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He J, Kang L. Regulation of insect behavior by non-coding RNAs. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1106-1118. [PMID: 38443665 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The adaptation of insects to environments relies on a sophisticated set of behaviors controlled by molecular and physiological processes. Over the past several decades, accumulating studies have unveiled the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating insect behaviors. ncRNAs assume particularly pivotal roles in the behavioral plasticity of insects by rapidly responding to environmental stimuli. ncRNAs also contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis of insects by fine-tuning the expression of target genes. However, a comprehensive review of ncRNAs' roles in regulating insect behaviors has yet to be conducted. Here, we present the recent progress in our understanding of how ncRNAs regulate various insect behaviors, including flight and movement, social behavior, reproduction, learning and memory, and feeding. We refine the intricate mechanisms by which ncRNAs modulate the function of neural, motor, reproductive, and other physiological systems, as well as gene expression in insects like fruit flies, social insects, locusts, and mosquitos. Furthermore, we discuss potential avenues for future studies in ncRNA-mediated insect behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing He
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
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2
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Lee S, Kim N, Jang D, Kim HK, Kim J, Jeon JW, Lim DH. Ecdysone-induced microRNA miR-276a-3p controls developmental growth by targeting the insulin-like receptor in Drosophila. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:703-715. [PMID: 37702106 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Animal growth is controlled by a variety of external and internal factors during development. The steroid hormone ecdysone plays a critical role in insect development by regulating the expression of various genes. In this study, we found that fat body-specific expression of miR-276a, an ecdysone-responsive microRNA (miRNA), led to a decrease in the total mass of the larval fat body, resulting in significant growth reduction in Drosophila. Changes in miR-276a expression also affected the proliferation of Drosophila S2 cells. Furthermore, we found that the insulin-like receptor (InR) is a biologically relevant target gene regulated by miR-276a-3p. In addition, we found that miR-276a-3p is upregulated by the canonical ecdysone signalling pathway involving the ecdysone receptor and broad complex. A reduction in cell proliferation caused by ecdysone was compromised by blocking miR-276a-3p activity. Thus, our results suggest that miR-276a-3p is involved in ecdysone-mediated growth reduction by controlling InR expression in the insulin signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sojeong Lee
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nayeon Kim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Daegyu Jang
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Kyung Kim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongin Kim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Jeon
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hwan Lim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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3
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Santiago PB, da Silva Bentes KL, da Silva WMC, Praça YR, Charneau S, Chaouch S, Grellier P, Dos Santos Silva Ferraz MA, Bastos IMD, de Santana JM, de Araújo CN. Insights into the microRNA landscape of Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Chagas disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13120. [PMID: 37573416 PMCID: PMC10423254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40353-9] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing interest in microRNAs (miRNAs) over recent years has led to their characterization in numerous organisms. However, there is currently a lack of data available on miRNAs from triatomine bugs (Reduviidae: Triatominae), which are the vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of vectors provides new insights into insect-host interactions and insect control approaches, which are key methods to prevent disease incidence in endemic areas. In this work, we describe the miRNome profiles from gut, hemolymph, and salivary gland tissues of the Rhodnius prolixus triatomine. Small RNA sequencing data revealed abundant expression of miRNAs, along with tRNA- and rRNA-derived fragments. Fifty-two mature miRNAs, previously reported in Ecdysozoa, were identified, including 39 ubiquitously expressed in the three tissues. Additionally, 112, 73, and 78 novel miRNAs were predicted in the gut, hemolymph, and salivary glands, respectively. In silico prediction showed that the top eight most highly expressed miRNAs from salivary glands potentially target human blood-expressed genes, suggesting that R. prolixus may modulate the host's gene expression at the bite site. This study provides the first characterization of miRNAs in a Triatominae species, shedding light on the role of these crucial regulatory molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Beatriz Santiago
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Kaio Luís da Silva Bentes
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | | | - Yanna Reis Praça
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Soraya Chaouch
- UMR 7245 Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP52, 61 rue Buffon, 0575231, Paris Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Grellier
- UMR 7245 Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP52, 61 rue Buffon, 0575231, Paris Cedex, France
| | | | - Izabela Marques Dourado Bastos
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Jaime Martins de Santana
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Carla Nunes de Araújo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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4
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Huang J, Wang T, Qiu Y, Hassanyar AK, Zhang Z, Sun Q, Ni X, Yu K, Guo Y, Yang C, Lü Y, Nie H, Lin Y, Li Z, Su S. Differential Brain Expression Patterns of microRNAs Related to Olfactory Performance in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051000. [PMID: 37239360 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051000] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in the nerve regulation of honey bees (Apis mellifera). This study aims to investigate the differences in expression of miRNAs in a honey bee's brain for olfactory learning tasks and to explore their potential role in a honey bee's olfactory learning and memory. In this study, 12 day old honey bees with strong and weak olfactory performances were utilized to investigate the influence of miRNAs on olfactory learning behavior. The honey bee brains were dissected, and a small RNA-seq technique was used for high-throughput sequencing. The data analysis of the miRNA sequences revealed that 14 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between the two groups, strong (S) and weak (W), for olfactory performance in honey bees were identified, which included seven up-regulated and seven down-regulated. The qPCR verification results of the 14 miRNAs showed that four miRNAs (miR-184-3p, miR-276-3p, miR-87-3p, and miR-124-3p) were significantly associated with olfactory learning and memory. The target genes of these DEmiRNAs were subjected to the GO database annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The functional annotation and pathway analysis showed that the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, biosynthesis of amino acids, pentose phosphate pathway, carbon metabolism, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis may be a great important pathway related to olfactory learning and memory in honey bees. Our findings together further explained the relationship between olfactory performance and the brain function of honey bees at the molecular level and provides a basis for further study on miRNAs related to olfactory learning and memory in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Huang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Tianbao Wang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yuanmei Qiu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Aqai Kalan Hassanyar
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhaonan Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Laboratory of Evolution and Diversity Biology, UMR5174, University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Qiaoling Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaomin Ni
- Faculty of Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kejun Yu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yongkang Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Changsheng Yang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yang Lü
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Mudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157041, China
| | - Hongyi Nie
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yan Lin
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhiguo Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Songkun Su
