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Yu S, Lai Z, Xue H, Zhu J, Yue G, Wang J, Jin LH. Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract inhibits intestinal inflammation and insulin metabolism defects in Drosophila. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38872277 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2024.2368795] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
In biomedical research, the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is among the most effective and flexible model organisms. Through the use of the Drosophila model, molecular mechanisms of human diseases can be investigated and candidate pharmaceuticals can be screened. White rot fungus Inonotus obliquus is a member of the family Hymenochaetaceae. Due to its multifaceted pharmacological effects, this fungus has been the subject of scientific investigation. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms by which Inonotus obliquus treats diseases remain unclear. In this study, we prepared an aqueous extract derived from Inonotus obliquus and demonstrated that it effectively prevented the negative impacts of inflammatory agents on flies, including overproliferation and overdifferentiation of intestinal progenitor cells and decreased survival rate. Furthermore, elevated reactive oxygen species levels and cell death were alleviated by Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract, suggesting that this extract inhibited intestinal inflammation. Additionally, Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract had an impact on the insulin pathway, as it alleviated growth defects in flies that were fed a high-sugar diet and in chico mutants. In addition, we determined the composition of Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract and conducted a network pharmacology analysis in order to identify prospective key compounds and targets. In brief, Inonotus obliquus aqueous extract exhibited considerable potential as a therapeutic intervention for human diseases. Our research has established a foundational framework that supports the potential clinical implementation of Inonotus obliquus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichao Yu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhixian Lai
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongmei Xue
- Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiahua Zhu
- Department of Basic Medical, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Guanhua Yue
- Department of Basic Medical, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiewei Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Li Hua Jin
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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2
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Ye C, Ho R, Moberg KH, Zheng JQ. Sexual Dimorphism in Age-Dependent Neurodegeneration After Mild Head Trauma in Drosophila : Unveiling the Adverse Impact of Female Reproductive Signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583747. [PMID: 38496515 PMCID: PMC10942469 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Environmental insults, including mild head trauma, significantly increase the risk of neurodegeneration. However, it remains challenging to establish a causative connection between early-life exposure to mild head trauma and late-life emergence of neurodegenerative deficits, nor do we know how sex and age compound the outcome. Using a Drosophila model, we demonstrate that exposure to mild head trauma causes neurodegenerative conditions that emerge late in life and disproportionately affect females. Increasing age-at-injury further exacerbates this effect in a sexually dimorphic manner. We further identify Sex Peptide (SP) signaling as a key factor in female susceptibility to post-injury brain deficits. RNA sequencing highlights a reduction in innate immune defense transcripts specifically in mated females during late life. Our findings establish a causal relationship between early head trauma and late-life neurodegeneration, emphasizing sex differences in injury response and the impact of age-at-injury. Finally, our findings reveal that reproductive signaling adversely impacts female response to mild head insults and elevates vulnerability to late-life neurodegeneration.
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Ho DM, Shaban M, Mahmood F, Ganguly P, Todeschini L, Van Vactor D, Artavanis-Tsakonas S. cAMP/PKA signaling regulates TDP-43 aggregation and mislocalization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400732121. [PMID: 38838021 PMCID: PMC11181030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400732121] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of TDP-43 protein are hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are observed in the vast majority of both familial and sporadic cases. How these two interconnected processes are regulated on a molecular level, however, remains enigmatic. Genome-wide screens for modifiers of the ALS-associated genes TDP-43 and FUS have identified the phospholipase D (Pld) pathway as a key regulator of ALS-related phenotypes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster [M. W. Kankel et al., Genetics 215, 747-766 (2020)]. Here, we report the results of our search for downstream targets of the enzymatic product of Pld, phosphatidic acid. We identify two conserved negative regulators of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, the phosphodiesterase dunce and the inhibitory subunit PKA-R2, as modifiers of pathogenic phenotypes resulting from overexpression of the Drosophila TDP-43 ortholog TBPH. We show that knockdown of either of these genes results in a mitigation of both TBPH aggregation and mislocalization in larval motor neuron cell bodies, as well as an amelioration of adult-onset motor defects and shortened lifespan induced by TBPH. We determine that PKA kinase activity is downstream of both TBPH and Pld and that overexpression of the PKA target CrebA can rescue TBPH mislocalization. These findings suggest a model whereby increasing cAMP/PKA signaling can ameliorate the molecular and functional effects of pathological TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. Ho
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Muhammad Shaban
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Cancer Data Science Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02115
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA02142
| | - Faisal Mahmood
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
- Cancer Data Science Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02115
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA02142
| | - Payel Ganguly
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | | | - David Van Vactor
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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Singh A, Chimata AV, Deshpande P, Bajpai S, Sangeeth A, Rajput M, Singh A. SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 protein triggers cell death and exacerbates amyloid β42-mediated neurodegeneration. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1385-1392. [PMID: 37905889 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202406000-00044/inline-graphic1/v/2023-10-30T152229Z/r/image-tiff
Infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) virus, responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, induces symptoms including increased inflammatory response, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), cognitive dysfunction like brain fog, and cardiovascular defects. Long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 COVID-19 syndrome referred to as post-COVID-19 syndrome on age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease remain understudied. Using the targeted misexpression of individual SARS-CoV2 proteins in the retinal neurons of the Drosophila
melanogaster eye, we found that misexpression of nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3), a papain-like protease, ablates the eye and generates dark necrotic spots. Targeted misexpression of Nsp3 in the eye triggers reactive oxygen species production and leads to apoptosis as shown by cell death reporters, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and dihydroethidium staining. Furthermore, Nsp3 misexpression activates both apoptosis and autophagy mechanism(s) to regulate tissue homeostasis. Transient expression of SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 in murine neuroblastoma, Neuro-2a cells, significantly reduced the metabolic activity of these cells and triggers cell death. Misexpression of SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 in an Alzheimer’s disease transgenic fly eye model (glass multiple repeats [GMR]>amyloid β42) further enhances the neurodegenerative rough eye phenotype due to increased cell death. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV2 utilizes Nsp3 protein to potentiate cell death response in a neurodegenerative disease background that has high pre-existing levels of neuroinflammation and cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Soumya Bajpai
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Anjali Sangeeth
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
| | | | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton (TREND), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
- The Integrative Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
- Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA
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Goodman LD, Moulton MJ, Lin G, Bellen HJ. Does glial lipid dysregulation alter sleep in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease? Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00098-4. [PMID: 38755043 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.010] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
In this opinion article, we discuss potential connections between sleep disturbances observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) and the dysregulation of lipids in the brain. Research using Drosophila has highlighted the role of glial-mediated lipid metabolism in sleep and diurnal rhythms. Relevant to AD, the formation of lipid droplets in glia, which occurs in response to elevated neuronal reactive oxygen species (ROS), is required for sleep. In disease models, this process is disrupted, arguing a connection to sleep dysregulation. Relevant to PD, the degradation of neuronally synthesized glucosylceramides by glia requires glucocerebrosidase (GBA, a PD-associated risk factor) and this regulates sleep. Loss of GBA in glia causes an accumulation of glucosylceramides and neurodegeneration. Overall, research primarily using Drosophila has highlighted how dysregulation of glial lipid metabolism may underlie sleep disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey D Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew J Moulton
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guang Lin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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6
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Xin J, Huang S, Wen J, Li Y, Li A, Satyanarayanan SK, Yao X, Su H. Drug Screening and Validation Targeting TDP-43 Proteinopathy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0440. [PMID: 38739934 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) stands as a rare, yet severely debilitating disorder marked by the deterioration of motor neurons (MNs) within the brain and spinal cord, which is accompanied by degenerated corticobulbar/corticospinal tracts and denervation in skeletal muscles. Despite ongoing research efforts, ALS remains incurable, attributed to its intricate pathogenic mechanisms. A notable feature in the pathology of ALS is the prevalence of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy, detected in approximately 97% of ALS cases, underscoring its significance in the disease's progression. As a result, strategies targeting the aberrant TDP-43 protein have garnered attention as a potential avenue for ALS therapy. This review delves into the existing drug screening systems aimed at TDP-43 proteinopathy and the models employed for drug efficacy validation. It also explores the hurdles encountered in the quest to develop potent medications against TDP-43 proteinopathy, offering insights into the intricacies of drug discovery and development for ALS. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review sheds light on the critical aspects of identifying and advancing therapeutic solutions for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Sen Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yunhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Ang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Senthil Kumaran Satyanarayanan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
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Vidal LM, Pimentel E, Escobar-Alarcón L, Cruces MP, Jiménez E, Suárez H, Leyva Y. Toxicity evaluation of novel imidacloprid nanoribbons, using somatic mutation and fitness indexes in Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2024; 87:398-418. [PMID: 38385605 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2024.2316649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Nanoribbons of imidacloprid, a systemic and chloronicotinyl insecticide, were successfully synthesized by laser-induced fragmentation/exfoliation of imidacloprid powders suspended in water, with widths ranging from 160 to 470 nm, lengths in the micron scale, and thickness of a few atoms layers. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of acute and chronic exposure to imidacloprid (IMC) bulk and compare its effects with synthesized imidacloprid nanoribbons (IMCNR) on larval and adult viability, developmental time, olfactory capacity, longevity, productivity, and genotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Larvae or adults were exposed at 0.01, 0.02, or 0.03 ppm to IMC or IMCNR. Results demonstrated that IMCNR produced a significant reduction in viability and olfactory ability. IMC did not significantly alter viability and olfactory ability. Similarly, marked differences on longevity were detected between treatment with IMC and IMCNR where the lifespan of males treated with IMC was significantly higher than control while IMCNR produced a reduction. As for productivity, developmental time, and genotoxicity, no marked differences were found between both forms of IMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz M Vidal
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
| | - Emilio Pimentel
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
| | - Luis Escobar-Alarcón
- Departamento de Física, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
| | - Martha P Cruces
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
| | - Elizabeth Jiménez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Hugo Suárez
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
