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Eijlers P, Al-Khafaji M, Soto-Martin E, Fasimoye R, Stead D, Wenzel M, Müller B, Pettitt J. A nematode-specific ribonucleoprotein complex mediates interactions between the major nematode spliced leader snRNP and its target pre-mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:7245-7260. [PMID: 38676950 PMCID: PMC11229312 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae321] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Spliced leader trans-splicing of pre-mRNAs is a critical step in the gene expression of many eukaryotes. How the spliced leader RNA and its target transcripts are brought together to form the trans-spliceosome remains an important unanswered question. Using immunoprecipitation followed by protein analysis via mass spectrometry and RIP-Seq, we show that the nematode-specific proteins, SNA-3 and SUT-1, form a complex with a set of enigmatic non-coding RNAs, the SmY RNAs. Our work redefines the SmY snRNP and shows for the first time that it is essential for nematode viability and is involved in spliced leader trans-splicing. SNA-3 and SUT-1 are associated with the 5' ends of most, if not all, nascent capped RNA polymerase II transcripts, and they also interact with components of the major nematode spliced leader (SL1) snRNP. We show that depletion of SNA-3 impairs the co-immunoprecipitation between one of the SL1 snRNP components, SNA-2, and several core spliceosomal proteins. We thus propose that the SmY snRNP recruits the SL1 snRNP to the 5' ends of nascent pre-mRNAs, an instrumental step in the assembly of the trans-spliceosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Eijlers
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - Mohammed Al-Khafaji
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - Eva Soto-Martin
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - Rotimi Fasimoye
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - David Stead
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - Marius Wenzel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ Scotland, UK
| | - Berndt Müller
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
| | - Jonathan Pettitt
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
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2
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Castiglioni VG, Olmo-Uceda MJ, Martín S, Félix MA, González R, Elena SF. Experimental evolution of an RNA virus in Caenorhabditis elegans. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 123:105623. [PMID: 38901623 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of Orsay virus (OrV), the first virus infecting wild populations of Caenorhabditis elegans, has boosted studies of viral immunity pathways in this nematode. Considering the many advantages that C. elegans offers for fundamental research in host-pathogen interactions, this pathosystem has high potential to become a model system for experimental virus evolution studies. However, the evolutionary constraints - i.e, the balance between genetic variation, selection, drift and historical contingency- operating in this pathosystem have barely been explored. Here we describe for the first time an evolution experiment of two different OrV strains in C. elegans. Comparison of the two ancestral strains showed differences in infectivity and sequence, and highlighted the importance of consistently normalize viral inocula for meaningful comparisons among strains. After 10 serial passages of evolution, we report slight changes in infectivity and non-synonymous mutations fixed in the evolved viral populations. In addition, we observed numerous minor variants emerging in the viral population. These minor variants were not randomly distributed along the genome but concentrated in polymorphic genomic regions. Overall, our work established the grounds for future experimental virus evolution studies using Caenorhabditis nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Castiglioni
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC-Universitat de València), Paterna, 46980 València, Spain
| | - María J Olmo-Uceda
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC-Universitat de València), Paterna, 46980 València, Spain
| | - Susana Martín
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC-Universitat de València), Paterna, 46980 València, Spain
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rubén González
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC-Universitat de València), Paterna, 46980 València, Spain; Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Santiago F Elena
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC-Universitat de València), Paterna, 46980 València, Spain; Santa Fe Institute, Sant Fe, NM 87501, USA.
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3
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Wang J, Barr MM, Wehman AM. Extracellular vesicles. Genetics 2024:iyae088. [PMID: 38884207 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae088] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) encompass a diverse array of membrane-bound organelles released outside cells in response to developmental and physiological cell needs. EVs play important roles in remodeling the shape and content of differentiating cells and can rescue damaged cells from toxic or dysfunctional content. EVs can send signals and transfer metabolites between tissues and organisms to regulate development, respond to stress or tissue damage, or alter mating behaviors. While many EV functions have been uncovered by characterizing ex vivo EVs isolated from body fluids and cultured cells, research using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has provided insights into the in vivo functions, biogenesis, and uptake pathways. The C. elegans EV field has also developed methods to analyze endogenous EVs within the organismal context of development and adult physiology in free-living, behaving animals. In this review, we summarize major themes that have emerged for C. elegans EVs and their relevance to human health and disease. We also highlight the diversity of biogenesis mechanisms, locations, and functions of worm EVs and discuss open questions and unexplored topics tenable in C. elegans, given the nematode model is ideal for light and electron microscopy, genetic screens, genome engineering, and high-throughput omics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Maureen M Barr
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ann M Wehman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80210, USA
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4
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Wang C, Vidal B, Sural S, Loer C, Aguilar GR, Merritt DM, Toker IA, Vogt MC, Cros C, Hobert O. A neurotransmitter atlas of C. elegans males and hermaphrodites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.24.573258. [PMID: 38895397 PMCID: PMC11185579 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.24.573258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Mapping neurotransmitter identities to neurons is key to understanding information flow in a nervous system. It also provides valuable entry points for studying the development and plasticity of neuronal identity features. In the C. elegans nervous system, neurotransmitter identities have been largely assigned by expression pattern analysis of neurotransmitter pathway genes that encode neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzymes or transporters. However, many of these assignments have relied on multicopy reporter transgenes that may lack relevant cis-regulatory information and therefore may not provide an accurate picture of neurotransmitter usage. We analyzed the expression patterns of 16 CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock-in reporter strains for all main types of neurotransmitters in C. elegans (glutamate, acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, dopamine, tyramine, and octopamine) in both the hermaphrodite and the male. Our analysis reveals novel sites of expression of these neurotransmitter systems within both neurons and glia, as well as non-neural cells. The resulting expression atlas defines neurons that may be exclusively neuropeptidergic, substantially expands the repertoire of neurons capable of co-transmitting multiple neurotransmitters, and identifies novel neurons that uptake monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Furthermore, we also observed unusual co-expression patterns of monoaminergic synthesis pathway genes, suggesting the existence of novel monoaminergic transmitters. Our analysis results in what constitutes the most extensive whole-animal-wide map of neurotransmitter usage to date, paving the way for a better understanding of neuronal communication and neuronal identity specification in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Berta Vidal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Surojit Sural
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Curtis Loer
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - G. Robert Aguilar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Daniel M. Merritt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Itai Antoine Toker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Merly C. Vogt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Cyril Cros
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA
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5
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Green RA, Khaliullin RN, Zhao Z, Ochoa SD, Hendel JM, Chow TL, Moon H, Biggs RJ, Desai A, Oegema K. Automated profiling of gene function during embryonic development. Cell 2024; 187:3141-3160.e23. [PMID: 38759650 PMCID: PMC11166207 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.012] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Systematic functional profiling of the gene set that directs embryonic development is an important challenge. To tackle this challenge, we used 4D imaging of C. elegans embryogenesis to capture the effects of 500 gene knockdowns and developed an automated approach to compare developmental phenotypes. The automated approach quantifies features-including germ layer cell numbers, tissue position, and tissue shape-to generate temporal curves whose parameterization yields numerical phenotypic signatures. In conjunction with a new similarity metric that operates across phenotypic space, these signatures enabled the generation of ranked lists of genes predicted to have similar functions, accessible in the PhenoBank web portal, for ∼25% of essential development genes. The approach identified new gene and pathway relationships in cell fate specification and morphogenesis and highlighted the utilization of specialized energy generation pathways during embryogenesis. Collectively, the effort establishes the foundation for comprehensive analysis of the gene set that builds a multicellular organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Green
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | | | - Zhiling Zhao
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Stacy D Ochoa
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | | | - HongKee Moon
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr. 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ronald J Biggs
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Arshad Desai
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Karen Oegema
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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6
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Yanagi KS, Lehrbach N. Streamlined single shot safe harbor transgene integration in C. elegans using unc-119 rescue. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001230. [PMID: 38872845 PMCID: PMC11170288 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Transgenic animals are an invaluable tool in model organism genetics. The ease of modifying the C. elegans genome through high-copy integration of transgenes facilitates the investigation of diverse and fundamental biological processes. However, generation of new multicopy integrated transgenes is limited by the time and labor cost. Further, many transgenes are integrated using non-specific DNA damaging agents. These DNA damaging agents cause unwanted mutations during the integration process and may have deleterious effects. A recently described method for CRISPR/Cas9-based integration of multicopy transgenes at safe harbor loci using Fluorescent Landmark Interference (FLInt) greatly increases the efficiency of multicopy transgene integration and mitigates issues related to off-target mutagenesis during integration. unc-119 rescue is a simple and widely used phenotypic marker in C. elegans transgenesis and genome engineering. To streamline generation of multicopy transgenes via FLInt, we have generated a set of strains suitable for FLInt-mediated integration of transgenes using rescue of the unc-119 mutant phenotype to select transgenic animals. We demonstrate the utility of this approach and outline a protocol that uses unc-119 rescue as a selection marker for streamlined integration of multicopy transgenes at safe harbor loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S. Yanagi
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Nicolas Lehrbach
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States
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7
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Borbolis F, Palikaras K. Identifying therapeutic compounds for autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) through screening in the nematode C. elegans. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 188:89-108. [PMID: 38880530 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.04.004] [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: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) is a rare neurodegenerative condition, characterized by the bilateral loss of vision due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Its primary cause is linked to mutations in OPA1 gene, which ultimately affect mitochondrial structure and function. The current lack of successful treatments for ADOA emphasizes the need to investigate the mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis and exploit the potential of animal models for preclinical trials. Among such models, Caenorhabditis elegans stands out as a powerful tool, due its simplicity, its genetic tractability, and its relevance to human biology. Despite the lack of a visual system, the presence of mutated OPA1 in the nematode recapitulates ADOA pathology, by stimulating key pathogenic features of the human condition that can be studied in a fast and relatively non-laborious manner. Here, we provide a detailed guide on how to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chemical compounds, in either small or large scale, by evaluating three crucial phenotypes of humanized ADOA model nematodes, that express pathogenic human OPA1 in their GABAergic motor neurons: axonal mitochondria number, neuronal cell death and defecation cycle time. The described methods can deepen our understanding of ADOA pathogenesis and offer a practical framework for developing novel treatment schemes, providing hope for improved therapeutic outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals affected by this currently incurable condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fivos Borbolis