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Academy of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Li H, Gavis ER. Drosophila FMRP controls miR-276-mediated regulation of nejire mRNA for space-filling dendrite development. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6697885. [PMID: 36102801 PMCID: PMC9635640 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are enriched in neurons and play important roles in dendritic spine development and synaptic plasticity. MicroRNA activity is controlled by a wide range of RNA-binding proteins. FMRP, a highly conserved RNA-binding protein, has been linked to microRNA-mediated gene regulation in axonal development and dendritic spine formation. FMRP also participates in dendritic arbor morphogenesis, but whether and how microRNAs contribute to its function in this process remains to be elucidated. Here, using Drosophila larval sensory neurons, we show that a FMRP-associated microRNA, miR-276, functions in FMRP-mediated space-filling dendrite morphogenesis. Using EGFP microRNA sensors, we demonstrate that FMRP likely acts by regulating miR-276a RNA targeting rather than by modulating microRNA levels. Supporting this conclusion, miR-276a coimmunoprecipitated with FMRP and this association was dependent on the FMRP KH domains. By testing putative targets of the FMRP–miR-276a regulatory axis, we identified nejire as a FMRP-associated mRNA and, using EGFP reporters, showed that the nejire 3′ untranslated region is a target of miR-276a in vivo. Genetic analysis places nejire downstream of the FMRP–miR-276a pathway in regulating dendrite patterning. Together, our findings support a model in which FMRP facilitates miR-276a-mediated control of nejire for proper dendrite space-filling morphology and shed light on microRNA-dependent dendrite developmental pathology of fragile X syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University , Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Gavis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University , Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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6
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Khashaveh A, An X, Shan S, Pang X, Li Y, Fu X, Zhang Y. The microRNAs in the antennae of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae): Expression properties and targets prediction. Genomics 2022; 114:110447. [PMID: 35963492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and contribute to numerous physiological processes. However, little is known about the functions of miRNAs in insect chemosensation. In this study, nine small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced from the antennae of nymphs, adult males, and adult females of Apolygus lucorum. In total, 399 (275 known and 124 novel) miRNAs were identified. miR-7-5p_1 was the most abundant miRNA. Altogether, 69,708 target genes related to biogenesis, membrane, and binding activities were predicted. In particular, 15 miRNAs targeted 16 olfactory genes. Comparing the antennae of nymphs and adult males and females, 94 miRNAs were differentially expressed. Alternatively, a subset of differentially expressed miRNAs was verified by qPCR, supporting the reliability of the sequencing results. This study provides a global miRNA transcriptome for the antennae of A. lucorum and valuable information for further investigations of the functions of miRNAs in the regulation of chemosensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Khashaveh
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xingkui An
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuang Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoqian Pang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; School of Resource and Environment, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Mechanism of Major Diseases, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
| | - Xiaowei Fu
- School of Resource and Environment, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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7
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A pair of dopamine neurons mediate chronic stress signals to induce learning deficit in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2023674118. [PMID: 34654742 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023674118] [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] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress could induce severe cognitive impairments. Despite extensive investigations in mammalian models, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we show that chronic stress could induce dramatic learning and memory deficits in Drosophila melanogaster The chronic stress-induced learning deficit (CSLD) is long lasting and associated with other depression-like behaviors. We demonstrated that excessive dopaminergic activity provokes susceptibility to CSLD. Remarkably, a pair of PPL1-γ1pedc dopaminergic neurons that project to the mushroom body (MB) γ1pedc compartment play a key role in regulating susceptibility to CSLD so that stress-induced PPL1-γ1pedc hyperactivity facilitates the development of CSLD. Consistently, the mushroom body output neurons (MBON) of the γ1pedc compartment, MBON-γ1pedc>α/β neurons, are important for modulating susceptibility to CSLD. Imaging studies showed that dopaminergic activity is necessary to provoke the development of chronic stress-induced maladaptations in the MB network. Together, our data support that PPL1-γ1pedc mediates chronic stress signals to drive allostatic maladaptations in the MB network that lead to CSLD.
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8
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Shan S, Wang SN, Song X, Khashaveh A, Lu ZY, Dhiloo KH, Li RJ, Gao XW, Zhang YJ. Characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1033-1048. [PMID: 32496619 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding single-strand RNA molecules encoded by endogenous genes, are about 21-24 nucleotides long and are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. Generally, the types and quantities of miRNAs in the different tissues of an organism are diverse, and these divergences may be related to their specific functions. Here we have identified 296 known miRNAs and 46 novel miRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator by high-throughput sequencing. Thirty-three miRNAs were predicted to target olfactory-associated genes, including odorant binding proteins (OBPs), chemosensory proteins, odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptors. Among these, 17 miRNAs were significantly highly expressed in the antennae, four miRNAs were highly expressed both in the antennae and head or wings, while the remaining 12 miRNAs were mainly expressed in the head, thorax, abdomen, legs and wings. Notably, miR-9a-5p and miR-2525-3p were highly expressed in male antennae, whereas miR-1000-5p and novel-miR-13 were enriched in female antennae. The 17 miRNAs highly expressed in antennae are likely to be associated with olfaction, and were predicted to target one OBP (targeted by miR-3751-3p), one IR (targeted by miR-7-5p) and 14 ORs (targeted by 15 miRNAs including miR-6-3p, miR-9a-5p, miR-9b-5p, miR-29-5p, miR-71-5p, miR-275-3p, miR-1000-5p, miR-1000-3p, miR-2525-3p, miR-6012-3p, miR-9719-3p, novel-miR-10, novel-miR-13, novel-miR-14 and novel-miR-28). These candidate olfactory-associated miRNAs are all likely to be involved in chemoreception through the regulation of chemosensory gene expression in the antennae of M. mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan-Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Song
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Adel Khashaveh
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Yun Lu
- IPM Center of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northern Region of North China, Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Protection Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Khalid Hussain Dhiloo
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Crop Protection, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
| | - Rui-Jun Li
- College of Plant Protection, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Xi-Wu Gao
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Dynamic adult tracheal plasticity drives stem cell adaptation to changes in intestinal homeostasis in Drosophila. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:485-496. [PMID: 33972729 PMCID: PMC7610788 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00676-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coordination of stem cell function by local and niche-derived signals is essential to preserve adult tissue homeostasis and organismal health. The vasculature is a prominent component of multiple stem cell niches. However, its role in adult intestinal homeostasis remains largely understudied. Here, we uncover a previously unrecognised crosstalk between adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in Drosophila and the vasculature-like tracheal system, which is essential for intestinal regeneration. Following damage to the intestinal epithelium, gut-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate tracheal HIF-1α and bidirectional FGF/FGFR signalling, leading to reversible remodelling of gut-associated terminal tracheal cells and ISC proliferation following damage. Unexpectedly, ROS-induced adult tracheal plasticity involves downregulation of the tracheal specification factor trachealess (trh) and upregulation of IGF2 mRNA-binding protein (IGF2BP2/Imp). Our results reveal an intestine/vasculature inter-organ communication programme, which is essential to adapt stem cells response to the proliferative demands of the intestinal epithelium.
