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Zheng X, Su C, Duan L, Jin M, Sun Y, Zhu L, Zhang W. Molecular basis of A. thaliana KEOPS complex in biosynthesizing tRNA t6A. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4523-4540. [PMID: 38477398 PMCID: PMC11077089 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In archaea and eukaryotes, the evolutionarily conserved KEOPS is composed of four core subunits-Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121 and Pcc1, and a fifth Gon7/Pcc2 that is found in fungi and metazoa. KEOPS cooperates with Sua5/YRDC to catalyze the biosynthesis of tRNA N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A), an essential modification needed for fitness of cellular organisms. Biochemical and structural characterizations of KEOPSs from archaea, yeast and humans have determined a t6A-catalytic role for Kae1 and auxiliary roles for other subunits. However, the precise molecular workings of KEOPSs still remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the biochemical functions of A. thaliana KEOPS and determined a cryo-EM structure of A. thaliana KEOPS dimer. We show that A. thaliana KEOPS is composed of KAE1, BUD32, CGI121 and PCC1, which adopts a conserved overall arrangement. PCC1 dimerization leads to a KEOPS dimer that is needed for an active t6A-catalytic KEOPS-tRNA assembly. BUD32 participates in direct binding of tRNA to KEOPS and modulates the t6A-catalytic activity of KEOPS via its C-terminal tail and ATP to ADP hydrolysis. CGI121 promotes the binding of tRNA to KEOPS and potentiates the t6A-catalytic activity of KEOPS. These data and findings provide insights into mechanistic understanding of KEOPS machineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chenchen Su
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Lei Duan
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mengqi Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yongtao Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Li Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenhua Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptation of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Tao Y, Zhou W, Chen C, Zhang Q, Liu Z, Xia P, Ye Z, Li C. O-sialoglycoprotein Endopeptidase (OSGEP) Suppresses Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury-Induced Ferroptosis Through Modulating the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01084-y. [PMID: 38456959 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01084-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) was widely accepted as a critical complication of liver resection and transplantation. A growing body of evidence suggested that O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase (OSGEP) was involved in cell proliferation and mitochondrial metabolism. However, whether OSGEP could mediate the pathogenesis of HIRI has still remained unclarified. This study investigated whether OSGEP could be protective against HIRI and elucidated the potential mechanisms. The OSGEP expression level was detected in cases undergoing ischemia-related hepatectomy and a stable oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) condition in hepG2 cells. Additionally, it was attempted to establish a mouse model of HIRI, thus, the function and mechanism of OSGEP could be analyzed. At one day after hepatectomy, the negative association of OSGEP expression level with the elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was noted. Moreover, it was attempted to carry out gain- and loss-of-function analyses of OSGEP in hepG2 cells to reveal its influences on OGD/R-induced injury and relevant signaling pathways. The findings suggested that OSGEP overexpression significantly protected hepG2 cells against ferroptotic cell death, while OSGEP consumption had opposite effects. Consistent with in vitro studies, OSGEP deficiency exacerbated liver functions and ferroptotic cell death in a mouse model of HIRI. The results also revealed that OSGEP mediated the progression of HIRI by regulating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Rescue experiments indicated that ERK1/2 knockdown or overexpression reversed the effects of OSGEP overexpression or knockdown on hepG2 cells under OGD/R condition. Taken together, the findings demonstrated that OSGEP could contribute to alleviate HIRI by mediating the MEK-ERK signaling pathway, which may serve as a potential prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for HIRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Wanqing Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zhuoyi Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Pingping Xia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Chunling Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
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Kolvenbach CM, Dworschak GC, Rieke JM, Woolf AS, Reutter H, Odermatt B, Hilger AC. Modelling human lower urinary tract malformations in zebrafish. Mol Cell Pediatr 2023; 10:2. [PMID: 36977792 PMCID: PMC10050536 DOI: 10.1186/s40348-023-00156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in molecular biology are improving our understanding of the genetic causes underlying human congenital lower urinary tract (i.e., bladder and urethral) malformations. This has recently led to the identification of the first disease-causing variants in the gene BNC2 for isolated lower urinary tract anatomical obstruction (LUTO), and of WNT3 and SLC20A1 as genes implicated in the pathogenesis of the group of conditions called bladder-exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). Implicating candidate genes from human genetic data requires evidence of their influence on lower urinary tract development and evidence of the found genetic variants' pathogenicity. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has many advantages for use as a vertebrate model organism for the lower urinary tract. Rapid reproduction with numerous offspring, comparable anatomical kidney and lower urinary tract homology, and easy genetic manipulability by Morpholino®-based knockdown or CRISPR/Cas editing are among its advantages. In addition, established marker staining for well-known molecules involved in urinary tract development using whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and the usage of transgenic lines expressing fluorescent protein under a tissue-specific promoter allow easy visualization of phenotypic abnormalities of genetically modified zebrafish. Assays to examine the functionality of the excretory organs can also be modeled in vivo with the zebrafish. The approach of using these multiple techniques in zebrafish not only enables rapid and efficient investigation of candidate genes for lower urinary tract malformations derived from human data, but also cautiously allows transferability of causality from a non-mammalian vertebrate to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Kolvenbach
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Gabriel C Dworschak
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Johanna M Rieke
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Adrian S Woolf
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Heiko Reutter
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Odermatt
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alina C Hilger
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Research Center On Rare Kidney Diseases (RECORD), University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Susceptibility and Permissivity of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae to Cypriniviruses. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030768. [PMID: 36992477 PMCID: PMC10051318 DOI: 10.3390/v15030768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) represents an increasingly important model organism in virology. We evaluated its utility in the study of economically important viruses from the genus Cyprinivirus (anguillid herpesvirus 1, cyprinid herpesvirus 2 and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3)). This revealed that zebrafish larvae were not susceptible to these viruses after immersion in contaminated water, but that infections could be established using artificial infection models in vitro (zebrafish cell lines) and in vivo (microinjection of larvae). However, infections were transient, with rapid viral clearance associated with apoptosis-like death of infected cells. Transcriptomic analysis of CyHV-3-infected larvae revealed upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes, in particular those encoding nucleic acid sensors, mediators of programmed cell death and related genes. It was notable that uncharacterized non-coding RNA genes and retrotransposons were also among those most upregulated. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the zebrafish gene encoding protein kinase R (PKR) and a related gene encoding a protein kinase containing Z-DNA binding domains (PKZ) had no impact on CyHV-3 clearance in larvae. Our study strongly supports the importance of innate immunity-virus interactions in the adaptation of cypriniviruses to their natural hosts. It also highlights the potential of the CyHV-3-zebrafish model, versus the CyHV-3-carp model, for study of these interactions.
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Beenstock J, Sicheri F. The structural and functional workings of KEOPS. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10818-10834. [PMID: 34614169 PMCID: PMC8565320 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
KEOPS (Kinase, Endopeptidase and Other Proteins of Small size) is a five-subunit protein complex that is highly conserved in eukaryotes and archaea and is essential for the fitness of cells and for animal development. In humans, mutations in KEOPS genes underlie Galloway-Mowat syndrome, which manifests in severe microcephaly and renal dysfunction that lead to childhood death. The Kae1 subunit of KEOPS catalyzes the universal and essential tRNA modification N6-threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t6A), while the auxiliary subunits Cgi121, the kinase/ATPase Bud32, Pcc1 and Gon7 play a supporting role. Kae1 orthologs are also present in bacteria and mitochondria but function in distinct complexes with proteins that are not related in structure or function to the auxiliary subunits of KEOPS. Over the past 15 years since its discovery, extensive study in the KEOPS field has provided many answers towards understanding the roles that KEOPS plays in cells and in human disease and how KEOPS carries out these functions. In this review, we provide an overview into recent advances in the study of KEOPS and illuminate exciting future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonah Beenstock
- The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Frank Sicheri
- The Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
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Treimer E, Niedermayer K, Schumann S, Zenker M, Schmeisser MJ, Kühl SJ. Galloway-Mowat syndrome: New insights from bioinformatics and expression during Xenopus embryogenesis. Gene Expr Patterns 2021; 42:119215. [PMID: 34619372 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2021.119215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Galloway-Mowat syndrome (GAMOS) is a rare developmental disease. Patients suffer from congenital brain anomalies combined with renal abnormalities often resulting in an early-onset steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. The etiology of GAMOS has a heterogeneous genetic contribution. Mutations in more than 10 different genes have been reported in GAMOS patients. Among these are mutations in four genes encoding members of the human KEOPS (kinase, endopeptidase and other proteins of small size) complex, including OSGEP, TP53RK, TPRKB and LAGE3. Until now, these components have been functionally mainly investigated in bacteria, eukarya and archaea and in humans in the context of the discovery