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Hunter I, Coulson B, Pettini T, Davies JJ, Parkin J, Landgraf M, Baines RA. Balance of activity during a critical period tunes a developing network. eLife 2024; 12:RP91599. [PMID: 38193543 PMCID: PMC10945558 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91599] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing neural circuits are influenced by activity and are especially sensitive to changes in activity during critical periods (CPs) of development. Changes occurring during a CP often become 'locked in' so that they affect the mature network. Indeed, several neurodevelopmental disorders have been linked to excessive activity during such periods. It is, therefore, important to identify those aspects of neural circuit development that are influenced by neural activity during a CP. In this study, we take advantage of the genetic tractability of Drosophila to show that activity perturbation during an embryonic CP permanently alters properties of the locomotor circuit. Specific changes we identify include increased synchronicity of motoneuron activity and greater strengthening of excitatory over inhibitory synaptic drive to motoneurons. These changes are sufficient to reduce network robustness, evidenced by increased sensitivity to induced seizure. We also show that we can rescue these changes when increased activity is mitigated by inhibition provided by mechanosensory neurons. Similarly, we demonstrate a dose-dependent relationship between inhibition experienced during the CP and the extent to which it is possible to rescue the hyperexcitable phenotype characteristic of the parabss mutation. This suggests that developing circuits must be exposed to a properly balanced sum of excitation and inhibition during the CP to achieve normal mature network function. Our results, therefore, provide novel insight into how activity during a CP shapes specific elements of a circuit, and how activity during this period is integrated to tune neural circuits to the environment in which they will likely function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Hunter
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Bramwell Coulson
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Tom Pettini
- Department of Zoology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jacob J Davies
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Jill Parkin
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthias Landgraf
- Department of Zoology, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Richard A Baines
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,University of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
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2
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Fischer FP, Karge RA, Weber YG, Koch H, Wolking S, Voigt A. Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile model organism to study genetic epilepsies: An overview. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1116000. [PMID: 36873106 PMCID: PMC9978166 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1116000] [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: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders, affecting more than 45 million people worldwide. Recent advances in genetic techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, have driven genetic discovery and increased our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind many epilepsy syndromes. These insights prompt the development of personalized therapies tailored to the genetic characteristics of an individual patient. However, the surging number of novel genetic variants renders the interpretation of pathogenetic consequences and of potential therapeutic implications ever more challenging. Model organisms can help explore these aspects in vivo. In the last decades, rodent models have significantly contributed to our understanding of genetic epilepsies but their establishment is laborious, expensive, and time-consuming. Additional model organisms to investigate disease variants on a large scale would be desirable. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism in epilepsy research since the discovery of "bang-sensitive" mutants more than half a century ago. These flies respond to mechanical stimulation, such as a brief vortex, with stereotypic seizures and paralysis. Furthermore, the identification of seizure-suppressor mutations allows to pinpoint novel therapeutic targets. Gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, are a convenient way to generate flies carrying disease-associated variants. These flies can be screened for phenotypic and behavioral abnormalities, shifting of seizure thresholds, and response to anti-seizure medications and other substances. Moreover, modification of neuronal activity and seizure induction can be achieved using optogenetic tools. In combination with calcium and fluorescent imaging, functional alterations caused by mutations in epilepsy genes can be traced. Here, we review Drosophila as a versatile model organism to study genetic epilepsies, especially as 81% of human epilepsy genes have an orthologous gene in Drosophila. Furthermore, we discuss newly established analysis techniques that might be used to further unravel the pathophysiological aspects of genetic epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian P Fischer
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Robin A Karge
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yvonne G Weber
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Henner Koch
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Wolking
- Department of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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3