| | - Yosary Leyva
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ), Ocoyoacac, México
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8
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Chan ICW, Chen N, Hernandez J, Meltzer H, Park A, Stahl A. Future avenues in Drosophila mushroom body research. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053863. [PMID: 38862172 PMCID: PMC11199946 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053863.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
How does the brain translate sensory information into complex behaviors? With relatively small neuronal numbers, readable behavioral outputs, and an unparalleled genetic toolkit, the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) offers an excellent model to address this question in the context of associative learning and memory. Recent technological breakthroughs, such as the freshly completed full-brain connectome, multiomics approaches, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, and machine learning techniques, led to major advancements in our understanding of the MB circuit at the molecular, structural, physiological, and functional levels. Despite significant progress in individual MB areas, the field still faces the fundamental challenge of resolving how these different levels combine and interact to ultimately control the behavior of an individual fly. In this review, we discuss various aspects of MB research, with a focus on the current knowledge gaps, and an outlook on the future methodological developments required to reach an overall view of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Chi Wai Chan
- Dynamics of Neuronal Circuits Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Developmental Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nannan Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - John Hernandez
- Neuroscience Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA
| | - Hagar Meltzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Annie Park
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Datta D. An overview of preclinical models of traumatic brain injury (TBI): relevance to pathophysiological mechanisms. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1371213. [PMID: 38682091 PMCID: PMC11045909 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1371213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions annually worldwide. Although the majority of TBI patients return to premorbid baseline, a subset of patient can develop persistent and often debilitating neurocognitive and behavioral changes. The etiology of TBI within the clinical setting is inherently heterogenous, ranging from sport related injuries, fall related injuries and motor vehicle accidents in the civilian setting, to blast injuries in the military setting. Objective Animal models of TBI, offer the distinct advantage of controlling for injury modality, duration and severity. Furthermore, preclinical models of TBI have provided the necessary temporal opportunity to study the chronic neuropathological sequelae of TBI, including neurodegenerative sequelae such as tauopathy and neuroinflammation within the finite experimental timeline. Despite the high prevalence of TBI, there are currently no disease modifying regimen for TBI, and the current clinical treatments remain largely symptom based. The preclinical models have provided the necessary biological substrate to examine the disease modifying effect of various pharmacological agents and have imperative translational value. Methods The current review will include a comprehensive survey of well-established preclinical models, including classic preclinical models including weight drop, blast injury, fluid percussion injury, controlled cortical impact injury, as well as more novel injury models including closed-head impact model of engineered rotational acceleration (CHIMERA) models and closed-head projectile concussive impact model (PCI). In addition to rodent preclinical models, the review will include an overview of other species including large animal models and Drosophila. Results There are major neuropathological perturbations post TBI captured in various preclinical models, which include neuroinflammation, calcium dysregulation, tauopathy, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, axonopathy, as well as glymphatic system disruption. Conclusion The preclinical models of TBI continue to offer valuable translational insight, as well as essential neurobiological basis to examine specific disease modifying therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dibyadeep Datta
- Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, United States
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Rodríguez-Martín M, Báez-Flores J, Ribes V, Isidoro-García M, Lacal J, Prieto-Matos P. Non-Mammalian Models for Understanding Neurological Defects in RASopathies. Biomedicines 2024; 12:841. [PMID: 38672195 PMCID: PMC11048513 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040841] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
RASopathies, a group of neurodevelopmental congenital disorders stemming from mutations in the RAS/MAPK pathway, present a unique opportunity to delve into the intricacies of complex neurological disorders. Afflicting approximately one in a thousand newborns, RASopathies manifest as abnormalities across multiple organ systems, with a pronounced impact on the central and peripheral nervous system. In the pursuit of understanding RASopathies' neurobiology and establishing phenotype-genotype relationships, in vivo non-mammalian models have emerged as indispensable tools. Species such as Danio rerio, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Xenopus species and Gallus gallus embryos have proven to be invaluable in shedding light on the intricate pathways implicated in RASopathies. Despite some inherent weaknesses, these genetic models offer distinct advantages over traditional rodent models, providing a holistic perspective on complex genetics, multi-organ involvement, and the interplay among various pathway components, offering insights into the pathophysiological aspects of mutations-driven symptoms. This review underscores the value of investigating the genetic basis of RASopathies for unraveling the underlying mechanisms contributing to broader neurological complexities. It also emphasizes the pivotal role of non-mammalian models in serving as a crucial preliminary step for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rodríguez-Martín
- Laboratory of Functional Genetics of Rare Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.R.-M.); (J.B.-F.)
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.I.-G.); (P.P.-M.)
| | - Juan Báez-Flores
- Laboratory of Functional Genetics of Rare Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.R.-M.); (J.B.-F.)
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.I.-G.); (P.P.-M.)
| | - Vanessa Ribes
- Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, F-75013 Paris, France;
| | - María Isidoro-García
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.I.-G.); (P.P.-M.)
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Clinical Rare Diseases Reference Unit DiERCyL, 37007 Castilla y León, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jesus Lacal
- Laboratory of Functional Genetics of Rare Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.R.-M.); (J.B.-F.)
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.I.-G.); (P.P.-M.)
| | - Pablo Prieto-Matos
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.I.-G.); (P.P.-M.)
- Clinical Rare Diseases Reference Unit DiERCyL, 37007 Castilla y León, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostics Science, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Oyeniran OH, Courage FD, Ademiluyi AO, Oboh G. Sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum) leaf and seed extracts alleviate neuronal dysfunction in aluminum chloride-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen model. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38433659 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2317828] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Ocimum basilicum is an important medicinal plant and culinary herb generally known as sweet basil (SB). These plants are effective radical scavengers, that have been employed in treatment of nervous system disorders, and thus, could be beneficial for the management of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Current clinical treatments for NDs present several side effects, therefore, there is need to develop new treatments that can mitigate these deadly diseases. Hence, this study investigated the neuroprotective activities of SB leaf and seed in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. HPLC characterization of the leaves and seeds were carried out. AlCl3-diet was used to induce neurodegeneration and treated flies received SB leaf and seed extracts-supplemented diet. Survival and locomotor performance activities/levels of oxidative biomarkers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), total thiol, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)], enzymes linked with neurodegeneration (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)) were investigated. SB leaf had significantly (p < 0.05) higher polyphenol contents; gallic acid and P-coumaric acid were the most abundant polyphenol in the leaf and seed respectively. Percentage survival and locomotor rates, level/activities of total thiol, catalase, SOD and GST were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced while ROS, TBARS, AChE and MAO activities were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in AlCl3-diet-fed flies. Treatment with SB leaf and seed diet lessened these observed impairments. However, SB leaf had better neuroprotective activities that could be related to the observed higher phenolic constituents. Hence, SB leaf diet may offer improved therapeutic effect in NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olubukola H Oyeniran
- Phytomedicine and Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Famusiwa D Courage
- Phytomedicine and Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Adedayo O Ademiluyi
- Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals and Phytomedicine Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Ganiyu Oboh
- Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals and Phytomedicine Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
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Mizuta I, Nakao-Azuma Y, Yoshida H, Yamaguchi M, Mizuno T. Progress to Clarify How NOTCH3 Mutations Lead to CADASIL, a Hereditary Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:127. [PMID: 38254727 PMCID: PMC10813265 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is conserved in C. elegans, Drosophila, and mammals. Among the four NOTCH genes in humans, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3 are known to cause monogenic hereditary disorders. Most NOTCH-related disorders are congenital and caused by a gain or loss of Notch signaling activity. In contrast, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) caused by NOTCH3 is adult-onset and considered to be caused by accumulation of the mutant NOTCH3 extracellular domain (N3ECD) and, possibly, by an impairment in Notch signaling. Pathophysiological processes following mutant N3ECD accumulation have been intensively investigated; however, the process leading to N3ECD accumulation and its association with canonical NOTCH3 signaling remain unknown. We reviewed the progress in clarifying the pathophysiological process involving mutant NOTCH3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuko Mizuta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
| | - Yumiko Nakao-Azuma
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
- Kansai Gakken Laboratory, Kankyo Eisei Yakuhin Co., Ltd., 3-6-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Kyoto 619-0237, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
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13
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Deshpande P, Chen CY, Chimata AV, Li JC, Sarkar A, Yeates C, Chen CH, Kango-Singh M, Singh A. miR-277 targets the proapoptotic gene-hid to ameliorate Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's model. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:71. [PMID: 38238337 PMCID: PMC10796706 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits reduced cognitive function with no cure to date. One of the reasons for AD is the accumulation of Amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) plaque(s) that trigger aberrant gene expression and signaling, which results in neuronal cell death by an unknown mechanism(s). Misexpression of human Aβ42 in the developing retina of Drosophila exhibits AD-like neuropathology. Small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of their target genes and thereby regulate different signaling pathways. In a forward genetic screen, we identified miR-277 (human ortholog is hsa-miR-3660) as a genetic modifier of Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Loss-of-function of miR-277 enhances the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Whereas gain-of-function of miR-277 in the GMR > Aβ42 background downregulates cell death to maintain the number of neurons and thereby restores the retinal axonal targeting defects indicating the functional rescue. In addition, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues the eclosion- and climbing assays defects observed in GMR > Aβ42 background. Thus, gain-of-function of miR-277 rescues both structurally as well as functionally the Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we identified head involution defective (hid), an evolutionarily conserved proapoptotic gene, as one of the targets of miR-277 and validated these results using luciferase- and qPCR -assays. In the GMR > Aβ42 background, the gain-of-function of miR-277 results in the reduction of hid transcript levels to one-third of its levels as compared to GMR > Aβ42 background alone. Here, we provide a novel molecular mechanism where miR-277 targets and downregulates proapoptotic gene, hid, transcript levels to rescue Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration by blocking cell death. These studies shed light on molecular mechanism(s) that mediate cell death response following Aβ42 accumulation seen in neurodegenerative disorders in humans and provide new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chao-Yi Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Jian-Chiuan Li
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ankita Sarkar
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Catherine Yeates
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Chun-Hong Chen
- Institution of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Integrative Science and Engineering (ISE), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA.
- Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA.
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14
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Perlegos AE, Durkin J, Belfer SJ, Rodriguez A, Shcherbakova O, Park K, Luong J, Bonini NM, Kayser MS. TDP-43 impairs sleep in Drosophila through Ataxin-2-dependent metabolic disturbance. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4457. [PMID: 38198547 PMCID: PMC10780954 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia are associated with substantial sleep disruption, which may accelerate cognitive decline and brain degeneration. Here, we define a role for trans-activation response element (TAR) DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a protein associated with human neurodegenerative disease, in regulating sleep using Drosophila. Expression of TDP-43 severely disrupts sleep, and the sleep deficit is rescued by Atx2 knockdown. Brain RNA sequencing revealed that Atx2 RNA interference regulates transcripts enriched for small-molecule metabolic signaling in TDP-43 brains. Focusing on these Atx2-regulated genes, we identified suppressors of the TDP-43 sleep phenotype enriched for metabolism pathways. Knockdown of Atx2 or treatment with rapamycin attenuated the sleep phenotype and mitigated the disruption of small-molecule glycogen metabolism caused by TDP-43. Our findings provide a connection between toxicity of TDP-43 and sleep disturbances and highlight key aspects of metabolism that interplay with TDP-43 toxicity upon Atx2 rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E. Perlegos
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jaclyn Durkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Samuel J. Belfer
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anyara Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Oksana Shcherbakova
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kristen Park
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jenny Luong
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nancy M. Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew S. Kayser
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Chronobiology Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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15
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Herrera P, Cauchi RJ. Functional characterisation of the ACE2 orthologues in Drosophila provides insights into the neuromuscular complications of COVID-19. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166818. [PMID: 37495086 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166818] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), gains cellular entry via interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor of host cells. Although SARS-CoV-2 mainly targets the respiratory system, the neuromuscular system also appears to be affected in a large percentage of patients with acute or chronic COVID-19. The cause of the well-described neuromuscular manifestations resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unresolved. These may result from the neuromuscular-invasive capacity of the virus leading to direct injury. Alternatively, they may be the consequence of ACE2 inactivation either due to viral infection, ACE2 autoantibodies or both. Here, we made use of the Drosophila model to investigate whether ACE2 downregulation is sufficient to induce neuromuscular phenotypes. We show that moderate gene silencing of ACE2 orthologues Ance or Ance3 diminished survival on exposure to thermal stress only upon induction of neuromuscular fatigue driven by increased physical activity. A strong knockdown of Ance or Ance3 directed to muscle reduced or abolished adult viability and caused obvious motoric deficits including reduced locomotion and impaired flight capacity. Selective knockdown of Ance and Ance3 in neurons caused wing defects and an age-dependent decline in motor behaviour, respectively, in adult flies. Interestingly, RNA sequencing allowed us to discover several differentially spliced genes that are required for synaptic function downstream of Ance or Ance3 depletion. Our findings are therefore supportive of the notion that loss of a RAS-independent function for ACE2 contributes to the neuromuscular manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Herrera
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Ruben J Cauchi
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
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16
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Li X, Li M, Xue X, Wang X. Proteomic analysis reveals oxidative stress-induced activation of Hippo signaling in thiamethoxam-exposed Drosophila. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 338:139448. [PMID: 37437626 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139448] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Thiamethoxam (THIA) is a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide. However, the toxicity and defense mechanisms activated in THIA-exposed insects are unclear. Here, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomics technology to identify changes in protein expression in THIA-exposed Drosophila. We found that the antioxidant proteins Cyp6a23 and Dys were upregulated, whereas vir-1 was downregulated, which may have been detoxification in response to THIA exposure. Prx5 downregulation promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species led to the induction of antioxidant defenses in THIA-exposed Drosophila, thereby enhancing the levels of oxidative stress markers (e.g., superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione) and reducing catalase expression. Furthermore, the Hippo signaling transcription coactivator Yki was inactivated by THIA. Our results suggesting that Hippo signaling may be necessary to promote insect survival in response to neonicotinoid insecticide toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Mingquan Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xianle Xue
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xing Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100193, China.
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17
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Garcia-Vaquero ML, Heim M, Flix B, Pereira M, Palin L, Marques TM, Pinto FR, de Las Rivas J, Voigt A, Besse F, Gama-Carvalho M. Analysis of asymptomatic Drosophila models for ALS and SMA reveals convergent impact on functional protein complexes linked to neuro-muscular degeneration. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:576. [PMID: 37759179 PMCID: PMC10523761 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09562-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) share phenotypic and molecular commonalities, including the fact that they can be caused by mutations in ubiquitous proteins involved in RNA metabolism, namely SMN, TDP-43 and FUS. Although this suggests the existence of common disease mechanisms, there is currently no model to explain the resulting motor neuron dysfunction. In this work we generated a parallel set of Drosophila models for adult-onset RNAi and tagged neuronal expression of the fly orthologues of the three human proteins, named Smn, TBPH and Caz, respectively. We profiled nuclear and cytoplasmic bound mRNAs using a RIP-seq approach and characterized the transcriptome of the RNAi models by RNA-seq. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the common functional impact of these proteins on neuronal cells, we devised a computational approach based on the construction of a tissue-specific library of protein functional modules, selected by an overall impact score measuring the estimated extent of perturbation caused by each gene knockdown. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis revealed that the three proteins do not bind to the same RNA molecules and that only a limited set of functionally unrelated transcripts is commonly affected by their knock-down. However, through our integrative approach we were able to identify a concerted effect on protein functional modules, albeit acting through distinct targets. Most strikingly, functional annotation revealed that these modules are involved in critical cellular pathways for motor neurons, including neuromuscular junction function. Furthermore, selected modules were found to be significantly enriched in orthologues of human neuronal disease genes. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here show that SMA and ALS disease-associated genes linked to RNA metabolism functionally converge on neuronal protein complexes, providing a new hypothesis to explain the common motor neuron phenotype. The functional modules identified represent promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets, namely given their alteration in asymptomatic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina L Garcia-Vaquero
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Cytometry General Service-15 Nucleus, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), CIBERONC, 16 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marjorie Heim
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Barbara Flix
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcelo Pereira
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lucile Palin
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Tânia M Marques
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco R Pinto
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Javier de Las Rivas
- Cancer Research Center (CiC-IBMCC, CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and University of Salamanca (USAL), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florence Besse
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Margarida Gama-Carvalho
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
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18
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Marzullo M, Coni S, De Simone A, Canettieri G, Ciapponi L. Modeling Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 Using Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14182. [PMID: 37762484 PMCID: PMC10532015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814182] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy 2 (DM2) is a genetic multi-systemic disease primarily affecting skeletal muscle. It is caused by CCTGn expansion in intron 1 of the CNBP gene, which encodes a zinc finger protein. DM2 disease has been successfully modeled in Drosophila melanogaster, allowing the identification and validation of new pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe the principal tools used in Drosophila to study and dissect molecular pathways related to muscular dystrophies and summarize the main findings in DM2 pathogenesis based on DM2 Drosophila models. We also illustrate how Drosophila may be successfully used to generate a tractable animal model to identify novel genes able to affect and/or modify the pathogenic pathway and to discover new potential drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Marzullo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.M.)
| | - Sonia Coni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Assia De Simone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.M.)
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Ciapponi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.M.)
