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Wu X, Cesarovic N, Falk V, Mazza E, Giampietro C. Mechanical factors influence β-catenin localization and barrier properties. Integr Biol (Camb) 2024; 16:zyae013. [PMID: 38952079 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyae013] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are of major importance in regulating vascular homeostasis by influencing endothelial cell behavior and functions. Adherens junctions are critical sites for mechanotransduction in endothelial cells. β-catenin, a component of adherens junctions and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, plays a role in mechanoactivation. Evidence suggests that β-catenin is involved in flow sensing and responds to tensional forces, impacting junction dynamics. The mechanoregulation of β-catenin signaling is context-dependent, influenced by the type and duration of mechanical loads. In endothelial cells, β-catenin's nuclear translocation and signaling are influenced by shear stress and strain, affecting endothelial permeability. The study investigates how shear stress, strain, and surface topography impact adherens junction dynamics, regulate β-catenin localization, and influence endothelial barrier properties. Insight box Mechanical loads are potent regulators of endothelial functions through not completely elucidated mechanisms. Surface topography, wall shear stress and cyclic wall deformation contribute overlapping mechanical stimuli to which endothelial monolayer respond to adapt and maintain barrier functions. The use of custom developed flow chamber and bioreactor allows quantifying the response of mature human endothelial to well-defined wall shear stress and gradients of strain. Here, the mechanoregulation of β-catenin by substrate topography, wall shear stress, and cyclic stretch is analyzed and linked to the monolayer control of endothelial permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wu
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Leonhardstrasse 21, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Nikola Cesarovic
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Leopold-Ruzicka-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Edoardo Mazza
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Leonhardstrasse 21, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- ETH Zürich, DMAVT, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Leonhardstrasse 21, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Experimental Continuum Mechanics, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
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Mendez-Vazquez H, Roach RL, Nip K, Chanda S, Sathler MF, Garver T, Danzman RA, Moseley MC, Roberts JP, Koch ON, Steger AA, Lee R, Arikkath J, Kim S. The autism-associated loss of δ-catenin functions disrupts social behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300773120. [PMID: 37216537 PMCID: PMC10235948 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300773120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
δ-catenin is expressed in excitatory synapses and functions as an anchor for the glutamatergic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) GluA2 subunit in the postsynaptic density. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene has been found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and results in loss of δ-catenin functions at excitatory synapses, which is presumed to underlie ASD pathogenesis in humans. However, how the G34S mutation causes loss of δ-catenin functions to induce ASD remains unclear. Here, using neuroblastoma cells, we identify that the G34S mutation increases glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)-dependent δ-catenin degradation to reduce δ-catenin levels, which likely contributes to the loss of δ-catenin functions. Synaptic δ-catenin and GluA2 levels in the cortex are significantly decreased in mice harboring the δ-catenin G34S mutation. The G34S mutation increases glutamatergic activity in cortical excitatory neurons while it is decreased in inhibitory interneurons, indicating changes in cellular excitation and inhibition. δ-catenin G34S mutant mice also exhibit social dysfunction, a common feature of ASD. Most importantly, pharmacological inhibition of GSK3β activity reverses the G34S-induced loss of δ-catenin function effects in cells and mice. Finally, using δ-catenin knockout mice, we confirm that δ-catenin is required for GSK3β inhibition-induced restoration of normal social behavior in δ-catenin G34S mutant animals. Taken together, we reveal that the loss of δ-catenin functions arising from the ASD-associated G34S mutation induces social dysfunction via alterations in glutamatergic activity and that GSK3β inhibition can reverse δ-catenin G34S-induced synaptic and behavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Regan L. Roach
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Kaila Nip
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
| | - Soham Chanda
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Matheus F. Sathler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Tyler Garver
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Rosaline A. Danzman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Madeleine C. Moseley
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Jessica P. Roberts
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Olivia N. Koch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | | | - Rahmi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
| | - Jyothi Arikkath
- Developmental Neuroscience, Munore-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE68198
| | - Seonil Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO80523
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Kajabadi N, Low M, Jacques E, Lad H, Tung LW, Babaeijandaghi F, Gamu D, Zelada D, Wong CK, Chang C, Yi L, Wosczyna MN, Rando TA, Henríquez JP, Gibson WT, Gilbert PM, Rossi FMV. Activation of β-catenin in mesenchymal progenitors leads to muscle mass loss. Dev Cell 2023; 58:489-505.e7. [PMID: 36898377 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Loss of muscle mass is a common manifestation of chronic disease. We find the canonical Wnt pathway to be activated in mesenchymal progenitors (MPs) from cancer-induced cachectic mouse muscle. Next, we induce β-catenin transcriptional activity in murine MPs. As a result, we observe expansion of MPs in the absence of tissue damage, as well as rapid loss of muscle mass. Because MPs are present throughout the organism, we use spatially restricted CRE activation and show that the induction of tissue-resident MP activation is sufficient to induce muscle atrophy. We further identify increased expression of stromal NOGGIN and ACTIVIN-A as key drivers of atrophic processes in myofibers, and we verify their expression by MPs in cachectic muscle. Finally, we show that blocking ACTIVIN-A rescues the mass loss phenotype triggered by β-catenin activation in MPs, confirming its key functional role and strengthening the rationale for targeting this pathway in chronic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Kajabadi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Marcela Low