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Sterin I, Santos AC, Park S. Neuronal Activity Reporters as Drug Screening Platforms. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1500. [PMID: 36144123 PMCID: PMC9504476 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how neuronal activity changes and detecting such changes in both normal and disease conditions is of fundamental importance to the field of neuroscience. Neuronal activity plays important roles in the formation and function of both synapses and circuits, and dysregulation of these processes has been linked to a number of debilitating diseases such as autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Despite advances in our understanding of synapse biology and in how it is altered in disease, the development of therapeutics for these diseases has not advanced apace. Many neuronal activity assays have been developed over the years using a variety of platforms and approaches, but major limitations persist. Current assays, such as fluorescence indicators are not designed to monitor neuronal activity over a long time, they are typically low-throughput or lack sensitivity. These are major barriers to the development of new therapies, as drug screening needs to be both high-throughput to screen through libraries of compounds, and longitudinal to detect any effects that may emerge after continued application of the drug. This review will cover existing assays for measuring neuronal activity and highlight a live-cell assay recently developed. This assay can be performed with easily accessible lab equipment, is both scalable and longitudinal, and can be combined with most other established methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igal Sterin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ana C. Santos
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Sungjin Park
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Liang X, Holy TE, Taghert PH. Circadian pacemaker neurons display cophasic rhythms in basal calcium level and in fast calcium fluctuations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2109969119. [PMID: 35446620 PMCID: PMC9173584 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109969119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Circadian pacemaker neurons in the Drosophila brain display daily rhythms in the levels of intracellular calcium. These calcium rhythms are driven by molecular clocks and are required for normal circadian behavior. To study their biological basis, we employed genetic manipulations in conjunction with improved methods of in vivo light-sheet microscopy to measure calcium dynamics in individual pacemaker neurons over complete 24-h durations at sampling frequencies as high as 5 Hz. This technological advance unexpectedly revealed cophasic daily rhythms in basal calcium levels and in high-frequency calcium fluctuations. Further, we found that the rhythms of basal calcium levels and of fast calcium fluctuations reflect the activities of two proteins that mediate distinct forms of calcium fluxes. One is the inositol trisphosphate receptor (ITPR), a channel that mediates calcium fluxes from internal endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores, and the other is a T-type voltage-gated calcium channel, which mediates extracellular calcium influx. These results suggest that Drosophila molecular clocks regulate ITPR and T-type channels to generate two distinct but coupled rhythms in basal calcium and in fast calcium fluctuations. We propose that both internal and external calcium fluxes are essential for circadian pacemaker neurons to provide rhythmic outputs and thereby, regulate the activities of downstream brain centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xitong Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Timothy E. Holy
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Paul H. Taghert
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
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5
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Jonaitis J, MacLeod J, Pulver SR. Localization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-dependent rhythm-generating modules in the Drosophila larval locomotor network. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:1098-1116. [PMID: 35294308 PMCID: PMC9018013 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00106.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of rhythm generation have been extensively studied in motor systems that control locomotion over terrain in limbed animals; however, much less is known about rhythm generation in soft-bodied terrestrial animals. Here we explored how muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR)-modulated rhythm-generating networks are distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) of soft-bodied Drosophila larvae. We measured fictive motor patterns in isolated CNS preparations, using a combination of Ca2+ imaging and electrophysiology while manipulating mAChR signaling pharmacologically. Bath application of the mAChR agonist oxotremorine potentiated bilaterally asymmetric activity in anterior thoracic regions and promoted bursting in posterior abdominal regions. Application of the mAChR antagonist scopolamine suppressed rhythm generation in these regions and blocked the effects of oxotremorine. Oxotremorine triggered fictive forward crawling in preparations without brain lobes. Oxotremorine also potentiated rhythmic activity in isolated posterior abdominal CNS segments as well as isolated anterior brain and thoracic regions, but it did not induce rhythmic activity in isolated anterior abdominal segments. Bath application of scopolamine to reduced preparations lowered baseline Ca2+ levels and abolished rhythmic activity. Overall, these results suggest that mAChR signaling plays a role in enabling rhythm generation at multiple sites in the larval CNS. This work furthers our understanding of motor control in soft-bodied locomotion and provides a foundation for study of rhythm-generating networks in an emerging genetically tractable locomotor system.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using a combination of pharmacology, electrophysiology, and Ca2+ imaging, we find that signaling through mACh receptors plays a critical role in rhythmogenesis in different regions of the Drosophila larval CNS. mAChR-dependent rhythm generators reside in distal regions of the larval CNS and provide functional substrates for central pattern-generating networks (CPGs) underlying headsweep behavior and forward locomotion. This provides new insights into locomotor CPG operation in soft-bodied animals that navigate over terrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Jonaitis
