1
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Losurdo NA, Bibo A, Bedke J, Link N. A novel adipose loss-of-function mutant in Drosophila. Fly (Austin) 2024; 18:2352938. [PMID: 38741287 PMCID: PMC11095658 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2024.2352938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
To identify genes required for brain growth, we took an RNAi knockdown reverse genetic approach in Drosophila. One potential candidate isolated from this effort is the anti-lipogenic gene adipose (adp). Adp has an established role in the negative regulation of lipogenesis in the fat body of the fly and adipose tissue in mammals. While fat is key to proper development in general, adp has not been investigated during brain development. Here, we found that RNAi knockdown of adp in neuronal stem cells and neurons results in reduced brain lobe volume and sought to replicate this with a mutant fly. We generated a novel adp mutant that acts as a loss-of-function mutant based on buoyancy assay results. We found that despite a change in fat content in the body overall and a decrease in the number of larger (>5 µm) brain lipid droplets, there was no change in the brain lobe volume of mutant larvae. Overall, our work describes a novel adp mutant that can functionally replace the long-standing adp60 mutant and shows that the adp gene has no obvious involvement in brain growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adriana Bibo
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake, UT, USA
| | - Jacob Bedke
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake, UT, USA
| | - Nichole Link
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake, UT, USA
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2
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Yang S, Tian M, Dai Y, Wang R, Yamada S, Feng S, Wang Y, Chhangani D, Ou T, Li W, Guo X, McAdow J, Rincon-Limas DE, Yin X, Tai W, Cheng G, Johnson A. Infection and chronic disease activate a systemic brain-muscle signaling axis. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadm7908. [PMID: 38996009 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adm7908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Infections and neurodegenerative diseases induce neuroinflammation, but affected individuals often show nonneural symptoms including muscle pain and muscle fatigue. The molecular pathways by which neuroinflammation causes pathologies outside the central nervous system (CNS) are poorly understood. We developed multiple models to investigate the impact of CNS stressors on motor function and found that Escherichia coli infections and SARS-CoV-2 protein expression caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accumulate in the brain. ROS induced expression of the cytokine Unpaired 3 (Upd3) in Drosophila and its ortholog, IL-6, in mice. CNS-derived Upd3/IL-6 activated the JAK-STAT pathway in skeletal muscle, which caused muscle mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired motor function. We observed similar phenotypes after expressing toxic amyloid-β (Aβ42) in the CNS. Infection and chronic disease therefore activate a systemic brain-muscle signaling axis in which CNS-derived cytokines bypass the connectome and directly regulate muscle physiology, highlighting IL-6 as a therapeutic target to treat disease-associated muscle dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genetics Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Meijie Tian
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yulong Dai
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genetics Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shigehiro Yamada
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shengyong Feng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunyun Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Deepak Chhangani
- Department of Neurology and McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Genetics Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Tiffany Ou
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wenle Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xuan Guo
- Life Science Institute, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China
| | - Jennifer McAdow
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Diego E Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology and McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Genetics Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Xin Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Wanbo Tai
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Gong Cheng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China
| | - Aaron Johnson
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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3
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Church SJ, Pulianmackal AJ, Dixon JA, Loftus LV, Amend SR, Pienta K, Cackowski FC, Buttitta LA. Oncogenic signaling in the adult Drosophila prostate-like accessory gland leads to activation of a conserved pro-tumorigenic program, in the absence of proliferation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593549. [PMID: 38853988 PMCID: PMC11160766 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Drosophila models for tumorigenesis and metastasis have revealed conserved mechanisms of signaling that are also involved in mammalian cancer. Many of these models use the proliferating tissues of the larval stages of Drosophila development, when tissues are highly mitotically active, or stem cells are abundant. Fewer Drosophila tumorigenesis models use adult animals to initiate tumor formation when many tissues are largely terminally differentiated and postmitotic. The Drosophila accessory glands are prostate-like tissues and a model for some aspects of prostate tumorigenesis using this tissue has been explored. In this model, oncogenic signaling was induced during the proliferative stage of accessory gland development, raising the question of how oncogenic activity would impact the terminally differentiated and postmitotic adult tissue. Here, we show that oncogenic signaling in the adult Drosophila accessory gland leads to activation of a conserved pro-tumorigenic program, similar to that observed in mitotic larval tissues, but in the absence of proliferation. Oncogenic signaling in the adult postmitotic gland leads to tissue hyperplasia with nuclear anaplasia and aneuploidy through endoreduplication, which increases polyploidy and occasionally results in non-mitotic neoplastic-like extrusions. We compare gene expression changes in our Drosophila model with that of endocycling prostate cancer cells induced by chemotherapy, which potentially mediate tumor recurrence after treatment. Similar signaling pathways are activated in the Drosophila gland and endocycling cancer cells, suggesting the adult accessory glands provide a useful model for aspects of prostate cancer progression that do not involve cellular proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Jaimian Church