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Carrera de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, General Lagos 1163, 5090000 Valdivia, Chile
| | - Erik Jacques
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Heta Lad
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Lin Wei Tung
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Farshad Babaeijandaghi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Daniel Gamu
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Diego Zelada
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), GDeP, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Chi Kin Wong
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Chihkai Chang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lin Yi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Michael N Wosczyna
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Musculoskeletal Research Center, Bioengineering Institute, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Thomas A Rando
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Henríquez
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), GDeP, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - William T Gibson
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, C201, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Penney M Gilbert
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2222 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Mendez-Vazquez H, Roach RL, Nip K, Sathler MF, Garver T, Danzman RA, Moseley MC, Roberts JP, Koch ON, Steger AA, Lee R, Arikkath J, Kim S. The autism-associated loss of δ-catenin functions disrupts social behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.12.523372. [PMID: 36711484 PMCID: PMC9882145 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
δ-catenin is expressed in excitatory synapses and functions as an anchor for the glutamatergic AMPA receptor (AMPAR) GluA2 subunit in the postsynaptic density. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene is found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and induces loss of δ-catenin functions at excitatory synapses, which is presumed to underlie ASD pathogenesis in humans. However, how the G34S mutation causes loss of δ-catenin functions to induce ASD remains unclear. Here, using neuroblastoma cells, we discover that the G34S mutation generates an additional phosphorylation site for glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). This promotes δ-catenin degradation and causes the reduction of δ-catenin levels, which likely contributes to the loss of δ-catenin functions. Synaptic δ-catenin and GluA2 levels in the cortex are significantly decreased in mice harboring the δ-catenin G34S mutation. The G34S mutation increases glutamatergic activity in cortical excitatory neurons while it is decreased in inhibitory interneurons, indicating changes in cellular excitation and inhibition. δ-catenin G34S mutant mice also exhibit social dysfunction, a common feature of ASD. Most importantly, inhibition of GSK3β activity reverses the G34S-induced loss of δ-catenin function effects in cells and mice. Finally, using δ-catenin knockout mice, we confirm that δ-catenin is required for GSK3β inhibition-induced restoration of normal social behaviors in δ-catenin G34S mutant animals. Taken together, we reveal that the loss of δ-catenin functions arising from the ASD-associated G34S mutation induces social dysfunction via alterations in glutamatergic activity and that GSK3β inhibition can reverse δ-catenin G34S-induced synaptic and behavioral deficits. Significance Statement δ-catenin is important for the localization and function of glutamatergic AMPA receptors at synapses in many brain regions. The glycine 34 to serine (G34S) mutation in the δ-catenin gene is found in autism patients and results in the loss of δ-catenin functions. δ-catenin expression is also closely linked to other autism-risk genes involved in synaptic structure and function, further implying that it is important for the autism pathophysiology. Importantly, social dysfunction is a key characteristic of autism. Nonetheless, the links between δ-catenin functions and social behaviors are largely unknown. The significance of the current research is thus predicated on filling this gap by discovering the molecular, cellular, and synaptic underpinnings of the role of δ-catenin in social behaviors.
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Bukovac A, Kafka A, Raguž M, Brlek P, Dragičević K, Müller D, Pećina-Šlaus N. Are We Benign? What Can Wnt Signaling Pathway and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Tell Us about Intracranial Meningioma Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1633. [PMID: 33915799 PMCID: PMC8037732 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is characterized by the reduced expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of N-cadherin, plays an important role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. Classical Wnt signaling pathway has a tight link with EMT and it has been shown that nuclear translocation of β-catenin can induce EMT. This research has showed that genes that are involved in cadherin switch, CDH1 and CDH2, play a role in meningioma progression. Increased N-cadherin expression in relation to E-cadherin was recorded. In meningioma, transcription factors SNAIL, SLUG, and TWIST1 demonstrated strong expression in relation to E- and N-cadherin. The expression of SNAIL and SLUG was significantly associated with higher grades (p = 0.001), indicating their role in meningioma progression. Higher grades also recorded an increased expression of total β-catenin followed by an increased expression of its active form (p = 0.000). This research brings the results of genetic and protein analyzes of important molecules that are involved in Wnt and EMT signaling pathways and reveals their role in intracranial meningioma. The results of this study offer guidelines and new markers of progression for future research and reveal new molecular targets of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Bukovac
- Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.B.); (A.K.); (P.B.); (K.D.)