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Palikaras
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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8
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Gang SS, Lažetić V. Microsporidia: Pervasive natural pathogens of Caenorhabditis elegans and related nematodes. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024:e13027. [PMID: 38702921 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13027] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an invaluable host model for studying infections caused by various pathogens, including microsporidia. Microsporidia represent the first natural pathogens identified in C. elegans, revealing the previously unknown Nematocida genus of microsporidia. Following this discovery, the utilization of nematodes as a model host has rapidly expanded our understanding of microsporidia biology and has provided key insights into the cell and molecular mechanisms of antimicrosporidia defenses. Here, we first review the isolation history, morphological characteristics, life cycles, tissue tropism, genetics, and host immune responses for the four most well-characterized Nematocida species that infect C. elegans. We then highlight additional examples of microsporidia that infect related terrestrial and aquatic nematodes, including parasitic nematodes. To conclude, we assess exciting potential applications of the nematode-microsporidia system while addressing the technical advances necessary to facilitate future growth in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer S Gang
- Molecular Biology Department, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Vladimir Lažetić
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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9
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Romussi S, Giunti S, Andersen N, De Rosa MJ. C. elegans: a prominent platform for modeling and drug screening in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:565-585. [PMID: 38509691 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2329103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (NDevDs and NDegDs, respectively) encompass a broad spectrum of disorders affecting the nervous system with an increasing incidence. In this context, the nematode C. elegans, has emerged as a benchmark model for biological research, especially in the field of neuroscience. AREAS COVERED The authors highlight the numerous advantages of this tiny worm as a model for exploring nervous system pathologies and as a platform for drug discovery. There is a particular focus given to describing the existing models of C. elegans for the study of NDevDs and NDegDs. Specifically, the authors underscore their strong applicability in preclinical drug development. Furthermore, they place particular emphasis on detailing the common techniques employed to explore the nervous system in both healthy and diseased states. EXPERT OPINION Drug discovery constitutes a long and expensive process. The incorporation of invertebrate models, such as C. elegans, stands as an exemplary strategy for mitigating costs and expediting timelines. The utilization of C. elegans as a platform to replicate nervous system pathologies and conduct high-throughput automated assays in the initial phases of drug discovery is pivotal for rendering therapeutic options more attainable and cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Romussi
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Giunti
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Pei H, Lin Z, Yao K, Luo Y, Tong P, Chen H, Wu Y, Wu Z, Gao J. Ovalbumin promotes innate immune response of Caenorhabditis elegans through DAF-16 and SKN-1 pathways in insulin/IGF-1 signaling. J Physiol Biochem 2024:10.1007/s13105-024-01021-2. [PMID: 38632209 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-024-01021-2] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Ovalbumin (OVA) is a major allergen in eggs and could induce severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, where the innate immune system works as a regulator. The mechanism of how innate immunity adjusts to food allergy is relatively well-studied, however, the effects of allergen uptake on the innate immune system remain unclear. Therefore, the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model was utilized to assess the effects of OVA on its innate immune system. OVA enhanced the immune response of C. elegans with higher survival rates under Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Moreover, sustaining OVA treatment improved the health states that were reflected in the prolonged lifespan, alleviated oxidative stress, accelerated growth, and promoted motility. RNA-sequencing analysis and the slow-killing assays in the mutants of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS)-related genes confirmed that IIS was necessary for OVA to regulate innate immunity. Besides, OVA activated SKN-1 temporarily and facilitated the nuclear localization of DAF-16 for improving immunity and health status in C. elegans. Together, OVA could enhance the innate immune responses via DAF-16 and SKN-1 pathways in the IIS of C. elegans, and this work will provide novel insights into the regulation of innate immunity by OVA in higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibing Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- College of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- College of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Kexin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- College of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Yeqing Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- College of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Ping Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China.
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China.
| | - Hongbing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Yong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Zhihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
- Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China
| | - Jinyan Gao
- College of Food Science & Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China.
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Food Allergy, Nanchang, 330047, P.R. China.
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11
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Alegria AD, Joshi AS, Mendana JB, Khosla K, Smith KT, Auch B, Donovan M, Bischof J, Gohl DM, Kodandaramaiah SB. High-throughput genetic manipulation of multicellular organisms using a machine-vision guided embryonic microinjection robot. Genetics 2024; 226:iyae025. [PMID: 38373262 PMCID: PMC10990426 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae025] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Microinjection is a technique used for transgenesis, mutagenesis, cell labeling, cryopreservation, and in vitro fertilization in multiple single and multicellular organisms. Microinjection requires specialized skills and involves rate-limiting and labor-intensive preparatory steps. Here, we constructed a machine-vision guided generalized robot that fully automates the process of microinjection in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The robot uses machine learning models trained to detect embryos in images of agar plates and identify specific anatomical locations within each embryo in 3D space using dual view microscopes. The robot then serially performs a microinjection in each detected embryo. We constructed and used three such robots to automatically microinject tens of thousands of Drosophila and zebrafish embryos. We systematically optimized robotic microinjection for each species and performed routine transgenesis with proficiency comparable to highly skilled human practitioners while achieving up to 4× increases in microinjection throughput in Drosophila. The robot was utilized to microinject pools of over 20,000 uniquely barcoded plasmids into 1,713 embryos in 2 days to rapidly generate more than 400 unique transgenic Drosophila lines. This experiment enabled a novel measurement of the number of independent germline integration events per successfully injected embryo. Finally, we showed that robotic microinjection of cryoprotective agents in zebrafish embryos significantly improves vitrification rates and survival of cryopreserved embryos post-thaw as compared to manual microinjection. We anticipate that the robot can be used to carry out microinjection for genome-wide manipulation and cryopreservation at scale in a wide range of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Alegria
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Amey S Joshi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jorge Blanco Mendana
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kanav Khosla
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kieran T Smith
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Benjamin Auch
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Margaret Donovan
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - John Bischof
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Daryl M Gohl
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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12
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Rahmani A, McMillen A, Allen E, Minervini C, Chew YL. Behavioral Tests for Associative Learning in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2746:21-46. [PMID: 38070077 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3585-8_2] [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: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Learning is critical for survival as it provides the capacity to adapt to a changing environment. At the molecular and cellular level, learning leads to alterations within neural circuits that include synaptic rewiring, synaptic plasticity, and protein level/gene expression changes. There has been substantial progress in recent years on dissecting how learning and memory is regulated at the molecular and cellular level, including the use of compact invertebrate nervous systems as experimental models. This progress has been facilitated by the establishment of robust behavioral assays that generate a quantifiable readout of the extent to which animals learn and remember. This chapter will focus on protocols of behavioral tests for associative learning using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, with its unparalleled genetic tractability, compact nervous system of ~300 neurons, high level of conservation with mammalian systems, and amenability to a suite of behavioral tools and analyses. Specifically, we will provide a detailed description of the methods for two behavioral assays that model associative learning, one measuring appetitive olfactory learning and the other assaying aversive gustatory learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aelon Rahmani
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Anna McMillen
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Ericka Allen
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Caitlin Minervini
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
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13
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Kuo-Esser L, Chen R, Lawson K, Kuchinski K, Simmons N, Dominguez M, Scandura T, Vo M, Dasenbrock-Gammon E, Hagan N, Esposito H, Thompson M, Le S, Escorcia W, Wetzel HN. Early-life caffeine exposure induces morphological changes and altered physiology in Caenorhabditiselegans. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 690:149240. [PMID: 37988878 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Caffeine, a widely consumed stimulant, is known for its effects on alertness and fatigue reduction by blockade of adenosine receptors. While it holds therapeutic potential, its diverse impacts pose risks, particularly in early development. This study explores the developmental effects of caffeine exposure using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism. We investigated morphological and behavioral changes induced by caffeine exposure at the L1 stage and assessed their impact at the L4 stage, which roughly corresponds to human infancy and adolescence, respectively. Caffeine-exposed worms displayed increased body length, body bends, and pharyngeal pumping rates compared to control worms. These findings indicate heightened food-seeking behavior and greater food intake, leading to the observed morphological changes. While caffeine did not affect other locomotor behaviors, its stimulatory effect on growth and development highlights its significance. This study provides insights into the potential impact of early-life caffeine exposure on long-term health and development, offering a foundation for future research in vertebrates to uncover its implications on metabolism and other metrics of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance Kuo-Esser
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Ramon Chen
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Kylie Lawson
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | | | - Nijah Simmons
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | | | - Tommy Scandura
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Martin Vo
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA; Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, 16509, USA
| | - Emma Dasenbrock-Gammon
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA; University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Highland Heights, Kentucky, 41099, USA
| | - Natalie Hagan
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA; University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Highland Heights, Kentucky, 41099, USA
| | - Haley Esposito
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Molly Thompson
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Steven Le
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Wilber Escorcia
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA.
| | - Hanna N Wetzel
- Biology Department, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA.
