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Romussi S, Giunti S, Andersen N, De Rosa MJ. C. elegans: a prominent platform for modeling and drug screening in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:565-585. [PMID: 38509691 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2329103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (NDevDs and NDegDs, respectively) encompass a broad spectrum of disorders affecting the nervous system with an increasing incidence. In this context, the nematode C. elegans, has emerged as a benchmark model for biological research, especially in the field of neuroscience. AREAS COVERED The authors highlight the numerous advantages of this tiny worm as a model for exploring nervous system pathologies and as a platform for drug discovery. There is a particular focus given to describing the existing models of C. elegans for the study of NDevDs and NDegDs. Specifically, the authors underscore their strong applicability in preclinical drug development. Furthermore, they place particular emphasis on detailing the common techniques employed to explore the nervous system in both healthy and diseased states. EXPERT OPINION Drug discovery constitutes a long and expensive process. The incorporation of invertebrate models, such as C. elegans, stands as an exemplary strategy for mitigating costs and expediting timelines. The utilization of C. elegans as a platform to replicate nervous system pathologies and conduct high-throughput automated assays in the initial phases of drug discovery is pivotal for rendering therapeutic options more attainable and cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Romussi
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Giunti
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Hao T, Song Z, Zhang M, Zhang L, Yang J, Li J, Sun J. Reconstruction of Metabolic-Protein Interaction Integrated Network of Eriocheir sinensis and Analysis of Ecdysone Synthesis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:410. [PMID: 38674345 PMCID: PMC11049885 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Integrated networks have become a new interest in genome-scale network research due to their ability to comprehensively reflect and analyze the molecular processes in cells. Currently, none of the integrated networks have been reported for higher organisms. Eriocheir sinensis is a typical aquatic animal that grows through ecdysis. Ecdysone has been identified to be a crucial regulator of ecdysis, but the influence factors and regulatory mechanisms of ecdysone synthesis in E. sinensis are still unclear. In this work, the genome-scale metabolic network and protein-protein interaction network of E. sinensis were integrated to reconstruct a metabolic-protein interaction integrated network (MPIN). The MPIN was used to analyze the influence factors of ecdysone synthesis through flux variation analysis. In total, 236 integrated reactions (IRs) were found to influence the ecdysone synthesis of which 16 IRs had a significant impact. These IRs constitute three ecdysone synthesis routes. It is found that there might be alternative pathways to obtain cholesterol for ecdysone synthesis in E. sinensis instead of absorbing it directly from the feeds. The MPIN reconstructed in this work is the first integrated network for higher organisms. The analysis based on the MPIN supplies important information for the mechanism analysis of ecdysone synthesis in E. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Hao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Zhentao Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Lingrui Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jiarui Yang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jingjing Li
- Tianjin Fisheries Research Institute, Tianjin 300211, China;
| | - Jinsheng Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China; (T.H.); (Z.S.); (M.Z.); (L.Z.); (J.Y.)