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Ajai J. Pulianmackal
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Joseph A. Dixon
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Luke V. Loftus
- Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sarah R. Amend
- Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Kenneth Pienta
- Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Frank C. Cackowski
- Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University Department of Oncology, Detroit, MI
| | - Laura A. Buttitta
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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4
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Akyazı O, Korkmaz D, Cevher SC. Experimental Parkinson models and green chemistry approach. Behav Brain Res 2024; 471:115092. [PMID: 38844056 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's is the most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. Motor findings in Parkinson's occur as a result of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons starting in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ending in the putamen and caudate nucleus. Loss of neurons and the formation of inclusions called Lewy bodies in existing neurons are characteristic histopathological findings of Parkinson's. The disease primarily impairs the functional capacity of the person with cardinal findings such as tremor, bradykinesia, etc., as a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Experimental animal models of Parkinson's have been used extensively in recent years to investigate the pathology of this disease. These models are generally based on systemic or local(intracerebral) administration of neurotoxins, which can replicate many features of Parkinson's mammals. The development of transgenic models in recent years has allowed us to learn more about the modeling of Parkinson's. Applying animal modeling, which shows the most human-like effects in studies, is extremely important. It has been demonstrated that oxidative stress increases in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and various age-related degenerative diseases in humans and that neurons are sensitive to it. In cases where oxidative stress increases and antioxidant systems are inadequate, natural molecules such as flavonoids and polyphenols can be used as a new antioxidant treatment to reduce neuronal reactive oxygen species and improve the neurodegenerative process. Therefore, in this article, we examined experimental animal modeling in Parkinson's disease and the effect of green chemistry approaches on Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozge Akyazı
- Gazi University, Institute of Science, Department of Biology, Ankara 06500, Turkey.
| | - Dılara Korkmaz
- Gazi University, Institute of Science, Department of Biology, Ankara 06500, Turkey
| | - Sule Coskun Cevher
- Gazi University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ankara 06500, Turkey
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5
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Öztürk-Çolak A, Marygold SJ, Antonazzo G, Attrill H, Goutte-Gattat D, Jenkins VK, Matthews BB, Millburn G, dos Santos G, Tabone CJ. FlyBase: updates to the Drosophila genes and genomes database. Genetics 2024; 227:iyad211. [PMID: 38301657 PMCID: PMC11075543 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad211] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
FlyBase (flybase.org) is a model organism database and knowledge base about Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly. Researchers from around the world rely on the genetic, genomic, and functional information available in FlyBase, as well as its tools to view and interrogate these data. In this article, we describe the latest developments and updates to FlyBase. These include the introduction of single-cell RNA sequencing data, improved content and display of functional information, updated orthology pipelines, new chemical reports, and enhancements to our outreach resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arzu Öztürk-Çolak
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Steven J Marygold
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Giulia Antonazzo
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Helen Attrill
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Damien Goutte-Gattat
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Victoria K Jenkins
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Beverley B Matthews
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Gillian Millburn
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Gilberto dos Santos
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Christopher J Tabone
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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6
