function caused cardiovascular phenotypes resembling the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome models, that is, heterozygous and homozygous loss of Tbx1. One gene with a potentially haploinsufficient phenotype was identified, Setd5, thought to be involved in chromatin modification. We found murine Setd5 haploinsufficiency to be associated with double outlet right ventricle and perimembranous ventricular septal defect, although no genetic interaction with Tbx1 was detected. Conditional mutagenesis revealed that Setd5 was required in cardiopharyngeal mesoderm for progression of the heart tube through the ballooning stage to create a four-chambered heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Yu-Qing Cheung
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Roberts
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.,Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Scambler
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Athanasia Stathopoulou
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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16
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Santana Gonzalez L, Rota IA, Artibani M, Morotti M, Hu Z, Wietek N, Alsaadi A, Albukhari A, Sauka-Spengler T, Ahmed AA. Mechanistic Drivers of Müllerian Duct Development and Differentiation Into the Oviduct. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:605301. [PMID: 33763415 PMCID: PMC7982813 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.605301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The conduits of life; the animal oviducts and human fallopian tubes are of paramount importance for reproduction in amniotes. They connect the ovary with the uterus and are essential for fertility. They provide the appropriate environment for gamete maintenance, fertilization and preimplantation embryonic development. However, serious pathologies, such as ectopic pregnancy, malignancy and severe infections, occur in the oviducts. They can have drastic effects on fertility, and some are life-threatening. Despite the crucial importance of the oviducts in life, relatively little is known about the molecular drivers underpinning the embryonic development of their precursor structures, the Müllerian ducts, and their successive differentiation and maturation. The Müllerian ducts are simple rudimentary tubes comprised of an epithelial lumen surrounded by a mesenchymal layer. They differentiate into most of the adult female reproductive tract (FRT). The earliest sign of Müllerian duct formation is the thickening of the anterior mesonephric coelomic epithelium to form a placode of two distinct progenitor cells. It is proposed that one subset of progenitor cells undergoes partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT), differentiating into immature Müllerian luminal cells, and another subset undergoes complete EMT to become Müllerian mesenchymal cells. These cells invaginate and proliferate forming the Müllerian ducts. Subsequently, pEMT would be reversed to generate differentiated epithelial cells lining the fully formed Müllerian lumen. The anterior Müllerian epithelial cells further specialize into the oviduct epithelial subtypes. This review highlights the key established molecular and genetic determinants of the processes involved in Müllerian duct development and the differentiation of its upper segment into oviducts. Furthermore, an extensive genome-wide survey of mouse knockout lines displaying Müllerian or oviduct phenotypes was undertaken. In addition to widely established genetic determinants of Müllerian duct development, our search has identified surprising associations between loss-of-function of several genes and high-penetrance abnormalities in the Müllerian duct and/or oviducts. Remarkably, these associations have not been investigated in any detail. Finally, we discuss future directions for research on Müllerian duct development and oviducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Santana Gonzalez
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ioanna A Rota
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Developmental Immunology Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mara Artibani
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Morotti
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Wietek
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Abdulkhaliq Alsaadi
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ashwag Albukhari
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed A Ahmed
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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17
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Reissig LF, Seyedian Moghaddam A, Prin F, Wilson R, Galli A, Tudor C, White JK, Geyer SH, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. Hypoglossal Nerve Abnormalities as Biomarkers for Central Nervous System Defects in Mouse Lines Producing Embryonically Lethal Offspring. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:625716. [PMID: 33584208 PMCID: PMC7876247 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.625716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An essential step in researching human central nervous system (CNS) disorders is the search for appropriate mouse models that can be used to investigate both genetic and environmental factors underlying the etiology of such conditions. Identification of murine models relies upon detailed pre- and post-natal phenotyping since profound defects are not only the result of gross malformations but can be the result of small or subtle morphological abnormalities. The difficulties in identifying such defects are compounded by the finding that many mouse lines show quite a variable penetrance of phenotypes. As a result, without analysis of large numbers, such phenotypes are easily missed. Indeed for null mutations, around one-third have proved to be pre- or perinatally lethal, their analysis resting entirely upon phenotyping of accessible embryonic stages.To simplify the identification of potentially useful mouse mutants, we have conducted three-dimensional phenotype analysis of approximately 500 homozygous null mutant embryos, produced from targeting a variety of mouse genes and harvested at embryonic day 14.5 as part of the "Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders" www.dmdd.org.uk program. We have searched for anatomical features that have the potential to serve as biomarkers for CNS defects in such genetically modified lines. Our analysis identified two promising biomarker candidates. Hypoglossal nerve (HGN) abnormalities (absent, thin, and abnormal topology) and abnormal morphology or topology of head arteries are both frequently associated with the full spectrum of morphological CNS defects, ranging from exencephaly to more subtle defects such as abnormal nerve cell migration. Statistical analysis confirmed that HGN abnormalities (especially those scored absent or thin) indeed showed a significant correlation with CNS defect phenotypes. These results demonstrate that null mutant lines showing HGN abnormalities are also highly likely to produce CNS defects whose identification may be difficult as a result of morphological subtlety or low genetic penetrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas F. Reissig
- Department of Anatomy, MIC, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Atieh Seyedian Moghaddam
- Department of Anatomy, MIC, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabrice Prin
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Tudor
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jaqueline K. White
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan H. Geyer
- Department of Anatomy, MIC, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Wolfgang J. Weninger
- Department of Anatomy, MIC, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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18
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Ozguldez HO, Fan R, Bedzhov I. Placental gene editing via trophectoderm-specific Tat-Cre/loxP recombination. Development 2020; 147:dev.190371. [PMID: 32541013 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The ways in which placental defects affect embryonic development are largely overlooked because of the lack of a trophoblast-specific approach for conditional gene ablation. To tackle this, we have established a simple, fast and efficient method for trophectodermal Tat-Cre/loxP recombination. We used the natural permeability barrier in mouse blastocysts in combination with off-the-shelf Tat-Cre recombinase to achieve editing of conditional alleles in the trophoblast lineage. This direct approach enables gene function analysis during implantation and placentation in mice, thereby crucially helping to broaden our understanding of human reproduction and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice O Ozguldez
- Embryonic Self-Organization research group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Rui Fan
- Embryonic Self-Organization research group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ivan Bedzhov
- Embryonic Self-Organization research group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
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19
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Kalantari S, Filges I. 'Kinesinopathies': emerging role of the kinesin family member genes in birth defects. J Med Genet 2020; 57:797-807. [PMID: 32430361 PMCID: PMC7691813 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Motor kinesins are a family of evolutionary conserved proteins involved in intracellular trafficking of various cargoes, first described in the context of axonal transport. They were discovered to have a key importance in cell-cycle dynamics and progression, including chromosomal condensation and alignment, spindle formation and cytokinesis, as well as ciliogenesis and cilia function. Recent evidence suggests that impairment of kinesins is associated with a variety of human diseases consistent with their functions and evolutionary conservation. Through the advent of gene identification using genome-wide sequencing approaches, their role in monogenic disorders now emerges, particularly for birth defects, in isolated as well as multiple congenital anomalies. We can observe recurrent phenotypical themes such as microcephaly, certain brain anomalies, and anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, as well as syndromic phenotypes reminiscent of ciliopathies. Together with the molecular and functional data, we suggest understanding these ‘kinesinopathies’ as a recognisable entity with potential value for research approaches and clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Kalantari
- Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Filges
- Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland .,Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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20