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Jiang Y, MacNeil LT. Simple model systems reveal conserved mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:82. [PMID: 37950311 PMCID: PMC10638731 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00664-x] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of effective therapies that slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying these diseases. Model organisms, including yeast, worms, and flies, provide simple systems with which to investigate the mechanisms of disease. The evolutionary conservation of cellular pathways regulating proteostasis and stress response in these organisms facilitates the study of genetic factors that contribute to, or protect against, neurodegeneration. Here, we review genetic modifiers of neurodegeneration and related cellular pathways identified in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, focusing on models of AD and related tauopathies. We further address the potential of simple model systems to better understand the fundamental mechanisms that lead to AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Lesley T MacNeil
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Cho Y, Bae HG, Okun E, Arumugam TV, Jo DG. Physiology and pharmacology of amyloid precursor protein. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 235:108122. [PMID: 35114285 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein and a well-characterized precursor protein of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, which accumulate in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathologies. Aβ has been extensively investigated since the amyloid hypothesis in AD was proposed. Besides Aβ, previous studies on APP and its proteolytic cleavage products have suggested their diverse pathological and physiological functions. However, their roles still have not been thoroughly understood. In this review, we extensively discuss the evolutionarily-conserved biology of APP, including its structure and processing pathway, as well as recent findings on the physiological roles of APP and its fragments in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. We have also elaborated upon the current status of APP-targeted therapeutic approaches for AD treatment by discussing inhibitors of several proteases participating in APP processing, including α-, β-, and γ-secretases. Finally, we have highlighted the future perspectives pertaining to further research and the potential clinical role of APP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonsuk Cho
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Han-Gyu Bae
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Eitan Okun
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; The Pauld Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer's Disease Research, Israel
| | - Thiruma V Arumugam
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea; School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Dong-Gyu Jo
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea; Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, South Korea; Biomedical Institute for Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
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Modeling Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020288. [PMID: 35203497 PMCID: PMC8869312 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. After decades of research, we know the importance of the accumulation of protein aggregates such as β-amyloid peptide and phosphorylated tau. We also know that mutations in certain proteins generate early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), and many other genes modulate the disease in its sporadic form. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology are still unclear. Because of ethical limitations, we need to use animal models to investigate these processes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has received considerable attention in the last 25 years, since the first AD models overexpressing Aβ peptide were described. We review here the main results obtained using this model to study AD. We include works studying the basic molecular mechanisms of the disease, as well as those searching for new therapeutic targets. Although this model also has important limitations, the ability of this nematode to generate knock-out or overexpression models of any gene, single or combined, and to carry out toxicity, recovery or survival studies in short timeframes with many individuals and at low cost is difficult to overcome. We can predict that its use as a model for various diseases will certainly continue to increase.
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Venz R, Pekec T, Katic I, Ciosk R, Ewald CY. End-of-life targeted degradation of DAF-2 insulin/IGF-1 receptor promotes longevity free from growth-related pathologies. eLife 2021; 10:71335. [PMID: 34505574 PMCID: PMC8492056 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Preferably, lifespan-extending therapies should work when applied late in life without causing undesired pathologies. Reducing insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling (IIS) increases lifespan across species, but the effects of reduced IIS interventions in extreme geriatric ages remains unknown. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we engineered the conditional depletion of the DAF-2/insulin/IGF-1 transmembrane receptor using an auxin-inducible degradation (AID) system. This allowed for the temporal and spatial reduction in DAF-2 protein levels at time points after which interventions such as RNAi become ineffective. Using this system, we found that AID-mediated depletion of DAF-2 protein surpasses the longevity of daf-2 mutants. Depletion of DAF-2 during early adulthood resulted in multiple adverse phenotypes, including growth retardation, germline shrinkage, egg retention, and reduced brood size. By contrast, AID-mediated depletion of DAF-2 post-reproduction, or specifically in the intestine in early adulthood, resulted in an extension of lifespan without these deleterious effects. Strikingly, at geriatric ages, when 75% of the population had died, AID-mediated depletion of DAF-2 protein resulted in a doubling in lifespan. Thus, we provide a proof-of-concept that even close to the end of an individual’s lifespan, it is possible to slow aging and promote longevity. The goal of geroscience, or research into old age, is to promote health during old age, and thus, to increase lifespan. In the body, the groups of biochemical reactions, or ‘pathways’, that allow an organism to sense nutrients, and regulate growth and stress, play major roles in ensuring healthy aging. Indeed, organisms that do not produce a working version of the insulin/IGF-1 receptor, a protein involved in one such pathway, show increased lifespan. In the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in the insulin/IGF-1 receptor can even double their lifespan. However, it is unclear whether this increase can be achieved once the organism has reached old age. To answer this question, Venz et al. genetically engineered the nematode worm C. elegans so that they could trigger the rapid degradation of the insulin/IGF-1 receptor either in the entire organism or in a specific tissue. Venz et al. started by aging several C. elegans worms for three weeks, until about 75% had died. At this point, they triggered the degradation of the insulin/IGF-1 receptor in some of the remaining worms, keeping the rest untreated as a control for the experiment. The results showed that the untreated worms died within a few days, while worms in which the insulin/IGF-1 receptor had been degraded lived for almost one more month. This demonstrates that it is possible to double the lifespan of an organism at the very end of life. Venz et al.’s findings suggest that it is possible to make interventions to extend an organism’s lifespan near the end of life that are as effective as if they were performed when the organism was younger. This sparks new questions regarding the quality of this lifespan extension: do the worms become younger with the intervention, or is aging simply slowed down?
