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Kitamura A, Fujimoto A, Kawashima R, Lyu Y, Sasaki K, Hamada Y, Moriya K, Kurata A, Takahashi K, Brielmann R, Bott LC, Morimoto RI, Kinjo M. Hetero-oligomerization of TDP-43 carboxy-terminal fragments with cellular proteins contributes to proteotoxicity. Commun Biol 2024; 7:743. [PMID: 38902525 PMCID: PMC11190292 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06410-3] [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: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Carboxy terminal fragments (CTFs) of TDP-43 contain an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) and form cytoplasmic condensates containing amyloid fibrils. Such condensates are toxic and associated with pathogenicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the molecular details of how the domain of TDP-43 CTFs leads to condensation and cytotoxicity remain elusive. Here, we show that truncated RNA/DNA-recognition motif (RRM) at the N-terminus of TDP-43 CTFs leads to the structural transition of the IDR, whereas the IDR itself of TDP-43 CTFs is difficult to assemble even if they are proximate intermolecularly. Hetero-oligomers of TDP-43 CTFs that have recruited other proteins are more toxic than homo-oligomers, implicating loss-of-function of the endogenous proteins by such oligomers is associated with cytotoxicity. Furthermore, such toxicity of TDP-43 CTFs was cell-nonautonomously affected in the nematodes. Therefore, misfolding and oligomeric characteristics of the truncated RRM at the N-terminus of TDP-43 CTFs define their condensation properties and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Kitamura
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan.
- PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan.
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan.
| | - Ai Fujimoto
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Rei Kawashima
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Yidan Lyu
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Kotetsu Sasaki
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Yuta Hamada
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Kanami Moriya
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Ayumi Kurata
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Kazuho Takahashi
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
| | - Reneé Brielmann
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Laura C Bott
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Richard I Morimoto
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Masataka Kinjo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Dynamics, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, N21W11, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan
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Romussi S, Giunti S, Andersen N, De Rosa MJ. C. elegans: a prominent platform for modeling and drug screening in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:565-585. [PMID: 38509691 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2329103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (NDevDs and NDegDs, respectively) encompass a broad spectrum of disorders affecting the nervous system with an increasing incidence. In this context, the nematode C. elegans, has emerged as a benchmark model for biological research, especially in the field of neuroscience. AREAS COVERED The authors highlight the numerous advantages of this tiny worm as a model for exploring nervous system pathologies and as a platform for drug discovery. There is a particular focus given to describing the existing models of C. elegans for the study of NDevDs and NDegDs. Specifically, the authors underscore their strong applicability in preclinical drug development. Furthermore, they place particular emphasis on detailing the common techniques employed to explore the nervous system in both healthy and diseased states. EXPERT OPINION Drug discovery constitutes a long and expensive process. The incorporation of invertebrate models, such as C. elegans, stands as an exemplary strategy for mitigating costs and expediting timelines. The utilization of C. elegans as a platform to replicate nervous system pathologies and conduct high-throughput automated assays in the initial phases of drug discovery is pivotal for rendering therapeutic options more attainable and cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Romussi
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Giunti
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Skeens A, Siriwardhana C, Massinople SE, Wunder MM, Ellis ZL, Keith KM, Girman T, Frey SL, Legleiter J. The polyglutamine domain is the primary driver of seeding in huntingtin aggregation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298323. [PMID: 38483973 PMCID: PMC10939245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by aggregation of the huntingtin protein (htt) with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domain into amyloid fibrils. Htt aggregation is modified by flanking sequences surrounding the polyQ domain as well as the binding of htt to lipid membranes. Upon fibrillization, htt fibrils are able to template the aggregation of monomers into fibrils in a phenomenon known as seeding, and this process appears to play a critical role in cell-to-cell spread of HD. Here, exposure of C. elegans expressing a nonpathogenic N-terminal htt fragment (15-repeat glutamine residues) to preformed htt-exon1 fibrils induced inclusion formation and resulted in decreased viability in a dose dependent manner, demonstrating that seeding can induce toxic aggregation of nonpathogenic forms of htt. To better understand this seeding process, the impact of flanking sequences adjacent to the polyQ stretch, polyQ length, and the presence of model lipid membranes on htt seeding was investigated. Htt seeding readily occurred across polyQ lengths and was independent of flanking sequence, suggesting that the structured polyQ domain within fibrils is the key contributor to the seeding phenomenon. However, the addition of lipid vesicles modified seeding efficiency in a manner suggesting that seeding primarily occurs in bulk solution and not at the membrane interface. In addition, fibrils formed in the presence of lipid membranes displayed similar seeding efficiencies. Collectively, this suggests that the polyQ domain that forms the amyloid fibril core is the main driver of seeding in htt aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Skeens
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Chathuranga Siriwardhana
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sophia E. Massinople
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michelle M. Wunder
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Zachary L. Ellis
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn M. Keith
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Tyler Girman
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Shelli L. Frey
- The Department of Chemistry, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Justin Legleiter
- The C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- Rockefeller Neurosciences Institutes, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