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14
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Van Bael S, Ludwig C, Baggerman G, Temmerman L. Identification and Targeted Quantification of Endogenous Neuropeptides in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans Using Mass Spectrometry. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2758:341-373. [PMID: 38549024 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3646-6_19] [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: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans lends itself as an excellent model organism for peptidomics studies. Its ease of cultivation and quick generation time make it suitable for high-throughput studies. The nervous system, with its 302 neurons, is probably the best-known and studied endocrine tissue. Moreover, its neuropeptidergic signaling pathways display numerous similarities with those observed in other metazoans. Here, we describe two label-free approaches for neuropeptidomics in C. elegans: one for discovery purposes, and another for targeted quantification and comparisons of neuropeptide levels between different samples. Starting from a detailed peptide extraction procedure, we here outline the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) setup and describe subsequent data analysis approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Van Bael
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christina Ludwig
- Bavarian Center for Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry (BayBioMS), Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Center for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
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15
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Kirchweger B, Zwirchmayr J, Grienke U, Rollinger JM. The role of Caenorhabditis elegans in the discovery of natural products for healthy aging. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1849-1873. [PMID: 37585263 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00021d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2012 to 2023The human population is aging. Thus, the greatest risk factor for numerous diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, is increasing worldwide. Age-related diseases do not typically occur in isolation, but as a result of multi-factorial causes, which in turn require holistic approaches to identify and decipher the mode of action of potential remedies. With the advent of C. elegans as the primary model organism for aging, researchers now have a powerful in vivo tool for identifying and studying agents that effect lifespan and health span. Natural products have been focal research subjects in this respect. This review article covers key developments of the last decade (2012-2023) that have led to the discovery of natural products with healthy aging properties in C. elegans. We (i) discuss the state of knowledge on the effects of natural products on worm aging including methods, assays and involved pathways; (ii) analyze the literature on natural compounds in terms of their molecular properties and the translatability of effects on mammals; (iii) examine the literature on multi-component mixtures with special attention to the studied organisms, extraction methods and efforts regarding the characterization of their chemical composition and their bioactive components. (iv) We further propose to combine small in vivo model organisms such as C. elegans and sophisticated analytical approaches ("wormomics") to guide the way to dissect complex natural products with anti-aging properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Kirchweger
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julia Zwirchmayr
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ulrike Grienke
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Judith M Rollinger
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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16
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Schwartz AZA, Abdu Y, Nance J. ZIF-1-mediated degradation of zinc finger proteins in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line. Genetics 2023; 225:iyad160. [PMID: 37647858 PMCID: PMC10627257 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad160] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid and conditional protein depletion is the gold standard genetic tool for deciphering the molecular basis of developmental processes. Previously, we showed that by conditionally expressing the E3 ligase substrate adaptor ZIF-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans somatic cells, proteins tagged with the first CCCH Zn finger 1 (ZF1) domain from the germline regulator PIE-1 degrade rapidly, resulting in loss-of-function phenotypes. The described role of ZIF-1 is to clear PIE-1 and several other CCCH Zn finger proteins from early somatic cells, helping to enrich them in germline precursor cells. Here, we show that proteins tagged with the PIE-1 ZF1 domain are subsequently cleared from primordial germ cells (PGCs) in embryos and from undifferentiated germ cells in larvae and adults by ZIF-1. We harness germline ZIF-1 activity to degrade a ZF1-tagged fusion protein from PGCs and show that its depletion produces phenotypes equivalent to those of a null mutation. Our findings reveal that ZIF-1 transitions from degrading CCCH Zn finger proteins in somatic cells to clearing them from undifferentiated germ cells, and that ZIF-1 activity can be harnessed as a new genetic tool to study the early germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Z A Schwartz
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yusuff Abdu
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jeremy Nance
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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17
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Lin Y, Lin C, Cao Y, Chen Y. Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model for the identification of natural antioxidants with anti-aging actions. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115594. [PMID: 37776641 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115594] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural antioxidants have recently emerged as a highly exciting and significant topic in anti-aging research. Diverse organism models present a viable protocol for future research. Notably, many breakthroughs on natural antioxidants have been achieved in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, an animal model frequently utilized for the study of aging research and anti-aging drugs in vivo. Due to the conservation of signaling pathways on oxidative stress resistance, lifespan regulation, and aging disease between C. elegans and multiple high-level organisms (humans), as well as the low and controllable cost of time and labor, it gradually develops into a trustworthy in vivo model for high-throughput screening and validation of natural antioxidants with anti-aging actions. First, information and models on free radicals and aging are presented in this review. We also describe indexes, detection methods, and molecular mechanisms for studying the in vivo antioxidant and anti-aging effects of natural antioxidants using C. elegans. It includes lifespan, physiological aging processes, oxidative stress levels, antioxidant enzyme activation, and anti-aging pathways. Furthermore, oxidative stress and healthspan improvement induced by natural antioxidants in humans and C. elegans are compared, to understand the potential and limitations of the screening model in preclinical studies. Finally, we emphasize that C. elegans is a useful model for exploring more natural antioxidant resources and uncovering the mechanisms underlying aging-related risk factors and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugui Lin
- Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Bo'ai Hospital, Southern Medical University, Zhongshan 528400, China; Department of Microbiology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Chunxiu Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510640, China; State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, College of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yong Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yunjiao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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18
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Kouchaeknejad A, Van Der Walt G, De Donato MH, Puighermanal E. Imaging and Genetic Tools for the Investigation of the Endocannabinoid System in the CNS. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15829. [PMID: 37958825 PMCID: PMC10648052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders present an increasing cause of global morbidity, mortality, and high pressure on our healthcare system, there is an urgent need for new insights and treatment options. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a critical network of endogenous compounds, receptors, and enzymes that contribute to CNS development and regulation. Given its multifaceted involvement in neurobiology and its significance in various CNS disorders, the ECS as a whole is considered a promising therapeutic target. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the ECS's role in the CNS, its complex architecture and extensive crosstalk with other biological systems present challenges for research and clinical advancements. To bridge these knowledge gaps and unlock the full therapeutic potential of ECS interventions in CNS-related disorders, a plethora of molecular-genetic tools have been developed in recent years. Here, we review some of the most impactful tools for investigating the neurological aspects of the ECS. We first provide a brief introduction to the ECS components, including cannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and metabolic enzymes, emphasizing their complexity. This is followed by an exploration of cutting-edge imaging tools and genetic models aimed at elucidating the roles of these principal ECS components. Special emphasis is placed on their relevance in the context of CNS and its associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emma Puighermanal
- Neuroscience Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (A.K.); (G.V.D.W.); (M.H.D.D.)