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anja Kafka
- Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.B.); (A.K.); (P.B.); (K.D.)
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Raguž
- Department of Neurosurgery, University hospital Dubrava, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Petar Brlek
- Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.B.); (A.K.); (P.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Katarina Dragičević
- Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.B.); (A.K.); (P.B.); (K.D.)
| | - Danko Müller
- Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Hospital Dubrava, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Nives Pećina-Šlaus
- Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.B.); (A.K.); (P.B.); (K.D.)
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Dixit R, Pandey M, Tripathi SK, Dwivedi AND, Shukla VK. Genetic mutational analysis of β-catenin gene affecting GSK-3β phosphorylation plays a role in gallbladder carcinogenesis: Results from a case control study. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2020; 23:100173. [PMID: 32344182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2020.100173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript has reported different mutations of β-catenin gene in gallbladder cancer patients which affect GSK-3β phosphorylation site. PURPOSE Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a relatively rare and fatal cancer with poor prognosis. The molecular mechanism of gallbladder carcinogenesis is still not clear. Wnt signaling pathway is a highly conserved pathway that regulates proliferation, differentiation, migration, genetic stability, apoptosis, and stem cell renewal. β-catenin plays major role in Wnt signaling and aberrations in β-catenin has found to be involved in several cancers pathogenesis. This study was carried out to document the mutations of β-catenin gene in gallbladder cancer and to evaluate its possible role in gallbladder carcinogenesis. METHODS PCR-SSCP (Single Stranded Conformation Polymorphism) for ctnnb1 was performed in 50 patients each of gallbladder cancer, cholelithiasis and 50 healthy controls. Samples that showed variation in banding pattern were sequenced. RESULTS Variation in banding pattern was observed in 9 (18%) samples of GBC, 4 (8%) of cholelithiasis and 2 (4%) of control. Sequencing analysis showed 9 novel mutations of ctnnb1 in exon 3 in 18% of gallbladder cancer (χ2 = 5.778; p < 0.05). Six point mutations, 1 deletion and 1 insertion mutation were found in 9 cases of gallbladder cancer. All point mutations were mis-sense mutation that affected highly conserved serine or threonine region that is important for GSK-3β phosphorylation. CONCLUSION Findings of the study suggests that high frequency of non synonymous mutations of β-catenin gene (ctnnb1) occurs in patients with gallbladder cancer. As these mutations mainly effect GSK 3β phosphorylation, it may be concluded that this might be an important step in gallbladder carcinogenesis. These β-catenin mutations lead to Wnt pathway activation and appear to have a role in progression from inflammation to cancer in gallbladder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhi Dixit
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India
| | - Manoj Pandey
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Tripathi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India
| | - Amit Nandan Dhar Dwivedi
- Department of Radio Diagnosis, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Shukla
- Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India.
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Çelen İ, Doh JH, Sabanayagam CR. Effects of liquid cultivation on gene expression and phenotype of C. elegans. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:562. [PMID: 30064382 PMCID: PMC6069985 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4948-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liquid cultures have been commonly used in space, toxicology, and pharmacology studies of Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the knowledge about transcriptomic alterations caused by liquid cultivation remains limited. Moreover, the impact of different genotypes in rapid adaptive responses to environmental changes (e.g., liquid cultivation) is often overlooked. Here, we report the transcriptomic and phenotypic responses of laboratory N2 and the wild-isolate AB1 strains after culturing P0 worms on agar plates, F1 in liquid cultures, and F2 back on agar plates. RESULTS Significant variations were found in the gene expressions between the N2 and AB1 strains in response to liquid cultivation. The results demonstrated that 8-34% of the environmental change-induced transcriptional responses are transmitted to the subsequent generation. By categorizing the gene expressions for genotype, environment, and genotype-environment interactions, we identified that the genotype has a substantial impact on the adaptive responses. Functional analysis of the transcriptome showed correlation with phenotypical changes. For example, the N2 strain exhibited alterations in both phenotype and gene expressions for germline and cuticle in axenic liquid cultivation. We found transcript evidence to approximately 21% of the computationally predicted genes in C. elegans by exposing the worms to environmental changes. CONCLUSIONS The presented study reveals substantial differences between N2 and AB1 strains for transcriptomic and phenotypical responses to rapid environmental changes. Our data can provide standard controls for future studies for the liquid cultivation of C. elegans and enable the discovery of condition-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- İrem Çelen
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711 USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711 USA