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Cacheiro P, Muñoz-Fuentes V, Murray SA, Dickinson ME, Bucan M, Nutter LMJ, Peterson KA, Haselimashhadi H, Flenniken AM, Morgan H, Westerberg H, Konopka T, Hsu CW, Christiansen A, Lanza DG, Beaudet AL, Heaney JD, Fuchs H, Gailus-Durner V, Sorg T, Prochazka J, Novosadova V, Lelliott CJ, Wardle-Jones H, Wells S, Teboul L, Cater H, Stewart M, Hough T, Wurst W, Sedlacek R, Adams DJ, Seavitt JR, Tocchini-Valentini G, Mammano F, Braun RE, McKerlie C, Herault Y, de Angelis MH, Mallon AM, Lloyd KCK, Brown SDM, Parkinson H, Meehan TF, Smedley D. Human and mouse essentiality screens as a resource for disease gene discovery. Nat Commun 2020; 11:655. [PMID: 32005800 PMCID: PMC6994715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14284-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of causal variants in sequencing studies remains a considerable challenge that can be partially addressed by new gene-specific knowledge. Here, we integrate measures of how essential a gene is to supporting life, as inferred from viability and phenotyping screens performed on knockout mice by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium and essentiality screens carried out on human cell lines. We propose a cross-species gene classification across the Full Spectrum of Intolerance to Loss-of-function (FUSIL) and demonstrate that genes in five mutually exclusive FUSIL categories have differing biological properties. Most notably, Mendelian disease genes, particularly those associated with developmental disorders, are highly overrepresented among genes non-essential for cell survival but required for organism development. After screening developmental disorder cases from three independent disease sequencing consortia, we identify potentially pathogenic variants in genes not previously associated with rare diseases. We therefore propose FUSIL as an efficient approach for disease gene discovery.
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Grants
- UM1 HG008900 NHGRI NIH HHS
- UM1 HG006504 NHGRI NIH HHS
- MC_UP_1502/1 Medical Research Council
- UM1 HG006542 NHGRI NIH HHS
- UM1 OD023221 NIH HHS
- MC_U142684171 Medical Research Council
- MR/S006753/1 Medical Research Council
- UM1 HG006370 NHGRI NIH HHS
- UM1 HG006493 NHGRI NIH HHS
- U54 HG006370 NHGRI NIH HHS
- U54 HG006364 NHGRI NIH HHS
- MC_U142684172 Medical Research Council
- UM1 HG006348 NHGRI NIH HHS
- U42 OD011174 NIH HHS
- U42 OD011175 NIH HHS
- Wellcome Trust
- This work was supported by NIH grant U54 HG006370. IMPC-related mouse production and phenotyping was funded by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Ontario Genomics (OGI-051) for NorCOMM2 (C.M.) and the National Institutes of Health and OD, NCRR, NIDDK and NHLBI for KOMP and KOMP2 Projects U42 OD011175 and UM1OD023221 (C.M., K.C.K.L), Infrafrontier grant 01KX1012, EU Horizon2020: IPAD-MD funding 653961 (M.H.d.A); EUCOMM: LSHM-CT-2005-018931, EUCOMMTOOLS: FP7-HEALTH-F4-2010-261492 (W.G.W). UM1 HG006348; U42 OD011174; U54 HG005348 (A.L.B), NIH U54706HG006364 (A.L.B). Wellcome Trust grants WT098051 and WT206194 (D.A). The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the University of Strasbourg and the “Centre Europeen de Recherche en Biomedecine”, and the French state funds through the “Agence Nationale de la Recherche” under the frame programme Investissements d’Avenir labelled (ANR-10-IDEX-0002-02, ANR-10-LABX-0030-INRT, ANR-10-INBS-07 PHENOMIN (J.H.). This research was made possible through access to the data and findings generated by the 100,000 Genomes Project. The 100,000 Genomes Project is managed by Genomics England Limited (a wholly owned company of the Department of Health). The 100,000 Genomes Project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and NHS England. The Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council have also funded research infrastructure. The 100,000 Genomes Project uses data provided by patients and collected by the National Health Service as part of their care and support. We are also grateful for the data access provided by the DDD and CMG projects. The DDD study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund [grant number HICF-1009-003], a parallel funding partnership between Wellcome and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute [grant number WT098051]. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Wellcome or the Department of Health. The study has UK Research Ethics Committee approval (10/H0305/83, granted by the Cambridge South REC, and GEN/284/12 granted by the Republic of Ireland REC). The research team acknowledges the support of the National Institute for Health Research, through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The Centers for Mendelian Genomics are funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the National Eye Institute. Broad Institute (UM1 HG008900), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine/Baylor College of Medicine (UM1 HG006542), University of Washington (UM1 HG006493), Yale University (UM1 HG006504).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Cacheiro
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Mary E Dickinson
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maja Bucan
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lauryl M J Nutter
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | | | - Hamed Haselimashhadi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Ann M Flenniken
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Hugh Morgan
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Henrik Westerberg
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Tomasz Konopka
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Chih-Wei Hsu
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Audrey Christiansen
- Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Denise G Lanza
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Arthur L Beaudet
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valerie Gailus-Durner
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tania Sorg
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Clinique de la Souris, PHENOMIN-ICS, 67404, Illkirch, France
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 252 50, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vendula Novosadova
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 252 50, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Sara Wells
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Lydia Teboul
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Heather Cater
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Michelle Stewart
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Tertius Hough
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Wolfgang Wurst
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Deutsches Institut für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Site Munich, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Adolf-Butenandt-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 252 50, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - John R Seavitt
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Glauco Tocchini-Valentini
- Monterotondo Mouse Clinic, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | - Fabio Mammano
- Monterotondo Mouse Clinic, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | | | - Colin McKerlie
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
- Translational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5T 3H7, Canada
| | - Yann Herault
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique, Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Institut Clinique de la Souris, IGBMC, PHENOMIN-ICS, 67404, Illkirch, France
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Experimental Genetics, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ann-Marie Mallon
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - K C Kent Lloyd
- Mouse Biology Program, University of California, Davis, CA, 95618, USA
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Medical Research Council Harwell Institute (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Helen Parkinson
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Terrence F Meehan
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Damian Smedley
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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21
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Karaman B, Sippl W. Computational Drug Repurposing: Current Trends. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:5389-5409. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180530100332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
:
Biomedical discovery has been reshaped upon the exploding digitization of data
which can be retrieved from a number of sources, ranging from clinical pharmacology to
cheminformatics-driven databases. Now, supercomputing platforms and publicly available
resources such as biological, physicochemical, and clinical data, can all be integrated to construct
a detailed map of signaling pathways and drug mechanisms of action in relation to drug
candidates. Recent advancements in computer-aided data mining have facilitated analyses of
‘big data’ approaches and the discovery of new indications for pre-existing drugs has been
accelerated. Linking gene-phenotype associations to predict novel drug-disease signatures or
incorporating molecular structure information of drugs and protein targets with other kinds of
data derived from systems biology provide great potential to accelerate drug discovery and
improve the success of drug repurposing attempts. In this review, we highlight commonly
used computational drug repurposing strategies, including bioinformatics and cheminformatics
tools, to integrate large-scale data emerging from the systems biology, and consider both
the challenges and opportunities of using this approach. Moreover, we provide successful examples
and case studies that combined various in silico drug-repurposing strategies to predict
potential novel uses for known therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berin Karaman
- Biruni University - Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- Martin-Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg - Institute of Pharmacy, Halle (Saale), Germany
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22
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High-Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM): Looking Back on 13 Years of Successful Generation of Digital Volume Data of Organic Material for 3D Visualisation and 3D Display. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9183826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) is an imaging technique that permits the simple and rapid generation of three-dimensional (3D) digital volume data of histologically embedded and physically sectioned specimens. The data can be immediately used for high-detail 3D analysis of a broad variety of organic materials with all modern methods of 3D visualisation and display. Since its first description in 2006, HREM has been adopted as a method for exploring organic specimens in many fields of science, and it has recruited a slowly but steadily growing user community. This review aims to briefly introduce the basic principles of HREM data generation and to provide an overview of scientific publications that have been published in the last 13 years involving HREM imaging. The studies to which we refer describe technical details and specimen-specific protocols, and provide examples of the successful use of HREM in biological, biomedical and medical research. Finally, the limitations, potentials and anticipated further improvements are briefly outlined.