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19
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Yang M, Zinkgraf M, Fitzgerald-Cook C, Harrison BR, Putzier A, Promislow DEL, Wang AM. Using Drosophila to identify naturally occurring genetic modifiers of amyloid beta 42- and tau-induced toxicity. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad132. [PMID: 37311212 PMCID: PMC10468303 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by 2 pathological proteins, amyloid beta 42 and tau. The majority of Alzheimer's disease cases in the population are sporadic and late-onset Alzheimer's disease, which exhibits high levels of heritability. While several genetic risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease have been identified and replicated in independent studies, including the ApoE ε4 allele, the great majority of the heritability of late-onset Alzheimer's disease remains unexplained, likely due to the aggregate effects of a very large number of genes with small effect size, as well as to biases in sample collection and statistical approaches. Here, we present an unbiased forward genetic screen in Drosophila looking for naturally occurring modifiers of amyloid beta 42- and tau-induced ommatidial degeneration. Our results identify 14 significant SNPs, which map to 12 potential genes in 8 unique genomic regions. Our hits that are significant after genome-wide correction identify genes involved in neuronal development, signal transduction, and organismal development. Looking more broadly at suggestive hits (P < 10-5), we see significant enrichment in genes associated with neurogenesis, development, and growth as well as significant enrichment in genes whose orthologs have been identified as significantly or suggestively associated with Alzheimer's disease in human GWAS studies. These latter genes include ones whose orthologs are in close proximity to regions in the human genome that are associated with Alzheimer's disease, but where a causal gene has not been identified. Together, our results illustrate the potential for complementary and convergent evidence provided through multitrait GWAS in Drosophila to supplement and inform human studies, helping to identify the remaining heritability and novel modifiers of complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Matthew Zinkgraf
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Cecilia Fitzgerald-Cook
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Benjamin R Harrison
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alexandra Putzier
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Daniel E L Promislow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Adrienne M Wang
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
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20
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Tan FHP, Najimudin N, Watanabe N, Shamsuddin S, Azzam G. p-Coumaric acid attenuates the effects of Aβ42 in vitro and in a Drosophila Alzheimer's disease model. Behav Brain Res 2023; 452:114568. [PMID: 37414223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114568] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative condition in civilizations worldwide. The distinctive occurrence of amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation into insoluble fibrils is part of the disease pathophysiology with Aβ42 being the most toxic and aggressive Aβ species. The polyphenol, p-Coumaric acid (pCA), has been known to boost a number of therapeutic benefits. Here, pCA's potential to counteract the negative effects of Aβ42 was investigated. First, pCA was confirmed to reduce Aβ42 fibrillation using an in vitro activity assay. The compound was next examined on Aβ42-exposed PC12 neuronal cells and was found to significantly decrease Aβ42-induced cell mortality. pCA was then examined using an AD Drosophila melanogaster model. Feeding of pCA partially reversed the rough eye phenotype, significantly lengthened AD Drosophila's lifespan, and significantly enhanced the majority of the AD Drosophila's mobility in a sex-dependent manner. The findings of this study suggest that pCA may have therapeutic benefits for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Hui Ping Tan
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia; USM-RIKEN International Centre for Ageing Science (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Nazalan Najimudin
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; USM-RIKEN International Centre for Ageing Science (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Nobumoto Watanabe
- USM-RIKEN International Centre for Ageing Science (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; Bioprobe Application Research Unit, RIKEN Centre for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Japan; Chemical Resource Development Research Unit, RIKEN CSRS, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Shaharum Shamsuddin
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia; USM-RIKEN International Centre for Ageing Science (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; Nanobiotech Research Initiative, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Ghows Azzam
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; USM-RIKEN International Centre for Ageing Science (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI), National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), Jalan Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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21
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Weiner L, Brissette JL. Finding meaning in chaos: a selection signature for functional interactions and its use in molecular biology. FEBS J 2023; 290:3914-3927. [PMID: 35653424 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16542] [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: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A primary goal of biomedical research is to elucidate molecular mechanisms, particularly those responsible for human traits, either normal or pathological. Yet achieving this goal is difficult if not impossible when the traits of interest lack tractable models and so cannot be dissected through time-honoured approaches like forward genetics or reconstitution. Arguably, no biological problem has hindered scientific progress more than this: the inability to dissect a trait's mechanism without a tractable likeness of the trait. At root, forward genetics and reconstitution are powerful approaches because they assay for specific molecular functions. Here, we discuss an alternative way to uncover important mechanistic interactions, namely, to assay for positive natural selection. If an interaction has been selected for, then it must perform an important function, a function that significantly promotes reproductive success. Accordingly, selection is a consequence and indicator of function, and uncovering multimolecular selection will reveal important functional interactions. We propose a selection signature for interactions and review recent selection-based approaches through which to dissect traits that are not inherently tractable. The review includes proof-of-principle studies in which important interactions were uncovered by screening for selection. In sum, screens for selection appear feasible when screens for specific functions are not. Selection screens thus constitute a novel tool through which to reveal the mechanisms that shape the fates of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorin Weiner
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Janice L Brissette
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
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22
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Deshpande P, Chimata AV, Snider E, Singh A, Kango-Singh M, Singh A. N-Acetyltransferase 9 ameliorates Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration in the Drosophila eye. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:478. [PMID: 37507384 PMCID: PMC10382493 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05973-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, manifests as accumulation of amyloid-beta-42 (Aβ42) plaques and intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that results in microtubule destabilization. Targeted expression of human Aβ42 (GMR > Aβ42) in developing Drosophila eye retinal neurons results in Aβ42 plaque(s) and mimics AD-like extensive neurodegeneration. However, there remains a gap in our understanding of the underlying mechanism(s) for Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration. To address this gap in information, we conducted a forward genetic screen, and identified N-acetyltransferase 9 (Mnat9) as a genetic modifier of GMR > Aβ42 neurodegenerative phenotype. Mnat9 is known to stabilize microtubules by inhibiting c-Jun-N- terminal kinase (JNK) signaling. We found that gain-of-function of Mnat9 rescues GMR > Aβ42 mediated neurodegenerative phenotype whereas loss-of-function of Mnat9 exhibits the converse phenotype of enhanced neurodegeneration. Here, we propose a new neuroprotective function of Mnat9 in downregulating the JNK signaling pathway to ameliorate Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration, which is independent of its acetylation activity. Transgenic flies expressing human NAT9 (hNAT9), also suppresses Aβ42-mediated neurodegeneration thereby suggesting functional conservation in the interaction of fly Mnat9 or hNAT9 with JNK-mediated neurodegeneration. These studies add to the repertoire of molecular mechanisms that mediate cell death response following accumulation of Aβ42 and may provide new avenues for targeting neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emily Snider
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Aditi Singh
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Madhuri Kango-Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
- The Integrative Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Premedical Program, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- The Integrative Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, 45469, USA.
- Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA.
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23
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Dowling DK, Wolff JN. Evolutionary genetics of the mitochondrial genome: insights from Drosophila. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad036. [PMID: 37171259 PMCID: PMC10324950 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are key to energy conversion in virtually all eukaryotes. Intriguingly, despite billions of years of evolution inside the eukaryote, mitochondria have retained their own small set of genes involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and protein translation. Although there was a long-standing assumption that the genetic variation found within the mitochondria would be selectively neutral, research over the past 3 decades has challenged this assumption. This research has provided novel insight into the genetic and evolutionary forces that shape mitochondrial evolution and broader implications for evolutionary ecological processes. Many of the seminal studies in this field, from the inception of the research field to current studies, have been conducted using Drosophila flies, thus establishing the species as a model system for studies in mitochondrial evolutionary biology. In this review, we comprehensively review these studies, from those focusing on genetic processes shaping evolution within the mitochondrial genome, to those examining the evolutionary implications of interactions between genes spanning mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and to those investigating the dynamics of mitochondrial heteroplasmy. We synthesize the contribution of these studies to shaping our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological implications of mitochondrial genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian K Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jonci N Wolff
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
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24
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Wodrich APK, Scott AW, Giniger E. What do we mean by "aging"? Questions and perspectives revealed by studies in Drosophila. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 213:111839. [PMID: 37354919 PMCID: PMC10330756 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111839] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
What is the nature of aging, and how best can we study it? Here, using a series of questions that highlight differing perspectives about the nature of aging, we ask how data from Drosophila melanogaster at the organismal, tissue, cellular, and molecular levels shed light on the complex interactions among the phenotypes associated with aging. Should aging be viewed as an individual's increasing probability of mortality over time or as a progression of physiological states? Are all age-correlated changes in physiology detrimental to vigor or are some compensatory changes that maintain vigor? Why do different age-correlated functions seem to change at different rates in a single individual as it ages? Should aging be considered as a single, integrated process across the scales of biological resolution, from organismal to molecular, or must we consider each level of biological scale as a separate, distinct entity? Viewing aging from these differing perspectives yields distinct but complementary interpretations about the properties and mechanisms of aging and may offer a path through the complexities related to understanding the nature of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P K Wodrich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington DC, United States; College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Andrew W Scott
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Edward Giniger
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States.