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Venz
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Schwerzenbach-Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tina Pekec
- University of Basel, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Basel, Switzerland.,Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iskra Katic
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rafal Ciosk
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego, Poland.,University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Collin Yvès Ewald
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Schwerzenbach-Zürich, Switzerland
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7
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Narayanan RK, Brewer MH, Perez-Siles G, Ellis M, Ly C, Burgess A, Neumann B, Nicholson GA, Vucic S, Kennerson ML. Charcot-Marie-tooth disease causing mutation (p.R158H) in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3 (PDK3) affects synaptic transmission, ATP production and causes neurodegeneration in a CMTX6 C. elegans model. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:133-145. [PMID: 34387338 PMCID: PMC8682796 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Charcot–Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a commonly inherited, non-fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects sensory and motor neurons in patients. More than 90 genes are known to cause axonal and demyelinating forms of CMT. The p.R158H mutation in the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3 (PDK3) gene is the genetic cause for an X linked form of axonal CMT (CMTX6). In vitro studies using patient fibroblasts and iPSC-derived motor neurons have shown that this mutation causes deficits in energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. Animal models that recapitulate pathogenic in vivo events in patients are crucial for investigating mechanisms of axonal degeneration and developing therapies for CMT. We have developed a C. elegans model of CMTX6 by knocking-in the p.R158H mutation in pdhk-2, the ortholog of PDK3. In addition, we have developed animal models overexpressing the wild type and mutant form of human PDK3 specifically in the GABAergic motor neurons of C. elegans. CMTX6 mutants generated in this study exhibit synaptic transmission deficits, locomotion defects and show signs of progressive neurodegeneration. Furthermore, the CMTX6 in vivo models display energy deficits that recapitulate the phenotype observed in patient fibroblasts and iPSC-derived motor neurons. Our CMTX6 animals represent the first in vivo model for this form of CMT and have provided novel insights into the cellular function and metabolic pathways perturbed by the p.R158H mutation, all the while closely replicating the clinical presentation observed in CMTX6 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh K Narayanan
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Megan H Brewer
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Perez-Siles
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Melina Ellis
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carolyn Ly
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew Burgess
- Cell Division Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brent Neumann
- Neuroscience Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marina L Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord General Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Knock-down of transcription factor skinhead-1 exacerbates arsenite-induced oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biometals 2021; 34:675-686. [PMID: 33881688 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-021-00303-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor, skinhead-1 (skn-1) has been demonstrated to play central roles in regulation of oxidative damage. Arsenite is an oxidative damage inducer in the environment. However, the role of skn-1 in arsenite-induced oxidative damage remains unclear. Thus, in this study, by using RNAi feeding, different toxic responses of wild-type and skn-1 knockdown nematodes to arsenite were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that arsenite did not show any significant impacts on locomotory behaviors, but skn-1 knock-down worms were much more sensitive to arsenite treatment, manifested by an aggravated reduction of survival rate than that of wild-type nematodes. In arsenite-treated worms, down-regulation of skn-1 significantly exacerbated the arsenite-induced changed expressions of oxidative damage-related genes, xbp-1, apl-1 and trxr-2, but these regulated effects of skn-1 were not observed on spr-4 and sel-12 expressions under arsenite treatment. These findings together suggest that skn-1 may play a vital role in protection of C. elegans from arsenite-induced oxidative damage.