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19
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Knoebel E, Dour S, Nonet M. A toolkit for assembly of targeting clones for C. elegans transgenesis. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000966. [PMID: 37854100 PMCID: PMC10580076 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic worms are a key resource for C. elegans researchers dissecting molecular pathways using this simple metazoan model system. Transgenes provide an avenue to visualize developmental events, cellular processes as well as real-time signal events in live animals using genetically encoded sensors. Generation of these tools has become increasingly efficient with the advent of numerous integration methods including transposon, CRISPR and recombinase-mediated integration. A growing limitation in transgene production is the assembly of the targeting constructs used to direct insertion of sequences into the genome. Here we present a toolkit that facilitates rapid assembly of complex reporters using a Golden Gate (GG) cloning-based approach. Co-assembly of one to eight DNA segments into an integration vector can be routinely obtained at high efficiency using a library of entry plasmids. The toolkit consists of 20 SapI GG entry vectors and 100 SapI GG insert plasmids containing a variety of promoters, FPs, tags, linkers, ORFs, 3' UTRs and numerous components for bipartite expression systems that can be mixed to create a huge repertoire of reporter constructs. The assembly process also works well with PCR products and 5' phosphorylated double stranded oligonucleotides, and such DNAs can be used to supply novel genes, promoters, and tags into the pipeline. In addition, the toolkit also provides a series of 12 empty BsaI -based GG assembly vectors that facilitate the construction of additional SapI GG plasmids containing novel inserts. A manual outlining the entire approach is provided as an appendix as well as a Microsoft® Excel based assembly tool which allows the user to choose individual inserts among the libraries of clones at each position in the assembly template and output an annotated sequence. The assembly process can easily be multiplexed and is typically over 90% efficient. The approach is sufficiently efficient to make microinjection rather than clone generation the limiting factor in transgene generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Knoebel
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Scott Dour
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Benson Hill, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael Nonet
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO, USA
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20
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Gibney TV, Favichia M, Latifi L, Medwig-Kinney TN, Matus DQ, McIntyre DC, Arrigo AB, Branham KR, Bubrig LT, Ghaddar A, Jiranek JA, Liu KE, Marcucci CG, Porter RJ, Pani AM. A simple method to dramatically increase C. elegans germline microinjection efficiency. Dev Biol 2023; 502:63-67. [PMID: 37433390 PMCID: PMC10559938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.07.003] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Genome manipulation methods in C. elegans require microinjecting DNA or ribonucleoprotein complexes into the microscopic core of the gonadal syncytium. These microinjections are technically demanding and represent a key bottleneck for all genome engineering and transgenic approaches in C. elegans. While there have been steady improvements in the ease and efficiency of genetic methods for C. elegans genome manipulation, there have not been comparable advances in the physical process of microinjection. Here, we report a simple and inexpensive method for handling worms using a paintbrush during the injection process that nearly tripled average microinjection rates compared to traditional worm handling methods. We found that the paintbrush increased injection throughput by substantially increasing both injection speeds and post-injection survival rates. In addition to dramatically and universally increasing injection efficiency for experienced personnel, the paintbrush method also significantly improved the abilities of novice investigators to perform key steps in the microinjection process. We expect that this method will benefit the C. elegans community by increasing the speed at which new strains can be generated and will also make microinjection-based approaches less challenging and more accessible to personnel and labs without extensive experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa V Gibney
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Michelle Favichia
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Laila Latifi
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - David Q Matus
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Daniel C McIntyre
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Angelo B Arrigo
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kendall R Branham
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Louis T Bubrig
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Abbas Ghaddar
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Juliana A Jiranek
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kendra E Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Charles G Marcucci
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Robert J Porter
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ariel M Pani
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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21
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Kukhtar D, Fussenegger M. Synthetic biology in multicellular organisms: Opportunities in nematodes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023. [PMID: 37448225 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has mainly focused on introducing new or altered functionality in single cell systems: primarily bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells. Here, we describe the extension of synthetic biology to nematodes, in particular the well-studied model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, as a convenient platform for developing applications in a multicellular setting. We review transgenesis techniques for nematodes, as well as the application of synthetic biology principles to construct nematode gene switches and genetic devices to control motility. Finally, we discuss potential applications of engineered nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Kukhtar
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Life Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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22
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Schwartz AZ, Abdu Y, Nance J. ZIF-1-mediated degradation of endogenous and heterologous zinc finger proteins in the C. elegans germ line. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.10.548405. [PMID: 37502839 PMCID: PMC10369855 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.548405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and conditional protein depletion is the gold standard genetic tool for deciphering the molecular basis of developmental processes. Previously, we showed that by conditionally expressing the E3 ligase substrate adaptor ZIF-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans somatic cells, proteins tagged with the first CCCH Zn finger (ZF1) domain from the germline regulator PIE-1 degrade rapidly, resulting in loss-of-function phenotypes. The described role of ZIF-1 is to clear PIE-1 and several other CCCH Zn finger proteins from early somatic cells, helping to enrich them in germline precursor cells. Here, we show that proteins tagged with the PIE-1 ZF1 domain are subsequently cleared from primordial germ cells in embryos and from undifferentiated germ cells in larvae and adults by ZIF-1. We harness germline ZIF-1 activity to degrade a ZF1-tagged heterologous protein from PGCs and show that its depletion produces phenotypes equivalent to those of a null mutation. Our findings reveal that ZIF-1 switches roles from degrading CCCH Zn finger proteins in somatic cells to clearing them from undifferentiated germ cells, and that ZIF-1 activity can be harnessed as a new genetic tool to study the early germ line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Z.A. Schwartz
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
| | - Yusuff Abdu
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
| | - Jeremy Nance
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
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23
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Nonet ML. Rapid generation of Caenorhabditis elegans single-copy transgenes combining recombination-mediated cassette exchange and drug selection. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad072. [PMID: 37079426 PMCID: PMC10324946 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
I outline a streamlined method to insert large, single-copy transgenes into the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using recombination-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) that relies solely on drug selection yielding a homozygous fluorescent protein (FP) marked transgene in 3 generations (8 days) at high efficiency (>1 insertion per 2 injected P0 animals). Landing sites for this approach are available on four chromosomes in several configurations which yield lines marked in distinct cell types. An array of vectors permit creating transgenes using a variety of selection methods (HygR, NeoR, PuroR, and unc-119) that yield lines expressing different colored FPs (BFP, GFP, mNG, and Scarlet). Although these transgenes retain a plasmid backbone and a selection marker, the inclusion of these sequences typically does not alter the expression of several cell-specific promoters tested. However, in certain orientations, promoters exhibit crosstalk with adjacent transcription units. In cases where crosstalk is problematic, the loxP-flanked fluorescent marker, plasmid backbone, and hygR gene can be excised by crossing through germline Cre expressing lines also created using this technique. Finally, genetic and molecular reagents designed to facilitate customization of both targeting vectors and landing sites are also described. Together, the rapid RMCE toolbox provides a platform for developing further innovative uses of RMCE to create complex genetically engineered tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Nonet
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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24
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Xiao Y, Yee C, Zhao CZ, Martinez MAQ, Zhang W, Shen K, Matus DQ, Hammell C. An expandable FLP-ON::TIR1 system for precise spatiotemporal protein degradation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 223:iyad013. [PMID: 36722258 PMCID: PMC10319979 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The auxin-inducible degradation system has been widely adopted in the Caenorhabditis elegans research community for its ability to empirically control the spatiotemporal expression of target proteins. This system can efficiently degrade auxin-inducible degron (AID)-tagged proteins via the expression of a ligand-activatable AtTIR1 protein derived from A. thaliana that adapts target proteins to the endogenous C. elegans proteasome. While broad expression of AtTIR1 using strong, ubiquitous promoters can lead to rapid degradation of AID-tagged proteins, cell type-specific expression of AtTIR1 using spatially restricted promoters often results in less efficient target protein degradation. To circumvent this limitation, we have developed an FLP/FRT3-based system that functions to reanimate a dormant, high-powered promoter that can drive sufficient AtTIR1 expression in a cell type-specific manner. We benchmark the utility of this system by generating a number of tissue-specific FLP-ON::TIR1 drivers to reveal genetically separable cell type-specific phenotypes for several target proteins. We also demonstrate that the FLP-ON::TIR1 system is compatible with enhanced degron epitopes. Finally, we provide an expandable toolkit utilizing the basic FLP-ON::TIR1 system that can be adapted to drive optimized AtTIR1 expression in any tissue or cell type of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Callista Yee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chris Z Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Michael A Q Martinez
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Wan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kang Shen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David Q Matus
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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25
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Zuo Y, Mei X, Singson A. CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Fluorescent Tagging of Caenorhabditis elegans SPE-38 Reveals a Complete Localization Pattern in Live Spermatozoa. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040623. [PMID: 37189371 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans spe-38 gene encodes a four-pass transmembrane molecule that is required in sperm for fertilization. In previous work, the localization of the SPE-38 protein was examined using polyclonal antibodies on spermatids and mature amoeboid spermatozoa. SPE-38 is localized to unfused membranous organelles (MOs) in nonmotile spermatids. Different fixation conditions revealed that SPE-38 either localized to fused MOs and the cell body plasma membrane or the pseudopod plasma membrane of mature sperm. To address this localization paradox in mature sperm, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to tag endogenous SPE-38 with fluorescent wrmScarlet-I. Homozygous male and hermaphrodite worms encoding SPE-38::wrmScarlet-I were fertile indicating the fluorescent tag does not interfere with SPE-38 function during sperm activation or fertilization. We found that SPE-38::wrmScarlet-I localized to MOs in spermatids consistent with previous antibody localization. In mature and motile spermatozoa we found SPE-38::wrmScarlet-I in fused MOs, the cell body plasma membrane, and the pseudopod plasma membrane. We conclude that the localization pattern observed with SPE-38::wrmScarlet-I represents the complete distribution of SPE-38 in mature spermatozoa and this localization pattern is consistent with a hypothesized role of SPE-38 directly in sperm-egg binding and/or fusion.