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10
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Melnattur K, Kirszenblat L, Morgan E, Militchin V, Sakran B, English D, Patel R, Chan D, van Swinderen B, Shaw PJ. A conserved role for sleep in supporting Spatial Learning in Drosophila. Sleep 2021; 44:5909488. [PMID: 32959053 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa197] [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: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep loss and aging impair hippocampus-dependent Spatial Learning in mammalian systems. Here we use the fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the relationship between sleep and Spatial Learning in healthy and impaired flies. The Spatial Learning assay is modeled after the Morris Water Maze. The assay uses a "thermal maze" consisting of a 5 × 5 grid of Peltier plates maintained at 36-37°C and a visual panorama. The first trial begins when a single tile that is associated with a specific visual cue is cooled to 25°C. For subsequent trials, the cold tile is heated, the visual panorama is rotated and the flies must find the new cold tile by remembering its association with the visual cue. Significant learning was observed with two different wild-type strains-Cs and 2U, validating our design. Sleep deprivation prior to training impaired Spatial Learning. Learning was also impaired in the classic learning mutant rutabaga (rut); enhancing sleep restored learning to rut mutants. Further, we found that flies exhibited a dramatic age-dependent cognitive decline in Spatial Learning starting at 20-24 days of age. These impairments could be reversed by enhancing sleep. Finally, we find that Spatial Learning requires dopaminergic signaling and that enhancing dopaminergic signaling in aged flies restored learning. Our results are consistent with the impairments seen in rodents and humans. These results thus demonstrate a critical conserved role for sleep in supporting Spatial Learning, and suggest potential avenues for therapeutic intervention during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Melnattur
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Leonie Kirszenblat
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ellen Morgan
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Valentin Militchin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Blake Sakran
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Denis English
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Rushi Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Dorothy Chan
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Bruno van Swinderen
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
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11
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Zhang R, Du J, Zhao X, Wei L, Zhao Z. Regulation of circadian behavioural output via clock-responsive miR-276b. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:81-89. [PMID: 33131172 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that microRNAs play numerous important roles. However, the roles of some microRNAs involved in regulation of circadian rhythm and sleep are still not well understood. In this study, we show that the miR-276b is essential for maintaining both sleep and circadian rhythm by targeting tim, npfr1 and DopR1 genes, with miR-276b deleted mutant flies sleeping more, and vice versa in miR-276b overexpressing flies. Through analysing its promoter, we found that mir-276b is responsive to CLOCK and regulates circadian rhythm through the negative feedback loop of the CLK/CYC-TIM/PER. Furthermore, miR-276b is broadly expressed in the clock neurons and the central complexes such as the mushroom body and the fan-shape body of Drosophila brain, in which up-regulation of miR-276b in tim, npfr1 and DopR1 expressing tissues significantly causes sleep decreases. This study clarifies that the mir-276b is very important for participating in regulation of circadian rhythm and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Zhang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - J Du
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - X Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - L Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Z Zhao
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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12
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Zhang R, Zhao X, Du J, Wei L, Zhao Z. Regulatory mechanism of daily sleep by miR-276a. FASEB J 2020; 35:e21222. [PMID: 33337563 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001220r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
MiRNAs have attracted more attention in recent years as regulators of sleep and circadian rhythms after their roles in circadian rhythm and sleep were discovered. In this study, we explored the roles of the miR-276a on daily sleep in Drosophila melanogaster, and found a regulatory cycle for the miR-276a pathway, in which miR-276a, regulated by the core CLOCK/CYCLE (CLK/CYC) transcription factor upstream, regulates sleep via suppressing targets TIM and NPFR1. (a) Loss of miR-276a function makes the flies sleep more during both daytime and nighttime, while flies with gain of miR-276a function sleep less; (b) MiR-276a is widely expressed in the mushroom body (MB), the pars intercerebralis (PI) and some clock neurons lateral dorsal neurons (LNds), in which tim neurons is important for sleep regulation; (c) MiR-276a promoter is identified to locate in the 8th fragment (aFrag8) of the pre-miR-276a, and this fragment is directly activated and regulated by CLK/CYC; (4) MiR-276a is rhythmically oscillating in heads of the wild-type w1118 , but this oscillation disappears in the loss of function mutant clkjrk ; (5) The neuropeptide F receptor 1 (npfr1) was found to be a downstream target of miR-276a. These results clarify that the miR-276a is a very important factor for sleep regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Zhang
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianguo Zhao
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Liya Wei
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Zhangwu Zhao
- Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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13
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Abstract
Locomotion is an ancient and fundamental output of the nervous system required for animals to perform many other complex behaviors. Although the formation of motor circuits is known to be under developmental control of transcriptional mechanisms that define the fates and connectivity of the many neurons, glia and muscle constituents of these circuits, relatively little is known about the role of post-transcriptional regulation of locomotor behavior. MicroRNAs have emerged as a potentially rich source of modulators for neural development and function. In order to define the microRNAs required for normal locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster, we utilized a set of transgenic Gal4-dependent competitive inhibitors (microRNA sponges, or miR-SPs) to functionally assess ca. 140 high-confidence Drosophila microRNAs using automated quantitative movement tracking systems followed by multiparametric analysis. Using ubiquitous expression of miR-SP constructs, we identified a large number of microRNAs that modulate aspects of normal baseline adult locomotion. Addition of temperature-dependent Gal80 to identify microRNAs that act during adulthood revealed that the majority of these microRNAs play developmental roles. Comparison of ubiquitous and neural-specific miR-SP expression suggests that most of these microRNAs function within the nervous system. Parallel analyses of spontaneous locomotion in adults and in larvae also reveal that very few of the microRNAs required in the adult overlap with those that control the behavior of larval motor circuits. These screens suggest that a rich regulatory landscape underlies the formation and function of motor circuits and that many of these mechanisms are stage and/or parameter-specific.