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Zhang X, Ma C, Sun L, He Z, Feng Y, Li X, Gan J, Chen X. Effect of policosanol from insect wax on amyloid β-peptide-induced toxicity in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer's disease. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:103. [PMID: 33785017 PMCID: PMC8011155 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03278-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an age-related neurodegenerative disorder and a serious public health concern, is mainly caused by β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced toxicity. Currently, a limited number of drugs are effective against AD, and only a few are used for its treatment. According to traditional Chinese medicine, white wax is mainly composed of policosanol, hexacosanol, and octacosanol. Policosanol has been shown to reduce lipid levels in blood and alleviate the symptoms associated with diabetic complications and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and AD. However, the efficacy of policosanol depends on the purity and composition of the preparation, and the therapeutic efficacy of policosanol derived from insect wax (PIW) in AD is unknown. Methods Here, we identified the main components of PIW and investigated the effects of PIW on Aβ-induced toxicity and life-span in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model of AD, CL4176. Furthermore, we estimated the expression of amyloid precursor-like protein (apl-1) and the genes involved in various pathways associated with longevity and alleviation of AD-related symptoms in PIW-fed CL4176. Results PIW mainly consists of tetracosanol, hexacosanol, octacosanol, and triacontanol; it could decrease the Aβ-induced paralysis rate from 86.87 to 66.97% (P < 0.01) and extend the life-span from 6.2 d to 7.8 d (P < 0.001) in CL4176 worms. Furthermore, PIW downregulated apl-1, a gene known to be associated with the levels of Aβ deposits in C. elegans. Additionally, our results showed that PIW modulated the expression of genes associated with longevity-related pathways such as heat shock response, anti-oxidative stress, and glutamine cysteine synthetase. Conclusion Our findings suggest that PIW may be a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, its effects on murine models and patients with AD need to be explored further. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03278-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Chenjing Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Long Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Zhao He
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Ying Feng
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China.
| | - Xian Li
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Jin Gan
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resource Insects of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, China
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Haghani A, Dalton HM, Safi N, Shirmohammadi F, Sioutas C, Morgan TE, Finch CE, Curran SP. Air Pollution Alters Caenorhabditis elegans Development and Lifespan: Responses to Traffic-Related Nanoparticulate Matter. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019; 74:1189-1197. [PMID: 30828708 PMCID: PMC6625599 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution is a heterogeneous environmental toxicant that impacts humans throughout their life. We introduce Caenorhabditis elegans as a valuable air pollution model with its short lifespan, medium-throughput capabilities, and highly conserved biological pathways that impact healthspan. We exposed developmental and adult life stages of C. elegans to airborne nano-sized particulate matter (nPM) produced by traffic emissions and measured biological and molecular endpoints that changed in response. Acute nPM did not cause lethality in C. elegans, but short-term exposure during larval stage 1 caused delayed development. Gene expression responses to nPM exposure overlapped with responses of mouse and cell culture models of nPM exposure in previous studies. We showed further that the skn-1/Nrf2 antioxidant response has a role in the development and hormetic effects of nPM. This study introduces the worm as a new resource and complementary model for mouse and cultured cell systems to study air pollution toxicity across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Haghani
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Hans M Dalton
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Nikoo Safi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | | | | | - Todd E Morgan
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Caleb E Finch
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Sean P Curran
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles,Address correspondence to: Sean P. Curran, PhD, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90089. E-mail:
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11
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Porter DF, Prasad A, Carrick BH, Kroll-Connor P, Wickens M, Kimble J. Toward Identifying Subnetworks from FBF Binding Landscapes in Caenorhabditis Spermatogenic or Oogenic Germlines. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:153-165. [PMID: 30459181 PMCID: PMC6325917 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Metazoan PUF (Pumilio and FBF) RNA-binding proteins regulate various biological processes, but a common theme across phylogeny is stem cell regulation. In Caenorhabditis elegans, FBF (fem-3 Binding Factor) maintains germline stem cells regardless of which gamete is made, but FBF also functions in the process of spermatogenesis. We have begun to "disentangle" these biological roles by asking which FBF targets are gamete-independent, as expected for stem cells, and which are gamete-specific. Specifically, we compared FBF iCLIP binding profiles in adults making sperm to those making oocytes. Normally, XX adults make oocytes. To generate XX adults making sperm, we used a fem-3(gf) mutant requiring growth at 25°; for comparison, wild-type oogenic hermaphrodites were also raised at 25°. Our FBF iCLIP data revealed FBF binding sites in 1522 RNAs from oogenic adults and 1704 RNAs from spermatogenic adults. More than half of these FBF targets were independent of germline gender. We next clustered RNAs by FBF-RNA complex frequencies and found four distinct blocks. Block I RNAs were enriched in spermatogenic germlines, and included validated target fog-3, while Block II and III RNAs were common to both genders, and Block IV RNAs were enriched in oogenic germlines. Block II (510 RNAs) included almost all validated FBF targets and was enriched for cell cycle regulators. Block III (21 RNAs) was enriched for RNA-binding proteins, including previously validated FBF targets gld-1 and htp-1 We suggest that Block I RNAs belong to the FBF network for spermatogenesis, and that Blocks II and III are associated with stem cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas F Porter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Aman Prasad