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25
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Silva-Cardoso GK, N'Gouemo P. Seizure-suppressor genes: can they help spearhead the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:657-664. [PMID: 37589085 PMCID: PMC10528013 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2248375] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epilepsies are disorders of neuronal excitability characterized by spontaneously recurrent focal and generalized seizures, some of which result from genetic mutations. Despite the availability of antiseizure medications, pharmaco-resistant epilepsy is seen in about 23% of epileptic patients worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies for epilepsies. Several epilepsy-associated genes have been found in humans. Seizure susceptibility can also be induced in Drosophila mutants, some showing features resembling human epilepsies. Interestingly, several second-site mutation gene products have been found to suppress seizure susceptibility in the seizure genetic model Drosophila. Thus, these so-called 'seizure-suppressor' gene variants may lead to developing a novel class of antiseizure medications. AREA COVERED This review evaluates the potential therapeutic of seizure-suppressor gene variants. EXPERT OPINION Studies on epilepsy-associated genes have allowed analyses of mutations linked to human epilepsy by reproducing these mutations in Drosophila using reverse genetics to generate potential antiseizure therapeutics. As a result, about fifteen seizure-suppressor gene mutants have been identified. Furthermore, some of these epilepsy gene mutations affect ligand-and voltage-gated ion channels. Therefore, a better understanding of the antiseizure activity of seizure-suppressor genes is essential in advancing gene therapy and precision medicine for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleice Kelli Silva-Cardoso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Prosper N'Gouemo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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26
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Rozich E, Randolph LK, Insolera R. An optimized temporally controlled Gal4 system in Drosophila reveals degeneration caused by adult-onset neuronal Vps13D knockdown. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1204068. [PMID: 37457002 PMCID: PMC10339317 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1204068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the human gene VPS13D cause the adult-onset neurodegenerative disease ataxia. Our previous work showed that disruptions in the Vps13D gene in Drosophila neurons causes mitochondrial defects. However, developmental lethality caused by Vps13D loss limited our understanding of the long-term physiological effects of Vps13D perturbation in neurons. Here, we optimized a previously generated system to temporally knock down Vps13D expression precisely in adult Drosophila neurons using a modification to the Gal4/UAS system. Adult-onset activation of Gal4 was enacted using the chemically-inducible tool which fuses a destabilization-domain to the Gal4 repressor Gal80 (Gal80-DD). Optimization of the Gal80-DD tool shows that feeding animals the DD-stabilizing drug trimethoprim (TMP) during development and rearing at a reduced temperature maximally represses Gal4 activity. Temperature shift and removal of TMP from the food after eclosion robustly activates Gal4 expression in adult neurons. Using the optimized Gal80-DD system, we find that adult-onset Vps13D RNAi expression in neurons causes the accumulation of mitophagy intermediates, progressive deficits in locomotor activity, early lethality, and brain vacuolization characteristic of neurodegeneration. The development of this optimized system allows us to more precisely examine the degenerative phenotypes caused by Vps13D disruption, and can likely be utilized in the future for other genes associated with neurological diseases whose manipulation causes developmental lethality in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rozich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Lynsey K. Randolph
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ryan Insolera
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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27
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Jeanne PV, McLamb F, Feng Z, Griffin L, Gong S, Shea D, Szuch MA, Scott S, Gersberg RM, Bozinovic G. Locomotion and brain gene expression exhibit sex-specific non-monotonic dose-response to HFPO-DA during Drosophila melanogaster lifespan. Neurotoxicology 2023; 96:207-221. [PMID: 37156305 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.005] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Legacy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known for their environmental persistence and bio-accumulative properties, have been phased out in the U.S. due to public health concerns. A newer polymerization aid used in the manufacture of some fluoropolymers, hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA), has lower reported bioaccumulation and toxicity, but is a potential neurotoxicant implicated in dopaminergic neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVE We investigated HFPO-DA's bio-accumulative potential and sex-specific effects on lifespan, locomotion, and brain gene expression in fruit flies. METHODS We quantified bioaccumulation of HFPO-DA in fruit flies exposed to 8.7×104µg/L of HFPO-DA in the fly media for 14 days via UHPLC-MS. Long-term effect on lifespan was determined by exposing both sexes to 8.7×102 - 8.7×105µg/L of HFPO-DA in media. Locomotion was measured following 3, 7, and 14 days of exposures at 8.7×101 - 8.7×105µg/L of HFPO-DA in media, and high-throughput 3'-end RNA-sequencing was used to quantify gene expression in fly brains across the same time points. RESULTS Bioaccumulation of HFPO-DA in fruit flies was not detected. HFPO-DA-induced effects on lifespan, locomotion, and brain gene expression, and lowest adverse effect level (LOAEL) showed sexually dimorphic patterns. Locomotion scores significantly decreased in at least one dose at all time points for females and only at 3-day exposure for males, while brain gene expression exhibited non-monotonic dose-response. Differentially expressed genes correlated to locomotion scores revealed sex-specific numbers of positively and negatively correlated genes per functional category. CONCLUSION Although HFPO-DA effects on locomotion and survival were significant at doses higher than the US EPA reference dose, the brain transcriptomic profiling reveals sex-specific changes and neurological molecular targets; gene enrichments highlight disproportionately affected categories, including immune response: female-specific co-upregulation suggests potential neuroinflammation. Consistent sex-specific exposure effects necessitate blocking for sex in experimental design during HFPO-DA risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Vu Jeanne
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California, San Diego, Division of Extended Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Flannery McLamb
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California, San Diego, Division of Extended Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zuying Feng
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lindsey Griffin
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California, San Diego, Division of Extended Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sylvia Gong
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California, San Diego, Division of Extended Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Mary A Szuch
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Savannah Scott
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Richard M Gersberg
- San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Goran Bozinovic
- Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA; University of California, San Diego, School of Biological Sciences, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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28
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Tan FHP, Azzam G, Najimudin N, Shamsuddin S, Zainuddin A. Behavioural Effects and RNA-seq Analysis of Aβ42-Mediated Toxicity in a Drosophila Alzheimer's Disease Model. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03368-x. [PMID: 37145377 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03368-x] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurological ailment worldwide. Its process comprises the unique aggregation of extracellular senile plaques composed of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain. Aβ42 is the most neurotoxic and aggressive of the Aβ42 isomers released in the brain. Despite much research on AD, the complete pathophysiology of this disease remains unknown. Technical and ethical constraints place limits on experiments utilizing human subjects. Thus, animal models were used to replicate human diseases. The Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model for studying both physiological and behavioural aspects of human neurodegenerative illnesses. Here, the negative effects of Aβ42-expression on a Drosophila AD model were investigated through three behavioural assays followed by RNA-seq. The RNA-seq data was verified using qPCR. AD Drosophila expressing human Aβ42 exhibited degenerated eye structures, shortened lifespan, and declined mobility function compared to the wild-type Control. RNA-seq revealed 1496 genes that were differentially expressed from the Aβ42-expressing samples against the control. Among the pathways that were identified from the differentially expressed genes include carbon metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, antimicrobial peptides, and longevity-regulating pathways. While AD is a complicated neurological condition whose aetiology is influenced by a number of factors, it is hoped that the current data will be sufficient to give a general picture of how Aβ42 influences the disease pathology. The discovery of molecular connections from the current Drosophila AD model offers fresh perspectives on the usage of this Drosophila which could aid in the discovery of new anti-AD medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Hui Ping Tan
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
- USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Sciences (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Ghows Azzam
- USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Sciences (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
- Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI), National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), Jalan Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nazalan Najimudin
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Shaharum Shamsuddin
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
- USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Sciences (URICAS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
- Nanobiotech Research Initiative, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Azalina Zainuddin
- Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
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29
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Lee S, Jun YW, Linares GR, Butler B, Yuva-Adyemir Y, Moore J, Krishnan G, Ruiz-Juarez B, Santana M, Pons M, Silverman N, Weng Z, Ichida JK, Gao FB. Downregulation of Hsp90 and the antimicrobial peptide Mtk suppresses poly(GR)-induced neurotoxicity in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. Neuron 2023; 111:1381-1390.e6. [PMID: 36931278 PMCID: PMC10264157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.029] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
GGGGCC repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Repeat RNAs can be translated into dipeptide repeat proteins, including poly(GR), whose mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. In an RNA-seq analysis of poly(GR) toxicity in Drosophila, we found that several antimicrobial peptide genes, such as metchnikowin (Mtk), and heat shock protein (Hsp) genes are activated. Mtk knockdown in the fly eye or in all neurons suppresses poly(GR) neurotoxicity. These findings suggest a cell-autonomous role of Mtk in neurodegeneration. Hsp90 knockdown partially rescues both poly(GR) toxicity in flies and neurodegeneration in C9ORF72 motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Topoisomerase II (TopoII) regulates poly(GR)-induced upregulation of Hsp90 and Mtk. TopoII knockdown also suppresses poly(GR) toxicity in Drosophila and improves survival of C9ORF72 iPSC-derived motor neurons. These results suggest potential novel therapeutic targets for C9ORF72-ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojin Lee
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yong-Woo Jun
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gabriel R Linares
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brandon Butler
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yeliz Yuva-Adyemir
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jill Moore
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gopinath Krishnan
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Bryan Ruiz-Juarez
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Manuel Santana
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marine Pons
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Neal Silverman
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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30
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Sheng L, Shields EJ, Gospocic J, Sorida M, Ju L, Byrns CN, Carranza F, Berger SL, Bonini N, Bonasio R. Ensheathing glia promote increased lifespan and healthy brain aging. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13803. [PMID: 36840361 PMCID: PMC10186613 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glia have an emergent role in brain aging and disease. In the Drosophila melanogaster brain, ensheathing glia function as phagocytic cells and respond to acute neuronal damage, analogous to mammalian microglia. We previously reported changes in glia composition over the life of ants and fruit flies, including a decline in the relative proportion of ensheathing glia with time. How these changes influence brain health and life expectancy is unknown. Here, we show that ensheathing glia but not astrocytes decrease in number during Drosophila melanogaster brain aging. The remaining ensheathing glia display dysregulated expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and apoptosis, which may lead to lipid droplet accumulation, cellular dysfunction, and death. Inhibition of apoptosis rescued the decline of ensheathing glia with age, improved the neuromotor performance of aged flies, and extended lifespan. Furthermore, an expanded ensheathing glia population prevented amyloid-beta accumulation in a fly model of Alzheimer's disease and delayed the premature death of the diseased animals. These findings suggest that ensheathing glia play a vital role in regulating brain health and animal longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain ScienceInstitutes of Brain Science, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Emily J. Shields