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Rana N, Kapil L, Singh C, Singh A. Modeling Huntington's disease: An insight on in-vitro and in-vivo models. Behav Brain Res 2024; 459:114757. [PMID: 37952684 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative illness that causes neuronal death most extensively within the basal ganglia. There is a broad class of neurologic disorders associated with the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats in numerous proteins. Several other molecular mechanisms have also been implicated in HD pathology, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered synaptic plasticity in central spiny neurons. HD pathogenesis and the effectiveness of therapy approaches have been better understood through the use of animal models. The pathological manifestations of the disease were reproduced by early models of glutamate analog toxicity and mitochondrial respiration inhibition. Because the treatments available for HD are quite limited, it is important to have a definite preclinical model that mimics all the aspects of the disease. It can be used to study mechanisms and validate candidate therapies. Although there hasn't been much success in translating animal research into clinical practice, each model has something special to offer in the quest for a deeper comprehension of HD's neurobehavioral foundations. This review provides insight into various in-vitro-and in-vivo models of HD which may be useful in the screening of newer therapeutics for this incapacitating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitasha Rana
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Affiliated to I.K Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Lakshay Kapil
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Affiliated to I.K Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Charan Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Chauras Campus, Distt. Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand 246174, India
| | - Arti Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, Affiliated to I.K Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
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5
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Wu Y, Chen Y, Yu X, Zhang M, Li Z. Towards Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:443. [PMID: 38203614 PMCID: PMC10778690 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010443] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The elevated occurrence of debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), demands urgent disease-modifying therapeutics. Owing to the evolutionarily conserved molecular signalling pathways with mammalian species and facile genetic manipulation, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) emerges as a powerful and manipulative model system for mechanistic insights into neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we review several representative C. elegans models established for five common neurodegenerative diseases, which closely simulate disease phenotypes specifically in the gain-of-function aspect. We exemplify applications of high-throughput genetic and drug screenings to illustrate the potential of C. elegans to probe novel therapeutic targets. This review highlights the utility of C. elegans as a comprehensive and versatile platform for the dissection of neurodegenerative diseases at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhaoyu Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (Y.W.); (Y.C.); (X.Y.); (M.Z.)
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6
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Barwell T, Seroude L. Polyglutamine disease in peripheral tissues. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:3303-3311. [PMID: 37642359 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This year is a milestone anniversary of the discovery that Huntington's disease is caused by the presence of expanded polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene leading to the formation of huntingtin aggregates. 30 years have elapsed and there is still no cure and the only FDA-approved treatment to alleviate the debilitating locomotor impairments presents several adverse effects. It has long been neglected that the huntingtin gene is almost ubiquitously expressed in many tissues outside of the nervous system. Growing evidence indicates that these peripheral tissues can contribute to the symptoms of the disease. New findings in Drosophila have shown that the selective expression of mutant huntingtin in muscle or fat is sufficient to cause detrimental effects in the absence of any neurodegeneration. In addition, it was discovered that a completely different tissue distribution of Htt aggregates in Drosophila muscles is responsible for a drastic aggravation of the detrimental effects. This review examines the peripheral tissues that express huntingtin with an added focus on the nature and distribution of the aggregates, if any.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Barwell
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Laurent Seroude
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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7
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Barwell T, Raina S, Page A, MacCharles H, Seroude L. Juvenile and adult expression of polyglutamine expanded huntingtin produce distinct aggregate distributions in Drosophila muscle. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:2656-2668. [PMID: 37369041 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While Huntington's disease (HD) is widely recognized as a disease affecting the nervous system, much evidence has accumulated to suggest peripheral or non-neuronal tissues are affected as well. Here, we utilize the UAS/GAL4 system to express a pathogenic HD construct in the muscle of the fly and characterize the effects. We observe detrimental phenotypes such as a reduced lifespan, decreased locomotion and accumulation of protein aggregates. Strikingly, depending on the GAL4 driver used to express the construct, we saw different aggregate distributions and severity of phenotypes. These different aggregate distributions were found to be dependent on the expression level and the timing of expression. Hsp70, a well-documented suppressor of polyglutamine aggregates, was found to strongly reduce the accumulation of aggregates in the eye, but in the muscle, it did not prevent the reduction of the lifespan. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of aggregates in the muscle are distinct from the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Barwell
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Sehaj Raina
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Austin Page
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Hayley MacCharles
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Laurent Seroude
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
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8