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23
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Smith CL, Blake JA, Kadin JA, Richardson JE, Bult CJ. Mouse Genome Database (MGD)-2018: knowledgebase for the laboratory mouse. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:D836-D842. [PMID: 29092072 PMCID: PMC5753350 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mouse Genome Database (MGD; http://www.informatics.jax.org) is the key community mouse database which supports basic, translational and computational research by providing integrated data on the genetics, genomics, and biology of the laboratory mouse. MGD serves as the source for biological reference data sets related to mouse genes, gene functions, phenotypes and disease models with an increasing emphasis on the association of these data to human biology and disease. We report here on recent enhancements to this resource, including improved access to mouse disease model and human phenotype data and enhanced relationships of mouse models to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Smith
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Judith A Blake
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - James A Kadin
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | - Carol J Bult
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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24
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Reissig LF, Herdina AN, Rose J, Maurer-Gesek B, Lane JL, Prin F, Wilson R, Hardman E, Galli A, Tudor C, Tuck E, Icoresi-Mazzeo C, White JK, Ryder E, Gleeson D, Adams DJ, Geyer SH, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. The Col4a2em1(IMPC)Wtsi mouse line: lessons from the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders program. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.042895. [PMID: 31331924 PMCID: PMC6737985 DOI: 10.1242/bio.042895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) program uses a systematic and standardised approach to characterise the phenotype of embryos stemming from mouse lines, which produce embryonically lethal offspring. Our study aims to provide detailed phenotype descriptions of homozygous Col4a2em1(IMPC)Wtsi mutants produced in DMDD and harvested at embryonic day 14.5. This shall provide new information on the role Col4a2 plays in organogenesis and demonstrate the capacity of the DMDD database for identifying models for researching inherited disorders. The DMDD Col4a2em1(IMPC)Wtsi mutants survived organogenesis and thus revealed the full spectrum of organs and tissues, the development of which depends on Col4a2 encoded proteins. They showed defects in the brain, cranial nerves, visual system, lungs, endocrine glands, skeleton, subepithelial tissues and mild to severe cardiovascular malformations. Together, this makes the DMDD Col4a2em1(IMPC)Wtsi line a useful model for identifying the spectrum of defects and for researching the mechanisms underlying autosomal dominant porencephaly 2 (OMIM # 614483), a rare human disease. Thus we demonstrate the general capacity of the DMDD approach and webpage as a valuable source for identifying mouse models for rare diseases. Summary: We define the spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities linked with Col4a2 disruption and demonstrate the opportunities the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) program offers for exploring rare human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas F Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Nele Herdina
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Rose
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Maurer-Gesek
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jenna L Lane
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Fabrice Prin
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Robert Wilson
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Emily Hardman
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Catherine Tudor
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Elizabeth Tuck
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | | | - Jacqueline K White
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ed Ryder
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Diane Gleeson
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Timothy J Mohun
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Str. 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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25
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Collins JE, White RJ, Staudt N, Sealy IM, Packham I, Wali N, Tudor C, Mazzeo C, Green A, Siragher E, Ryder E, White JK, Papatheodoru I, Tang A, Füllgrabe A, Billis K, Geyer SH, Weninger WJ, Galli A, Hemberger M, Stemple DL, Robertson E, Smith JC, Mohun T, Adams DJ, Busch-Nentwich EM. Common and distinct transcriptional signatures of mammalian embryonic lethality. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2792. [PMID: 31243271 PMCID: PMC6594971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders programme has analysed the morphological and molecular phenotypes of embryonic and perinatal lethal mouse mutant lines in order to investigate the causes of embryonic lethality. Here we show that individual whole-embryo RNA-seq of 73 mouse mutant lines (>1000 transcriptomes) identifies transcriptional events underlying embryonic lethality and associates previously uncharacterised genes with specific pathways and tissues. For example, our data suggest that Hmgxb3 is involved in DNA-damage repair and cell-cycle regulation. Further, we separate embryonic delay signatures from mutant line-specific transcriptional changes by developing a baseline mRNA expression catalogue of wild-type mice during early embryogenesis (4-36 somites). Analysis of transcription outside coding sequence identifies deregulation of repetitive elements in Morc2a mutants and a gene involved in gene-specific splicing. Collectively, this work provides a large scale resource to further our understanding of early embryonic developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Collins
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Richard J White
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Nicole Staudt
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ian M Sealy
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Ian Packham
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Neha Wali
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Catherine Tudor
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Cecilia Mazzeo
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Angela Green
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Emma Siragher
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Edward Ryder
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jacqueline K White
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - Irene Papatheodoru
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Amy Tang
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Anja Füllgrabe
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Konstantinos Billis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstr. 13, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstr. 13, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - Antonella Galli
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Myriam Hemberger
- The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
- Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Derek L Stemple
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Camena Bioscience, The Science Village, Chesterford Research Park, Cambridge, CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Elizabeth Robertson
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
| | - James C Smith
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Timothy Mohun
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Elisabeth M Busch-Nentwich
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
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26
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Lukacs M, Roberts T, Chatuverdi P, Stottmann RW. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis and remodeling are required for neural tube closure, heart development, and cranial neural crest cell survival. eLife 2019; 8:45248. [PMID: 31232685 PMCID: PMC6611694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors attach nearly 150 proteins to the cell membrane. Patients with pathogenic variants in GPI biosynthesis genes develop diverse phenotypes including seizures, dysmorphic facial features and cleft palate through an unknown mechanism. We identified a novel mouse mutant (cleft lip/palate, edema and exencephaly; Clpex) with a hypo-morphic mutation in Post-Glycophosphatidylinositol Attachment to Proteins-2 (Pgap2), a component of the GPI biosynthesis pathway. The Clpex mutation decreases surface GPI expression. Surprisingly, Pgap2 showed tissue-specific expression with enrichment in the brain and face. We found the Clpex phenotype is due to apoptosis of neural crest cells (NCCs) and the cranial neuroepithelium. We showed folinic acid supplementation in utero can partially rescue the cleft lip phenotype. Finally, we generated a novel mouse model of NCC-specific total GPI deficiency. These mutants developed median cleft lip and palate demonstrating a previously undocumented cell autonomous role for GPI biosynthesis in NCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marshall Lukacs
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Tia Roberts
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Praneet Chatuverdi
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Rolf W Stottmann
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.,Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
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27
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Visualising the Cardiovascular System of Embryos of Biomedical Model Organisms with High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM). J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2018; 5:jcdd5040058. [PMID: 30558275 PMCID: PMC6306920 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd5040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The article will briefly introduce the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) technique and will focus on its potential for researching cardiovascular development and remodelling in embryos of biomedical model organisms. It will demonstrate the capacity of HREM for analysing the cardiovascular system of normally developed and genetically or experimentally malformed zebrafish, frog, chick and mouse embryos in the context of the whole specimen and will exemplarily show the possibilities HREM offers for comprehensive visualisation of the vasculature of adult human skin. Finally, it will provide examples of the successful application of HREM for identifying cardiovascular malformations in genetically altered mouse embryos produced in the deciphering the mechanisms of developmental disorders (DMDD) program.