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Nithianandam V, Sarkar S, Feany MB. Pathways controlling neurotoxicity and proteostasis in mitochondrial complex I deficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:860-871. [PMID: 38324746 PMCID: PMC11070137 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders caused by dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain are common, severe and untreatable. We recovered a number of mitochondrial genes, including electron transport chain components, in a large forward genetic screen for mutations causing age-related neurodegeneration in the context of proteostasis dysfunction. We created a model of complex I deficiency in the Drosophila retina to probe the role of protein degradation abnormalities in mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. Using our genetic model, we found that complex I deficiency regulates both the ubiquitin/proteasome and autophagy/lysosome arms of the proteostasis machinery. We further performed an in vivo kinome screen to uncover new and potentially druggable mechanisms contributing to complex I related neurodegeneration and proteostasis failure. Reduction of RIOK kinases and the innate immune signaling kinase pelle prevented neurodegeneration in complex I deficiency animals. Genetically targeting oxidative stress, but not RIOK1 or pelle knockdown, normalized proteostasis markers. Our findings outline distinct pathways controlling neurodegeneration and protein degradation in complex I deficiency and introduce an experimentally facile model in which to study these debilitating and currently treatment-refractory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, 5425 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States
| | - Souvarish Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, 5425 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, 5425 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States
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7
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Chan ICW, Chen N, Hernandez J, Meltzer H, Park A, Stahl A. Future avenues in Drosophila mushroom body research. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053863. [PMID: 38862172 PMCID: PMC11199946 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053863.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
How does the brain translate sensory information into complex behaviors? With relatively small neuronal numbers, readable behavioral outputs, and an unparalleled genetic toolkit, the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) offers an excellent model to address this question in the context of associative learning and memory. Recent technological breakthroughs, such as the freshly completed full-brain connectome, multiomics approaches, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, and machine learning techniques, led to major advancements in our understanding of the MB circuit at the molecular, structural, physiological, and functional levels. Despite significant progress in individual MB areas, the field still faces the fundamental challenge of resolving how these different levels combine and interact to ultimately control the behavior of an individual fly. In this review, we discuss various aspects of MB research, with a focus on the current knowledge gaps, and an outlook on the future methodological developments required to reach an overall view of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Chi Wai Chan
- Dynamics of Neuronal Circuits Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Developmental Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nannan Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - John Hernandez
- Neuroscience Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA
| | - Hagar Meltzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Annie Park
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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8
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Zirin J, Jusiak B, Lopes R, Ewen-Campen B, Bosch JA, Risbeck A, Forman C, Villalta C, Hu Y, Perrimon N. Expanding the Drosophila toolkit for dual control of gene expression. eLife 2024; 12:RP94073. [PMID: 38569007 PMCID: PMC10990484 DOI: 10.7554/elife.94073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to independently control gene expression in two different tissues in the same animal is emerging as a major need, especially in the context of inter-organ communication studies. This type of study is made possible by technologies combining the GAL4/UAS and a second binary expression system such as the LexA system or QF system. Here, we describe a resource of reagents that facilitate combined use of the GAL4/UAS and a second binary system in various Drosophila tissues. Focusing on genes with well-characterized GAL4 expression patterns, we generated a set of more than 40 LexA-GAD and QF2 insertions by CRISPR knock-in and verified their tissue specificity in larvae. We also built constructs that encode QF2 and LexA-GAD transcription factors in a single vector. Following successful integration of this construct into the fly genome, FLP/FRT recombination is used to isolate fly lines that express only QF2 or LexA-GAD. Finally, using new compatible shRNA vectors, we evaluated both LexA and QF systems for in vivo gene knockdown and are generating a library of such RNAi fly lines as a community resource. Together, these LexA and QF system vectors and fly lines will provide a new set of tools for researchers who need to activate or repress two different genes in an orthogonal manner in the same animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zirin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Barbara Jusiak
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, IrvineIrvineUnited States
| | - Raphael Lopes
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Justin A Bosch
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Corey Forman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | | | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonUnited States
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9
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Hughes SE, Price A, Briggs S, Staber C, James M, Anderson M, Hawley RS. A transcriptomics-based RNAi screen for regulators of meiosis and early stages of oocyte development in Drosophila melanogaster. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae028. [PMID: 38333961 PMCID: PMC10989863 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