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - James MacLeod
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan R Pulver
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
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6
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Nitric oxide mediates activity-dependent change to synaptic excitation during a critical period in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20286. [PMID: 34645891 PMCID: PMC8514485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of coordinated network function during nervous system development is often associated with critical periods. These phases are sensitive to activity perturbations during, but not outside, of the critical period, that can lead to permanently altered network function for reasons that are not well understood. In particular, the mechanisms that transduce neuronal activity to regulating changes in neuronal physiology or structure are not known. Here, we take advantage of a recently identified invertebrate model for studying critical periods, the Drosophila larval locomotor system. Manipulation of neuronal activity during this critical period is sufficient to increase synaptic excitation and to permanently leave the locomotor network prone to induced seizures. Using genetics and pharmacological manipulations, we identify nitric oxide (NO)-signaling as a key mediator of activity. Transiently increasing or decreasing NO-signaling during the critical period mimics the effects of activity manipulations, causing the same lasting changes in synaptic transmission and susceptibility to seizure induction. Moreover, the effects of increased activity on the developing network are suppressed by concomitant reduction in NO-signaling and enhanced by additional NO-signaling. These data identify NO signaling as a downstream effector, providing new mechanistic insight into how activity during a critical period tunes a developing network.
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Abstract
Hypersynchronous neural activity is a characteristic feature of seizures. Although many Drosophila mutants of epilepsy-related genes display clear behavioral spasms and motor unit hyperexcitability, field potential measurements of aberrant hypersynchronous activity across brain regions during seizures have yet to be described. Here, we report a straightforward method to observe local field potentials (LFPs) from the Drosophila brain to monitor ensemble neural activity during seizures in behaving tethered flies. High frequency stimulation across the brain reliably triggers a stereotypic sequence of electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) spike discharges readily detectable in the dorsal longitudinal muscle (DLM) and coupled with behavioral spasms. During seizure episodes, the LFP signal displayed characteristic large-amplitude oscillations with a stereotypic temporal correlation to DLM flight muscle spiking. ECS-related LFP events were clearly distinct from rest- and flight-associated LFP patterns. We further characterized the LFP activity during different types of seizures originating from genetic and pharmacological manipulations. In the 'bang-sensitive' sodium channel mutant bangsenseless (bss), the LFP pattern was prolonged, and the temporal correlation between LFP oscillations and DLM discharges was altered. Following administration of the pro-convulsant GABAA blocker picrotoxin, we uncovered a qualitatively different LFP activity pattern, which consisted of a slow (1-Hz), repetitive, waveform, closely coupled with DLM bursting and behavioral spasms. Our approach to record brain LFPs presents an initial framework for electrophysiological analysis of the complex brain-wide activity patterns in the large collection of Drosophila excitability mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atulya Iyengar
- Department of Biology, and Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Chun-Fang Wu
- Department of Biology, and Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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8
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Characterization of Seizure Induction Methods in Drosophila. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0079-21.2021. [PMID: 34330816 PMCID: PMC8387149 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0079-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders. Around one third of patients do not respond to current medications. This lack of treatment indicates a need for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and, importantly, the identification of novel targets for drug manipulation. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has a fast reproduction time, powerful genetics, and facilitates large sample sizes, making it a strong model of seizure mechanisms. To better understand behavioral and physiological phenotypes across major fly seizure genotypes we systematically measured seizure severity and secondary behavioral phenotypes at both the larval and adult stage. Comparison of several seizure-induction methods; specifically electrical, mechanical and heat induction, show that larval electroshock is the most effective at inducing seizures across a wide range of seizure-prone mutants tested. Locomotion in adults and larvae was found to be non-predictive of seizure susceptibility. Recording activity in identified larval motor neurons revealed variations in action potential (AP) patterns, across different genotypes, but these patterns did not correlate with seizure susceptibility. To conclude, while there is wide variation in mechanical induction, heat induction, and secondary phenotypes, electroshock is the most consistent method of seizure induction across known major seizure genotypes in Drosophila.