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Cusumano P, Damulewicz M, Carbognin E, Caccin L, Puricella A, Specchia V, Bozzetti MP, Costa R, Mazzotta GM. The RNA Helicase BELLE Is Involved in Circadian Rhythmicity and in Transposons Regulation in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2019; 10:133. [PMID: 30842743 PMCID: PMC6392097 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks control and synchronize biological rhythms of several behavioral and physiological phenomena in most, if not all, organisms. Rhythm generation relies on molecular auto-regulatory oscillations of interlocked transcriptional-translational feedback loops. Rhythmic clock-gene expression is at the base of rhythmic protein accumulation, though post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms have evolved to adjust and consolidate the proper pace of the clock. In Drosophila, BELLE, a conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase playing important roles in reproductive capacity, is involved in the small RNA-mediated regulation associated to the piRNA pathway. Here, we report that BELLE is implicated in the circadian rhythmicity and in the regulation of endogenous transposable elements (TEs) in both nervous system and gonads. We suggest that BELLE acts as important element in the piRNA-mediated regulation of the TEs and raise the hypothesis that this specific regulation could represent another level of post-transcriptional control adopted by the clock to ensure the proper rhythmicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Cusumano
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Milena Damulewicz
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Laura Caccin
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonietta Puricella
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Valeria Specchia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Bozzetti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Costa
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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15
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Anreiter I, Biergans SD, Sokolowski MB. Epigenetic regulation of behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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16
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Kottler B, Faville R, Bridi JC, Hirth F. Inverse Control of Turning Behavior by Dopamine D1 Receptor Signaling in Columnar and Ring Neurons of the Central Complex in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2019; 29:567-577.e6. [PMID: 30713106 PMCID: PMC6384123 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Action selection is a prerequisite for decision-making and a fundamental aspect to any goal-directed locomotion; it requires integration of sensory signals and internal states to translate them into action sequences. Here, we introduce a novel behavioral analysis to study neural circuits and mechanisms underlying action selection and decision-making in freely moving Drosophila. We discovered preferred patterns of motor activity and turning behavior. These patterns are impaired in FoxP mutant flies, which present an altered temporal organization of motor actions and turning behavior, reminiscent of indecisiveness. Then, focusing on central complex (CX) circuits known to integrate different sensory modalities and controlling premotor regions, we show that action sequences and turning behavior are regulated by dopamine D1-like receptor (Dop1R1) signaling. Dop1R1 inputs onto CX columnar ellipsoid body-protocerebral bridge gall (E-PG) neuron and ellipsoid body (EB) R2/R4m ring neuron circuits both negatively gate motor activity but inversely control turning behavior. Although flies deficient of D1 receptor signaling present normal turning behavior despite decreased activity, restoring Dop1R1 level in R2/R4m-specific circuitry affects the temporal organization of motor actions and turning. We finally show EB R2/R4m neurons are in contact with E-PG neurons that are thought to encode body orientation and heading direction of the fly. These findings suggest that Dop1R1 signaling in E-PG and EB R2/4 m circuits are compared against each other, thereby modulating patterns of activity and turning behavior for goal-directed locomotion. Freely moving Drosophila present preferred patterns of activity and turning behavior FoxP mutations affect temporal distribution of motor actions and turning behavior Central complex columnar E-PG and R2/4 m ring neurons inversely regulate turning Dopamine D1-like receptor signaling in R2/R4m ring neurons modulates behavior
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Kottler
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Richard Faville
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jessika Cristina Bridi
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Frank Hirth
- Department of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK.
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17
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The Role of miRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster Male Courtship Behavior. Genetics 2019; 211:925-942. [PMID: 30683757 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster courtship, although stereotypical, continually changes based on cues received from the courtship subject. Such adaptive responses are mediated via rapid and widespread transcriptomic reprogramming, a characteristic now widely attributed to microRNAs (miRNAs), along with other players. Here, we conducted a large-scale miRNA knockout screen to identify miRNAs that affect various parameters of male courtship behavior. Apart from identifying miRNAs that impact male-female courtship, we observed that miR-957 mutants performed significantly increased male-male courtship and "chaining" behavior, whereby groups of males court one another. We tested the effect of miR-957 reduction in specific neuronal cell clusters, identifying miR-957 activity in Doublesex (DSX)-expressing and mushroom body clusters as an important regulator of male-male courtship interactions. We further characterized the behavior of miR-957 mutants and found that these males court male subjects vigorously, but do not elicit courtship. Moreover, they fail to lower courtship efforts toward females with higher levels of antiaphrodisiac pheromones. At the level of individual pheromones, miR-957 males show a reduced inhibitory response to both 7-Tricosene (7-T) and cis-vaccenyl acetate, with the effect being more pronounced in the case of 7-T. Overall, our results indicate that a single miRNA can contribute to the regulation of complex behaviors, including detection or processing of chemicals that control important survival strategies such as chemical mate-guarding, and the maintenance of sex- and species-specific courtship barriers.