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Alonso A, Kirkegaard JB. Fast detection of slender bodies in high density microscopy data. Commun Biol 2023; 6:754. [PMID: 37468539 PMCID: PMC10356847 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05098-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Computer-aided analysis of biological microscopy data has seen a massive improvement with the utilization of general-purpose deep learning techniques. Yet, in microscopy studies of multi-organism systems, the problem of collision and overlap remains challenging. This is particularly true for systems composed of slender bodies such as swimming nematodes, swimming spermatozoa, or the beating of eukaryotic or prokaryotic flagella. Here, we develop a end-to-end deep learning approach to extract precise shape trajectories of generally motile and overlapping slender bodies. Our method works in low resolution settings where feature keypoints are hard to define and detect. Detection is fast and we demonstrate the ability to track thousands of overlapping organisms simultaneously. While our approach is agnostic to area of application, we present it in the setting of and exemplify its usability on dense experiments of swimming Caenorhabditis elegans. The model training is achieved purely on synthetic data, utilizing a physics-based model for nematode motility, and we demonstrate the model's ability to generalize from simulations to experimental videos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Alonso
- Niels Bohr Institute & Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julius B Kirkegaard
- Niels Bohr Institute & Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Human Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030478. [PMID: 36979413 PMCID: PMC10046667 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, advances in science and technology have improved our quality of life, enabling us to tackle diseases and increase human life expectancy. However, longevity is accompanied by an accretion in the frequency of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, creating a growing burden, with pervasive social impact for human societies. The cost of managing such chronic disorders and the lack of effective treatments highlight the need to decipher their molecular and genetic underpinnings, in order to discover new therapeutic targets. In this effort, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a powerful tool to recapitulate several disease-related phenotypes and provides a highly malleable genetic model that allows the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, in addition to large-scale genetic and pharmacological screens. Its anatomical transparency allows the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to track the progress of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the functional conservation of neuronal processes, along with the high homology between nematode and human genomes, render C. elegans extremely suitable for the study of human neurodegenerative disorders. This review describes nematode models used to study neurodegeneration and underscores their contribution in the effort to dissect the molecular basis of human diseases and identify novel gene targets with therapeutic potential.
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10
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Nanoparticulate air pollution disrupts proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0275137. [PMID: 36821635 PMCID: PMC9949623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteostasis network comprises the biochemical pathways that together maintain and regulate proper protein synthesis, transport, folding, and degradation. Many progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease (HD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by an age-dependent failure of the proteostasis network to sustain the health of the proteome, resulting in protein misfolding, aggregation, and, often, neurotoxicity. Although important advances have been made in recent years to identify genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, we still know relatively little about environmental risk factors such as air pollution. Exposure to nano-sized particulate air pollution, referred to herein as nanoparticulate matter (nPM), has been shown to trigger the accumulation of misfolded and oligomerized amyloid beta (Aβ) in mice. Likewise, air pollution is known to exacerbate symptoms of AD in people. We asked whether nPM contributes to the misfolded protein load, thereby overwhelming the proteostasis network and triggering proteostasis decline. To address this, we utilized C. elegans that express reporter proteins that are sensitive to changes in the protein folding environment and respond by misfolding and displaying readily scorable phenotypes, such as localized YFP fluorescence or paralysis. We found that nPM exacerbated protein aggregation in body wall muscle cells, increasing the number of large visible protein aggregates, the amount of high molecular weight protein species, and proteotoxicity. Taken together, the data point to nPM negatively impacting proteostasis. Therefore, it seems plausible that nPM exposure may exacerbate symptoms of AD and age-related dementia in a manner that is at least partially dependent on proteostasis decline.
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Chauhan P, Wadhwa K, Singh G. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to evaluate neuroprotective potential of nano formulations. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2022.1018754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of neurodegenerative illnesses on society is significant, but the mechanisms leading to neuronal malfunction and death in these conditions remain largely unknown despite identifying essential disease genes. To pinpoint the mechanisms behind the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, several researchers have turned to nematode C. elegans instead of using mammals. Since C. elegans is transparent, free-living, and amenable to culture, it has several benefits. As a result, all the neurons in C. elegans can be easily identified, and their connections are understood. Human proteins linked to Neurodegeneration can be made to express in them. It is also possible to analyze how C. elegans orthologs of the genes responsible for human neurodegenerative diseases function. In this article, we focused at some of the most important C. elegans neurodegeneration models that accurately represent many elements of human neurodegenerative illness. It has been observed that studies using the adaptable C. elegans have helped us in better understanding of human diseases. These studies have used it to replicate several aspects of human neurodegeneration. A nanotech approach involves engineering materials or equipments interacting with biological systems at the molecular level to trigger physiological responses by increasing stimulation, responding, and interacting with target sites while minimizing side effects, thus revolutionizing the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Nanotechnologies are being used to treat neurological disorders and deliver nanoscale drugs. This review explores the current and future uses of these nanotechnologies as innovative therapeutic modalities in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases using C elegans as an experimental model.