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Masato Sorida
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Linyang Ju
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - China N. Byrns
- Medical Scientist Training ProgramUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate GroupUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Faith Carranza
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Shelley L. Berger
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Nancy Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate GroupUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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31
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Varte V, Munkelwitz JW, Rincon-Limas DE. Insights from Drosophila on Aβ- and tau-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: mechanisms and tools. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1184080. [PMID: 37139514 PMCID: PMC10150963 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1184080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative dementia in older adults worldwide. Sadly, there are no disease-modifying therapies available for treatment due to the multifactorial complexity of the disease. AD is pathologically characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Increasing evidence suggest that Aβ also accumulates intracellularly, which may contribute to the pathological mitochondrial dysfunction observed in AD. According with the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis, mitochondrial dysfunction precedes clinical decline and thus targeting mitochondria may result in new therapeutic strategies. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms connecting mitochondrial dysfunction with AD are largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss how the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is contributing to answer mechanistic questions in the field, from mitochondrial oxidative stress and calcium dysregulation to mitophagy and mitochondrial fusion and fission. In particular, we will highlight specific mitochondrial insults caused by Aβ and tau in transgenic flies and will also discuss a variety of genetic tools and sensors available to study mitochondrial biology in this flexible organism. Areas of opportunity and future directions will be also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanlalrinchhani Varte
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jeremy W. Munkelwitz
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Diego E. Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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32
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Collins QP, Grunsted MJ, Arcila D, Xiong Y, Padash Barmchi M. Transcriptomic analysis provides insight into the mechanism of IKKβ-mediated suppression of HPV18E6-induced cellular abnormalities. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad020. [PMID: 36722216 PMCID: PMC10085804 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) 16 and 18 are responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancers and majority of other HPV-associated cancers world-wide. Current treatments for these cancers have limited efficacy, which in turn has resulted in disease recurrence and poor survival rates in advanced disease stages. Hence, there is a significant need for development of novel molecularly-targeted therapeutics. This can only be achieved through improved understanding of disease mechanism. Recently, we developed a Drosophila model of HPV18E6 plus human E3 ubiquitin ligase (hUBE3A) and demonstrated that the E6-induced cellular abnormalities are conserved between humans and flies. Subsequently, we demonstrated that reduced level and activity of IKKβ, a regulator of NF-κB, suppresses the cellular abnormalities induced by E6 oncoprotein and that the interaction of IKKβ and E6 is conserved in human cells. In this study, we performed transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes that play a role in IKKβ-mediated suppression of E6-induced defects. Transcriptome analysis identified 215 genes whose expression was altered due to reduced levels of IKKβ. Of these 215 genes, 151 genes showed annotations. These analyses were followed by functional genetic interaction screen using RNAi, overexpression, and mutant fly strains for identified genes. The screen identified several genes including genes involved in Hippo and Toll pathways as well as junctional complexes whose downregulation or upregulation resulted in alterations of E6-induced defects. Subsequently, RT-PCR analysis was performed for validation of altered gene expression level for a few representative genes. Our results indicate an involvement for Hippo and Toll pathways in IKKβ-mediated suppression of E6 + hUBE3A-induced cellular abnormalities. Therefore, this study enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying HPV-induced cancer and can potentially lead to identification of novel drug targets for cancers associated with HPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quincy P Collins
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | | | - Dahiana Arcila
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
- Department of Ichthyology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Yi Xiong
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
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Sharma S, Singh G, Patwardhan K. Effects of two Ayurvedic formulations, Dhanwantaram Kashaya and Saraswatarishta on life history parameters and toxic aggregates in Drosophila models of Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 305:116080. [PMID: 36603787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.116080] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ayurveda, the traditional healthcare system native to India, employs dosage forms containing multiple herbs in treating various clinical conditions. Dhanwantaram Kashaya (DK) and Saraswatarishta (SA) are two such formulations containing multiple herbs in varied proportions. Kashaya is a liquid decoction while Arishta is fermented liquid with permissible quantity of self-generated alcohol in it. Both the formulations have been reported to have clinical efficacy in age-related memory impairment. Other mental disorders having clinical presentations similar to psychoses are the other indications for these tested formulations. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of two Rasayana formulations i.e., DK and SA, used by clinicians in different neurodegenerative conditions. We tested these formulations in Alzheimer's (AD) and Huntington's disease (HD) models of Drosophila melanogaster. MATERIALS AND METHOD Initial experiments looking for life-history parameters in wild-type larvae were carried out in three sets with hundred larvae in each set. These parameters were also studied in diseased models in four sets with eighty larvae in each set. Aβ plaques and polyQ aggregates were looked at with the help of immunostaining technique and images were captured using confocal microscopy. RESULTS The results revealed that 0.25% concentration of both the formulations improve longevity in wild-type flies. Larval development and adult lifespan in Eye-GAL4>Aβ42 (AD) and GMR-GAL4>127Q (HD) larvae/flies reared on 0.25% & 0.50% DK and 0.25% & 1.00% SA improved substantially. Reduced Aβ plaques and polyQ aggregates indicate disease suppression. CONCLUSION DK and SA enhanced longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Suppression of disease aggregates suggests their potential utility in treating AD and HD. Further clinical and pharmaceutical studies are required to confirm these results, however, this is a workable model to test multi-herbal formulations of Ayurveda in the forms they are clinically used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Sharma
- Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
| | - Girish Singh
- Centre of Biostatistics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
| | - Kishor Patwardhan
- Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
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Katzenberger RJ, Ganetzky B, Wassarman DA. Lissencephaly-1 mutations enhance traumatic brain injury outcomes in Drosophila. Genetics 2023; 223:iyad008. [PMID: 36683334 PMCID: PMC9991514 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad008] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes vary greatly among individuals, but most of the variation remains unexplained. Using a Drosophila melanogaster TBI model and 178 genetically diverse lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP), we investigated the role that genetic variation plays in determining TBI outcomes. Following injury at 20-27 days old, DGRP lines varied considerably in mortality within 24 h ("early mortality"). Additionally, the disparity in early mortality resulting from injury at 20-27 vs 0-7 days old differed among DGRP lines. These data support a polygenic basis for differences in TBI outcomes, where some gene variants elicit their effects by acting on aging-related processes. Our genome-wide association study of DGRP lines identified associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in Lissencephaly-1 (Lis-1) and Patronin and early mortality following injury at 20-27 days old. Lis-1 regulates dynein, a microtubule motor required for retrograde transport of many cargoes, and Patronin protects microtubule minus ends against depolymerization. While Patronin mutants did not affect early mortality, Lis-1 compound heterozygotes (Lis-1x/Lis-1y) had increased early mortality following injury at 20-27 or 0-7 days old compared with Lis-1 heterozygotes (Lis-1x/+), and flies that survived 24 h after injury had increased neurodegeneration but an unaltered lifespan, indicating that Lis-1 affects TBI outcomes independently of effects on aging. These data suggest that Lis-1 activity is required in the brain to ameliorate TBI outcomes through effects on axonal transport, microtubule stability, and other microtubule proteins, such as tau, implicated in chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a TBI-associated neurodegenerative disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeccah J Katzenberger
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Barry Ganetzky
- Department of Genetics, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - David A Wassarman
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Olufs ZPG, Johnson-Schlitz D, Wassarman DA, Perouansky M. The Serial Anesthesia Array for the High-Throughput Investigation of Volatile Agents Using Drosophila melanogaster. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/65144. [PMID: 36912551 PMCID: PMC10187765 DOI: 10.3791/65144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Volatile general anesthetics (VGAs) are used worldwide on millions of people of all ages and medical conditions. High concentrations of VGAs (hundreds of micromolar to low millimolar) are necessary to achieve a profound and unphysiological suppression of brain function presenting as "anesthesia" to the observer. The full spectrum of the collateral effects triggered by such high concentrations of lipophilic agents is not known, but interactions with the immune-inflammatory system have been noted, although their biological significance is not understood. To investigate the biological effects of VGAs in animals, we developed a system termed the serial anesthesia array (SAA) to exploit the experimental advantages offered by the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). The SAA consists of eight chambers arranged in series and connected to a common inflow. Some parts are available in the lab, and others can be easily fabricated or purchased. A vaporizer, which is necessary for the calibrated administration of VGAs, is the only commercially manufactured component. VGAs constitute only a small percentage of the atmosphere flowing through the SAA during operation, as the bulk (typically over 95%) is carrier gas; the default carrier is air. However, oxygen and any other gases can be investigated. The SAA's principal advantage over prior systems is that it allows the simultaneous exposure of multiple cohorts of flies to exactly titrable doses of VGAs. Identical concentrations of VGAs are achieved within minutes in all the chambers, thus providing indistinguishable experimental conditions. Each chamber can contain from a single fly to hundreds of flies. For example, the SAA can simultaneously examine eight different genotypes or four genotypes with different biological variables (e.g., male vs. female, old vs. young). We have used the SAA to investigate the pharmacodynamics of VGAs and their pharmacogenetic interactions in two experimental fly models associated with neuroinflammation-mitochondrial mutants and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
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Integrated regulation of dopaminergic and epigenetic effectors of neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210712120. [PMID: 36745808 PMCID: PMC9963946 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210712120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-exome sequencing of Parkinson's disease (PD) patient DNA identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the tyrosine nonreceptor kinase-2 (TNK2) gene. Although this kinase had a previously demonstrated activity in preventing the endocytosis of the dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT), a causal role for TNK2-associated dysfunction in PD remains unresolved. We postulated the dopaminergic neurodegeneration resulting from patient-associated variants in TNK2 were a consequence of aberrant or prolonged TNK2 overactivity, the latter being a failure in TNK2 degradation by an E3 ubiquitin ligase, neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated-4 (NEDD4). Interestingly, systemic RNA interference protein-3 (SID-3) is the sole TNK2 ortholog in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where it is an established effector of epigenetic gene silencing mediated through the dsRNA-transporter, SID-1. We hypothesized that TNK2/SID-3 represents a node of integrated dopaminergic and epigenetic signaling essential to neuronal homeostasis. Use of a TNK2 inhibitor (AIM-100) or a NEDD4 activator [N-aryl benzimidazole 2 (NAB2)] in bioassays for either dopamine- or dsRNA-uptake into worm dopaminergic neurons revealed that sid-3 mutants displayed robust neuroprotection from 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) exposures, as did AIM-100 or NAB2-treated wild-type animals. Furthermore, NEDD4 activation by NAB2 in rat primary neurons correlated to a reduction in TNK2 levels and the attenuation of 6-OHDA neurotoxicity. CRISPR-edited nematodes engineered to endogenously express SID-3 variants analogous to TNK2 PD-associated SNPs exhibited enhanced susceptibility to dopaminergic neurodegeneration and circumvented the RNAi resistance characteristic of SID-3 dysfunction. This research exemplifies a molecular etiology for PD whereby dopaminergic and epigenetic signaling are coordinately regulated to confer susceptibility or resilience to neurodegeneration.