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18
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Menzel P, McCorkindale AL, Stefanov SR, Zinzen RP, Meyer IM. Transcriptional dynamics of microRNAs and their targets during Drosophila neurogenesis. RNA Biol 2019; 16:69-81. [PMID: 30582411 PMCID: PMC6380339 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1558907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis, tight regulation of gene expression in time and space is required for the orderly emergence of specific cell types. While the general importance of microRNAs in regulating eukaryotic gene expression has been well-established, their role in early neurogenesis remains to be addressed. In this survey, we investigate the transcriptional dynamics of microRNAs and their target transcripts during neurogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. To this end, we use the recently developed DIV-MARIS protocol, a method for enriching specific cell types from the Drosophila embryo in vivo, to sequence cell type-specific transcriptomes. We generate dedicated small and total RNA-seq libraries for neuroblasts, neurons and glia cells at early (6-8 h after egg laying (AEL)) and late (18-22 h AEL) stage. This allows us to directly compare these transcriptomes and investigate the potential functional roles of individual microRNAs with spatiotemporal resolution genome-wide, which is beyond the capabilities of existing in situ hybridization methods. Overall, we identify 74 microRNAs that are significantly differentially expressed between the three cell types and the two developmental stages. In all cell types, predicted target genes of down-regulated microRNAs show a significant enrichment of Gene Ontology terms related to neurogenesis. We also investigate how microRNAs regulate the transcriptome by targeting transcription factors and find many candidate microRNAs with putative roles in neurogenesis. Our survey highlights the roles of microRNAs as regulators of differentiation and glioneurognesis in the fruit fly and provides distinct starting points for dedicated functional follow-up studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Menzel
- Berlin Institute for Molecular and Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra L. McCorkindale
- Berlin Institute for Molecular and Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan R. Stefanov
- Berlin Institute for Molecular and Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert P. Zinzen
- Berlin Institute for Molecular and Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Irmtraud M. Meyer
- Berlin Institute for Molecular and Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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19
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The Drosophila Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Alk Constrains Long-Term Memory Formation. J Neurosci 2018; 38:7701-7712. [PMID: 30030398 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0784-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to mechanisms promoting protein-synthesis-dependent long-term memory (PSD-LTM), the process appears to also be specifically constrained. We present evidence that the highly conserved receptor tyrosine kinase dAlk is a novel PSD-LTM attenuator in Drosophila Reduction of dAlk levels in adult α/β mushroom body (MB) neurons during conditioning elevates LTM, whereas its overexpression impairs it. Unlike other memory suppressor proteins and miRNAs, dAlk within the MBs constrains PSD-LTM specifically but constrains learning outside the MBs as previously shown. Dendritic dAlk levels rise rapidly in MB neurons upon conditioning, a process apparently controlled by the 3'UTR of its mRNA, and interruption of the 3'UTR leads to enhanced LTM. Because its activating ligand Jeb is dispensable for LTM attenuation, we propose that postconditioning elevation of dAlk within α/β dendrites results in its autoactivation and constrains formation of the energy costly PSD-LTM, acting as a novel memory filter.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In addition to the widely studied molecular mechanisms promoting protein-synthesis-dependent long-term memory (PSD-LTM), recent discoveries indicate that the process is also specifically constrained. We describe a role in PSD-LTM constraint for the first receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) involved in olfactory memory in Drosophila Unlike other memory suppressor proteins and miRNAs, dAlk limits specifically PSD-LTM formation as it does not affect 3 h, or anesthesia-resistant memory. Significantly, we show conditioning-dependent dAlk elevation within the mushroom body dendrites and propose that its local abundance may activate its kinase activity, to mediate imposition of PSD-LTM constraints through yet unknown mechanisms.
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20
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Regulators of Long-Term Memory Revealed by Mushroom Body-Specific Gene Expression Profiling in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2018; 209:1167-1181. [PMID: 29925565 PMCID: PMC6063240 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory formation is achieved by genetically tightly controlled molecular pathways that result in a change of synaptic strength and synapse organization. While for short-term memory traces, rapidly acting biochemical pathways are in place, the formation of long-lasting memories requires changes in the transcriptional program of a cell. Although many genes involved in learning and memory formation have been identified, little is known about the genetic mechanisms required for changing the transcriptional program during different phases of long-term memory (LTM) formation. With Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, we profiled transcriptomic changes in the mushroom body—a memory center in the fly brain—at distinct time intervals during appetitive olfactory LTM formation using the targeted DamID technique. We describe the gene expression profiles during these phases and tested 33 selected candidate genes for deficits in LTM formation using RNAi knockdown. We identified 10 genes that enhance or decrease memory when knocked-down in the mushroom body. For vajk-1 and hacd1—the two strongest hits—we gained further support for their crucial role in appetitive learning and forgetting. These findings show that profiling gene expression changes in specific cell-types harboring memory traces provides a powerful entry point to identify new genes involved in learning and memory. The presented transcriptomic data may further be used as resource to study genes acting at different memory phases.
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21
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Abstract
Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes transmit the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the majority of fatal malaria cases worldwide. The hematophagous lifestyle defines mosquito reproductive biology and is exploited by P. falciparum for its own sexual reproduction and transmission. The two main phases of the mosquito reproductive cycle, previtellogenic (PV) and postblood meal (PBM), shape its capacity to transmit malaria. Transition between these phases is tightly coordinated to ensure homeostasis between mosquito tissues and successful reproduction. One layer of control is provided by microRNAs (miRNAs), well-known regulators of blood meal digestion and egg development in Aedes mosquitoes. Here, we report a global overview of tissue-specific miRNAs (miRNA) expression during the PV and PBM phases and identify miRNAs regulated during PV to PBM transition. The observed coordinated changes in the expression levels of a set of miRNAs in the energy-storing tissues suggest a role in the regulation of blood meal-induced metabolic changes.