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26
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Gibney TV, Favichia M, Latifi L, Medwig-Kinney TN, Matus DQ, McIntyre DC, Arrigo AB, Branham KR, Bubrig LT, Ghaddar A, Jiranek JA, Liu KE, Marcucci CG, Porter RJ, Pani AM. A simple method to dramatically increase C. elegans germline microinjection efficiency. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.533855. [PMID: 36993165 PMCID: PMC10055348 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.533855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Genome manipulation methods in C. elegans require microinjecting DNA or ribonucleoprotein complexes into the microscopic core of the gonadal syncytium. These microinjections are technically demanding and represent a key bottleneck for all genome engineering and transgenic approaches in C. elegans . While there have been steady improvements in the ease and efficiency of genetic methods for C. elegans genome manipulation, there have not been comparable advances in the physical process of microinjection. Here, we report a simple and inexpensive method for handling worms using a paintbrush during the injection process that nearly tripled average microinjection rates compared to traditional worm handling methods. We found that the paintbrush increased injection throughput by substantially increasing both injection speeds and post-injection survival rates. In addition to dramatically and universally increasing injection efficiency for experienced personnel, the paintbrush method also significantly improved the abilities of novice investigators to perform key steps in the microinjection process. We expect that this method will benefit the C. elegans community by increasing the speed at which new strains can be generated and will also make microinjection-based approaches less challenging and more accessible to personnel and labs without extensive experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa V. Gibney
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Michelle Favichia
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Laila Latifi
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - David Q. Matus
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- David Matus is a paid consultant of Arcadia Science
| | | | - Angelo B. Arrigo
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Louis T. Bubrig
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Abbas Ghaddar
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Kendra E. Liu
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Charles G. Marcucci
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Robert J. Porter
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ariel M. Pani
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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27
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Mizumoto K, Jin Y, Bessereau JL. Synaptogenesis: unmasking molecular mechanisms using Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 223:iyac176. [PMID: 36630525 PMCID: PMC9910414 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a research model organism particularly suited to the mechanistic understanding of synapse genesis in the nervous system. Armed with powerful genetics, knowledge of complete connectomics, and modern genomics, studies using C. elegans have unveiled multiple key regulators in the formation of a functional synapse. Importantly, many signaling networks display remarkable conservation throughout animals, underscoring the contributions of C. elegans research to advance the understanding of our brain. In this chapter, we will review up-to-date information of the contribution of C. elegans to the understanding of chemical synapses, from structure to molecules and to synaptic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Mizumoto
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yishi Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jean-Louis Bessereau
- Univ Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U 1314, Melis, 69008 Lyon, France
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28
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Froehlich JJ, Rajewsky N. C. elegans Gene Regulatory Alleles and Reporter Bashing Studies. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000709. [PMID: 36748042 PMCID: PMC9898812 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Gene regulation has been studied in C. elegans for over 30 years. In this analysis of 102 publications, we find that most transcriptional cis-regulatory elements are located within 5,000 bp of the transcription start site. Over 75% of studies conclude that transcriptional elements and 5'UTRs activate-, while 3'UTRs repress gene expression. While gene regulatory mutations make up less than 0.8% of alleles in forward genetics screens, recent CRISPR-Cas approaches are increasing the number of tested mutations. This work provides a resource of known gene regulatory sequences in C.elegans .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Froehlich
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str. 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
,
Current affiliation: Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
,
Correspondence to: Jonathan J Froehlich (
)
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str. 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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29
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Fujii C, Wang D. Novel insights into virus–host interactions using the model organism C. elegans. Adv Virus Res 2023; 115:135-158. [PMID: 37173064 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Viruses continue to pose a public health threat raising the need for effective management strategies. Currently existing antiviral therapeutics are often specific to only a single viral species, and resistance to the therapeutic can often arise, and therefore new therapeutics are needed. The C. elegans-Orsay virus system offers a powerful platform for studying RNA virus-host interactions that could ultimately lead to novel targets for antiviral therapy. The relative simplicity of C. elegans, the well-established experimental tools, and its extensive evolutionary conservation of genes and pathways with mammals are key features of this model. Orsay virus, a bisegmented positive sense RNA virus, is a natural pathogen of C. elegans. Orsay virus infection can be studied in a multicellular organismal context, overcoming some of the limitations inherent to tissue culture-based systems. Moreover, compared to mice, the rapid generation time of C. elegans enables robust and facile forward genetics. This review aims to summarize studies that have laid the foundation for the C. elegans-Orsay virus experimental system, experimental tools, and key examples of C. elegans host factors that impact Orsay virus infection that have evolutionarily conserved function in mammalian virus infection.
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30
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Thapliyal S, Glauser DA. Neurogenetic Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurogenetics 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07793-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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31
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Schwartz AZA, Nance J. Germline TFAM levels regulate mitochondrial DNA copy number and mutant heteroplasmy in C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000727. [PMID: 36873298 PMCID: PMC9975812 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is packaged into discrete protein-DNA complexes called nucleoids. mtDNA packaging factor TFAM (mitochondrial transcription factor-A) promotes nucleoid compaction and is required for mtDNA replication. Here, we investigate how changing TFAM levels affects mtDNA in the Caenorhabditis elegans germ line. We show that increasing germline TFAM activity boosts mtDNA number and significantly increases the relative proportion of a selfish mtDNA mutant, uaDf5 . We conclude that TFAM levels must be tightly controlled to ensure appropriate mtDNA composition in the germ line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Z A Schwartz
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016.,Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
| | - Jeremy Nance
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016.,Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York NY 10016
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32
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Arena AF, Escudero J, Shaye DD. A metazoan-specific C-terminal motif in EXC-4 and Gα-Rho/Rac signaling regulate cell outgrowth during tubulogenesis in C. elegans. Development 2022; 149:285944. [PMID: 36398726 PMCID: PMC10108608 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Chloride intracellular channels (CLICs) are conserved proteins for which the cellular and molecular functions remain mysterious. An important insight into CLIC function came from the discovery that Caenorhabditis elegans EXC-4/CLIC regulates morphogenesis of the excretory canal (ExCa) cell, a single-cell tube. Subsequent work showed that mammalian CLICs regulate vascular development and angiogenesis, and human CLIC1 can rescue exc-4 mutants, suggesting conserved function in biological tube formation (tubulogenesis) and maintenance. However, the cell behaviors and signaling pathways regulated by EXC-4/CLICs during tubulogenesis in vivo remain largely unknown. We report a new exc-4 mutation, affecting a C-terminal residue conserved in virtually all metazoan CLICs, that reveals a specific role for EXC-4 in ExCa outgrowth. Cell culture studies suggest a function for CLICs in heterotrimeric G protein (Gα/β/γ)-Rho/Rac signaling, and Rho-family GTPases are common regulators of cell outgrowth. Using our new exc-4 mutant, we describe a previously unknown function for Gα-encoding genes (gpa-12/Gα12/13, gpa-7/Gαi, egl-30/Gαq and gsa-1/Gαs), ced-10/Rac and mig-2/RhoG in EXC-4-mediated ExCa outgrowth. Our results demonstrate that EXC-4/CLICs are primordial players in Gα-Rho/Rac-signaling, a pathway that is crucial for tubulogenesis in C. elegans and in vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony F Arena
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences program, University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Julianna Escudero
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Daniel D Shaye
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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33
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Sukhikh IS, Biryukov MY, Blinov AG. Transgenesis in Worms: Candidates for an Ideal Model. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322060176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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34
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Fragoso-Luna A, Romero-Bueno R, Eibl M, Ayuso C, Muñoz-Jiménez C, Benes V, Cases I, Askjaer P. Expanded FLP toolbox for spatiotemporal protein degradation and transcriptomic profiling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2022; 223:6793861. [PMID: 36321973 PMCID: PMC9836023 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of gene expression in specific tissues and/or at certain stages of development allows the study and manipulation of gene function with high precision. Site-specific genome recombination by the flippase (FLP) and cyclization recombination (Cre) enzymes has proved particularly relevant. Joint efforts of many research groups have led to the creation of efficient FLP and Cre drivers to regulate gene expression in a variety of tissues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we extend this toolkit by the addition of FLP lines that drive recombination specifically in distal tip cells, the somatic gonad, coelomocytes, and the epithelial P lineage. In some cases, recombination-mediated gene knockouts do not completely deplete protein levels due to persistence of long-lived proteins. To overcome this, we developed a spatiotemporally regulated degradation system for green fluorescent fusion proteins based on FLP-mediated recombination. Using 2 stable nuclear pore proteins, MEL-28/ELYS and NPP-2/NUP85 as examples, we report the benefit of combining tissue-specific gene knockout and protein degradation to achieve complete protein depletion. We also demonstrate that FLP-mediated recombination can be utilized to identify transcriptomes in a C. elegans tissue of interest. We have adapted RNA polymerase DamID for the FLP toolbox and by focusing on a well-characterized tissue, the hypodermis, we show that the vast majority of genes identified by RNA polymerase DamID are known to be expressed in this tissue. These tools allow combining FLP activity for simultaneous gene inactivation and transcriptomic profiling, thus enabling the inquiry of gene function in various complex biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cristina Ayuso
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Celia Muñoz-Jiménez
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Ildefonso Cases
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Peter Askjaer
- Corresponding author: Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Gene Regulation and Morphogenesis, CSIC—Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain.