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9
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Redolfi N, García-Casas P, Fornetto C, Sonda S, Pizzo P, Pendin D. Lighting Up Ca 2+ Dynamics in Animal Models. Cells 2021; 10:2133. [PMID: 34440902 PMCID: PMC8392631 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082133] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) signaling coordinates are crucial processes in brain physiology. Particularly, fundamental aspects of neuronal function such as synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity are regulated by Ca2+, and neuronal survival itself relies on Ca2+-dependent cascades. Indeed, impaired Ca2+ homeostasis has been reported in aging as well as in the onset and progression of neurodegeneration. Understanding the physiology of brain function and the key processes leading to its derangement is a core challenge for neuroscience. In this context, Ca2+ imaging represents a powerful tool, effectively fostered by the continuous amelioration of Ca2+ sensors in parallel with the improvement of imaging instrumentation. In this review, we explore the potentiality of the most used animal models employed for Ca2+ imaging, highlighting their application in brain research to explore the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Redolfi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Paloma García-Casas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Chiara Fornetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Sonia Sonda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Paola Pizzo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Diana Pendin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy; (N.R.); (P.G.-C.); (C.F.); (S.S.); (P.P.)
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy
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10
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Shemesh OA, Linghu C, Piatkevich KD, Goodwin D, Celiker OT, Gritton HJ, Romano MF, Gao R, Yu CCJ, Tseng HA, Bensussen S, Narayan S, Yang CT, Freifeld L, Siciliano CA, Gupta I, Wang J, Pak N, Yoon YG, Ullmann JFP, Guner-Ataman B, Noamany H, Sheinkopf ZR, Park WM, Asano S, Keating AE, Trimmer JS, Reimer J, Tolias AS, Bear MF, Tye KM, Han X, Ahrens MB, Boyden ES. Precision Calcium Imaging of Dense Neural Populations via a Cell-Body-Targeted Calcium Indicator. Neuron 2020; 107:470-486.e11. [PMID: 32592656 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Methods for one-photon fluorescent imaging of calcium dynamics can capture the activity of hundreds of neurons across large fields of view at a low equipment complexity and cost. In contrast to two-photon methods, however, one-photon methods suffer from higher levels of crosstalk from neuropil, resulting in a decreased signal-to-noise ratio and artifactual correlations of neural activity. We address this problem by engineering cell-body-targeted variants of the fluorescent calcium indicators GCaMP6f and GCaMP7f. We screened fusions of GCaMP to natural, as well as artificial, peptides and identified fusions that localized GCaMP to within 50 μm of the cell body of neurons in mice and larval zebrafish. One-photon imaging of soma-targeted GCaMP in dense neural circuits reported fewer artifactual spikes from neuropil, an increased signal-to-noise ratio, and decreased artifactual correlation across neurons. Thus, soma-targeting of fluorescent calcium indicators facilitates usage of simple, powerful, one-photon methods for imaging neural calcium dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or A Shemesh
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Changyang Linghu
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kiryl D Piatkevich
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Daniel Goodwin
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Orhan Tunc Celiker
- MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Howard J Gritton
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michael F Romano
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ruixuan Gao
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chih-Chieh Jay Yu
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hua-An Tseng
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Seth Bensussen
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sujatha Narayan
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Chao-Tsung Yang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Limor Freifeld
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Cody A Siciliano
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ishan Gupta
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joyce Wang
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Nikita Pak
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Young-Gyu Yoon
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST Institute for Health Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Burcu Guner-Ataman
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Habiba Noamany
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Zoe R Sheinkopf
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Shoh Asano
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy E Keating
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Koch Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James S Trimmer
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jacob Reimer
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Neuroscience and AI, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andreas S Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Neuroscience and AI, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark F Bear
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kay M Tye
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xue Han
- Boston University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Misha B Ahrens
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Edward S Boyden
- The MIT Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT Center for Neurobiological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Koch Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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11
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Drosophila as a model to understand autophagy deregulation in human disorders. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020. [PMID: 32620249 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy has important functions in normal physiology to maintain homeostasis and protect against cellular stresses by the removal of harmful cargos such as dysfunctional organelles, protein aggregates and invading pathogens. The deregulation of autophagy is a hallmark of many diseases and therapeutic targeting of autophagy is highly topical. With the complex role of autophagy in disease it is essential to understand the genetic and molecular basis of the contribution of autophagy to pathogenesis. The model organism, Drosophila, provides a genetically amenable system to dissect out the contribution of autophagy to human disease models. Here we review the roles of autophagy in human disease and how autophagy studies in Drosophila have contributed to the understanding of pathophysiology.