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22
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Kacsoh BZ, Greene CS, Bosco G. Machine Learning Analysis Identifies Drosophila Grunge/Atrophin as an Important Learning and Memory Gene Required for Memory Retention and Social Learning. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2017; 7:3705-3718. [PMID: 28889104 PMCID: PMC5677163 DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.300172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput experiments are becoming increasingly common, and scientists must balance hypothesis-driven experiments with genome-wide data acquisition. We sought to predict novel genes involved in Drosophila learning and long-term memory from existing public high-throughput data. We performed an analysis using PILGRM, which analyzes public gene expression compendia using machine learning. We evaluated the top prediction alongside genes involved in learning and memory in IMP, an interface for functional relationship networks. We identified Grunge/Atrophin (Gug/Atro), a transcriptional repressor, histone deacetylase, as our top candidate. We find, through multiple, distinct assays, that Gug has an active role as a modulator of memory retention in the fly and its function is required in the adult mushroom body. Depletion of Gug specifically in neurons of the adult mushroom body, after cell division and neuronal development is complete, suggests that Gug function is important for memory retention through regulation of neuronal activity, and not by altering neurodevelopment. Our study provides a previously uncharacterized role for Gug as a possible regulator of neuronal plasticity at the interface of memory retention and memory extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balint Z Kacsoh
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Casey S Greene
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Giovanni Bosco
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
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23
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Niu J, Meeus I, De Coninck DIM, Deforce D, Etebari K, Asgari S, Smagghe G. Infections of virulent and avirulent viruses differentially influenced the expression of dicer-1, ago-1, and microRNAs in Bombus terrestris. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45620. [PMID: 28374846 PMCID: PMC5379481 DOI: 10.1038/srep45620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The microRNA (miRNA) pathway is well established to be involved in host-pathogen interactions. As key insect pollinators, bees are suffering from widely spreading viruses, especially honeybees and bumblebees. In order to better understand bee-virus interaction, we comparatively analyzed the involvement of the bumblebee miRNA pathway upon infection by two different viruses. In our setup, an avirulent infection is induced by slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV) and a virulent infection is induced by Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV). Our results showed the increased expressions of dicer-1 and ago-1 upon SBPV infection. There were 17 and 12 bumblebee miRNAs differentially expressed upon SBPV and IAPV infections, respectively. These results may indicate the involvement of the host miRNA pathway in bumblebee-virus interaction. However, silencing of dicer-1 did not influence the genome copy number of SBPV. Target prediction for these differentially expressed miRNAs showed their possible involvement in targeting viral genomic RNA and in the regulation of networks in bumblebee. Our study opens a new insight into bee-virus interaction meditated by host miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter IM De Coninck
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kayvan Etebari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sassan Asgari
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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24
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Paulo DF, Azeredo-Espin AML, Canesin LEC, Vicentini R, Junqueira ACM. Identification and characterization of microRNAs in the screwworm flies Cochliomyia hominivorax and Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 26:46-57. [PMID: 27775856 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression through post-transcriptional regulation. Here, we report the identification and characterization of miRNAs in two closely related screwworm flies with different feeding habits: Cochliomyia hominivorax and Cochliomyia macellaria. The New World screwworm, C. hominivorax, is an obligatory parasite of warm-blooded vertebrates, whereas the secondary screwworm, C. macellaria, is a free-living organism that feeds on decaying organic matter. Here, the small RNA transcriptomes of adults and third-instar larvae of both species were sequenced. A total of 110 evolutionarily conserved miRNAs were identified, and 10 putative precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) were predicted. The relative expression of six selected miRNAs was further investigated, including miRNAs that are related to reproduction and neural processes in other insects. Mature miRNAs were also characterized across an evolutionary time scale, suggesting that the majority of them have been conserved since the emergence of the Arthropoda [540 million years ago (Ma)], Hexapoda (488 Ma) and Brachycera (195 Ma) lineages. This study is the first report of miRNAs for screwworm flies. We also performed a comparative analysis with the hereby predicted miRNAs from the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina. The results presented may advance our understanding of parasitic habits within Calliphoridae and assist further functional studies in blowflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Paulo
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - A M L Azeredo-Espin
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - L E C Canesin
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - R Vicentini
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - A C M Junqueira
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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25
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Wang S, Yi JK, Yang S, Liu Y, Zhang JH, Xi JH. Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in antennae of Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky and their possible roles in olfactory regulation. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 94:e21369. [PMID: 28042896 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play posttranscriptional, regulatory roles in various biological processes. However, there has been limited investigation into the potential function of miRNAs in olfaction. The coleopteran Holotrichia parallela is an economically important pest, and miRNAs have been identified in only one coleopteran (Tribolium castaneum). Therefore, this study was conducted to identify miRNAs expressed in the antennae of H. parallela and obtain insights into their possible roles in olfaction. By combining deep sequencing and miRDeep2 software, a total of 99 miRNAs, including 76 conserved miRNAs and 23 novel miRNAs, were identified from H. parallela antennae. The 76 conserved miRNAs belong to 63 families and the other 23 may be species specific or tissue specific. The identified miRNAs have many conserved features of miRNAs. Evaluation of the conservation of the identified miRNA families across different species revealed that most of the families are insect specific. The prediction and annotation of targets suggested that 13 of the identified miRNAs participate in olfactory regulation. Gender differences in antennal expression of nine of the olfactory-related miRNAs were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Wang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Kun Yi
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Yang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Yan Liu
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Ju-Hong Zhang
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Hui Xi
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P. R. China
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26
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Busto GU, Guven-Ozkan T, Davis RL. MicroRNA function in Drosophila memory formation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 43:15-24. [PMID: 27837663 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate protein expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms. They participate in broad aspects of biology from the control of developmental processes to tumorigenesis. Recent studies in Drosophila show that they also regulate activity-dependent and sensory-specific protein expression and support olfactory memory formation. Among the hundreds of miRs described, several have been demonstrated to be required for normal learning, memory, or for the development of neuronal circuits that support memory formation. Fly models of human diseases offer promise of identifying miRs whose expression becomes dysregulated and part of the pathological state, providing models for understanding brain disorders and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germain U Busto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Tugba Guven-Ozkan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Ronald L Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Busto GU, Guven-Ozkan T, Chakraborty M, Davis RL. Developmental inhibition of miR-iab8-3p disrupts mushroom body neuron structure and adult learning ability. Dev Biol 2016; 419:237-249. [PMID: 27634569 PMCID: PMC5204246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit protein expression post-transcriptionally. They have been implicated in many different physiological processes, but little is known about their individual involvement in learning and memory. We recently identified several miRNAs that either increased or decreased intermediate-term memory when inhibited in the central nervous system, including miR-iab8-3p. We report here a new developmental role for this miRNA. Blocking the expression of miR-iab8-3p during the development of the organism leads to hypertrophy of individual mushroom body neuron soma, a reduction in the field size occupied by axonal projections, and adult intellectual disability. We further identified four potential mRNA targets of miR-iab8-3p whose inhibition modulates intermediate-term memory including ceramide phosphoethanolamine synthase, which may account for the behavioral effects produced by miR-iab8-3p inhibition. Our results offer important new information on a microRNA required for normal neurodevelopment and the capacity to learn and remember normally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germain U Busto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter FL 33458, USA.
| | - Tugba Guven-Ozkan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter FL 33458, USA
| | - Molee Chakraborty
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter FL 33458, USA
| | - Ronald L Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter FL 33458, USA.