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Mele S, Martelli F, Lin J, Kanca O, Christodoulou J, Bellen HJ, Piper MDW, Johnson TK. Drosophila as a diet discovery tool for treating amino acid disorders. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:85-105. [PMID: 36567227 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Amino acid disorders (AADs) are a large group of rare inherited conditions that collectively impact one in 6500 live births, often resulting in rapid neurological decline and death during infancy. For several AADs, including phenylketonuria, dietary modification prevents physiological deterioration and ameliorates symptoms. Despite this remarkable potential for treatment success, dietary therapy for most AADs remains largely unexplored. Although animal models have provided novel insights into AAD mechanisms, few have been used for therapeutic diet discovery. Here, we find that of all the animal models, Drosophila is particularly well suited for nutrigenomic disease modelling, having amino acid pathways conserved with humans, exceptional genetic tractability, and the unique availability of a synthetic customisable diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mele
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Felipe Martelli
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jiayi Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Christodoulou
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew D W Piper
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Travis K Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Singh A, Yeates C, Deshpande P, Kango-Singh M. Signaling interactions among neurons impact cell fitness and death in Alzheimer’s disease. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:784-789. [DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.354516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Langlands A, Beati H, Müller HAJ. SILAC-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Drosophila Embryos. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2603:187-198. [PMID: 36370280 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2863-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster represents a classic genetic model organism that is amenable to a plethora of comprehensive analyses including proteomics. SILAC-based quantitative proteomics is a powerful method to investigate the translational and posttranslational regulation ongoing in cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms. Here we describe a protocol for routine SILAC labeling of Drosophila adults within one generation to produce embryos with a labeling efficiency of over 92%. In combination with genetic selection markers, this method permits the quantification of translational and posttranslational changes in embryos mutant for developmental and disease-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Langlands
- National Phenotypic Screening Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Hamze Beati
- Developmental Genetics Group, Institute for Biology, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - H- Arno J Müller
- Developmental Genetics Group, Institute for Biology, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany.
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40
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An increase in mitochondrial TOM activates apoptosis to drive retinal neurodegeneration. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21634. [PMID: 36517509 PMCID: PMC9750964 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23280-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intronic polymorphic TOMM40 variants increasing TOMM40 mRNA expression are strongly correlated to late onset Alzheimer's Disease. The gene product, hTomm40, encoded in the APOE gene cluster, is a core component of TOM, the translocase that imports nascent proteins across the mitochondrial outer membrane. We used Drosophila melanogaster eyes as an in vivo model to investigate the relationship between elevated Tom40 (the Drosophila homologue of hTomm40) expression and neurodegeneration. Here we provide evidence that an overabundance of Tom40 in mitochondria invokes caspase-dependent cell death in a dose-dependent manner, leading to degeneration of the primarily neuronal eye tissue. Degeneration is contingent on the availability of co-assembling TOM components, indicating that an increase in assembled TOM is the factor that triggers apoptosis and degeneration in a neural setting. Eye death is not contingent on inner membrane translocase components, suggesting it is unlikely to be a direct consequence of impaired import. Another effect of heightened Tom40 expression is upregulation and co-association of a mitochondrial oxidative stress biomarker, DmHsp22, implicated in extension of lifespan, providing new insight into the balance between cell survival and death. Activation of regulated death pathways, culminating in eye degeneration, suggests a possible causal route from TOMM40 polymorphisms to neurodegenerative disease.
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41
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Hashemi L, Ormsbee ME, Patel PJ, Nielson JA, Ahlander J, Padash Barmchi M. A Drosophila model of HPV16-induced cancer reveals conserved disease mechanism. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278058. [PMID: 36508448 PMCID: PMC9744332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) cause almost all cervical cancers and a significant number of vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. HPV16 and 18 are the most prevalent types among HR-HPVs and together cause more than 70% of all cervical cancers. Low vaccination rate and lack of molecularly-targeted therapeutics for primary therapy have led to a slow reduction in cervical cancer incidence and high mortality rate. Hence, creating new models of HPV-induced cancer that can facilitate understanding of the disease mechanism and identification of key cellular targets of HPV oncogenes are important for development of new interventions. Here in this study, we used the tissue-specific expression technique, Gal4-UAS, to establish the first Drosophila model of HPV16-induced cancer. Using this technique, we expressed HPV16 oncogenes E5, E6, E7 and the human E3 ligase (hUBE3A) specifically in the epithelia of Drosophila eye, which allows simple phenotype scoring without affecting the viability of the organism. We found that, as in human cells, hUBE3A is essential for cellular abnormalities caused by HPV16 oncogenes in flies. Several proteins targeted for degradation by HPV16 oncoproteins in human cells were also reduced in the Drosophila epithelial cells. Cell polarity and adhesion were compromised, resulting in impaired epithelial integrity. Cells did not differentiate to the specific cell types of ommatidia, but instead were transformed into neuron-like cells. These cells extended axon-like structures to connect to each other and exhibited malignant behavior, migrating away to distant sites. Our findings suggest that given the high conservation of genes and signaling pathways between humans and flies, the Drosophila model of HPV16- induced cancer could serve as an excellent model for understanding the disease mechanism and discovery of novel molecularly-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Hashemi
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
| | - McKenzi E. Ormsbee
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
| | - Prashant J. Patel
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
| | - Jacquelyn A. Nielson
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Joseph Ahlander
- Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University, Broken Arrow, OK, United States of America
| | - Mojgan Padash Barmchi
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Bonini NM. A perspective on Drosophila genetics and its insight into human neurodegenerative disease. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1060796. [PMID: 36518845 PMCID: PMC9743296 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1060796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila has been long appreciated as a classic genetic system for its ability to define gene function in vivo. Within the last several decades, the fly has also emerged as a premiere system for modeling and defining mechanisms of human disease by expressing dominant human disease genes and analyzing the effects. Here I discuss key aspects of this latter approach that first intrigued me to focus my laboratory research on this idea. Differences between the loss-of-function vs. the gain-of-function approach are raised-and the insight of these approaches for appreciating mechanisms that contribute to human neurodegenerative disease. The application of modifier genetics, which is a prominent goal of models of human disease, has implications for how specific genes or pathways intersect with the dominant disease-associated mechanisms. Models of human disease will continue to reveal unanticipated insight into fundamental cellular processes-insight that might be harder to glean from classical genetic methodologies vs modifier genetics of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy M. Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Pratomo AR, Salim E, Hori A, Kuraishi T. Drosophila as an Animal Model for Testing Plant-Based Immunomodulators. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314801. [PMID: 36499123 PMCID: PMC9735809 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Allopathic medicines play a key role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, long-term consumption of these medicines may cause serious undesirable effects that harm human health. Plant-based medicines have emerged as alternatives to allopathic medicines because of their rare side effects. They contain several compounds that have the potential to improve health and treat diseases in humans, including their function as immunomodulators to treat immune-related diseases. Thus, the discovery of potent and safe immunomodulators from plants is gaining considerable research interest. Recently, Drosophila has gained prominence as a model organism in evaluating the efficacy of plant and plant-derived substances. Drosophila melanogaster "fruit fly" is a well-known, high-throughput model organism that has been used to study different biological aspects of development and diseases for more than 110 years. Most developmental and cell signaling pathways and 75% of human disease-related genes are conserved between humans and Drosophila. Using Drosophila, one can easily examine the pharmacological effects of plants/plant-derived components by employing a variety of tests in flies, such as survival, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cell death tests. This review focused on D. melanogaster's potential for identifying immunomodulatory features associated with plants/plant-derived components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Rizky Pratomo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Emil Salim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (T.K.)
| | - Aki Hori
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kuraishi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
- AMED-PRIME, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
- JST-FOREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo 102-0081, Japan
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (T.K.)