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28
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Baldock RA, Armit C. eHistology image and annotation data from the Kaufman Atlas of Mouse Development. Gigascience 2018; 7:4768197. [PMID: 29272399 PMCID: PMC5827353 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/gix131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
“The Atlas of Mouse Development” by Kaufman is a classic paper atlas that is the de facto standard for the definition of mouse embryo anatomy in the context of standard histological images. We have redigitized the original haematoxylin and eosin–stained tissue sections used for the book at high resolution and transferred the hand-drawn annotations to digital form. We have augmented the annotations with standard ontological assignments (EMAPA anatomy) and made the data freely available via an online viewer (eHistology) and from the University of Edinburgh DataShare archive. The dataset captures and preserves the definitive anatomical knowledge of the original atlas, provides a core image set for deeper community annotation and teaching, and delivers a unique high-quality set of high-resolution histological images through mammalian development for manual and automated analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genomic and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Chris Armit
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genomic and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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29
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Abstract
Large-scale phenotyping efforts have demonstrated that approximately 25-30% of mouse gene knockouts cause intra-uterine lethality. Analysis of these mutants has largely focussed on the embryo but not the placenta, despite the critical role of this extra-embryonic organ for developmental progression. Here, we screened 103 embryonic lethal and subviable mouse knockout lines from the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders programme (https://dmdd.org.uk) for placental phenotypes. 68% of lines that are lethal at or after mid-gestation exhibited placental dys-morphologies. Early lethality (E9.5-E14.5) is almost always associated with severe placental malformations. Placental defects strongly correlate with abnormal brain, heart and vascular development. Analysis of mutant trophoblast stem cells and conditional knockouts suggests primary gene function in trophoblast for a significant number of factors that cause embryonic lethality when ablated. Our data highlight the hugely under-appreciated importance of placental defects in contributing to abnormal embryo development and suggest key molecular nodes governing placentation.
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30
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Woods L, Perez-Garcia V, Hemberger M. Regulation of Placental Development and Its Impact on Fetal Growth-New Insights From Mouse Models. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:570. [PMID: 30319550 PMCID: PMC6170611 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The placenta is the chief regulator of nutrient supply to the growing embryo during gestation. As such, adequate placental function is instrumental for developmental progression throughout intrauterine development. One of the most common complications during pregnancy is insufficient growth of the fetus, a problem termed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) that is most frequently rooted in a malfunctional placenta. Together with conventional gene targeting approaches, recent advances in screening mouse mutants for placental defects, combined with the ability to rapidly induce mutations in vitro and in vivo by CRISPR-Cas9 technology, has provided new insights into the contribution of the genome to normal placental development. Most importantly, these data have demonstrated that far more genes are required for normal placentation than previously appreciated. Here, we provide a summary of common types of placental defects in established mouse mutants, which will help us gain a better understanding of the genes impacting on human placentation. Based on a recent mouse mutant screen, we then provide examples on how these data can be mined to identify novel molecular hubs that may be critical for placental development. Given the close association between placental defects and abnormal cardiovascular and brain development, these functional nodes may also shed light onto the etiology of birth defects that co-occur with placental malformations. Taken together, recent insights into the regulation of mouse placental development have opened up new avenues for research that will promote the study of human pregnancy conditions, notably those based on defects in placentation that underlie the most common pregnancy pathologies such as IUGR and pre-eclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Woods
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vicente Perez-Garcia
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Vicente Perez-Garcia
| | - Myriam Hemberger
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Myriam Hemberger
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31
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Three-dimensional microCT imaging of murine embryonic development from immediate post-implantation to organogenesis: application for phenotyping analysis of early embryonic lethality in mutant animals. Mamm Genome 2017; 29:245-259. [PMID: 29170794 PMCID: PMC5887010 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-017-9723-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we applied three-dimensional microCT imaging to study murine embryogenesis in the range from immediate post-implantation period (embryonic day 5.5) to mid-gestation (embryonic day 12.5) with the resolution up to 1.4 µm/voxel. Also, we introduce an imaging procedure for non-invasive volumetric estimation of an entire litter of embryos within the maternal uterine structures. This method allows for an accurate, detailed and systematic morphometric analysis of both embryonic and extra-embryonic components during embryogenesis. Three-dimensional imaging of unperturbed embryos was performed to visualize the egg cylinder, primitive streak, gastrulation and early organogenesis stages of murine development in the C57Bl6/N mouse reference strain. Further, we applied our microCT imaging protocol to determine the earliest point when embryonic development is arrested in a mouse line with knockout for tRNA splicing endonuclease subunit Tsen54 gene. Our analysis determined that the embryonic development in Tsen54 null embryos does not proceed beyond implantation. We demonstrated that application of microCT imaging to entire litter of non-perturbed embryos greatly facilitate studies to unravel gene function during early embryogenesis and to determine the precise point at which embryonic development is arrested in mutant animals. The described method is inexpensive, does not require lengthy embryos dissection and can be applicable for detailed analysis of mutant mice at laboratory scale as well as for high-throughput projects.