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Brian H Carrick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Peggy Kroll-Connor
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Marvin Wickens
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Judith Kimble
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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12
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Xu J, Guo Y, Sui T, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Zhang R, Wang M, Guan S, Wang L. Molecular mechanisms of anti-oxidant and anti-aging effects induced by convallatoxin in Caenorhabditis elegans. Free Radic Res 2018; 51:529-544. [PMID: 28503972 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2017.1331037] [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] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Convallatoxin is widely used as a cardiac glycoside in acute and chronic congestive heart-failure and paroxysmal tachycardia, with many effects and underlying protective mechanisms on inflammation and cellular proliferation. However, convallatoxin has not been investigated in its antioxidant effects and lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, we found that convallatoxin (20 μM) could significantly prolong the lifespan of wild-type C. elegans up to 16.3% through daf-16, but not sir-2.1 signalling and increased thermotolerance and resistance to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Convallatoxin also improved pharyngeal pumping, locomotion, reduced lipofuscin accumulation and reactive oxygen species levels in C. elegans, which were attributed to hormesis, free radical-scavenging effects in vivo, and up-regulation of stress resistance-related proteins, such as SOD-3 and HSP-16.1. Furthermore, aging-associated genes daf-16, sod-3, and ctl-2 also appeared to contribute to the stress-resistance effect of convallatoxin. In summary, this study demonstrates that convallatoxin can protect against heat and oxidative stress and extend the lifespan of C. elegans, pointing it as a potential novel drug for retarding the aging process in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Xu
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Youming Guo
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Tianzhuo Sui
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Qifei Wang
- b College of Chemistry , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Yue Zhang
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Ruining Zhang
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Mingyang Wang
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Shuwen Guan
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
| | - Liping Wang
- a School of Life Science , Jilin University , Changchun , PR China
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13
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Diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease: GSK-3β as a potential link. Behav Brain Res 2018; 339:57-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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14
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Griffin EF, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. Genetic and Pharmacological Discovery for Alzheimer's Disease Using Caenorhabditis elegans. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2596-2606. [PMID: 29022701 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The societal burden presented by Alzheimer's disease warrants both innovative and expedient means by which its underlying molecular causes can be both identified and mechanistically exploited to discern novel therapeutic targets and strategies. The conserved characteristics, defined neuroanatomy, and advanced technological application of Caenorhabditis elegans render this metazoan an unmatched tool for probing neurotoxic factors. In addition, its short lifespan and importance in the field of aging make it an ideal organism for modeling age-related neurodegenerative disease. As such, this nematode system has demonstrated its value in predicting functional modifiers of human neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review how C. elegans has been utilized to model Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, we present how the causative neurotoxic peptides, amyloid-β and tau, contribute to disease-like neurodegeneration in C. elegans and how they translate to human disease. Furthermore, we describe how a variety of transgenic animal strains, each with distinct utility, have been used to identify both genetic and pharmacological modifiers of toxicity in C. elegans. As technological advances improve the prospects for intervention, the rapidity, unparalleled accuracy, and scale that C. elegans offers researchers for defining functional modifiers of neurodegeneration should speed the discovery of improved therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Griffin
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Kim A. Caldwell
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
| | - Guy A. Caldwell
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, United States
- Departments
of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental
Therapeutics, The University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