A properly regulated series of developmental and meiotic events must occur to ensure the successful production of gametes. In Drosophila melanogaster ovaries, these early developmental and meiotic events include the production of the 16-cell cyst, meiotic entry, synaptonemal complex (SC) formation, recombination, and oocyte specification. In order to identify additional genes involved in early oocyte development and meiosis, we reanalyzed 3 published single-cell RNA-seq datasets from Drosophila ovaries, using vasa (germline) together with c(3)G, cona, and corolla (SC) as markers. Our analysis generated a list of 2,743 co-expressed genes. Many known SC-related and early oocyte development genes fell within the top 500 genes on this list, as ranked by the abundance and specificity of each gene's expression across individual analyses. We tested 526 available RNAi lines containing shRNA constructs in germline-compatible vectors representing 331 of the top 500 genes. We assessed targeted ovaries for SC formation and maintenance, oocyte specification, cyst development, and double-strand break dynamics. Six uncharacterized genes exhibited early developmental defects. SC and developmental defects were observed for additional genes not well characterized in the early ovary. Interestingly, in some lines with developmental delays, meiotic events could still be completed once oocyte specificity occurred indicating plasticity in meiotic timing. These data indicate that a transcriptomics approach can be used to identify genes involved in functions in a specific cell type in the Drosophila ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacie E Hughes
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Andrew Price
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Salam Briggs
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Cynthia Staber
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Morgan James
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Madelyn Anderson
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - R Scott Hawley
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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10
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Mackay TFC, Anholt RRH. Pleiotropy, epistasis and the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00711-3. [PMID: 38565962 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00711-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pleiotropy (whereby one genetic polymorphism affects multiple traits) and epistasis (whereby non-linear interactions between genetic polymorphisms affect the same trait) are fundamental aspects of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. Recent advances in the ability to characterize the effects of polymorphic variants on molecular and organismal phenotypes in human and model organism populations have revealed the prevalence of pleiotropy and unexpected shared molecular genetic bases among quantitative traits, including diseases. By contrast, epistasis is common between polymorphic loci associated with quantitative traits in model organisms, such that alleles at one locus have different effects in different genetic backgrounds, but is rarely observed for human quantitative traits and common diseases. Here, we review the concepts and recent inferences about pleiotropy and epistasis, and discuss factors that contribute to similarities and differences between the genetic architecture of quantitative traits in model organisms and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy F C Mackay
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
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11
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Dermady APC, DeFazio DL, Hensley EM, Ruiz DL, Chavez AD, Iannone SA, Dermady NM, Grandel LV, Hill AS. Neuronal excitability modulates developmental time of Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Biol 2024; 508:38-45. [PMID: 38224932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.01.006] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Developmental time is a fundamental life history trait that affects the reproductive success of animals. Developmental time is known to be regulated by many genes and environmental conditions, yet mechanistic understandings of how various cellular processes influence the developmental timing of an organism are lacking. The nervous system is known to control key processes that affect developmental time, including the release of hormones that signal transitions between developmental stages. Here we show that the excitability of neurons plays a crucial role in modulating developmental time. Genetic manipulation of neuronal excitability in Drosophila melanogaster alters developmental time, which is faster in animals with increased neuronal excitability. We find that selectively modulating the excitability of peptidergic neurons is sufficient to alter developmental time, suggesting the intriguing hypothesis that the impact of neuronal excitability on DT may be at least partially mediated by peptidergic regulation of hormone release. This effect of neuronal excitability on developmental time is seen during embryogenesis and later developmental stages. Observed phenotypic plasticity in the effect of genetically increasing neuronal excitability at different temperatures, a condition also known to modulate excitability, suggests there is an optimal level of neuronal excitability, in terms of shortening DT. Together, our data highlight a novel connection between neuronal excitability and developmental time, with broad implications related to organismal physiology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan P C Dermady
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dionna L DeFazio
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Emily M Hensley
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Daniel L Ruiz
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Sarah A Iannone
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Niall M Dermady
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lexis V Grandel
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Alexis S Hill
- College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, MA, USA.