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32
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Prowse TAA, Cassey P, Ross JV, Pfitzner C, Wittmann TA, Thomas P. Dodging silver bullets: good CRISPR gene-drive design is critical for eradicating exotic vertebrates. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20170799. [PMID: 28794219 PMCID: PMC5563802 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-replicating gene drives that can spread deleterious alleles through animal populations have been promoted as a much needed but controversial 'silver bullet' for controlling invasive alien species. Homing-based drives comprise an endonuclease and a guide RNA (gRNA) that are replicated during meiosis via homologous recombination. However, their efficacy for controlling wild populations is threatened by inherent polymorphic resistance and the creation of resistance alleles via non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ)-mediated DNA repair. We used stochastic individual-based models to identify realistic gene-drive strategies capable of eradicating vertebrate pest populations (mice, rats and rabbits) on islands. One popular strategy, a sex-reversing drive that converts heterozygous females into sterile males, failed to spread and required the ongoing deployment of gene-drive carriers to achieve eradication. Under alternative strategies, multiplexed gRNAs could overcome inherent polymorphic resistance and were required for eradication success even when the probability of NHEJ was low. Strategies causing homozygotic embryonic non-viability or homozygotic female sterility produced high probabilities of eradication and were robust to NHEJ-mediated deletion of the DNA sequence between multiplexed endonuclease recognition sites. The latter two strategies also purged the gene drive when eradication failed, therefore posing lower long-term risk should animals escape beyond target islands. Multiplexing gRNAs will be necessary if this technology is to be useful for insular extirpation attempts; however, precise knowledge of homing rates will be required to design low-risk gene drives with high probabilities of eradication success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A A Prowse
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Joshua V Ross
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Chandran Pfitzner
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Talia A Wittmann
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Paul Thomas
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
- The Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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33
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Geyer SH, Reissig LF, Hüsemann M, Höfle C, Wilson R, Prin F, Szumska D, Galli A, Adams DJ, White J, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. Morphology, topology and dimensions of the heart and arteries of genetically normal and mutant mouse embryos at stages S21-S23. J Anat 2017; 231:600-614. [PMID: 28776665 PMCID: PMC5603791 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate identification of abnormalities in the mouse embryo depends not only on comparisons with appropriate, developmental stage‐matched controls, but also on an appreciation of the range of anatomical variation that can be expected during normal development. Here we present a morphological, topological and metric analysis of the heart and arteries of mouse embryos harvested on embryonic day (E)14.5, based on digital volume data of whole embryos analysed by high‐resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM). By comparing data from 206 genetically normal embryos, we have analysed the range and frequency of normal anatomical variations in the heart and major arteries across Theiler stages S21–S23. Using this, we have identified abnormalities in these structures among 298 embryos from mutant mouse lines carrying embryonic lethal gene mutations produced for the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) programme. We present examples of both commonly occurring abnormal phenotypes and novel pathologies that most likely alter haemodynamics in these genetically altered mouse embryos. Our findings offer a reference baseline for identifying accurately abnormalities of the heart and arteries in embryos that have largely completed organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas F Reissig
- Division of Anatomy & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Hüsemann
- Division of Anatomy & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cordula Höfle
- Division of Anatomy & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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34
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Geyer SH, Maurer-Gesek B, Reissig LF, Weninger WJ. High-resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) - Simple and Robust Protocols for Processing and Visualizing Organic Materials. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28715372 PMCID: PMC5609318 DOI: 10.3791/56071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We provide simple protocols for generating digital volume data with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) method. HREM is capable of imaging organic materials with volumes up to 5 x 5 x 7 mm3 in typical numeric resolutions between 1 x 1 x 1 and 5 x 5 x 5 µm3. Specimens are embedded in methacrylate resin and sectioned on a microtome. After each section an image of the block surface is captured with a digital video camera that sits on the phototube connected to the compound microscope head. The optical axis passes through a green fluorescent protein (GFP) filter cube and is aligned with a position, at which the bock holder arm comes to rest after each section. In this way, a series of inherently aligned digital images, displaying subsequent block surfaces are produced. Loading such an image series in three-dimensional (3D) visualization software facilitates the immediate conversion to digital volume data, which permit virtual sectioning in various orthogonal and oblique planes and the creation of volume and surface rendered computer models. We present three simple, tissue specific protocols for processing various groups of organic specimens, including mouse, chick, quail, frog and zebra fish embryos, human biopsy material, uncoated paper and skin replacement material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna
| | - Barbara Maurer-Gesek
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna
| | - Lukas F Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna;
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35
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Zhang Q, Vashisht AA, O'Rourke J, Corbel SY, Moran R, Romero A, Miraglia L, Zhang J, Durrant E, Schmedt C, Sampath SC, Sampath SC. The microprotein Minion controls cell fusion and muscle formation. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15664. [PMID: 28569745 PMCID: PMC5461507 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although recent evidence has pointed to the existence of small open reading frame (smORF)-encoded microproteins in mammals, their function remains to be determined. Skeletal muscle development requires fusion of mononuclear progenitors to form multinucleated myotubes, a critical but poorly understood process. Here we report the identification of Minion (microprotein inducer of fusion), a smORF encoding an essential skeletal muscle specific microprotein. Myogenic progenitors lacking Minion differentiate normally but fail to form syncytial myotubes, and Minion-deficient mice die perinatally and demonstrate a marked reduction in fused muscle fibres. The fusogenic activity of Minion is conserved in the human orthologue, and co-expression of Minion and the transmembrane protein Myomaker is sufficient to induce cellular fusion accompanied by rapid cytoskeletal rearrangement, even in non-muscle cells. These findings establish Minion as a novel microprotein required for muscle development, and define a two-component programme for the induction of mammalian cell fusion. Moreover, these data also significantly expand the known functions of smORF-encoded microproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Zhang
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Ajay A Vashisht
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Jason O'Rourke
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Stéphane Y Corbel
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Rita Moran
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Angelica Romero
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Loren Miraglia
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Jia Zhang
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Eric Durrant
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Christian Schmedt
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Srinath C Sampath
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA.,Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, California 92103, USA
| | - Srihari C Sampath
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA.,Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, California 92103, USA
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36
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Armit C, Richardson L, Venkataraman S, Graham L, Burton N, Hill B, Yang Y, Baldock RA. eMouseAtlas: An atlas-based resource for understanding mammalian embryogenesis. Dev Biol 2017; 423:1-11. [PMID: 28161522 PMCID: PMC5442644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The eMouseAtlas resource is an online database of 3D digital models of mouse development, an ontology of mouse embryo anatomy and a gene-expression database with about 30K spatially mapped gene-expression patterns. It is closely linked with the MGI/GXD database at the Jackson Laboratory and holds links to almost all available image-based gene-expression data for the mouse embryo. In this resource article we describe the novel web-based tools we have developed for 3D visualisation of embryo anatomy and gene expression. We show how mapping of gene expression data onto spatial models delivers a framework for capturing gene expression that enhances our understanding of development, and we review the exploratory tools utilised by the EMAGE gene expression database as a means of defining co-expression of in situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry, and lacZ-omic expression patterns. We report on recent developments of the eHistology atlas and our use of web-services to support embedding of the online 'The Atlas of Mouse Development' in the context of other resources such as the DMDD mouse phenotype database. In addition, we discuss new developments including a cellular-resolution placental atlas, third-party atlas models, clonal analysis data and a new interactive eLearning resource for developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Armit