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15
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Salminen A, Kauppinen A, Kaarniranta K. Hypoxia/ischemia activate processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein: impact of vascular dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2017; 140:536-549. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology; Institute of Clinical Medicine; University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- School of Pharmacy; Faculty of Health Sciences; University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology; Institute of Clinical Medicine; University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology; Kuopio University Hospital; Kuopio Finland
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16
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Ewald CY, Marfil V, Li C. Alzheimer-related protein APL-1 modulates lifespan through heterochronic gene regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging Cell 2016; 15:1051-1062. [PMID: 27557896 PMCID: PMC5114704 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age‐associated disease. Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) may be causative or protective of AD. The presence of two functionally redundant APP‐like genes (APLP1/2) has made it difficult to unravel the biological function of APP during aging. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a single APP family member, apl‐1. Here, we assessed the function of APL‐1 on C. elegans’ lifespan and found tissue‐specific effects on lifespan by overexpression of APL‐1. Overexpression of APL‐1 in neurons causes lifespan reduction, whereas overexpression of APL‐1 in the hypodermis causes lifespan extension by repressing the function of the heterochronic transcription factor LIN‐14 to preserve youthfulness. APL‐1 lifespan extension also requires signaling through the FOXO transcription factor DAF‐16, heat‐shock factor HSF‐1, and vitamin D‐like nuclear hormone receptor DAF‐12. We propose that reinforcing APL‐1 expression in the hypodermis preserves the regulation of heterochronic lin‐14 gene network to improve maintenance of somatic tissues via DAF‐16/FOXO and HSF‐1 to promote healthy aging. Our work reveals a mechanistic link of how a conserved APP‐related protein modulates aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Y. Ewald
- Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
| | - Vanessa Marfil
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
| | - Chris Li
- Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
- Department of Biology City College of New York New York NY USA
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17
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Abstract
Experimental model systems have long been used to probe the causes, consequences and mechanisms of pathology leading to human disease. Ideally, such information can be exploited to inform the development of therapeutic strategies or treatments to combat disease progression. In the case of protein misfolding diseases, a wide range of model systems have been developed to investigate different aspects of disorders including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Utility of these systems broadly correlates with evolutionary complexity: small animal models such as rodents and the fruit fly are appropriate for pharmacological modeling and cognitive/behavioral assessment, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans allows analysis of tissue-specific disease features, and unicellular organisms such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the bacterium Escherichia coli are ideal for molecular studies. In this chapter, we highlight key advances in our understanding of protein misfolding/unfolding disease provided by model systems.
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18
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Shamsuzzama, Kumar L, Haque R, Nazir A. Role of MicroRNA Let-7 in Modulating Multifactorial Aspect of Neurodegenerative Diseases: an Overview. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:2787-2793. [PMID: 25823513 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9145-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The multifactorial aspect of neurodegenerative diseases has posed challenges in terms of understanding various mechanistic cues behind these ailments. The fact that single microRNA (miRNA) molecules can regulate multiple genes and associated pathways makes these molecules interesting for studies within the area of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. miRNAs are endogenous, evolutionarily conserved, 20-23 nucleotide non-coding RNAs, which were first discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans. They play a key role in gene regulation and are known to be deregulated in many disease conditions. Steady regulations of miRNAs are required for normal biological processes. One of the crucial miRNA molecules let-7 is highly conserved and is known to be required for development and viability. It acts as a regulator for oncogenes and insulin-PI3K-mTOR pathway genes. Upregulation of let-7 impairs glucose homeostasis and results in degeneration of neurons, while its downregulation leads to cancer. Maturation of let-7 in cancer subjects is inhibited by lin-28, an RNA-binding protein inhibitor. This highlights the importance of let-7 miRNAs in various diseases and developmental processes. This article provides an overview on the functions of let-7 and its probable association with various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamsuzzama
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Toxicology, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, 226 031, India
| | - Lalit Kumar
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Toxicology, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, 226 031, India
| | - Rizwanul Haque
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Toxicology, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, 226 031, India
| | - Aamir Nazir
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Toxicology, Division of Toxicology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, 226 031, India.