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Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster, colloquially known as the fruit fly, is one of the most commonly used model organisms in scientific research. Although the final architecture of a fly and a human differs greatly, most of the fundamental biological mechanisms and pathways controlling development and survival are conserved through evolution between the two species. For this reason, Drosophila has been productively used as a model organism for over a century, to study a diverse range of biological processes, including development, learning, behavior and aging. Ca2+ signaling comprises complex pathways that impact on virtually every aspect of cellular physiology. Within such a complex field of study, Drosophila offers the advantages of consolidated molecular and genetic techniques, lack of genetic redundancy and a completely annotated genome since 2000. These and other characteristics provided the basis for the identification of many genes encoding Ca2+ signaling molecules and the disclosure of conserved Ca2+ signaling pathways. In this review, we will analyze the applications of Ca2+ imaging in the fruit fly model, highlighting in particular their impact on the study of normal brain function and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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13
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Campbell CL, Saavedra-Rodriguez K, Kubik TD, Lenhart A, Lozano-Fuentes S, Black WC. Vgsc-interacting proteins are genetically associated with pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211497. [PMID: 30695054 PMCID: PMC6350986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Association mapping of factors that condition pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti has consistently identified genes in multiple functional groups. Toward better understanding of the mechanisms involved, we examined high throughput sequencing data (HTS) from two Aedes aegypti aegypti collections from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico treated with either permethrin or deltamethrin. Exome capture enrichment for coding regions and the AaegL5 annotation were used to identify genes statistically associated with resistance. The frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were compared between resistant and susceptible mosquito pools using a contingency χ2 analysis. The -log10(χ2p value) was calculated at each SNP site, with a weighted average determined from all sites in each gene. Genes with -log10(χ2p value) ≥ 4.0 and present among all 3 treatment groups were subjected to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). We found that several functional groups were enriched compared to all coding genes. These categories were transport, signal transduction and metabolism, in order from highest to lowest statistical significance. Strikingly, 21 genes with demonstrated association to synaptic function were identified. In the high association group (n = 1,053 genes), several genes were identified that also genetically or physically interact with the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC). These genes were eg., CHARLATAN (CHL), a transcriptional regulator, several ankyrin-domain proteins, PUMILIO (PUM), a translational repressor, and NEDD4 (E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase). There were 13 genes that ranked among the top 10%: these included VGSC; CINGULIN, a predicted neuronal gap junction protein, and the aedine ortholog of NERVY (NVY), a transcriptional regulator. Silencing of CHL and NVY followed by standard permethrin bottle bioassays validated their association with permethrin resistance. Importantly, VGSC levels were also reduced about 50% in chl- or nvy-dsRNA treated mosquitoes. These results are consistent with the contribution of a variety of neuronal pathways to pyrethroid resistance in Ae. aegypti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey L Campbell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Karla Saavedra-Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tristan D Kubik
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Audrey Lenhart
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Saul Lozano-Fuentes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - William C Black
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
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Zhao W, Zhou P, Gong C, Ouyang Z, Wang J, Zheng N, Gong Z. A disinhibitory mechanism biases Drosophila innate light preference. Nat Commun 2019; 10:124. [PMID: 30631066 PMCID: PMC6328558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07929-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate preference toward environmental conditions is crucial for animal survival. Although much is known about the neural processing of sensory information, how the aversive or attractive sensory stimulus is transformed through central brain neurons into avoidance or approaching behavior is largely unclear. Here we show that Drosophila larval light preference behavior is regulated by a disinhibitory mechanism. In the disinhibitory circuit, a pair of GABAergic neurons exerts tonic inhibition on one pair of contralateral projecting neurons that control larval reorientation behavior. When a larva enters the light area, the reorientation-controlling neurons are disinhibited to allow reorientation to occur as the upstream inhibitory neurons are repressed by light. When the larva exits the light area, the inhibition on the downstream neurons is restored to repress further reorientation and thus prevents the larva from re-entering the light area. We suggest that disinhibition may serve as a common neural mechanism for animal innate preference behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiao Zhao
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Peipei Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Caixia Gong
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Zhenhuan Ouyang
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Nenggan Zheng
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China.