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Lorna Richardson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Shanmugasundaram Venkataraman
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Liz Graham
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nicholas Burton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Bill Hill
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Yiya Yang
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Richard A Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
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37
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Wilson R, Geyer SH, Reissig L, Rose J, Szumska D, Hardman E, Prin F, McGuire C, Ramirez-Solis R, White J, Galli A, Tudor C, Tuck E, Mazzeo CI, Smith JC, Robertson E, Adams DJ, Mohun T, Weninger WJ. Highly variable penetrance of abnormal phenotypes in embryonic lethal knockout mice. Wellcome Open Res 2017. [PMID: 27996060 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.9899.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Identifying genes that are essential for mouse embryonic development and survival through term is a powerful and unbiased way to discover possible genetic determinants of human developmental disorders. Characterising the changes in mouse embryos that result from ablation of lethal genes is a necessary first step towards uncovering their role in normal embryonic development and establishing any correlates amongst human congenital abnormalities. Methods: Here we present results gathered to date in the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) programme, cataloguing the morphological defects identified from comprehensive imaging of 220 homozygous mutant and 114 wild type embryos from 42 lethal and subviable lines, analysed at E14.5. Results: Virtually all mutant embryos show multiple abnormal phenotypes and amongst the 42 lines these affect most organ systems. Within each mutant line, the phenotypes of individual embryos form distinct but overlapping sets. Subcutaneous edema, malformations of the heart or great vessels, abnormalities in forebrain morphology and the musculature of the eyes are all prevalent phenotypes, as is loss or abnormal size of the hypoglossal nerve.Conclusions: Overall, the most striking finding is that no matter how profound the malformation, each phenotype shows highly variable penetrance within a mutant line. These findings have challenging implications for efforts to identify human disease correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Lukas Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Julia Rose
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
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38
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Wilson R, Geyer SH, Reissig L, Rose J, Szumska D, Hardman E, Prin F, McGuire C, Ramirez-Solis R, White J, Galli A, Tudor C, Tuck E, Mazzeo CI, Smith JC, Robertson E, Adams DJ, Mohun T, Weninger WJ. Highly variable penetrance of abnormal phenotypes in embryonic lethal knockout mice. Wellcome Open Res 2017; 1:1. [PMID: 27996060 PMCID: PMC5159622 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.9899.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Identifying genes that are essential for mouse embryonic development and survival through term is a powerful and unbiased way to discover possible genetic determinants of human developmental disorders. Characterising the changes in mouse embryos that result from ablation of lethal genes is a necessary first step towards uncovering their role in normal embryonic development and establishing any correlates amongst human congenital abnormalities. Methods: Here we present results gathered to date in the Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) programme, cataloguing the morphological defects identified from comprehensive imaging of 220 homozygous mutant and 114 wild type embryos from 42 lethal and subviable lines, analysed at E14.5. Results: Virtually all mutant embryos show multiple abnormal phenotypes and amongst the 42 lines these affect most organ systems. Within each mutant line, the phenotypes of individual embryos form distinct but overlapping sets. Subcutaneous edema, malformations of the heart or great vessels, abnormalities in forebrain morphology and the musculature of the eyes are all prevalent phenotypes, as is loss or abnormal size of the hypoglossal nerve. Conclusions: Overall, the most striking finding is that no matter how profound the malformation, each phenotype shows highly variable penetrance within a mutant line. These findings have challenging implications for efforts to identify human disease correlates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Lukas Reissig
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Julia Rose
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Division of Anatomy, Center for Anatomy & Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
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McClelland KS, Yao HHC. Leveraging Online Resources to Prioritize Candidate Genes for Functional Analyses: Using the Fetal Testis as a Test Case. Sex Dev 2017; 11:1-20. [PMID: 28196369 PMCID: PMC6171109 DOI: 10.1159/000455113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
With each new microarray or RNA-seq experiment, massive quantities of transcriptomic information are generated with the purpose to produce a list of candidate genes for functional analyses. Yet an effective strategy remains elusive to prioritize the genes on these candidate lists. In this review, we outline a prioritizing strategy by taking a step back from the bench and leveraging the rich range of public databases. This in silico approach provides an economical, less biased, and more effective solution. We discuss the publicly available online resources that can be used to answer a range of questions about a gene. Is the gene of interest expressed in the system of interest (using expression databases)? Where else is this gene expressed (using added-value transcriptomic resources)? What pathways and processes is the gene involved in (using enriched gene pathway analysis and mouse knockout databases)? Is this gene correlated with human diseases (using human disease variant databases)? Using mouse fetal testis as an example, our strategies identified 298 genes annotated as expressed in the fetal testis. We cross-referenced these genes to existing microarray data and narrowed the list down to cell-type-specific candidates (35 for Sertoli cells, 11 for Leydig cells, and 25 for germ cells). Our strategies can be customized so that they allow researchers to effectively and confidently prioritize genes for functional analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn S McClelland
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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40
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Geyer SH, Reissig L, Rose J, Wilson R, Prin F, Szumska D, Ramirez-Solis R, Tudor C, White J, Mohun TJ, Weninger WJ. A staging system for correct phenotype interpretation of mouse embryos harvested on embryonic day 14 (E14.5). J Anat 2017; 230:710-719. [PMID: 28185240 PMCID: PMC5382591 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a simple and quick system for accurately scoring the developmental progress of mouse embryos harvested on embryonic day 14 (E14.5). Based solely on the external appearance of the maturing forelimb, we provide a convenient way to distinguish six developmental sub‐stages. Using a variety of objective morphometric data obtained from the commonly used C57BL/6N mouse strain, we show that these stages correlate precisely with the growth of the entire embryo and its organs. Applying the new staging system to phenotype analyses of E14.5 embryos of 58 embryonic lethal null mutant lines from the DMDD research programme (https://dmdd.org.uk) and its pilot, we show that homozygous mutant embryos are frequently delayed in development. To demonstrate the importance of our staging system for correct phenotype interpretation, we describe stage‐specific changes of the palate, heart and gut, and provide examples in which correct diagnosis of malformations relies on correct staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H Geyer
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Reissig
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Rose
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Wilson
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, London, UK
| | - Fabrice Prin
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Jacqui White
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy J Mohun
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, London, UK
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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41
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Zdora MC, Vila-Comamala J, Schulz G, Khimchenko A, Hipp A, Cook AC, Dilg D, David C, Grünzweig C, Rau C, Thibault P, Zanette I. X-ray phase microtomography with a single grating for high-throughput investigations of biological tissue. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:1257-1270. [PMID: 28271016 PMCID: PMC5330582 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.001257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The high-throughput 3D visualisation of biological specimens is essential for studying diseases and developmental disorders. It requires imaging methods that deliver high-contrast, high-resolution volumetric information at short sample preparation and acquisition times. Here we show that X-ray phase-contrast tomography using a single grating can provide a powerful alternative to commonly employed techniques, such as high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM). We present the phase tomography of a mouse embryo in paraffin obtained with an X-ray single-grating interferometer at I13-2 Beamline at Diamond Light Source and discuss the results in comparison with HREM measurements. The excellent contrast and quantitative density information achieved non-destructively and without staining using a simple, robust setup make X-ray single-grating interferometry an optimum candidate for high-throughput imaging of biological specimens as an alternative for existing methods like HREM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Christine Zdora
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT,
UK
| | - Joan Vila-Comamala
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich,
Switzerland
| | - Georg Schulz
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil,
Switzerland
| | - Anna Khimchenko
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil,
Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew C. Cook
- University College London Institute of Cardiovascular Science, London WC1E 6BT,