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19
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Alexander AG, Marfil V, Li C. Use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Front Genet 2014; 5:279. [PMID: 25250042 PMCID: PMC4155875 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in research and technology has increased our quality of life, allowed us to combat diseases, and achieve increased longevity. Unfortunately, increased longevity is accompanied by a rise in the incidences of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the sixth leading cause of death, and one of the leading causes of dementia amongst the aged population in the USA. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the prevalence of extracellular Aβ plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, derived from the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau, respectively. Despite years of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathology of AD remain unclear. Model organisms, such as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, present a complementary approach to addressing these questions. C. elegans has many advantages as a model system to study AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Like their mammalian counterparts, they have complex biochemical pathways, most of which are conserved. Genes in which mutations are correlated with AD have counterparts in C. elegans, including an APP-related gene, apl-1, a tau homolog, ptl-1, and presenilin homologs, such as sel-12 and hop-1. Since the neuronal connectivity in C. elegans has already been established, C. elegans is also advantageous in modeling learning and memory impairments seen during AD. This article addresses the insights C. elegans provide in studying AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we explore the advantages and drawbacks associated with using this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adanna G Alexander
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA ; Department of Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Marfil
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Li
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA ; Department of Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
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20
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Abstract
Interest in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) has increased in recent years due to its involvement in Alzheimer's disease. Since its molecular cloning, significant genetic and biochemical work has focused on the role of APP in the pathogenesis of this disease. Thus far, however, these studies have failed to deliver successful therapies. This suggests that understanding the basic biology of APP and its physiological role during development might be a crucial missing link for a better comprehension of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we present an overview of some of the key studies performed in various model organisms that have revealed roles for APP at different stages of neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Nicolas
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven School of Medicine, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Doctoral Program in Molecular and Developmental Genetics, University of Leuven Group Biomedicine, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven School of Medicine, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Doctoral Program in Molecular and Developmental Genetics, University of Leuven Group Biomedicine, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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21
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Leong SL, Young TR, Barnham KJ, Wedd AG, Hinds MG, Xiao Z, Cappai R. Quantification of copper binding to amyloid precursor protein domain 2 and its Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog. Implications for biological function. Metallomics 2014; 6:105-16. [DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00258f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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22
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Monsalve GC, Frand AR. Toward a unified model of developmental timing: A "molting" approach. WORM 2013; 1:221-30. [PMID: 24058853 PMCID: PMC3670223 DOI: 10.4161/worm.20874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Animal development requires temporal coordination between recurrent processes and sequential events, but the underlying timing mechanisms are not yet understood. The molting cycle of C. elegans provides an ideal system to study this basic problem. We recently characterized LIN-42, which is related to the circadian clock protein PERIOD, as a key component of the developmental timer underlying rhythmic molting cycles. In this context, LIN-42 coordinates epithelial stem cell dynamics with progression of the molting cycle. Repeated actions of LIN-42 may enable the reprogramming of seam cell temporal fates, while stage-specific actions of LIN-42 and other heterochronic genes select fates appropriate for upcoming, rather than passing, life stages. Here, we discuss the possible configuration of the molting timer, which may include interconnected positive and negative regulatory loops among lin-42, conserved nuclear hormone receptors such as NHR-23 and -25, and the let-7 family of microRNAs. Physiological and environmental conditions may modulate the activities of particular components of this molting timer. Finding that LIN-42 regulates both a sleep-like behavioral state and epidermal stem cell dynamics further supports the model of functional conservation between LIN-42 and mammalian PERIOD proteins. The molting timer may therefore represent a primitive form of a central biological clock and provide a general paradigm for the integration of rhythmic and developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela C Monsalve