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35
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Mastrandreas P, Boglari C, Arnold A, Peter F, de Quervain DJF, Papassotiropoulos A, Stetak A. Phosphorylation of MSI-1 is implicated in the regulation of associative memory in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010420. [PMID: 36223338 PMCID: PMC9555661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010420] [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: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The Musashi family of RNA-binding proteins controls several biological processes including stem cell maintenance, cell division and neural function. Previously, we demonstrated that the C. elegans Musashi ortholog, msi-1, regulates forgetting via translational repression of the Arp2/3 actin-branching complex. However, the mechanisms controlling MSI-1 activity during the regulation of forgetting are currently unknown. Here we investigated the effects of protein phosphorylation on MSI-1 activity. We showed that MSI-1 function is likely controlled by alterations of its activity rather than its expression levels. Furthermore, we found that MSI-1 is phosphorylated and using mass spectrometry we identified MSI-1 phosphorylation at three residues (T18, S19 and S34). CRISPR-based manipulations of MSI-1 phosphorylation sites revealed that phosphorylation is necessary for MSI-1 function in both short- and long-term aversive olfactory associative memory. Thus, our study provides insight into the mechanisms regulating memory-related MSI-1 activity and may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Understanding neural circuits and molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory are the major challenges of neuroscience. It is a generally accepted model that a learning event causes modification of synapses; strengthening some within a circuit and weakening others (termed “synaptic plasticity”). A plastic nervous system requires not only the ability to acquire and store but also to forget new inputs. While learning and memory is widely investigated, clear-cut evidence for mechanisms involved in forgetting is still sparse. Previously, we demonstrated the role of the protein Musashi (MSI-1) in the active regulation of forgetting in the nematode C. elegans. Here we investigated the role of protein modification (phosphorylation) as a possible regulatory mechanism of the MSI-1 protein activity. We found that MSI-1 protein is modified at different positions and all of these modifications at the protein level contribute to the correct activity of the protein leading to active forgetting of short and long-term memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Mastrandreas
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Csaba Boglari
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Arnold
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Peter
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique J.-F. de Quervain
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Papassotiropoulos
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Attila Stetak
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Life Sciences Training Facility, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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36
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Xu K, Ou G. Cilia regeneration requires an RNA splicing factor from the ciliary base. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 11:29. [PMID: 36180752 PMCID: PMC9525525 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-022-00130-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cilia are microtubule-based organelles projected from most eukaryotic cell surfaces performing cell motility and signaling. Several previously recognized non-ciliary proteins play crucial roles in cilium formation and function. Here, we provide additional evidence that the Caenorhabditis elegans RNA splicing factor PRP-8/PRPF8 regulates ciliogenesis and regeneration from the ciliary base. Live imaging of GFP knock-in animals reveals that the endogenous PRP-8 localizes in the nuclei and the ciliary base. A weak loss-of-function allele of prp-8 affects ciliary structure but with little impact on RNA splicing. Conditional degradation of PRP-8 within ciliated sensory neurons showed its direct and specific roles in cilium formation. Notably, the penetrance of ciliary defects correlates with the reduction of PRP-8 at the ciliary base but not nuclei, and sensory neurons regenerated cilia accompanying PRP-8 recovery from the ciliary base rather than the nuclei. We suggest that PRP-8 at the ciliary base contributes to cilium formation and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiming Xu
- grid.12527.330000 0001 0662 3178Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangshuo Ou
- grid.12527.330000 0001 0662 3178Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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37
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Sepers JJ, Verstappen NHM, Vo AA, Ragle JM, Ruijtenberg S, Ward JD, Boxem M. The mIAA7 degron improves auxin-mediated degradation in Caenorhabditiselegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac222. [PMID: 36029236 PMCID: PMC9526053 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Auxin-inducible degradation is a powerful tool for the targeted degradation of proteins with spatiotemporal control. One limitation of the auxin-inducible degradation system is that not all proteins are degraded efficiently. Here, we demonstrate that an alternative degron sequence, termed mIAA7, improves the efficiency of degradation in Caenorhabditiselegans, as previously reported in human cells. We tested the depletion of a series of proteins with various subcellular localizations in different tissue types and found that the use of the mIAA7 degron resulted in faster depletion kinetics for 5 out of 6 proteins tested. The exception was the nuclear protein HIS-72, which was depleted with similar efficiency as with the conventional AID* degron sequence. The mIAA7 degron also increased the leaky degradation for 2 of the tested proteins. To overcome this problem, we combined the mIAA7 degron with the C. elegans AID2 system, which resulted in complete protein depletion without detectable leaky degradation. Finally, we show that the degradation of ERM-1, a highly stable protein that is challenging to deplete, could be improved further by using multiple mIAA7 degrons. Taken together, the mIAA7 degron further increases the power and applicability of the auxin-inducible degradation system. To facilitate the generation of mIAA7-tagged proteins using CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, we generated a toolkit of plasmids for the generation of dsDNA repair templates by PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorian J Sepers
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Noud H M Verstappen
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - An A Vo
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Suzan Ruijtenberg
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jordan D Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Mike Boxem
- Division of Developmental Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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38
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Priyadarshini M, AlHarbi S, Frøkjær-Jensen C. Acute and inherited piRNA-mediated silencing in a rde-3 ribonucleotidyltransferase mutant. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000638. [PMID: 36188099 PMCID: PMC9520340 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We recently developed a piRNA-based silencing assay (piRNAi) to study small-RNA mediated epigenetic silencing: acute gene silencing is induced by synthetic piRNAs expressed from extra-chromosomal array and transgenerational inheritance can be quantified after array loss. The assay allows inheritance assays by injecting piRNAs directly into mutant animals and targeting endogenous genes ( e.g. , him-5 and him-8 ) with obvious phenotypes (increased male frequency). Here we demonstrate the piRNAi assay by quantifying acute and inherited silencing in the ribonucleotidyltransferase rde-3 (ne3370) mutant. In the absence of rde-3, acute silencing was reduced but still detectable, whereas inherited silencing was abolished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Priyadarshini
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
,
Current address: Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sarah AlHarbi
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian Frøkjær-Jensen
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
,
Correspondence to: Christian Frøkjær-Jensen (
)
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39
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El Mouridi S, Alkhaldi F, Frøkjær-Jensen C. Modular safe-harbor transgene insertion for targeted single-copy and extrachromosomal array integration in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac184. [PMID: 35900171 PMCID: PMC9434227 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Efficient and reproducible transgenesis facilitates and accelerates research using genetic model organisms. Here, we describe a modular safe-harbor transgene insertion (MosTI) for use in Caenorhabditis elegans which improves targeted insertion of single-copy transgenes by homology directed repair and targeted integration of extrachromosomal arrays by nonhomologous end-joining. MosTI allows easy conversion between selection markers at insertion site and a collection of universal targeting vectors with commonly used promoters and fluorophores. Insertions are targeted at three permissive safe-harbor intergenic locations and transgenes are reproducibly expressed in somatic and germ cells. Chromosomal integration is mediated by CRISPR/Cas9, and positive selection is based on a set of split markers (unc-119, hygroR, and gfp) where only animals with chromosomal insertions are rescued, resistant to antibiotics, or fluorescent, respectively. Single-copy insertion is efficient using either constitutive or heat-shock inducible Cas9 expression (25-75%) and insertions can be generated from a multiplexed injection mix. Extrachromosomal array integration is also efficient (7-44%) at modular safe-harbor transgene insertion landing sites or at the endogenous unc-119 locus. We use short-read sequencing to estimate the plasmid copy numbers for 8 integrated arrays (6-37 copies) and long-read Nanopore sequencing to determine the structure and size (5.4 Mb) of 1 array. Using universal targeting vectors, standardized insertion strains, and optimized protocols, it is possible to construct complex transgenic strains which should facilitate the study of increasingly complex biological problems in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia El Mouridi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Alkhaldi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian Frøkjær-Jensen
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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40
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von Mikecz A. Exposome, Molecular Pathways and One Health: The Invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169084. [PMID: 36012346 PMCID: PMC9409025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to its preferred habitats in the environment, the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has become a realistic target organism for pollutants, including manufactured nanoparticles. In the laboratory, the invertebrate animal model represents a cost-effective tool to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the biological response to nanomaterials. With an estimated number of 22,000 coding genes and short life span of 2–3 weeks, the small worm is a giant when it comes to characterization of molecular pathways, long-term low dose pollutant effects and vulnerable age-groups. Here, we review (i) flows of manufactured nanomaterials and exposition of C. elegans in the environment, (ii) the track record of C. elegans in biomedical research, and (iii) its potential to contribute to the investigation of the exposome and bridge nanotoxicology between higher organisms, including humans. The role of C. elegans in the one health concept is taken one step further by proposing methods to sample wild nematodes and their molecular characterization by single worm proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna von Mikecz