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12
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Claesson K, Chew YL, Ecroyd H. Exploiting flow cytometry for the unbiased quantification of protein inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurochem 2022; 161:281-292. [PMID: 35170035 PMCID: PMC9541147 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of proteins into inclusions or plaques is a prominent hallmark of a diverse range of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases. The quantification of such inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans models of aggregation is usually achieved by fluorescence microscopy or other techniques involving biochemical fractionation of worm lysates. Here, we describe a simple and rapid flow cytometry-based approach that allows fluorescently tagged inclusions to be enumerated in whole worm lysate in a quantitative and unbiased fashion. We demonstrate that this technique is applicable to multiple C. elegans models of aggregation and importantly, can be used to monitor the dynamics of inclusion formation in response to heat shock and during ageing. This includes the characterisation of physicochemical properties of inclusions, such as their apparent size, which may reveal how aggregate formation is distinct in different tissues or at different stages of pathology or ageing. This new method can be used as a powerful technique for the medium- to high-throughput quantification of inclusions in future studies of genetic or chemical modulators of aggregation in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Claesson
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public HealthFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Heath Ecroyd
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
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13
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Russell JC, Lei H, Chaliparambil RK, Fish S, Markiewicz SM, Lee TI, Noori A, Kaeberlein M. Generation and characterization of a tractable C. elegans model of tauopathy. GeroScience 2021; 43:2621-2631. [PMID: 34536202 PMCID: PMC8599767 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease(AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease that results in deterioration of memory and cognitive function. As a currently untreatable disorder, AD has emerged as one of the defining biomedical challenges of our time. Thus, new approaches that can examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related AD pathology are sorely needed. One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein. Caenorhabditis elegans have been previously used to study the genetic pathways impacted by tau proteotoxic stress; however, currently, available C. elegans tau models express the human protein solely in neurons, which are unresponsive to global RNA interference (RNAi). This limits powerful RNAi screening methods from being utilized effectively in these disease models. Our goal was to develop a C. elegans tau model that has pronounced tau-induced disease phenotypes in cells that can be modified by feeding RNAi methods. Towards this end, we generated a novel C. elegans transgenic line with codon-optimized human 0N4R V337M tau expressed in the body wall muscle under the myo-3 promoter. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that the expressed tau is phosphorylated on epitopes canonically associated with human AD pathology. The tau line has significantly reduced health metrics, including egg laying, growth rate, paralysis, thrashing frequency, crawling speed, and lifespan. These defects are suppressed by RNAi directed against the tau mRNA. Taken together, our results suggest that this alternative tau genetic model could be a useful tool for uncovering the mechanisms that influence the hyperphosphorylation and toxicity of human tau via RNAi screening and other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Russell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Haoyi Lei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rahul K Chaliparambil
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Ting-I Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Matt Kaeberlein
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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14
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Finke M, Brecht D, Stifel J, Gense K, Gamerdinger M, Hartig JS. Efficient splicing-based RNA regulators for tetracycline-inducible gene expression in human cell culture and C. elegans. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:e71. [PMID: 33893804 PMCID: PMC8266659 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic riboswitches gain increasing interest for controlling transgene expression in diverse applications ranging from synthetic biology, functional genomics, and pharmaceutical target validation to potential therapeutic approaches. However, existing systems often lack the pharmaceutically suited ligands and dynamic responses needed for advanced applications. Here we present a series of synthetic riboswitches for controlling gene expression through the regulation of alternative splicing. Placing the 5′-splice site into a stem structure of a tetracycline-sensing aptamer allows us to regulate the accessibility of the splice site. In the presence of tetracycline, an exon with a premature termination codon is skipped and gene expression can occur, whereas in its absence the exon is included into the coding sequence, repressing functional protein expression. We were able to identify RNA switches controlling protein expression in human cells with high dynamic ranges and different levels of protein expression. We present minimalistic versions of this system that circumvent the need to insert an additional exon. Further, we demonstrate the robustness of our approach by transferring the devices into the important research model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, where high levels of functional protein with very low background expression could be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Finke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Dominik Brecht
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Julia Stifel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Karina Gense
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martin Gamerdinger
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jörg S Hartig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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15