of its role in GAMOS, but the KEOPS complex members' expression and function during embryogenesis in vertebrates is still unknown. In this study, in silico analysis showed that both gene localization and the protein sequences of the three core KEOPS complex members Osgep, Tp53rk and Tprkb are highly conserved across different species including Xenopus laevis. In addition, we examined the spatio-temporal expression pattern of osgep, tp53rk and tprkb using RT-PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization approaches during early Xenopus development. We observed that all three genes were expressed during early embryogenesis and enriched in tissues and organs affected in GAMOS. More precisely, KEOPS complex genes are expressed in the pronephros, but also in neural tissue such as the developing brain, eye and cranial cartilage. These findings suggest that the KEOPS complex plays an important role during vertebrate embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernestine Treimer
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrin Niedermayer
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sven Schumann
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Susanne J Kühl
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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Ma S, Wang A, Chen X, Zhang T, Xing W, Xia Q. Deep Sequencing Reveals the Comprehensive CRISPR-Cas9 Editing Spectrum in Bombyx mori. CRISPR J 2021; 4:371-380. [PMID: 34042501 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2021.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Application of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) technology has revolutionized biology by greatly enhancing the ability to introduce mutations into DNA for research and prospective therapeutic purposes. However, the understanding of Cas9 editing outcomes is still limited. Previously, it was considered that Cas9 introduces stochastic insertions or deletions (indels) at the target site. In the current study, we performed in vivo multiplex editing, deep sequencing, and comprehensive analysis of its editing outcomes in Bombyx mori (B. mori). A total of 31161 editing events from 9 single-guide RNA (sgRNA) sites in 16 individuals were generated and analyzed, and we found that Cas9 introduces mutations with some regularity rather than via stochastic indels. The editing efficiency varies with sgRNA sequences, individuals, and orientation. Small deletions account for the vast majority of mutated sequences, followed by a small fraction of substitutions and insertions. The most likely mutations are deletions between two microhomologous sequences or single-base deletions at the cleavage site in the absence of microhomologous pairs. Insertions are formed by diverse mechanisms, including direct acquisition of free genomic fragments, duplication of broken ends, replication of adjacent sequences, or random addition of free nucleotides. The above results indicate that the Cas9 editing spectrum is reproducible and predictable. Thus, our findings enable a deeper understanding of Cas9-mediated mutagenesis and better design of genome editing experiments, as well as elucidate the DNA double-strand break repair processes in B. mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Aoming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiqing Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; and Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Keatinge M, Tsarouchas TM, Munir T, Porter NJ, Larraz J, Gianni D, Tsai HH, Becker CG, Lyons DA, Becker T. CRISPR gRNA phenotypic screening in zebrafish reveals pro-regenerative genes in spinal cord injury. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009515. [PMID: 33914736 PMCID: PMC8084196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish exhibit robust regeneration following spinal cord injury, promoted by macrophages that control post-injury inflammation. However, the mechanistic basis of how macrophages regulate regeneration is poorly understood. To address this gap in understanding, we conducted a rapid in vivo phenotypic screen for macrophage-related genes that promote regeneration after spinal injury. We used acute injection of synthetic RNA Oligo CRISPR guide RNAs (sCrRNAs) that were pre-screened for high activity in vivo. Pre-screening of over 350 sCrRNAs allowed us to rapidly identify highly active sCrRNAs (up to half, abbreviated as haCRs) and to effectively target 30 potentially macrophage-related genes. Disruption of 10 of these genes impaired axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury. We selected 5 genes for further analysis and generated stable mutants using haCRs. Four of these mutants (tgfb1a, tgfb3, tnfa, sparc) retained the acute haCR phenotype, validating the approach. Mechanistically, tgfb1a haCR-injected and stable mutant zebrafish fail to resolve post-injury inflammation, indicated by prolonged presence of neutrophils and increased levels of il1b expression. Inhibition of Il-1β rescues the impaired axon regeneration in the tgfb1a mutant. Hence, our rapid and scalable screening approach has identified functional regulators of spinal cord regeneration, but can be applied to any biological function of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Keatinge
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tahimina Munir
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Porter
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Larraz
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Davide Gianni
- Biogen, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hui-Hsin Tsai
- Biogen, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Catherina G. Becker
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Lyons
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Becker