| | - Jung H. Doh
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711 USA
| | - Chandran R. Sabanayagam
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711 USA
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8
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Alaee M, Nool K, Pasdar M. Plakoglobin restores tumor suppressor activity of p53 R175H mutant by sequestering the oncogenic potential of β-catenin. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:1876-1888. [PMID: 29660231 PMCID: PMC5989865 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor/transcription factor p53 is mutated in over 50% of all cancers. Some mutant p53 proteins have not only lost tumor suppressor activities but they also gain oncogenic functions (GOF). One of the most frequently expressed GOF p53 mutants is Arg175His (p53R175H ) with well-documented roles in cancer development and progression. Plakoglobin is a cell adhesion and signaling protein and a paralog of β-catenin. Unlike β-catenin that has oncogenic function through its role in the Wnt pathway, plakoglobin generally acts as a tumor/metastasis suppressor. We have shown that plakoglobin interacted with wild type and a number of p53 mutants in various carcinoma cell lines. Plakoglobin and mutant p53 interacted with the promoter and regulated the expression of several p53 target genes. Furthermore, plakoglobin interactions with p53 mutants restored their tumor suppressor/metastasis activities in vitro. GOF p53 mutants induce accumulation and oncogenic activation of β-catenin. Previously, we showed that one mechanism by which plakoglobin may suppress tumorigenesis is by sequestering β-catenin's oncogenic activity. Here, we examined the effects of p53R175H expression on β-catenin accumulation and transcriptional activation and their modifications by plakoglobin coexpression. We showed that p53R175H expression in plakoglobin null cells increased total and nuclear levels of β-catenin and its transcriptional activity. Coexpression of plakoglobin in these cells promoted β-catenin's proteasomal degradation, and decreased its nuclear levels and transactivation. Wnt/β-catenin targets, c-MYC and S100A4 were upregulated in p53R175H cells and were downregulated when plakoglobin was coexpressed. Plakoglobin-p53R175H cells also showed significant reduction in their migration and invasion in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Alaee
- Department of OncologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | - Kristina Nool
- Department of OncologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | - Manijeh Pasdar
- Department of OncologyUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
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Abstract
The Protein Ontology (PRO) is the reference ontology for proteins in the Open Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) foundry and consists of three sub-ontologies representing protein classes of homologous genes, proteoforms (e.g., splice isoforms, sequence variants, and post-translationally modified forms), and protein complexes. PRO defines classes of proteins and protein complexes, both species-specific and species nonspecific, and indicates their relationships in a hierarchical framework, supporting accurate protein annotation at the appropriate level of granularity, analyses of protein conservation across species, and semantic reasoning. In the first section of this chapter, we describe the PRO framework including categories of PRO terms and the relationship of PRO to other ontologies and protein resources. Next, we provide a tutorial about the PRO website ( proconsortium.org ) where users can browse and search the PRO hierarchy, view reports on individual PRO terms, and visualize relationships among PRO terms in a hierarchical table view, a multiple sequence alignment view, and a Cytoscape network view. Finally, we describe several examples illustrating the unique and rich information available in PRO.
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10
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Pancreatic desmoid-type fibromatosis with beta-catenin gene mutation-Report of a case and review of the literature. Pathol Res Pract 2016; 212:484-9. [PMID: 26907785 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2016.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We experienced a rare case of pancreatic desmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) in a 75-year-old Japanese woman. She was asymptomatic but routine examination including ultrasonography revealed a mass in the abdomen. For precise examination, she was referred to the regional hospital. Computed tomography showed that the mass was protruding anteriorly from the left-sided pancreas. Because of the enlargement of the mass lesion, distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed after about 3 months. Macroscopically, the mass was encapsulated and approximately 8cm in diameter. Histological examination revealed that spindle or blunt stellate cells were proliferating in parallel or storiform fashion with myxoid and fibrous background. The tumor cells did not show prominent atypia and mitoses were rarely seen, suggesting that the tumor was low grade or borderline. Immunohistochemistry showed obvious nuclear staining of beta-catenin. Furthermore, analysis of beta-catenin gene revealed that the tumor had a typical missense mutation of threonine to alanine at colon 41 (T41A) in exon 3. These findings confirmed the pathological diagnosis of DTF of the pancreas. To the best of our knowledge, 18 cases of pancreatic DTF have been reported in the English literature and beta-catenin gene mutation had been examined in only one case among them. Thus, our case is the 19th pancreatic DTF and the second case with confirmed beta-catenin gene mutation.
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