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28
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Steinkraus BR, Toegel M, Fulga TA. Tiny giants of gene regulation: experimental strategies for microRNA functional studies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2016; 5:311-62. [PMID: 26950183 PMCID: PMC4949569 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The discovery over two decades ago of short regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) has led to the inception of a vast biomedical research field dedicated to understanding these powerful orchestrators of gene expression. Here we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods and techniques underpinning the experimental pipeline employed for exploratory miRNA studies in animals. Some of the greatest challenges in this field have been uncovering the identity of miRNA-target interactions and deciphering their significance with regard to particular physiological or pathological processes. These endeavors relied almost exclusively on the development of powerful research tools encompassing novel bioinformatics pipelines, high-throughput target identification platforms, and functional target validation methodologies. Thus, in an unparalleled manner, the biomedical technology revolution unceasingly enhanced and refined our ability to dissect miRNA regulatory networks and understand their roles in vivo in the context of cells and organisms. Recurring motifs of target recognition have led to the creation of a large number of multifactorial bioinformatics analysis platforms, which have proved instrumental in guiding experimental miRNA studies. Subsequently, the need for discovery of miRNA-target binding events in vivo drove the emergence of a slew of high-throughput multiplex strategies, which now provide a viable prospect for elucidating genome-wide miRNA-target binding maps in a variety of cell types and tissues. Finally, deciphering the functional relevance of miRNA post-transcriptional gene silencing under physiological conditions, prompted the evolution of a host of technologies enabling systemic manipulation of miRNA homeostasis as well as high-precision interference with their direct, endogenous targets. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno R Steinkraus
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Markus Toegel
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tudor A Fulga
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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29
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Carthew RW, Agbu P, Giri R. MicroRNA function in Drosophila melanogaster. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 65:29-37. [PMID: 27000418 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, microRNAs have emerged as critical regulators in the expression and function of animal genomes. This review article discusses the relationship between microRNA-mediated regulation and the biology of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We focus on the roles that microRNAs play in tissue growth, germ cell development, hormone action, and the development and activity of the central nervous system. We also discuss the ways in which microRNAs affect robustness. Many gene regulatory networks are robust; they are relatively insensitive to the precise values of reaction constants and concentrations of molecules acting within the networks. MicroRNAs involved in robustness appear to be nonessential under uniform conditions used in conventional laboratory experiments. However, the robust functions of microRNAs can be revealed when environmental or genetic variation otherwise has an impact on developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Carthew
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Pamela Agbu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Ritika Giri
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Prior studies have shown that they regulate numerous physiological processes critical for normal development, cellular growth control, and organismal behavior. Here, we systematically surveyed 134 different miRNAs for roles in olfactory learning and memory formation using "sponge" technology to titrate their activity broadly in the Drosophila melanogaster central nervous system. We identified at least five different miRNAs involved in memory formation or retention from this large screen, including miR-9c, miR-31a, miR-305, miR-974, and miR-980. Surprisingly, the titration of some miRNAs increased memory, while the titration of others decreased memory. We performed more detailed experiments on two miRNAs, miR-974 and miR-31a, by mapping their roles to subpopulations of brain neurons and testing the functional involvement in memory of potential mRNA targets through bioinformatics and a RNA interference knockdown approach. This screen offers an important first step toward the comprehensive identification of all miRNAs and their potential targets that serve in gene regulatory networks important for normal learning and memory.
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Guven-Ozkan T, Busto GU, Schutte SS, Cervantes-Sandoval I, O'Dowd DK, Davis RL. MiR-980 Is a Memory Suppressor MicroRNA that Regulates the Autism-Susceptibility Gene A2bp1. Cell Rep 2016; 14:1698-1709. [PMID: 26876166 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs have been associated with many different biological functions, but little is known about their roles in conditioned behavior. We demonstrate that Drosophila miR-980 is a memory suppressor gene functioning in multiple regions of the adult brain. Memory acquisition and stability were both increased by miR-980 inhibition. Whole cell recordings and functional imaging experiments indicated that miR-980 regulates neuronal excitability. We identified the autism susceptibility gene, A2bp1, as an mRNA target for miR-980. A2bp1 levels varied inversely with miR-980 expression; memory performance was directly related to A2bp1 levels. In addition, A2bp1 knockdown reversed the memory gains produced by miR-980 inhibition, consistent with A2bp1 being a downstream target of miR-980 responsible for the memory phenotypes. Our results indicate that miR-980 represses A2bp1 expression to tune the excitable state of neurons, and the overall state of excitability translates to memory impairment or improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugba Guven-Ozkan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Germain U Busto
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Soleil S Schutte
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | | | - Diane K O'Dowd
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ronald L Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Abstract
MicroRNAs are short noncoding, ~22-nucleotide RNAs that regulate protein abundance. The growth in our understanding of this class of RNAs has been rapid since their discovery just over a decade ago. We now appreciate that miRNAs are deeply embedded within the genetic networks that control basic features of metazoan cells including their identity, metabolism, and reproduction. The Drosophila melanogaster model system has made and will continue to make important contributions to this analysis. Intended as an introductory overview, here we review the current methods and resources available for functional analysis of fly miRNAs for those interested in performing this type of analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Chawla
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 East Third St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Arthur Luhur
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 East Third St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Nicholas Sokol
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 East Third St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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33
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Zhou Y, He Y, Wang C, Zhang X. Characterization of miRNAs from hydrothermal vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata. Mar Genomics 2015; 24 Pt 3:371-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 09/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Calla B, Geib SM. MicroRNAs in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis: extending Drosophilid miRNA conservation to the Tephritidae. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:740. [PMID: 26438165 PMCID: PMC4593211 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1835-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is an important plant pest species in the family Tephritidae. It is a phytophagous species with broad host range, and while not established in the mainland United States, is a species of great concern for introduction. Despite the vast amount of information available from the closely related model organism Drosophila melanogaster, information at the genome and transcriptome level is still very limited for this species. Small RNAs act as regulatory molecules capable of determining transcript levels in the cells. The most studied small RNAs are micro RNAs, which may impact as much as 30 % of all protein coding genes in animals. RESULTS We have sequenced small RNAs (sRNAs) from the Tephritid fruit fly, B. dorsalis (oriental fruit fly), specifically sRNAs corresponding to the 17 to 28 nucleotides long fraction of total RNA. Sequencing yielded more than 16 million reads in total. Seventy five miRNAs orthologous to known miRNAs were identified, as well as five additional novel miRNAs that might be specific to the genera, or to the Tephritid family. We constructed a gene expression profile for the identified miRNAs, and used comparative analysis with D. melanogaster to support our expression data. In addition, several miRNA clusters were identified in the genome that show conservancy with D. melanogaster. Potential targets for the identified miRNAs were also searched. CONCLUSIONS The data presented here adds to our growing pool of information concerning the genome structure and characteristics of true fruit flies. It provides a basis for comparative studies with other Dipteran and within Tephritid species, and can be used for applied research such as in the development of new control strategies based on gene silencing and transgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernarda Calla
- Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit, USDA-ARS Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
| | - Scott M Geib
- Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research Unit, USDA-ARS Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA.