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Fisher RS, Jimenez RM, Soto E, Kalev D, Elbaum-Garfinkle S. An apparent core/shell architecture of polyQ aggregates in the aging Caenorhabditis elegans neuron. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1482-1486. [PMID: 33966305 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the huntingtin protein which results in its abnormal aggregation in the nervous system. Huntingtin aggregates are linked to toxicity and neuronal dysfunction, but a comprehensive understanding of the aggregation mechanism in vivo remains elusive. Here, we examine the morphology of polyQ aggregates in Caenorhabditis elegans mechanosensory neurons as a function of age using confocal and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. We find that aggregates in young worms are mostly spherical with homogenous intensity, but as the worm ages aggregates become substantially more heterogeneous. Most prominently, in older worms we observe an apparent core/shell morphology of polyQ assemblies with decreased intensity in the center. The fluorescence lifetime of polyQ is uniform across the aggregate indicating that the dimmed intensity in the assembly center is most likely not due to quenching or changes in local environment, but rather to displacement of fluorescent polyQ from the central region. This apparent core/shell architecture of polyQ aggregates in aging C. elegans neurons contributes to the diverse landscape of polyQ aggregation states implicated in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Fisher
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rosa Meyo Jimenez
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Soto
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Darin Kalev
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shana Elbaum-Garfinkle
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA.,Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Biology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
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16
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Giunti S, Andersen N, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. Drug discovery: Insights from the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00721. [PMID: 33641258 PMCID: PMC7916527 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic drug development is a long, expensive, and complex process that usually takes 12-15 years. In the early phases of drug discovery, in particular, there is a growing need for animal models that ensure the reduction in both cost and time. Caenorhabditis elegans has been traditionally used to address fundamental aspects of key biological processes, such as apoptosis, aging, and gene expression regulation. During the last decade, with the advent of large-scale platforms for screenings, this invertebrate has also emerged as an essential tool in the pharmaceutical research industry to identify novel drugs and drug targets. In this review, we discuss the reasons why C. elegans has been positioned as an outstanding cost-effective option for drug discovery, highlighting both the advantages and drawbacks of this model. Particular attention is paid to the suitability of this nematode in large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings. High-throughput screenings in C. elegans have indeed contributed to the breakthrough of a wide variety of candidate compounds involved in extensive fields including neurodegeneration, pathogen infections and metabolic disorders. The versatility of this nematode, which enables its instrumentation as a model of human diseases, is another attribute also herein underscored. As illustrative examples, we discuss the utility of C. elegans models of both human neurodegenerative diseases and parasitic nematodes in the drug discovery industry. Summing up, this review aims to demonstrate the impact of C. elegans models on the drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Giunti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
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17
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Green EH, Kikis EA. Determining the effects of nanoparticulate air pollution on proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243419. [PMID: 33270781 PMCID: PMC7714337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteostasis network comprises the biochemical pathways that together maintain and regulate proper protein synthesis, transport, folding, and degradation. Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a failure of the proteostasis network to sustain the health of the proteome, resulting in protein misfolding, aggregation, and, often, neurotoxicity. Although important advances have been made in recent years to identify genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, we still know relatively little about environmental risk factors such as air pollution. Exposure to nano-sized particulate air pollution, referred to herein as nanoparticulate matter (nPM), has been shown to trigger the accumulation of misfolded and oligomerized amyloid beta in mice. This suggests that the ability to maintain proteostasis is likely compromised in Alzheimer 's disease (AD) pathogenesis upon exposure to nPM. We aim to determine whether this aspect of the environment interacts with proteostasis network machinery to trigger protein misfolding. This could at least partially explain how air pollution exacerbates the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases of aging, such as AD. We hypothesize that nPM challenges the buffering capacity of the proteostasis network by reducing the efficiency of folding for metastable proteins, thereby disrupting what has proven to be a very delicate proteostasis balance. We will test this hypothesis using C. elegans as our model system. Specifically, we will determine the impact of particulate air pollution on the aggregation and toxicity of disease-associated reporters of proteostasis and on transcriptional responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily H. Green
- Biology Department, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, United States of America
| | - Elise A. Kikis