| | - Zhefeng Gong
- Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
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15
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Goldammer J, Mantziaris C, Büschges A, Schmidt J. Calcium imaging of CPG-evoked activity in efferent neurons of the stick insect. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202822. [PMID: 30142206 PMCID: PMC6108493 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The stick insect is a well-established experimental animal to study the neural basis of walking. Here, we introduce a preparation that allows combining calcium imaging in efferent neurons with electrophysiological recordings of motor neuron activity in the stick insect thoracic nerve cord. The intracellular free calcium concentration in middle leg retractor coxae motor neurons and modulatory octopaminergic DUM neurons was monitored after backfilling lateral nerve nl5 that contains the axons of these neurons with the calcium indicator Oregon Green BAPTA-1. Rhythmic spike activity in retractor and protractor motor neurons was evoked by pharmacological activation of central pattern generating neuronal networks and recorded extracellularly from lateral nerves. A primary goal of this study was to investigate whether changes in the intracellular free calcium concentration observed in motor neurons during oscillatory activity depend on action potentials. We show that rhythmic spike activity in leg motor neurons induced either pharmacologically or by tactile stimulation of the animal is accompanied by a synchronous modulation in the intracellular free calcium concentration. Calcium oscillations in motor neurons do not appear to depend on calcium influx through voltage-sensitive calcium channels that are gated by action potentials because Calcium oscillations persist after pharmacologically blocking action potentials in the motor neurons. Calcium oscillations were also apparent in the modulatory DUM neurons innervating the same leg muscle. However, the timing of calcium oscillations varied not only between DUM neurons and motor neurons, but also among different DUM neurons. Therefore, we conclude that the motor neurons and the different DUM neurons receive independent central drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Goldammer
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Charalampos Mantziaris
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ansgar Büschges
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Joachim Schmidt
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
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16
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Johan Arief MF, Choo BKM, Yap JL, Kumari Y, Shaikh MF. A Systematic Review on Non-mammalian Models in Epilepsy Research. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:655. [PMID: 29997502 PMCID: PMC6030834 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by seizures which result in distinctive neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Not much is known about the causes of epilepsy, making it difficult to devise an effective cure for epilepsy. Moreover, clinical studies involving epileptogenesis and ictogenesis cannot be conducted in humans due to ethical reasons. As a result, animal models play a crucial role in the replication of epileptic seizures. In recent years, non-mammalian models have been given a primary focus in epilepsy research due to their advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize the importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research, such as in the screening of anti-convulsive compounds. The reason for this review is to integrate currently available information on the use and importance of non-mammalian models in epilepsy testing to aid in the planning of future studies as well as to provide an overview of the current state of this field. A PRISMA model was utilized and PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect and SCOPUS were searched for articles published between January 2007 and November 2017. Fifty-one articles were finalized based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were discussed in this review. The results of this review demonstrated the current use of non-mammalian models in epilepsy research and reaffirmed their potential to supplement the typical rodent models of epilepsy in future research into both epileptogenesis and the treatment of epilepsy. This review also revealed a preference for zebrafish and fruit flies in lieu of other non-mammalian models, which is a shortcoming that should be corrected in future studies due to the great potential of these underutilized animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Faiz Johan Arief
- MBBS Young Scholars Program, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.,Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Brandon Kar Meng Choo
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Jia Ling Yap
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.,School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Yatinesh Kumari
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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17