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Potekhina ES, Bass DY, Kelmanson IV, Fetisova ES, Ivanenko AV, Belousov VV, Bilan DS. Drug Screening with Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Sensors: Today and Tomorrow. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E148. [PMID: 33375682 PMCID: PMC7794770 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically-encoded fluorescent sensors have been actively developed over the last few decades and used in live imaging and drug screening. Real-time monitoring of drug action in a specific cellular compartment, organ, or tissue type; the ability to screen at the single-cell resolution; and the elimination of false-positive results caused by low drug bioavailability that is not detected by in vitro testing methods are a few of the obvious benefits of using genetically-encoded fluorescent sensors in drug screening. In combination with high-throughput screening (HTS), some genetically-encoded fluorescent sensors may provide high reproducibility and robustness to assays. We provide a brief overview of successful, perspective, and hopeful attempts at using genetically encoded fluorescent sensors in HTS of modulators of ion channels, Ca2+ homeostasis, GPCR activity, and for screening cytotoxic, anticancer, and anti-parasitic compounds. We discuss the advantages of sensors in whole organism drug screening models and the perspectives of the combination of human disease modeling by CRISPR techniques with genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina S. Potekhina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dina Y. Bass
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya V. Kelmanson
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena S. Fetisova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
| | - Alexander V. Ivanenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vsevolod V. Belousov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry S. Bilan
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.Y.B.); (I.V.K.); (E.S.F.); (A.V.I.); (V.V.B.)
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Mancini A, Howard SR, Marelli F, Cabrera CP, Barnes MR, Sternberg MJ, Leprovots M, Hadjidemetriou I, Monti E, David A, Wehkalampi K, Oleari R, Lettieri A, Vezzoli V, Vassart G, Cariboni A, Bonomi M, Garcia MI, Guasti L, Dunkel L. LGR4 deficiency results in delayed puberty through impaired Wnt/β-catenin signaling. JCI Insight 2020; 5:133434. [PMID: 32493844 PMCID: PMC7308048 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.133434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The initiation of puberty is driven by an upsurge in hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. In turn, GnRH secretion upsurge depends on the development of a complex GnRH neuroendocrine network during embryonic life. Although delayed puberty (DP) affects up to 2% of the population, is highly heritable, and is associated with adverse health outcomes, the genes underlying DP remain largely unknown. We aimed to discover regulators by whole-exome sequencing of 160 individuals of 67 multigenerational families in our large, accurately phenotyped DP cohort. LGR4 was the only gene remaining after analysis that was significantly enriched for potentially pathogenic, rare variants in 6 probands. Expression analysis identified specific Lgr4 expression at the site of GnRH neuron development. LGR4 mutant proteins showed impaired Wnt/β-catenin signaling, owing to defective protein expression, trafficking, and degradation. Mice deficient in Lgr4 had significantly delayed onset of puberty and fewer GnRH neurons compared with WT, whereas lgr4 knockdown in zebrafish embryos prevented formation and migration of GnRH neurons. Further, genetic lineage tracing showed strong Lgr4-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation during GnRH neuron development. In conclusion, our results show that LGR4 deficiency impairs Wnt/β-catenin signaling with observed defects in GnRH neuron development, resulting in a DP phenotype. Defects of LGR4/Wnt-β-catenin activity compromise the development of the GnRH neuroendocrine network, resulting in delayed onset of puberty in humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Mancini
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sasha R Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Marelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia P Cabrera
- Centre for Translational Bioinformatics, William Harvey Research Institute, and.,NIHR Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R Barnes
- Centre for Translational Bioinformatics, William Harvey Research Institute, and.,NIHR Barts Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Je Sternberg
- Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Irene Hadjidemetriou
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Monti
- St George's NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia David
- Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karoliina Wehkalampi
- Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Vezzoli
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bonomi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Leonardo Guasti
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Dunkel
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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11