- Biology Department, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Guo X, Yuan J, Song X, Wang X, Sun Q, Tian J, Li X, Ding M, Liu Y. Bacteria metabolites from Peganum harmala L. polysaccharides inhibits polyQ aggregation through proteasome-mediated protein degradation in C. elegans. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 161:681-691. [PMID: 32544588 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.06.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease featured by the over-expanded polyglutamine (polyQ)-induced protein aggregation. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model system, we show that water soluble polysaccharide extracted from the herb Peganum harmala L. (PS1) not only reduces polyQ aggregation but also alleviates the associated neurotoxicity. Genetic and pharmacologic analysis suggested that PS1 treatment acts though proteasome-mediated protein degradation pathway to inhibit polyQ aggregation. Notably, the efficacy of PS1 is aroused specifically by co-incubation with live Escherichia coli OP50, which is the sole food source for worms. Further UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis determined the bioactivity of polyQ inhibition, which is composed of several oligosaccharides, including stachyoses, verbascoses, trisaccharides and tetrasaccharides composed of galacturonic acids. Together, our study revealed a potential drug target for further HD treatment and pinpointed the possibility that the secreted metabolites produced from bacteria treated with various compounds may provide direct beneficial effect to human bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Guo
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Jiang Yuan
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xingzhuo Song
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xirui Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Qianqian Sun
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Jingyun Tian
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Mei Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yonggang Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
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19
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Hegde RN, Chiki A, Petricca L, Martufi P, Arbez N, Mouchiroud L, Auwerx J, Landles C, Bates GP, Singh-Bains MK, Dragunow M, Curtis MA, Faull RL, Ross CA, Caricasole A, Lashuel HA. TBK1 phosphorylates mutant Huntingtin and suppresses its aggregation and toxicity in Huntington's disease models. EMBO J 2020; 39:e104671. [PMID: 32757223 PMCID: PMC7459410 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020104671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation of the N‐terminal domain of the huntingtin (HTT) protein has emerged as an important regulator of its localization, structure, aggregation, clearance and toxicity. However, validation of the effect of bona fide phosphorylation in vivo and assessing the therapeutic potential of targeting phosphorylation for the treatment of Huntington's disease (HD) require the identification of the enzymes that regulate HTT phosphorylation. Herein, we report the discovery and validation of a kinase, TANK‐binding kinase 1 (TBK1), that efficiently phosphorylates full‐length and N‐terminal HTT fragments in vitro (at S13/S16), in cells (at S13) and in vivo. TBK1 expression in HD models (cells, primary neurons, and Caenorhabditis elegans) increases mutant HTT exon 1 phosphorylation and reduces its aggregation and cytotoxicity. We demonstrate that the TBK1‐mediated neuroprotective effects are due to phosphorylation‐dependent inhibition of mutant HTT exon 1 aggregation and an increase in autophagic clearance of mutant HTT. These findings suggest that upregulation and/or activation of TBK1 represents a viable strategy for the treatment of HD by simultaneously lowering mutant HTT levels and blocking its aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanath Narayana Hegde
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anass Chiki
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lara Petricca
- Department of Neuroscience, IRBM Science Park, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Martufi
- Department of Neuroscience, IRBM Science Park, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Arbez
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laurent Mouchiroud
- Laboratory of Integrative and Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Johan Auwerx
- Laboratory of Integrative and Systems Physiology, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Landles
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Malvindar K Singh-Bains
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mike Dragunow
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard Lm Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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20
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Gómez-Escribano AP, Bono-Yagüe J, García-Gimeno MA, Sequedo MD, Hervás D, Fornés-Ferrer V, Torres-Sánchez SC, Millán JM, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP. Synergistic activation of AMPK prevents from polyglutamine-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105105. [PMID: 32739430 PMCID: PMC7755709 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Expression of abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tracks is the source of a range of dominant neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease. Currently, there is no treatment for this devastating disease, although some chemicals, e.g., metformin, have been proposed as therapeutic solutions. In this work, we show that metformin, together with salicylate, can synergistically reduce the number of aggregates produced after polyQ expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, we demonstrate that incubation polyQ-stressed worms with low doses of both chemicals restores neuronal functionality. Both substances are pleitotropic and may activate a range of different targets. However, we demonstrate in this report that the beneficial effect induced by the combination of these drugs depends entirely on the catalytic action of AMPK, since loss of function mutants of aak-2/AMPKα2 do not respond to the treatment. To further investigate the mechanism of the synergetic activity of metformin/salicylate, we used CRISPR to generate mutant alleles of the scaffolding subunit of AMPK, aakb-1/AMPKβ1. In addition, we used an RNAi strategy to silence the expression of the second AMPKβ subunit in worms, namely aakb-2/AMPKβ2. In this work, we demonstrated that both regulatory subunits of AMPK are modulators of protein homeostasis. Interestingly, only aakb-2/AMPKβ2 is required for the synergistic action of metformin/salicylate to reduce polyQ aggregation. Finally, we showed that autophagy acts downstream of metformin/salicylate-related AMPK activation to promote healthy protein homeostasis in worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gómez-Escribano
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Bono-Yagüe
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - M A García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior De Ingeniería Agronómica y Del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica De València, Valencia, Spain
| | - M D Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - D Hervás
- Department of Biostatistics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - V Fornés-Ferrer