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Pir MS, Cevik S, Kaplan OI. ConVarT: Search Engine for Missense Variants Between Humans and Other Organisms. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e619. [PMID: 36413109 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.619] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ConVarT (https://convart.org/) is a search engine for searching for conjugate variants between humans and other species. The search engine is based on matching conjugate variants called MatchVars between species. Matching equivalent variants requires correct alignment of orthologous proteins with the use of multiple sequence alignments (MSA). Indeed, the ConVarT pipeline has performed over a million MSAs and integrated variants and variant-specific annotations (pathogenicity, phenotypic variants; etc.) into the corresponding positions on MSAs. When a clinically relevant variant is discovered whose functional relevance is unknown, ConVarT offers clinician scientists the possibility to search for a MatchVar in other species and to look for functional data on that variant. Fortunately, ConVarT enables users to paste a protein sequence in FASTA format to search for human orthologous proteins. A pairwise sequence alignment (PSA) is then performed between the provided protein sequence and the human orthologous protein, allowing users to visualize human variants on the PSA. Here, we describe the step-by-step usage of ConVarT. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Searching matching variants (MatchVar) with gene/protein identifiers. Basic Protocol 2: Searching with a FASTA sequence. Alternate Protocol: Search with gene name in multiple species. Basic Protocol 3: Search genes associated with a disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa S Pir
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Sebiha Cevik
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Oktay I Kaplan
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Sokabe T, Bradshaw HB, Tominaga M, Leishman E, Chandel A, Montell C. Endocannabinoids produced in photoreceptor cells in response to light activate Drosophila TRP channels. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabl6179. [PMID: 36219683 PMCID: PMC9633101 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abl6179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila phototransduction is a model for signaling cascades that culminate in the activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels. TRP and TRPL are the canonical TRP (TRPC) channels that are regulated by light stimulation of rhodopsin and engagement of Gαq and phospholipase Cβ (PLC). Lipid metabolite(s) generated downstream of PLC are essential for the activation of the TRPC channels in photoreceptor cells. We sought to identify the key lipids produced subsequent to PLC stimulation that contribute to channel activation. Here, using genetics, lipid analysis, and Ca2+ imaging, we found that light increased the amount of an abundant endocannabinoid, 2-linoleoyl glycerol (2-LG), in vivo. The increase in 2-LG amounts depended on the PLC and diacylglycerol lipase encoded by norpA and inaE, respectively. This endocannabinoid facilitated TRPC-dependent Ca2+ influx in a heterologous expression system and in dissociated ommatidia from compound eyes. Moreover, 2-LG and mechanical stimulation cooperatively activated TRPC channels in ommatidia. We propose that 2-LG is a physiologically relevant endocannabinoid that activates TRPC channels in photoreceptor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Sokabe
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara; California 93106, USA
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, and Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences; Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI; Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Heather B. Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University; Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA
| | - Makoto Tominaga
- Division of Cell Signaling, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, and Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences; Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, SOKENDAI; Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University; Bloomington, Indiana, 47405, USA
| | - Avinash Chandel
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara; California 93106, USA
| | - Craig Montell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara; California 93106, USA
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Holvoet H, Long DM, Law A, McClure C, Choi J, Yang L, Marney L, Poeck B, Strauss R, Stevens JF, Maier CS, Soumyanath A, Kretzschmar D. Withania somnifera Extracts Promote Resilience against Age-Related and Stress-Induced Behavioral Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster; a Possible Role of Other Compounds besides Withanolides. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14193923. [PMID: 36235577 PMCID: PMC9573261 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera (WS) extracts have been used in traditional medicine for millennia to promote healthy aging and wellbeing. WS is now also widely used in Western countries as a nutritional supplement to extend healthspan and increase resilience against age-related changes, including sleep deficits and depression. Although human trials have supported beneficial effects of WS, the study designs have varied widely. Plant material is intrinsically complex, and extracts vary widely with the origin of the plant material and the extraction method. Commercial supplements can contain various other ingredients, and the characteristics of the study population can also be varied. To perform maximally controlled experiments, we used plant extracts analyzed for their composition and stability. We then tested these extracts in an inbred Drosophila line to minimize effects of the genetic background in a controlled environment. We found that a water extract of WS (WSAq) was most potent in improving physical fitness, while an ethanol extract (WSE) improved sleep in aged flies. Both extracts provided resilience against stress-induced behavioral changes. WSE contained higher levels of withanolides, which have been proposed to be active ingredients, than WSAq. Therefore, withanolides may mediate the sleep improvement, whereas so-far-unknown ingredients enriched in WSAq likely mediate the effects on fitness and stress-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Holvoet
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Dani M. Long
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Alexander Law
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Christine McClure
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jaewoo Choi
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Luke Marney
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Burkhard Poeck
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Roland Strauss
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jan F. Stevens
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Claudia S. Maier
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Amala Soumyanath
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Doris Kretzschmar
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Correspondence:
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47
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Perlegos AE, Shields EJ, Shen H, Liu KF, Bonini NM. Mettl3-dependent m 6A modification attenuates the brain stress response in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5387. [PMID: 36104353 PMCID: PMC9474545 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA, plays an essential role in various stress responses. The brain is uniquely vulnerable to cellular stress, thus defining how m6A sculpts the brain's susceptibility may provide insight to brain aging and disease-related stress. Here we investigate the impact of m6A mRNA methylation in the adult Drosophila brain with stress. We show that m6A is enriched in the adult brain and increases with heat stress. Through m6A-immunoprecipitation sequencing, we show 5'UTR Mettl3-dependent m6A is enriched in transcripts of neuronal processes and signaling pathways that increase upon stress. Mettl3 knockdown results in increased levels of m6A targets and confers resilience to stress. We find loss of Mettl3 results in decreased levels of nuclear m6A reader Ythdc1, and knockdown of Ythdc1 also leads to stress resilience. Overall, our data suggest that m6A modification in Drosophila dampens the brain's biological response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Perlegos
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Emily J Shields
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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48
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Asadzadeh J, Ruchti E, Jiao W, Limoni G, MacLachlan C, Small SA, Knott G, Santa-Maria I, McCabe BD. Retromer deficiency in Tauopathy models enhances the truncation and toxicity of Tau. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5049. [PMID: 36030267 PMCID: PMC9420134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of the levels, localization or post-translational processing of the microtubule associated protein Tau is associated with many neurodegenerative disorders. Here we develop adult-onset models for human Tau (hTau) toxicity in Drosophila that enable age-dependent quantitative measurement of central nervous system synapse loss and axonal degeneration, in addition to effects upon lifespan, to facilitate evaluation of factors that may contribute to Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Using these models, we interrogate the interaction of hTau with the retromer complex, an evolutionarily conserved cargo-sorting protein assembly, whose reduced activity has been associated with both Parkinson’s and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. We reveal that reduction of retromer activity induces a potent enhancement of hTau toxicity upon synapse loss, axon retraction and lifespan through a specific increase in the production of a C-terminal truncated isoform of hTau. Our data establish a molecular and subcellular mechanism necessary and sufficient for the depletion of retromer activity to exacerbate Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Tau and the Retromer complex are both linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Using Drosophila neurodegeneration models, this study finds that low retromer activity induces a specific increase of a highly toxic truncated form of human Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshid Asadzadeh
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evelyne Ruchti
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Jiao
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Limoni
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine MacLachlan
- BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Scott A Small
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Graham Knott
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Facultad Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Brian D McCabe
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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49
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Chemical interference with DSIF complex formation lowers synthesis of mutant huntingtin gene products and curtails mutant phenotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204779119. [PMID: 35914128 PMCID: PMC9371670 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204779119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Earlier work has shown that siRNA-mediated reduction of the SUPT4H or SUPT5H proteins, which interact to form the DSIF complex and facilitate transcript elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), can decrease expression of mutant gene alleles containing nucleotide repeat expansions differentially. Using luminescence and fluorescence assays, we identified chemical compounds that interfere with the SUPT4H-SUPT5H interaction and then investigated their effects on synthesis of mRNA and protein encoded by mutant alleles containing repeat expansions in the huntingtin gene (HTT), which causes the inherited neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington's Disease (HD). Here we report that such chemical interference can differentially affect expression of HTT mutant alleles, and that a prototypical chemical, 6-azauridine (6-AZA), that targets the SUPT4H-SUPT5H interaction can modify the biological response to mutant HTT gene expression. Selective and dose-dependent effects of 6-AZA on expression of HTT alleles containing nucleotide repeat expansions were seen in multiple types of cells cultured in vitro, and in a Drosophila melanogaster animal model for HD. Lowering of mutant HD protein and mitigation of the Drosophila "rough eye" phenotype associated with degeneration of photoreceptor neurons in vivo were observed. Our findings indicate that chemical interference with DSIF complex formation can decrease biochemical and phenotypic effects of nucleotide repeat expansions.
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50
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Sanz FJ, Solana-Manrique C, Lilao-Garzón J, Brito-Casillas Y, Muñoz-Descalzo S, Paricio N. Exploring the link between Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Drosophila. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22432. [PMID: 35766235 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200286r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high levels of glucose in blood. Recent epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between both diseases; it is even considered that DM might be a risk factor for PD. To further investigate the likely relation of these diseases, we have used a Drosophila PD model based on inactivation of the DJ-1β gene (ortholog of human DJ-1), and diet-induced Drosophila and mouse type 2 DM (T2DM) models, together with human neuron-like cells. T2DM models were obtained by feeding flies with a high sugar-containing medium, and mice with a high fat diet. Our results showed that both fly models exhibit common phenotypes such as alterations in carbohydrate homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction or motor defects, among others. In addition, we demonstrated that T2DM might be a risk factor of developing PD since our diet-induced fly and mouse T2DM models present DA neuron dysfunction, a hallmark of PD. We also confirmed that neurodegeneration is caused by increased glucose levels, which has detrimental effects in human neuron-like cells by triggering apoptosis and leading to cell death. Besides, the observed phenotypes were exacerbated in DJ-1β mutants cultured in the high sugar medium, indicating that DJ-1 might have a role in carbohydrate homeostasis. Finally, we have confirmed that metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is a potential candidate for PD treatment and that it could prevent PD onset in T2DM model flies. This result supports antidiabetic compounds as promising PD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Sanz
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Cristina Solana-Manrique
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Joaquín Lilao-Garzón
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Yeray Brito-Casillas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Silvia Muñoz-Descalzo
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Nuria Paricio
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
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