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine GmbH, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
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41
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Fasimoye RY, Spencer R, Soto-Martin E, Eijlers P, Elmassoudi H, Brivio S, Mangana C, Sabele V, Rechtorikova R, Wenzel M, Connolly B, Pettitt J, Müller B. A novel, essential trans-splicing protein connects the nematode SL1 snRNP to the CBC-ARS2 complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7591-7607. [PMID: 35736244 PMCID: PMC9303266 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac534] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spliced leader trans-splicing is essential for gene expression in many eukaryotes. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of this process, we characterise the molecules associated with the Caenorhabditis elegans major spliced leader snRNP (SL1 snRNP), which donates the spliced leader that replaces the 5' untranslated region of most pre-mRNAs. Using a GFP-tagged version of the SL1 snRNP protein SNA-1 created by CRISPR-mediated genome engineering, we immunoprecipitate and identify RNAs and protein components by RIP-Seq and mass spectrometry. This reveals the composition of the SL1 snRNP and identifies associations with spliceosome components PRP-8 and PRP-19. Significantly, we identify a novel, nematode-specific protein required for SL1 trans-splicing, which we designate SNA-3. SNA-3 is an essential, nuclear protein with three NADAR domains whose function is unknown. Mutation of key residues in NADAR domains inactivates the protein, indicating that domain function is required for activity. SNA-3 interacts with the CBC-ARS2 complex and other factors involved in RNA metabolism, including SUT-1 protein, through RNA or protein-mediated contacts revealed by yeast two-hybrid assays, localisation studies and immunoprecipitations. Our data are compatible with a role for SNA-3 in coordinating trans-splicing with target pre-mRNA transcription or in the processing of the Y-branch product of the trans-splicing reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotimi Yemi Fasimoye
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Rosie Elizabeth Barker Spencer
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Eva Soto-Martin
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Peter Eijlers
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Haitem Elmassoudi
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Sarah Brivio
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Carolina Mangana
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Viktorija Sabele
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Radoslava Rechtorikova
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Marius Wenzel
- Centre of Genome-Enabled Biology and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3RY, Scotland, UK
| | - Bernadette Connolly
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Jonathan Pettitt
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
| | - Berndt Müller
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
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42
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Fox BW, Ponomarova O, Lee YU, Zhang G, Giese GE, Walker M, Roberto NM, Na H, Rodrigues PR, Curtis BJ, Kolodziej AR, Crombie TA, Zdraljevic S, Yilmaz LS, Andersen EC, Schroeder FC, Walhout AJM. C. elegans as a model for inter-individual variation in metabolism. Nature 2022; 607:571-577. [PMID: 35794472 PMCID: PMC9817093 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04951-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Individuals can exhibit differences in metabolism that are caused by the interplay of genetic background, nutritional input, microbiota and other environmental factors1-4. It is difficult to connect differences in metabolism to genomic variation and derive underlying molecular mechanisms in humans, owing to differences in diet and lifestyle, among others. Here we use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study inter-individual variation in metabolism. By comparing three wild strains and the commonly used N2 laboratory strain, we find differences in the abundances of both known metabolites and those that have not to our knowledge been previously described. The latter metabolites include conjugates between 3-hydroxypropionate (3HP) and several amino acids (3HP-AAs), which are much higher in abundance in one of the wild strains. 3HP is an intermediate in the propionate shunt pathway, which is activated when flux through the canonical, vitamin-B12-dependent propionate breakdown pathway is perturbed5. We show that increased accumulation of 3HP-AAs is caused by genetic variation in HPHD-1, for which 3HP is a substrate. Our results suggest that the production of 3HP-AAs represents a 'shunt-within-a-shunt' pathway to accommodate a reduction-of-function allele in hphd-1. This study provides a step towards the development of metabolic network models that capture individual-specific differences of metabolism and more closely represent the diversity that is found in entire species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bennett W Fox
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Olga Ponomarova
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Yong-Uk Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Gaotian Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Gabrielle E Giese
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Melissa Walker
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Nicole M Roberto
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Huimin Na
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Pedro R Rodrigues
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Brian J Curtis
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Aiden R Kolodziej
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Timothy A Crombie
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Stefan Zdraljevic
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - L Safak Yilmaz
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Albertha J M Walhout
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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43
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Shah P, Bao Z, Zaidel-Bar R. Visualizing and quantifying molecular and cellular processes in C. elegans using light microscopy. Genetics 2022; 221:6619563. [PMID: 35766819 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac068] [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: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Light microscopes are the cell and developmental biologists' "best friend", providing a means to see structures and follow dynamics from the protein to the organism level. A huge advantage of C. elegans as a model organism is its transparency, which coupled with its small size means that nearly every biological process can be observed and measured with the appropriate probe and light microscope. Continuous improvement in microscope technologies along with novel genome editing techniques to create transgenic probes have facilitated the development and implementation of a dizzying array of methods for imaging worm embryos, larvae and adults. In this review we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular processes that can be visualized in living worms using light microscopy. A partial inventory of fluorescent probes and techniques successfully used in worms to image the dynamics of cells, organelles, DNA, and protein localization and activity is followed by a practical guide to choosing between various imaging modalities, including widefield, confocal, lightsheet, and structured illumination microscopy. Finally, we discuss the available tools and approaches, including machine learning, for quantitative image analysis tasks, such as colocalization, segmentation, object tracking, and lineage tracing. Hopefully, this review will inspire worm researchers who have not yet imaged their worms to begin, and push those who are imaging to go faster, finer, and longer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavak Shah
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Zhirong Bao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Ronen Zaidel-Bar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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44
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Naranjo-Galindo FJ, Ai R, Fang EF, Nilsen HL, SenGupta T. C. elegans as an Animal Model to Study the Intersection of DNA Repair, Aging and Neurodegeneration. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:916118. [PMID: 35821838 PMCID: PMC9261396 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.916118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Since its introduction as a genetic model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans has yielded insights into the causes of aging. In addition, it has provided a molecular understanding of mechanisms of neurodegeneration, one of the devastating effects of aging. However, C. elegans has been less popular as an animal model to investigate DNA repair and genomic instability, which is a major hallmark of aging and also a cause of many rare neurological disorders. This article provides an overview of DNA repair pathways in C. elegans and the impact of DNA repair on aging hallmarks, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere maintenance, and autophagy. In addition, we discuss how the combination of biological characteristics, new technical tools, and the potential of following precise phenotypic assays through a natural life-course make C. elegans an ideal model organism to study how DNA repair impact neurodegeneration in models of common age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Naranjo-Galindo
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ruixue Ai
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde Loge Nilsen
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
| | - Tanima SenGupta
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
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45
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Anh NH, Yoon YC, Min YJ, Long NP, Jung CW, Kim SJ, Kim SW, Lee EG, Wang D, Wang X, Kwon SW. Caenorhabditis elegans deep lipidome profiling by using integrative mass spectrometry acquisitions reveals significantly altered lipid networks. J Pharm Anal 2022; 12:743-754. [PMID: 36320604 PMCID: PMC9615529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipidomics coverage improvement is essential for functional lipid and pathway construction. A powerful approach to discovering organism lipidome is to combine various data acquisitions, such as full scan mass spectrometry (full MS), data-dependent acquisition (DDA), and data-independent acquisition (DIA). Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a useful model for discovering toxic-induced metabolism, high-throughput drug screening, and a variety of human disease pathways. To determine the lipidome of C. elegans and investigate lipid disruption from the molecular level to the system biology level, we used integrative data acquisition. The methyl-tert-butyl ether method was used to extract L4 stage C. elegans after exposure to triclosan (TCS), perfluorooctanoic acid, and nanopolystyrene (nPS). Full MS, DDA, and DIA integrations were performed to comprehensively profile the C. elegans lipidome by Q-Exactive Plus MS. All annotated lipids were then analyzed using lipid ontology and pathway analysis. We annotated up to 940 lipids from 20 lipid classes involved in various functions and pathways. The biological investigations revealed that when C. elegans were exposed to nPS, lipid droplets were disrupted, whereas plasma membrane-functionalized lipids were likely to be changed in the TCS treatment group. The nPS treatment caused a significant disruption in lipid storage. Triacylglycerol, glycerophospholipid, and ether class lipids were those primarily hindered by toxicants. Finally, toxicant exposure frequently involved numerous lipid-related pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway. In conclusion, an integrative data acquisition strategy was used to characterize the C. elegans lipidome, providing valuable biological insights into hypothesis generation and validation. Multiple data acquisitions were used to profile the lipidome of C. elegans. 940 detected lipids of 20 main classes involved in various pathways. Relevant hypotheses were generated using high-coverable lipidomics and pathways analysis.