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Strange K. Drug Discovery in Fish, Flies, and Worms. ILAR J 2017; 57:133-143. [PMID: 28053067 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilw034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonmammalian model organisms such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the zebrafish Danio rerio provide numerous experimental advantages for drug discovery including genetic and molecular tractability, amenability to high-throughput screening methods and reduced experimental costs and increased experimental throughput compared to traditional mammalian models. An interdisciplinary approach that strategically combines the study of nonmammalian and mammalian animal models with diverse experimental tools has and will continue to provide deep molecular and genetic understanding of human disease and will significantly enhance the discovery and application of new therapies to treat those diseases. This review will provide an overview of C. elegans, Drosophila, and zebrafish biology and husbandry and will discuss how these models are being used for phenotype-based drug screening and for identification of drug targets and mechanisms of action. The review will also describe how these and other nonmammalian model organisms are uniquely suited for the discovery of drug-based regenerative medicine therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Strange
- Kevin Strange, Ph.D., is President and CEO of the MDI Biological Laboratory and CEO of Novo Biosciences, Inc
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18
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Noebels J. Precision physiology and rescue of brain ion channel disorders. J Gen Physiol 2017; 149:533-546. [PMID: 28428202 PMCID: PMC5412535 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201711759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channel genes, originally implicated in inherited excitability disorders of muscle and heart, have captured a major role in the molecular diagnosis of central nervous system disease. Their arrival is heralded by neurologists confounded by a broad phenotypic spectrum of early-onset epilepsy, autism, and cognitive impairment with few effective treatments. As detection of rare structural variants in channel subunit proteins becomes routine, it is apparent that primary sequence alone cannot reliably predict clinical severity or pinpoint a therapeutic solution. Future gains in the clinical utility of variants as biomarkers integral to clinical decision making and drug discovery depend on our ability to unravel complex developmental relationships bridging single ion channel structure and human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Noebels
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 .,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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Kohsaka H, Guertin PA, Nose A. Neural Circuits Underlying Fly Larval Locomotion. Curr Pharm Des 2017; 23:1722-1733. [PMID: 27928962 PMCID: PMC5470056 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666161208120835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Locomotion is a complex motor behavior that may be expressed in different ways using a variety of strategies depending upon species and pathological or environmental conditions. Quadrupedal or bipedal walking, running, swimming, flying and gliding constitute some of the locomotor modes enabling the body, in all cases, to move from one place to another. Despite these apparent differences in modes of locomotion, both vertebrate and invertebrate species share, at least in part, comparable neural control mechanisms for locomotor rhythm and pattern generation and modulation. Significant advances have been made in recent years in studies of the genetic aspects of these control systems. Findings made specifically using Drosophila (fruit fly) models and preparations have contributed to further understanding of the key role of genes in locomotion. This review focuses on some of the main findings made in larval fruit flies while briefly summarizing the basic advantages of using this powerful animal model for studying the neural locomotor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kohsaka
- Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Pierre A. Guertin
- Department of Psychiatry & Neurosciences, Laval University, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Akinao Nose
- Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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20
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Regulation of motoneuron excitability and the setting of homeostatic limits. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 43:1-6. [PMID: 27721083 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Stability of neural circuits is reliant on homeostatic mechanisms that return neuron activity towards pre-determined and physiologically appropriate levels. Without these mechanisms, changes due to synaptic plasticity, ageing and disease may push neural circuits towards instability. Whilst widely documented, understanding of how and when neurons determine an appropriate activity level, the so-called set-point, remains unknown. Genetically tractable model systems have greatly contributed to our understanding of neuronal homeostasis and continue to offer attractive models to explore these additional questions. This review focuses on the development of Drosophila motoneurons including defining an embryonic critical period during which these neurons encode their set-points to enable homeostatic regulation of activity.
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