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12
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Leventhal MJ, Zanella CA, Kang B, Peng J, Gritsch D, Liao Z, Bukhari H, Wang T, Pao PC, Danquah S, Benetatos J, Nehme R, Farhi S, Tsai LH, Dong X, Scherzer CR, Feany MB, Fraenkel E. A systems-biology approach connects aging mechanisms with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.17.585262. [PMID: 38559190 PMCID: PMC10980014 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.17.585262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Age is the strongest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder. However, the mechanisms connecting advancing age to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease are incompletely understood. We conducted an unbiased, genome-scale, forward genetic screen for age-associated neurodegeneration in Drosophila to identify the underlying biological processes required for maintenance of aging neurons. To connect genetic screen hits to Alzheimer's disease pathways, we measured proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease. We further identified Alzheimer's disease human genetic variants that modify expression in disease-vulnerable neurons. Through multi-omic, multi-species network integration of these data, we identified relationships between screen hits and tau-mediated neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we computationally and experimentally identified relationships between screen hits and DNA damage in Drosophila and human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. Our work identifies candidate pathways that could be targeted to attenuate the effects of age on neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Leventhal
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Camila A Zanella
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Byunguk Kang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Jiajie Peng
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Gritsch
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhixiang Liao
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Present address: School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ping-Chieh Pao
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Serwah Danquah
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Benetatos
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ralda Nehme
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samouil Farhi
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clemens R Scherzer
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Present address: Stephen and Denise Adams Center of Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Lead contact
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13
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Zirin J, Jusiak B, Lopes R, Ewen-Campen B, Bosch JA, Risbeck A, Forman C, Villalta C, Hu Y, Perrimon N. Expanding the Drosophila toolkit for dual control of gene expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.15.553399. [PMID: 37645802 PMCID: PMC10461983 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.15.553399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The ability to independently control gene expression in two different tissues in the same animal is emerging as a major need, especially in the context of inter-organ communication studies. This type of study is made possible by technologies combining the GAL4/UAS and a second binary expression system such as the LexA-system or QF-system. Here, we describe a resource of reagents that facilitate combined use of the GAL4/UAS and a second binary system in various Drosophila tissues. Focusing on genes with well-characterizsed GAL4 expression patterns, we generated a set of more than 40 LexA-GAD and QF2 insertions by CRISPR knock-in and verified their tissue-specificity in larvae. We also built constructs that encode QF2 and LexA-GAD transcription factors in a single vector. Following successful integration of this construct into the fly genome, FLP/FRT recombination is used to isolate fly lines that express only QF2 or LexA-GAD. Finally, using new compatible shRNA vectors, we evaluated both LexA and QF systems for in vivo gene knockdown and are generating a library of such RNAi fly lines as a community resource. Together, these LexA and QF system vectors and fly lines will provide a new set of tools for researchers who need to activate or repress two different genes in an orthogonal manner in the same animal.
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14
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Ma S, Zhang T, Wang R, Wang P, Liu Y, Chang J, Wang A, Lan X, Sun L, Sun H, Shi R, Lu W, Liu D, Zhang N, Hu W, Wang X, Xing W, Jia L, Xia Q. High-throughput and genome-scale targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR in a nonmodel multicellular organism, Bombyx mori. Genome Res 2024; 34:134-144. [PMID: 38191205 PMCID: PMC10903940 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278297.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Large-scale genetic mutant libraries are powerful approaches to interrogating genotype-phenotype correlations and identifying genes responsible for certain environmental stimuli, both of which are the central goal of life science study. We produced the first large-scale CRISPR-Cas9-induced library in a nonmodel multicellular organism, Bombyx mori We developed a piggyBac-delivered binary genome editing strategy, which can simultaneously meet the requirements of mixed microinjection, efficient multipurpose genetic operation, and preservation of growth-defect lines. We constructed a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) plasmid library containing 92,917 sgRNAs targeting promoters and exons of 14,645 protein-coding genes, established 1726 transgenic sgRNA lines following microinjection of 66,650 embryos, and generated 300 mutant lines with diverse phenotypic changes. Phenomic characterization of mutant lines identified a large set of genes responsible for visual phenotypic or economically valuable trait changes. Next, we performed pooled context-specific positive screens for tolerance to environmental pollutant cadmium exposure, and identified KWMTBOMO12902 as a strong candidate gene for breeding applications in sericulture industry. Collectively, our results provide a novel and versatile approach for functional B. mori genomics, as well as a powerful resource for identifying the potential of key candidate genes for improving various economic traits. This study also shows the effectiveness, practicality, and convenience of large-scale mutant libraries in other nonmodel organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanyuan Ma