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A transgenic resource for conditional competitive inhibition of conserved Drosophila microRNAs. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7279. [PMID: 26081261 PMCID: PMC4471878 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) in development and disease is well established, understanding the function of individual miRNAs remains challenging. Development of competitive inhibitor molecules such as miRNA sponges has allowed the community to address individual miRNA function in vivo. However, the application of these loss-of-function strategies has been limited. Here we offer a comprehensive library of 141 conditional miRNA sponges targeting well-conserved miRNAs in Drosophila. Ubiquitous miRNA sponge delivery and consequent systemic miRNA inhibition uncovers a relatively small number of miRNA families underlying viability and gross morphogenesis, with false discovery rates in the 4-8% range. In contrast, tissue-specific silencing of muscle-enriched miRNAs reveals a surprisingly large number of novel miRNA contributions to the maintenance of adult indirect flight muscle structure and function. A strong correlation between miRNA abundance and physiological relevance is not observed, underscoring the importance of unbiased screens when assessing the contributions of miRNAs to complex biological processes.
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36
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Søvik E, Bloch G, Ben-Shahar Y. Function and evolution of microRNAs in eusocial Hymenoptera. Front Genet 2015; 6:193. [PMID: 26074950 PMCID: PMC4444961 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of eusociality (“true sociality”) in several insect lineages represents one of the most successful evolutionary adaptations in the animal kingdom in terms of species richness and global biomass. In contrast to solitary insects, eusocial insects evolved a set of unique behavioral and physiological traits such as reproductive division of labor and cooperative brood care, which likely played a major role in their ecological success. The molecular mechanisms that support the social regulation of behavior in eusocial insects, and their evolution, are mostly unknown. The recent whole-genome sequencing of several eusocial insect species set the stage for deciphering the molecular and genetic bases of eusociality, and the possible evolutionary modifications that led to it. Studies of mRNA expression patterns in the brains of diverse eusocial insect species have indicated that specific social behavioral states of individual workers and queens are often associated with particular tissue-specific transcriptional profiles. Here, we discuss recent findings that highlight the role of non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating traits associated with reproductive and behavioral divisions of labor in eusocial insects. We provide bioinformatic and phylogenetic data, which suggest that some Hymenoptera-specific miRNA may have contributed to the evolution of traits important for the evolution of eusociality in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirik Søvik
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yehuda Ben-Shahar
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO, USA
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37
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Systematic Study of Drosophila MicroRNA Functions Using a Collection of Targeted Knockout Mutations. Dev Cell 2014; 31:784-800. [DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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38
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Fagegaltier D, König A, Gordon A, Lai EC, Gingeras TR, Hannon GJ, Shcherbata HR. A genome-wide survey of sexually dimorphic expression of Drosophila miRNAs identifies the steroid hormone-induced miRNA let-7 as a regulator of sexual identity. Genetics 2014; 198:647-68. [PMID: 25081570 PMCID: PMC4196619 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.114.169268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MiRNAs bear an increasing number of functions throughout development and in the aging adult. Here we address their role in establishing sexually dimorphic traits and sexual identity in male and female Drosophila. Our survey of miRNA populations in each sex identifies sets of miRNAs differentially expressed in male and female tissues across various stages of development. The pervasive sex-biased expression of miRNAs generally increases with the complexity and sexual dimorphism of tissues, gonads revealing the most striking biases. We find that the male-specific regulation of the X chromosome is relevant to miRNA expression on two levels. First, in the male gonad, testis-biased miRNAs tend to reside on the X chromosome. Second, in the soma, X-linked miRNAs do not systematically rely on dosage compensation. We set out to address the importance of a sex-biased expression of miRNAs in establishing sexually dimorphic traits. Our study of the conserved let-7-C miRNA cluster controlled by the sex-biased hormone ecdysone places let-7 as a primary modulator of the sex-determination hierarchy. Flies with modified let-7 levels present doublesex-related phenotypes and express sex-determination genes normally restricted to the opposite sex. In testes and ovaries, alterations of the ecdysone-induced let-7 result in aberrant gonadal somatic cell behavior and non-cell-autonomous defects in early germline differentiation. Gonadal defects as well as aberrant expression of sex-determination genes persist in aging adults under hormonal control. Together, our findings place ecdysone and let-7 as modulators of a somatic systemic signal that helps establish and sustain sexual identity in males and females and differentiation in gonads. This work establishes the foundation for a role of miRNAs in sexual dimorphism and demonstrates that similar to vertebrate hormonal control of cellular sexual identity exists in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Fagegaltier
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724 Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Annekatrin König
- Max Planck Research Group of Gene Expression and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Assaf Gordon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Eric C Lai
- Department of Developmental Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065
| | - Thomas R Gingeras
- Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Gregory J Hannon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724 Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724
| | - Halyna R Shcherbata
- Max Planck Research Group of Gene Expression and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen 37077, Germany
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