UK
| | - Daniel Dilg
- University College London Institute of Cardiovascular Science, London WC1E 6BT,
UK
| | | | | | - Christoph Rau
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
- School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7HS,
UK
- Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611,
USA
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ,
UK
| | - Irene Zanette
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
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42
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Captur G, Manisty C, Moon JC. Cardiac MRI evaluation of myocardial disease. Heart 2016; 102:1429-35. [PMID: 27354273 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2015-309077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a key imaging technique for cardiac phenotyping with a major clinical role. It can assess advanced aspects of cardiac structure and function, scar burden and other myocardial tissue characteristics but there is new information that can now be derived. This can fill many of the gaps in our knowledge with the potential to change thinking, disease classifications and definitions as well as patient care. Established techniques such as the late gadolinium enhancement technique are now embedded in clinical care. New techniques are coming through. Myocardial tissue characterisation techniques, particularly myocardial mapping can precisely measure tissue magnetisation-T1, T2, T2* and also the extracellular volume. These change in disease. Key biological pathways are now open for scrutiny including focal fibrosis (scar) and diffuse fibrosis, inflammation, metabolism and infiltration. Other new areas to engage in where major insights are growing include detailed assessments of myocardial mechanics and performance, spectroscopy and hyperpolarised CMR. In spite of the advances, challenges remain, particularly surrounding utilisation, technical development to improve accuracy, reproducibility and deliverability, and the role of multidisciplinary research to understand the detailed pathological basis of the MR signal changes. Collectively, these new developments are galvanising CMR uptake and having a major translational impact on healthcare globally and it is steadily becoming key imaging tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Captur
- UCL Biological Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Maple House Suite A, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Manisty
- UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK The Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit and The Center for Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Barts Heart Center, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
| | - James C Moon
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Maple House Suite A, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, UK UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK The Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit and The Center for Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Barts Heart Center, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
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43
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Adebayo S, McLeod K, Tudose I, Osumi-Sutherland D, Burdett T, Baldock R, Burger A, Parkinson H. PhenoImageShare: an image annotation and query infrastructure. J Biomed Semantics 2016; 7:35. [PMID: 27267125 PMCID: PMC4896029 DOI: 10.1186/s13326-016-0072-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High throughput imaging is now available to many groups and it is possible to generate a large quantity of high quality images quickly. Managing this data, consistently annotating it, or making it available to the community are all challenges that come with these methods. Results PhenoImageShare provides an ontology-enabled lightweight image data query, annotation service and a single point of access backed by a Solr server for programmatic access to an integrated image collection enabling improved community access. PhenoImageShare also provides an easy to use online image annotation tool with functionality to draw regions of interest on images and to annotate them with terms from an autosuggest-enabled ontology-lookup widget. The provenance of each image, and annotation, is kept and links to original resources are provided. The semantic and intuitive search interface is species and imaging technology neutral. PhenoImageShare now provides access to annotation for over 100,000 images for 2 species. Conclusion The PhenoImageShare platform provides underlying infrastructure for both programmatic access and user-facing tools for biologists enabling the query and annotation of federated images. PhenoImageShare is accessible online at http://www.phenoimageshare.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon Adebayo
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kenneth McLeod
- Department of Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ilinca Tudose
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - David Osumi-Sutherland
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Tony Burdett
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Richard Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Albert Burger
- Department of Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Helen Parkinson
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
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44
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Wilson R, McGuire C, Mohun T. Deciphering the mechanisms of developmental disorders: phenotype analysis of embryos from mutant mouse lines. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:D855-61. [PMID: 26519470 PMCID: PMC4702824 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD) consortium is a research programme set up to identify genes in the mouse, which if mutated (or knocked-out) result in embryonic lethality when homozygous, and initiate the study of why disruption of their function has such profound effects on embryo development and survival. The project uses a combination of comprehensive high resolution 3D imaging and tissue histology to identify abnormalities in embryo and placental structures of embryonic lethal lines. The image data we have collected and the phenotypes scored are freely available through the project website (http://dmdd.org.uk). In this article we describe the web interface to the images that allows the embryo data to be viewed at full resolution in different planes, discuss how to search the database for a phenotype, and our approach to organising the data for an embryo and a mutant line so it is easy to comprehend and intuitive to navigate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wilson
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Christina McGuire
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Timothy Mohun
- The Francis Crick Institute Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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45
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Richardson L, Graham L, Moss J, Burton N, Roochun Y, Armit C, Baldock RA. Developing the eHistology Atlas. Database (Oxford) 2015; 2015:bav105. [PMID: 26500249 PMCID: PMC4618478 DOI: 10.1093/database/bav105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The eMouseAtlas project has undertaken to generate a new resource providing access to high-resolution colour images of the slides used in the renowned textbook 'The Atlas of Mouse Development' by Matthew H. Kaufman. The original histology slides were digitized, and the associated anatomy annotations captured for display in the new resource. These annotations were assigned to objects in the standard reference anatomy ontology, allowing the eHistology resource to be linked to other data resources including the Edinburgh Mouse Atlas Gene-Expression database (EMAGE) an the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) gene-expression database (GXD). The provision of the eHistology Atlas resource was assisted greatly by the expertise of the eMouseAtlas project in delivering large image datasets within a web environment, using IIP3D technology. This technology also permits future extensions to the resource through the addition of further layers of data and annotations to the resource. Database URL: www.emouseatlas.org/emap/eHistology/index.php.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Richardson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Liz Graham
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Julie Moss
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nick Burton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yogmatee Roochun
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris Armit
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard A Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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46
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Weninger WJ, Geyer SH, Martineau A, Galli A, Adams DJ, Wilson R, Mohun TJ. Phenotyping structural abnormalities in mouse embryos using high-resolution episcopic microscopy. Dis Model Mech 2015; 7:1143-52. [PMID: 25256713 PMCID: PMC4174525 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.016337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The arrival of simple and reliable methods for 3D imaging of mouse embryos has opened the possibility of analysing normal and abnormal development in a far more systematic and comprehensive manner than has hitherto been possible. This will not only help to extend our understanding of normal tissue and organ development but, by applying the same approach to embryos from genetically modified mouse lines, such imaging studies could also transform our knowledge of gene function in embryogenesis and the aetiology of developmental disorders. The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium is coordinating efforts to phenotype single gene knockouts covering the entire mouse genome, including characterising developmental defects for those knockout lines that prove to be embryonic lethal. Here, we present a pilot study of 34 such lines, utilising high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) for comprehensive 2D and 3D imaging of homozygous null embryos and their wild-type littermates. We present a simple phenotyping protocol that has been developed to take advantage of the high-resolution images obtained by HREM and that can be used to score tissue and organ abnormalities in a reliable manner. Using this approach with embryos at embryonic day 14.5, we show the wide range of structural abnormalities that are likely to be detected in such studies and the variability in phenotypes between sibling homozygous null embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang J Weninger
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria.