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Rubbini D, Cornet C, Terriente J, Di Donato V. CRISPR Meets Zebrafish: Accelerating the Discovery of New Therapeutic Targets. SLAS DISCOVERY 2020; 25:552-567. [PMID: 32462967 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220926920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bringing a new drug to the market costs an average of US$2.6 billion and takes more than 10 years from discovery to regulatory approval. Despite the need to reduce cost and time to increase productivity, pharma companies tend to crowd their efforts in the same indications and drug targets. This results in the commercialization of drugs that share the same mechanism of action (MoA) and, in many cases, equivalent efficacies among them-an outcome that helps neither patients nor the balance sheet of the companies trying to bring therapeutics to the same patient population. Indeed, the discovery of new therapeutic targets, based on a deeper understanding of the disease biology, would likely provide more innovative MoAs and potentially greater drug efficacies. It would also bring better chances for identifying appropriate treatments according to the patient's genetic stratification. Nowadays, we count with an enormous amount of unprocessed information on potential disease targets that could be extracted from omics data obtained from patient samples. In addition, hundreds of pharmacological and genetic screenings have been performed to identify innovative drug targets. Traditionally, rodents have been the animal models of choice to perform functional genomic studies. The high experimental cost, combined with the low throughput provided by those models, however, is a bottleneck for discovering and validating novel genetic disease associations. To overcome these limitations, we propose that zebrafish, in conjunction with the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing tools, could streamline functional genomic processes to bring biologically relevant knowledge on innovative disease targets in a shorter time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Rubbini
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Cornet
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Terriente
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Di Donato
- ZeClinics SL, IGTP (Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Espino-Saldaña AE, Rodríguez-Ortiz R, Pereida-Jaramillo E, Martínez-Torres A. Modeling Neuronal Diseases in Zebrafish in the Era of CRISPR. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:136-152. [PMID: 31573887 PMCID: PMC7324878 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x17666191001145550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Danio rerio is a powerful experimental model for studies in genetics and development. Recently, CRISPR technology has been applied in this species to mimic various human diseases, including those affecting the nervous system. Zebrafish offer multiple experimental advantages: external embryogenesis, rapid development, transparent embryos, short life cycle, and basic neurobiological processes shared with humans. This animal model, together with the CRISPR system, emerging imaging technologies, and novel behavioral approaches, lay the basis for a prominent future in neuropathology and will undoubtedly accelerate our understanding of brain function and its disorders. OBJECTIVE Gather relevant findings from studies that have used CRISPR technologies in zebrafish to explore basic neuronal function and model human diseases. METHODS We systematically reviewed the most recent literature about CRISPR technology applications for understanding brain function and neurological disorders in D. rerio. We highlighted the key role of CRISPR in driving forward our understanding of particular topics in neuroscience. RESULTS We show specific advances in neurobiology when the CRISPR system has been applied in zebrafish and describe how CRISPR is accelerating our understanding of brain organization. CONCLUSION Today, CRISPR is the preferred method to modify genomes of practically any living organism. Despite the rapid development of CRISPR technologies to generate disease models in zebrafish, more efforts are needed to efficiently combine different disciplines to find the etiology and treatments for many brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles Edith Espino-Saldaña
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro CP76230, México
- Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Av. de las Ciencias S/N, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Roberto Rodríguez-Ortiz
- CONACYT - Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Querétaro, Qro., México
| | - Elizabeth Pereida-Jaramillo
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro CP76230, México
| | - Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Laboratorio de Neurobiología Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Querétaro, Qro CP76230, México
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13
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Bi-allelic Variants in METTL5 Cause Autosomal-Recessive Intellectual Disability and Microcephaly. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 105:869-878. [PMID: 31564433 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder, characterized by limited cognitive abilities and impaired adaptive behaviors. In recent years, exome sequencing (ES) has been instrumental in deciphering the genetic etiology of ID. Here, through ES of a large cohort of individuals with ID, we identified two bi-allelic frameshift variants in METTL5, c.344_345delGA (p.Arg115Asnfs∗19) and c.571_572delAA (p.Lys191Valfs∗10), in families of Pakistani and Yemenite origin. Both of these variants were segregating with moderate to severe ID, microcephaly, and various facial dysmorphisms, in an autosomal-recessive fashion. METTL5 is a member of the methyltransferase-like protein family, which encompasses proteins with a seven-beta-strand methyltransferase domain. We found METTL5 expression in various substructures of rodent and human brains and METTL5 protein to be enriched in the nucleus and synapses of the hippocampal neurons. Functional studies of these truncating variants in transiently transfected orthologous cells and cultured hippocampal rat neurons revealed no effect on the localization of METTL5 but alter its level of expression. Our in silico analysis and 3D modeling simulation predict disruption of METTL5 function by both variants. Finally, mettl5 knockdown in zebrafish resulted in microcephaly, recapitulating the human phenotype. This study provides evidence that biallelic variants in METTL5 cause ID and microcephaly in humans and highlights the essential role of METTL5 in brain development and neuronal function.