- Department of Biological Chemistry; David Geffen School of Medicine; University of California; Los Angeles, CA USA
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23
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Shariati SAM, De Strooper B. Redundancy and divergence in the amyloid precursor protein family. FEBS Lett 2013; 587:2036-45. [PMID: 23707420 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Gene duplication provides genetic material required for functional diversification. An interesting example is the amyloid precursor protein (APP) protein family. The APP gene family has experienced both expansion and contraction during evolution. The three mammalian members have been studied quite extensively in combined knock out models. The underlying assumption is that APP, amyloid precursor like protein 1 and 2 (APLP1, APLP2) are functionally redundant. This assumption is primarily supported by the similarities in biochemical processing of APP and APLPs and on the fact that the different APP genes appear to genetically interact at the level of the phenotype in combined knockout mice. However, unique features in each member of the APP family possibly contribute to specification of their function. In the current review, we discuss the evolution and the biology of the APP protein family with special attention to the distinct properties of each homologue. We propose that the functions of APP, APLP1 and APLP2 have diverged after duplication to contribute distinctly to different neuronal events. Our analysis reveals that APLP2 is significantly diverged from APP and APLP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ali M Shariati
- KU Leuven, Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Raudino F. Non-cognitive symptoms and related conditions in the Alzheimer's disease: a literature review. Neurol Sci 2013; 34:1275-82. [PMID: 23543394 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-013-1424-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Alzheimer's disease is considered a progressive cognitive disorder; however, several non-cognitive symptoms accompany all stages of the disease, appearing at times before the cognitive symptoms become manifest. This article reviews the literature on non-cognitive symptoms normally related to the Alzheimer's disease, including gait and balance dysfunction, olfactory dysfunction, diabetes, pain, and psychiatric symptoms.
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25
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Pan-neuronal expression of APL-1, an APP-related protein, disrupts olfactory, gustatory, and touch plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurosci 2012; 32:10156-69. [PMID: 22836251 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0495-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Alzheimer's disease show age-related cognitive decline. Postmortem autopsy of their brains shows the presence of large numbers of senile plaques, whose major component is the β-amyloid peptide. The β-amyloid peptide is a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). In addition to the neurodegeneration associated with β-amyloid aggregation in Alzheimer's disease patients, mutations in APP in mammalian model organisms have also been shown to disrupt several behaviors independent of visible amyloid plaque formation. However, the pathways in which APP function are unknown and difficult to unravel in mammals. Here we show that pan-neuronal expression of APL-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of APP, disrupts several behaviors, such as olfactory and gustatory learning behavior and touch habituation. These behaviors are mediated by distinct neural circuits, suggesting a broad impact of APL-1 on sensory plasticity in C. elegans. Furthermore, we found that disruption of these three behaviors requires activity of the TGFβ pathway and reduced activity of the insulin pathway. These results suggest pathways and molecular components that may underlie behavioral plasticity in mammals and in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
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26
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Ewald CY, Li C. The secreted Alzheimer-related amyloid precursor protein fragment has an essential role in C. elegans. Prion 2012; 6:433-6. [PMID: 23044509 DOI: 10.4161/pri.22310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the amyloid precursor protein (APP) or the enzymes that process APP are correlated with familial Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease is also associated with insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes). In our recently published study, ( 1) we obtained genetic evidence that the extracellular fragment of APL-1, the C. elegans ortholog of human APP, may act as a signaling molecule to modulate insulin and nuclear hormone pathways in C. elegans development. In addition, independent of insulin and nuclear hormone signaling, high levels of the extracellular fragment of APL-1 (sAPL-1) leads to a temperature-sensitive embryonic lethality, which is dependent on activity of a predicted receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (MOA-1/R155.2). Furthermore, this embryonic lethality is enhanced by knockdown of a predicted prion-like protein (pqn-29). The precise molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain to be determined. Here, we present hypothetical models as to how sAPL-1 signaling influences metabolic and developmental pathways. Together, with previous findings in mammals that the extracellular domain of mammalian APP (sAPP) binds to a death-receptor, ( 2) our findings support the model that sAPP signaling affects critical biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Y Ewald
- Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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