| | - Stefan H Geyer
- Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology & MIC, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | | | | | - David J Adams
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Robert Wilson
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Timothy J Mohun
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK
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47
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Brommage R, Liu J, Hansen GM, Kirkpatrick LL, Potter DG, Sands AT, Zambrowicz B, Powell DR, Vogel P. High-throughput screening of mouse gene knockouts identifies established and novel skeletal phenotypes. Bone Res 2014; 2:14034. [PMID: 26273529 PMCID: PMC4472125 DOI: 10.1038/boneres.2014.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Screening gene function in vivo is a powerful approach to discover novel drug targets. We present high-throughput screening (HTS) data for 3 762 distinct global gene knockout (KO) mouse lines with viable adult homozygous mice generated using either gene-trap or homologous recombination technologies. Bone mass was determined from DEXA scans of male and female mice at 14 weeks of age and by microCT analyses of bones from male mice at 16 weeks of age. Wild-type (WT) cagemates/littermates were examined for each gene KO. Lethality was observed in an additional 850 KO lines. Since primary HTS are susceptible to false positive findings, additional cohorts of mice from KO lines with intriguing HTS bone data were examined. Aging, ovariectomy, histomorphometry and bone strength studies were performed and possible non-skeletal phenotypes were explored. Together, these screens identified multiple genes affecting bone mass: 23 previously reported genes (Calcr, Cebpb, Crtap, Dcstamp, Dkk1, Duoxa2, Enpp1, Fgf23, Kiss1/Kiss1r, Kl (Klotho), Lrp5, Mstn, Neo1, Npr2, Ostm1, Postn, Sfrp4, Slc30a5, Slc39a13, Sost, Sumf1, Src, Wnt10b), five novel genes extensively characterized (Cldn18, Fam20c, Lrrk1, Sgpl1, Wnt16), five novel genes with preliminary characterization (Agpat2, Rassf5, Slc10a7, Slc26a7, Slc30a10) and three novel undisclosed genes coding for potential osteoporosis drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeff Liu
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals , The Woodlands, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Vogel
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals , The Woodlands, TX, USA
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48
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Geyer SH, Nöhammer MM, Mathä M, Reissig L, Tinhofer IE, Weninger WJ. High-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM): a tool for visualizing skin biopsies. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2014; 20:1356-64. [PMID: 25198556 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927614013063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We evaluate the usefulness of digital volume data produced with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) method for visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of components of human skin, and present protocols designed for processing skin biopsies for HREM data generation. A total of 328 biopsies collected from normally appearing skin and from a melanocytic nevus were processed. Cuboidal data volumes with side lengths of ~2×3×6 mm3 and voxel sizes of 1.07×1.07×1.5 µm3 were produced. HREM data fit ideally for visualizing the epidermis at large, and for producing highly detailed volume and surface-rendered 3D representations of the dermal and hypodermal components at a structural level. The architecture of the collagen fiber bundles and the spatial distribution of nevus cells can be easily visualized with volume-rendering algorithms. We conclude that HREM has great potential to serve as a routine tool for researching and diagnosing skin pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan H Geyer
- 1MRC National Institute for Medical Research,London,NW7 1AA,UK
| | - Maria M Nöhammer
- 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria
| | - Markus Mathä
- 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria
| | - Lukas Reissig
- 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria
| | - Ines E Tinhofer
- 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria
| | - Wolfgang J Weninger
- 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria
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49
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Filges I, Friedman JM. Exome sequencing for gene discovery in lethal fetal disorders--harnessing the value of extreme phenotypes. Prenat Diagn 2014; 35:1005-9. [PMID: 25046514 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 06/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Massively parallel sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of Mendelian disorders, and many novel genes have been discovered to cause disease phenotypes when mutant. At the same time, next-generation sequencing approaches have enabled non-invasive prenatal testing of free fetal DNA in maternal blood. However, little attention has been paid to using whole exome and genome sequencing strategies for gene identification in fetal disorders that are lethal in utero, because they can appear to be sporadic and Mendelian inheritance may be missed. We present challenges and advantages of applying next-generation sequencing approaches to gene discovery in fetal malformation phenotypes and review recent successful discovery approaches. We discuss the implication and significance of recessive inheritance and cross-species phenotyping in fetal lethal conditions. Whole exome sequencing can be used in individual families with undiagnosed lethal congenital anomaly syndromes to discover causal mutations, provided that prior to data analysis, the fetal phenotype can be correlated to a particular developmental pathway in embryogenesis. Cross-species phenotyping allows providing further evidence for causality of discovered variants in genes involved in those extremely rare phenotypes and will increase our knowledge about normal and abnormal human developmental processes. Ultimately, families will benefit from the option of early prenatal diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Filges
- Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Medical Genetics, Children's and Women's Hospital, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, Children's and Women's Hospital, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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50
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Abstract
The use of model organisms as tools for the investigation of human genetic variation has significantly and rapidly advanced our understanding of the aetiologies underlying hereditary traits. However, while equivalences in the DNA sequence of two species may be readily inferred through evolutionary models, the identification of equivalence in the phenotypic consequences resulting from comparable genetic variation is far from straightforward, limiting the value of the modelling paradigm. In this review, we provide an overview of the emerging statistical and computational approaches to objectively identify phenotypic equivalence between human and model organisms with examples from the vertebrate models, mouse and zebrafish. Firstly, we discuss enrichment approaches, which deem the most frequent phenotype among the orthologues of a set of genes associated with a common human phenotype as the orthologous phenotype, or phenolog, in the model species. Secondly, we introduce and discuss computational reasoning approaches to identify phenotypic equivalences made possible through the development of intra- and interspecies ontologies. Finally, we consider the particular challenges involved in modelling neuropsychiatric disorders, which illustrate many of the remaining difficulties in developing comprehensive and unequivocal interspecies phenotype mappings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter N. Robinson
- Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Bioinformatics, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (PNR); (CW)
| | - Caleb Webber
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (PNR); (CW)
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