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14
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Abstract
The vertebrate kidney is comprised of functional units known as nephrons. Defects in nephron development or activity are a common feature of kidney disease. Current medical treatments are unable to ameliorate the dire consequences of nephron deficit or injury. Although there have been tremendous advancements in our understanding of nephron ontogeny and the response to damage, many significant knowledge gaps still remain. The zebrafish embryo kidney, or pronephros, is an ideal model for many renal development and regeneration studies because it is comprised of nephrons that share conserved features with the nephron units that comprise the mammalian metanephric kidney. In this chapter, we provide an overview about the benefits of using the zebrafish pronephros to study the mechanisms underlying nephrogenesis as well as epithelial repair and regeneration. We subsequently detail methods for the spatiotemporal assessment of gene and protein expression in zebrafish embryos that can be used to extend the understanding of nephron development and disease, and thereby create new opportunities to identify therapeutic strategies for regenerative medicine.
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15
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Jobst-Schwan T, Hoogstraten CA, Kolvenbach CM, Schmidt JM, Kolb A, Eddy K, Schneider R, Ashraf S, Widmeier E, Majmundar AJ, Hildebrandt F. Corticosteroid treatment exacerbates nephrotic syndrome in a zebrafish model of magi2a knockout. Kidney Int 2019; 95:1079-1090. [PMID: 31010479 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Recently, recessive mutations of MAGI2 were identified as a cause of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) in humans and mice. To further delineate the pathogenesis of MAGI2 loss of function, we generated stable knockout lines for the two zebrafish orthologues magi2a and magi2b by CRISPR/Cas9. We also developed a novel assay for the direct detection of proteinuria in zebrafish independent of transgenic background. Whereas knockout of magi2b did not yield a nephrotic syndrome phenotype, magi2a-/- larvae developed ascites, periorbital edema, and proteinuria, as indicated by increased excretion of low molecular weight protein. Electron microscopy demonstrated extensive podocyte foot process effacement. As in human SRNS, we observed genotype/phenotype correlation, with edema onset occurring earlier in zebrafish with truncating alleles (5-6 days post fertilization) versus hypomorphic alleles (19-20 days post fertilization). Paradoxically, corticosteroid treatment exacerbated the phenotype, with earlier onset of edema. In contrast, treatment with cyclosporine A or tacrolimus had no significant effect. Although RhoA signaling has been implicated as a downstream mediator of MAGI2 activity, targeting of the RhoA pathway did not modify the nephrotic syndrome phenotype. In the first CRISPR/Cas9 zebrafish knockout model of SRNS, we found that corticosteroids may have a paradoxical effect in the setting of specific genetic mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilman Jobst-Schwan
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte A Hoogstraten
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caroline M Kolvenbach
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Johanna Magdalena Schmidt
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy Kolb
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Eddy
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ronen Schneider
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shazia Ashraf
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eugen Widmeier
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amar J Majmundar
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Friedhelm Hildebrandt
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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16
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Cornet C, Di Donato V, Terriente J. Combining Zebrafish and CRISPR/Cas9: Toward a More Efficient Drug Discovery Pipeline. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:703. [PMID: 30018554 PMCID: PMC6037853 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of zebrafish larvae in basic and applied research has grown exponentially during the last 20 years. The reasons for this success lay in its specific experimental advantages: on the one hand, the small size, the large number of progeny and the fast life cycle greatly facilitate large-scale approaches while maintaining 3Rs amenability; on the other hand, high genetic and physiological homology with humans and ease of genetic manipulation make zebrafish larvae a highly robust model for understanding human disease. Together, these advantages allow using zebrafish larvae for performing high-throughput research, both in terms of chemical and genetic phenotypic screenings. Therefore, the zebrafish larva as an animal model is placed between more reductionist in vitro high-throughput screenings and informative but low-throughput preclinical assays using mammals. However, despite its biological advantages and growing translational validation, zebrafish remains scarcely used in current drug discovery pipelines. In a context in which the pharmaceutical industry is facing a productivity crisis in bringing new drugs to the market, the combined advantages of zebrafish and the CRISPR/Cas9 system, the most powerful technology for genomic editing to date, has the potential to become a valuable tool for streamlining the generation of models mimicking human disease, the validation of novel drug targets and the discovery of new therapeutics. This review will focus on the most recent advances on CRISPR/Cas9 implementation in zebrafish and all their potential uses in biomedical research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Cornet
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Di Donato
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Terriente
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), Barcelona, Spain
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