- Tau Analytics, Parc Científic De La Universitat De València, Paterna, Spain
| | - S C Torres-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - J M Millán
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - P Sanz
- Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Instituto De Biomedicina De València, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - R P Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
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21
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Van Pelt KM, Truttmann MC. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for studying aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE OF AGING 2020; 4:60-72. [PMID: 34327290 PMCID: PMC8317484 DOI: 10.1016/j.tma.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a heterogeneous group of aging-associated disorders characterized by the disruption of cellular proteostasis machinery and the misfolding of distinct protein species to form toxic aggregates in neurons. The increasing prevalence of NDs represents a growing healthcare burden worldwide, a concern compounded by the fact that few, if any, treatments exist to target the underlying cause of these diseases. Consequently, the application of a high-throughput, physiologically relevant model system to studies dissecting the molecular mechanisms governing ND pathology is crucial for identifying novel avenues for the development of targeted therapeutics. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has emerged as a powerful tool for the study of disease mechanisms due to its ease of genetic manipulation and swift cultivation, while providing a whole-animal system amendable to numerous molecular and biochemical techniques. To date, numerous C. elegans models have been generated for a variety of NDs, allowing for the large-scale in vivo study of protein-conformation disorders. Furthermore, the comparatively low barriers to entry in the development of transgenic worm models have facilitated the modeling of rare or "orphan" NDs, thereby providing unparalleled insight into the shared mechanisms underlying these pathologies. In this review, we summarize findings from a comprehensive collection of C. elegans neurodegenerative disease models of varying prevalence to emphasize shared mechanisms of proteotoxicity, and highlight the utility of these models in elucidating the molecular basis of ND pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M. Van Pelt
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Matthias C. Truttmann
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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22
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Rudich P, Watkins S, Lamitina T. PolyQ-independent toxicity associated with novel translational products from CAG repeat expansions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227464. [PMID: 32240172 PMCID: PMC7117740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Expanded CAG nucleotide repeats are the underlying genetic cause of at least 14 incurable diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD). The toxicity associated with many CAG repeat expansions is thought to be due to the translation of the CAG repeat to create a polyQ protein, which forms toxic oligomers and aggregates. However, recent studies show that HD CAG repeats undergo a non-canonical form of translation called Repeat-associated non-AUG dependent (RAN) translation. RAN translation of the CAG sense and CUG anti-sense RNAs produces six distinct repeat peptides: polyalanine (polyAla, from both CAG and CUG repeats), polyserine (polySer), polyleucine (polyLeu), polycysteine (polyCys), and polyglutamine (polyGln). The toxic potential of individual CAG-derived RAN polypeptides is not well understood. We developed pure C. elegans protein models for each CAG RAN polypeptide using codon-varied expression constructs that preserve RAN protein sequence but eliminate repetitive CAG/CUG RNA. While all RAN polypeptides formed aggregates, only polyLeu was consistently toxic across multiple cell types. In GABAergic neurons, which exhibit significant neurodegeneration in HD patients, codon-varied (Leu)38, but not (Gln)38, caused substantial neurodegeneration and motility defects. Our studies provide the first in vivo evaluation of CAG-derived RAN polypeptides in a multicellular model organism and suggest that polyQ-independent mechanisms, such as RAN-translated polyLeu peptides, may have a significant pathological role in CAG repeat expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Rudich
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Simon Watkins
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Todd Lamitina
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Ung H, Hall R, Kikis E. Chemical mutagenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans uncovers genetic modifiers of huntingtin protein aggregation. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2020; 2020. [PMID: 32550505 PMCID: PMC7252378 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Ung
- Department of Biology, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383
| | - Rhodes Hall
- Department of Biology, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383
| | - Elise Kikis
- Department of Biology, The University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383
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24
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Zhunina OA, Yabbarov NG, Orekhov AN, Deykin AV. Modern approaches for modelling dystonia and Huntington's disease in vitro and in vivo. Int J Exp Pathol 2019; 100:64-71. [PMID: 31090117 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia associated with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases substantially affects patients' quality of life and is a major health problem worldwide. The above-mentioned diseases are characterized by neurodegeneration accompanied by motor and cognitive impairment and often have complex aetiology. A frequent feature of these conditions is the abnormal accumulation of protein aggregates within specific neuronal populations in the affected brain regions. Familial neurodegenerative diseases are associated with a number of genetic mutations. Identification of these mutations allowed creation of modern model systems for studying neurodegeneration, either in cultured cells or in model animals. Animal models, especially mouse models, have contributed considerably to improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. These models have allowed study of the pathogenic mechanisms and development of new disease-modifying strategies and therapeutic approaches. However, due to the complex nature of these pathologies and the irreversible damage that they cause to the neural tissue, effective therapies against neurodegeneration remain to be elaborated. In this review, we provide an overview of cellular and animal models developed for studying neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and dystonia of different origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Zhunina