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46
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Braun M, Shoshani S, Teixeira J, Mellul Shtern A, Miller M, Granot Z, Fischer SE, Garcia SMA, Tabach Y. Asymmetric inheritance of RNA toxicity in C. elegans expressing CTG repeats. iScience 2022; 25:104246. [PMID: 35494247 PMCID: PMC9051633 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104246] [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] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleotide repeat expansions are a hallmark of over 40 neurodegenerative diseases and cause RNA toxicity and multisystemic symptoms that worsen with age. Through an unclear mechanism, RNA toxicity can trigger severe disease manifestation in infants if the repeats are inherited from their mother. Here we use Caenorhabditis elegans bearing expanded CUG repeats to show that this asymmetric intergenerational inheritance of toxicity contributes to disease pathogenesis. In addition, we show that this mechanism is dependent on small RNA pathways with maternal repeat-derived small RNAs causing transcriptomic changes in the offspring, reduced motility, and shortened lifespan. We rescued the toxicity phenotypes in the offspring by perturbing the RNAi machinery in the affected hermaphrodites. This points to a novel mechanism linking maternal bias and the RNAi machinery and suggests that toxic RNA is transmitted to offspring, causing disease phenotypes through intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Maternal origin of expanded CUG repeats induces RNA toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans offspring Offspring of affected hermaphrodites show molecular and phenotypic disease phenotypes The RNAi machinery is directly related to the maternal inheritance of RNA toxicity Altering the RNAi machinery in affected hermaphrodites rescues toxicity in offspring
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Braun
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Shachar Shoshani
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Joana Teixeira
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00790 Finland
| | - Anna Mellul Shtern
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Maya Miller
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Zvi Granot
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Sylvia E.J. Fischer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Susana M.D. A. Garcia
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00790 Finland
- Corresponding author
| | - Yuval Tabach
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
- Corresponding author
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47
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Vicencio J, Sánchez-Bolaños C, Moreno-Sánchez I, Brena D, Vejnar CE, Kukhtar D, Ruiz-López M, Cots-Ponjoan M, Rubio A, Melero NR, Crespo-Cuadrado J, Carolis C, Pérez-Pulido AJ, Giráldez AJ, Kleinstiver BP, Cerón J, Moreno-Mateos MA. Genome editing in animals with minimal PAM CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2601. [PMID: 35552388 PMCID: PMC9098488 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30228-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The requirement for Cas nucleases to recognize a specific PAM is a major restriction for genome editing. SpCas9 variants SpG and SpRY, recognizing NGN and NRN PAMs, respectively, have contributed to increase the number of editable genomic sites in cell cultures and plants. However, their use has not been demonstrated in animals. Here we study the nuclease activity of SpG and SpRY by targeting 40 sites in zebrafish and C. elegans. Delivered as mRNA-gRNA or ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, SpG and SpRY were able to induce mutations in vivo, albeit at a lower rate than SpCas9 in equivalent formulations. This lower activity was overcome by optimizing mRNA-gRNA or RNP concentration, leading to mutagenesis at regions inaccessible to SpCas9. We also found that the CRISPRscan algorithm could help to predict SpG and SpRY targets with high activity in vivo. Finally, we applied SpG and SpRY to generate knock-ins by homology-directed repair. Altogether, our results expand the CRISPR-Cas targeting genomic landscape in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Vicencio
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Sánchez-Bolaños
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Ismael Moreno-Sánchez
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - David Brena
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charles E Vejnar
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Dmytro Kukhtar
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Ruiz-López
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Cots-Ponjoan
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Rubio
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Natalia Rodrigo Melero
- Biomolecular Screening and Protein Technologies Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Jesús Crespo-Cuadrado
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Carlo Carolis
- Biomolecular Screening and Protein Technologies Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Antonio J Pérez-Pulido
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio J Giráldez
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Benjamin P Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Julián Cerón
- Modeling human diseases in C. elegans Group; Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miguel A Moreno-Mateos
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), Pablo de Olavide University/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Pablo de Olavide University, Ctra. Utrera Km.1, 41013, Seville, Spain.
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48
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Spike CA, Tsukamoto T, Greenstein D. Ubiquitin ligases and a processive proteasome facilitate protein clearance during the oocyte-to-embryo transition in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2022; 221:iyac051. [PMID: 35377419 PMCID: PMC9071522 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-mediated degradation of oocyte translational regulatory proteins is a conserved feature of the oocyte-to-embryo transition. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, multiple translational regulatory proteins, including the TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein LIN-41/Trim71 and the Pumilio-family RNA-binding proteins PUF-3 and PUF-11, are degraded during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. Degradation of each protein requires activation of the M-phase cyclin-dependent kinase CDK-1, is largely complete by the end of the first meiotic division and does not require the anaphase-promoting complex. However, only LIN-41 degradation requires the F-box protein SEL-10/FBW7/Cdc4p, the substrate recognition subunit of an SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. This finding suggests that PUF-3 and PUF-11, which localize to LIN-41-containing ribonucleoprotein particles, are independently degraded through the action of other factors and that the oocyte ribonucleoprotein particles are disassembled in a concerted fashion during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. We develop and test the hypothesis that PUF-3 and PUF-11 are targeted for degradation by the proteasome-associated HECT-type ubiquitin ligase ETC-1/UBE3C/Hul5, which is broadly expressed in C. elegans. We find that several GFP-tagged fusion proteins that are degraded during the oocyte-to-embryo transition, including fusions with PUF-3, PUF-11, LIN-41, IFY-1/Securin, and CYB-1/Cyclin B, are incompletely degraded when ETC-1 function is compromised. However, it is the fused GFP moiety that appears to be the critical determinant of this proteolysis defect. These findings are consistent with a conserved role for ETC-1 in promoting proteasome processivity and suggest that proteasomal processivity is an important element of the oocyte-to-embryo transition during which many key oocyte regulatory proteins are rapidly targeted for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Spike
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tatsuya Tsukamoto
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David Greenstein
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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49
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Kepler LD, McDiarmid TA, Rankin CH. Rapid assessment of the temporal function and phenotypic reversibility of neurodevelopmental disorder risk genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:274939. [PMID: 35363276 PMCID: PMC9092656 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049359] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that some phenotypes caused by decreased function of select neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) risk genes can be reversed by restoring gene function in adulthood. However, few of the hundreds of risk genes have been assessed for adult phenotypic reversibility. We developed a strategy to rapidly assess the temporal requirements and phenotypic reversibility of NDD risk gene orthologs using a conditional protein degradation system and machine-vision phenotypic profiling in Caenorhabditis elegans. We measured how degrading and re-expressing orthologs of EBF3, BRN3A and DYNC1H1 at multiple periods throughout development affect 30 morphological, locomotor, sensory and learning phenotypes. We found that phenotypic reversibility was possible for each gene studied. However, the temporal requirements of gene function and degree of rescue varied by gene and phenotype. This work highlights the critical need to assess multiple windows of degradation and re-expression and a large number of phenotypes to understand the many roles a gene can have across the lifespan. This work also demonstrates the benefits of using a high-throughput model system to prioritize NDD risk genes for re-expression studies in other organisms. Summary: We identified diverse temporal functional windows and phenotypic reversibility profiles for three neurodevelopmental disorder risk genes: EBF3•unc-3, BRN3A•unc-86 and DYNC1H1•dhc-1. Re-expression of certain genes could rescue multiple phenotypes later in life, prioritizing them for study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lexis D Kepler
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Troy A McDiarmid
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.,Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Foege Building S-250 3720 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Catharine H Rankin
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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50
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Medley JC, Hebbar S, Sydzyik JT, Zinovyeva AY. Single nucleotide substitutions effectively block Cas9 and allow for scarless genome editing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2022; 220:iyab199. [PMID: 34791245 PMCID: PMC8733430 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans, germline injection of Cas9 complexes is reliably used to achieve genome editing through homology-directed repair of Cas9-generated DNA breaks. To prevent Cas9 from targeting repaired DNA, additional blocking mutations are often incorporated into homologous repair templates. Cas9 can be blocked either by mutating the PAM sequence that is essential for Cas9 activity or by mutating the guide sequence that targets Cas9 to a specific genomic location. However, it is unclear how many nucleotides within the guide sequence should be mutated, since Cas9 can recognize "off-target" sequences that are imperfectly paired to its guide. In this study, we examined whether single-nucleotide substitutions within the guide sequence are sufficient to block Cas9 and allow for efficient genome editing. We show that a single mismatch within the guide sequence effectively blocks Cas9 and allows for recovery of edited animals. Surprisingly, we found that a low rate of edited animals can be recovered without introducing any blocking mutations, suggesting a temporal block to Cas9 activity in C. elegans. Furthermore, we show that the maternal genome of hermaphrodite animals is preferentially edited over the paternal genome. We demonstrate that maternally provided haplotypes can be selected using balancer chromosomes and propose a method of mutant isolation that greatly reduces screening efforts postinjection. Collectively, our findings expand the repertoire of genome editing strategies in C. elegans and demonstrate that extraneous blocking mutations are not required to recover edited animals when the desired mutation is located within the guide sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Medley
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Shilpa Hebbar
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Joel T Sydzyik
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Anna Y Zinovyeva
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
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