- JSC "Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy", Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikita G Yabbarov
- JSC "Russian Research Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy", Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N Orekhov
- Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia
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Adamla F, Rollins J, Newsom M, Snow S, Schosserer M, Heissenberger C, Horrocks J, Rogers AN, Ignatova Z. A Novel Caenorhabditis Elegans Proteinopathy Model Shows Changes in mRNA Translational Frameshifting During Aging. Cell Physiol Biochem 2019; 52:970-983. [PMID: 30977983 DOI: 10.33594/000000067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Regulation of mRNA translation is central to protein homeostasis and is optimized for speed and accuracy. Spontaneous recoding events occur virtually at any codon but at very low frequency and are commonly assumed to increase as the cell ages. METHODS Here, we leveraged the polyglutamine(polyQ)-frameshifting model of huntingtin exon 1 with CAG repeat length in the pathological range (Htt51Q), which undergoes enhanced non-programmed translational -1 frameshifting. RESULTS In body muscle cells of Caenorhabditis elegans, -1 frameshifting occured at the onset of expression of the zero-frame product, correlated with mRNA level of the non-frameshifted expression and formed aggregates correlated with reduced motility in C. elegans. Spontaneous frameshifting was modulated by IFG-1, the homologue of the nutrient-responsive eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G), under normal growth conditions and NSUN-5, a conserved ribosomal RNA methyltransferase, under osmotic stress. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that frameshifting and aggregation occur at even early stages of development and, because of their intrinsic stability, may persist and accelerate the onset of age-related proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Adamla
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jarod Rollins
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Matthew Newsom
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Santina Snow
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Markus Schosserer
- Department of Biotechnology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Heissenberger
- Department of Biotechnology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jordan Horrocks
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA
| | - Aric N Rogers
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME, USA,
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany,
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Wurmthaler LA, Sack M, Gense K, Hartig JS, Gamerdinger M. A tetracycline-dependent ribozyme switch allows conditional induction of gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2019; 10:491. [PMID: 30700719 PMCID: PMC6353947 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08412-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans represents an important research model. Convenient methods for conditional induction of gene expression in this organism are not available. Here we describe tetracycline-dependent ribozymes as versatile RNA-based genetic switches in C. elegans. Ribozyme insertion into the 3’-UTR converts any gene of interest into a tetracycline-inducible gene allowing temporal and, by using tissue-selective promoters, spatial control of expression in all developmental stages of the worm. Using the ribozyme switches we established inducible C. elegans polyglutamine Huntington’s disease models exhibiting ligand-controlled polyQ-huntingtin expression, inclusion body formation, and toxicity. Our approach circumvents the complicated expression of regulatory proteins. Moreover, only little coding space is necessary and natural promoters can be utilized. With these advantages tetracycline-dependent ribozymes significantly expand the genetic toolbox for C. elegans. Tools for conditional induction of gene expression in C. elegans are limited compared to other organisms. Here the authors present a tetracycline-dependent ribozyme that allows conditional control of a gene of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena A Wurmthaler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Monika Sack
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Karina Gense
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jörg S Hartig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany. .,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Martin Gamerdinger
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB), University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany. .,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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Rudich P, Lamitina T. Models and mechanisms of repeat expansion disorders: a worm's eye view. J Genet 2018; 97:665-677. [PMID: 30027902 PMCID: PMC6482835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The inappropriate genetic expansion of various repetitive DNA sequences underlies over 20 distinct inherited diseases. The genetic context of these repeats in exons, introns and untranslated regions has played a major role in thinking about the mechanisms by which various repeat expansions might cause disease. Repeat expansions in exons are thought to give rise to expanded toxic protein repeats (i.e. polyQ). Repeat expansions in introns and UTRs (i.e. FXTAS) are thought to produce aberrant repeat-bearing RNAs that interact with and sequester a wide variety of essential proteins, resulting in cellular toxicity. However, a new phenomenon termed 'repeat-associated nonAUG dependent (RAN) translation' paints a new and unifying picture of how distinct repeat expansion-bearing RNAs might act as substrates for this noncanonical form of translation, leading to the production of a wide range of repeat sequence-specific-encoded toxic proteins. Here, we review how the model system Caenorhabditis elegans has been utilized to model many repeat disorders and discuss how RAN translation could be a previously unappreciated contributor to the toxicity associated with these different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Rudich
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
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