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China;
| | - Tong Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ruolin Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Jiasong Chang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Aoming Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xinhui Lan
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Le Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Run Shi
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaogang Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- China Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine & Health Science, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Weiqing Xing
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ling Jia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China;
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15
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Eiman MN, Kumar S, Serrano Negron YL, Tansey TR, Harbison ST. Genome-wide association in Drosophila identifies a role for Piezo and Proc-R in sleep latency. Sci Rep 2024; 14:260. [PMID: 38168575 PMCID: PMC10761942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50552-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep latency, the amount of time that it takes an individual to fall asleep, is a key indicator of sleep need. Sleep latency varies considerably both among and within species and is heritable, but lacks a comprehensive description of its underlying genetic network. Here we conduct a genome-wide association study of sleep latency. Using previously collected sleep and activity data on a wild-derived population of flies, we calculate sleep latency, confirming significant, heritable genetic variation for this complex trait. We identify 520 polymorphisms in 248 genes contributing to variability in sleep latency. Tests of mutations in 23 candidate genes and additional putative pan-neuronal knockdown of 9 of them implicated CG44153, Piezo, Proc-R and Rbp6 in sleep latency. Two large-effect mutations in the genes Proc-R and Piezo were further confirmed via genetic rescue. This work greatly enhances our understanding of the genetic factors that influence variation in sleep latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Eiman
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shailesh Kumar
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yazmin L Serrano Negron
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Terry R Tansey
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Susan T Harbison
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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16
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Yamamoto S, Kanca O, Wangler MF, Bellen HJ. Integrating non-mammalian model organisms in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in humans. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:46-60. [PMID: 37491400 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing technology has rapidly accelerated the discovery of genetic variants of interest in individuals with rare diseases. However, showing that these variants are causative of the disease in question is complex and may require functional studies. Use of non-mammalian model organisms - mainly fruitflies (Drosophila melanogaster), nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) - enables the rapid and cost-effective assessment of the effects of gene variants, which can then be validated in mammalian model organisms such as mice and in human cells. By probing mechanisms of gene action and identifying interacting genes and proteins in vivo, recent studies in these non-mammalian model organisms have facilitated the diagnosis of numerous genetic diseases and have enabled the screening and identification of therapeutic options for patients. Studies in non-mammalian model organisms have also shown that the biological processes underlying rare diseases can provide insight into more common mechanisms of disease and the biological functions of genes. Here, we discuss the opportunities afforded by non-mammalian model organisms, focusing on flies, worms and fish, and provide examples of their use in the diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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17
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Pan X, Alvarez AN, Ma M, Lu S, Crawford MW, Briere LC, Kanca O, Yamamoto S, Sweetser DA, Wilson JL, Napier RJ, Pruneda JN, Bellen HJ. Allelic strengths of encephalopathy-associated UBA5 variants correlate between in vivo and in vitro assays. eLife 2023; 12:RP89891. [PMID: 38079206 PMCID: PMC10712953 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein UFMylation downstream of the E1 enzyme UBA5 plays essential roles in development and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Variants in the UBA5 gene are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 44 (DEE44), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by early-onset encephalopathy, movement abnormalities, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and seizures. DEE44 is caused by at least 12 different missense variants described as loss of function (LoF), but the relationships between genotypes and molecular or clinical phenotypes remain to be established. We developed a humanized UBA5 fly model and biochemical activity assays in order to describe in vivo and in vitro genotype-phenotype relationships across the UBA5 allelic series. In vivo, we observed a broad spectrum of phenotypes in viability, developmental timing, lifespan, locomotor activity, and bang sensitivity. A range of functional effects was also observed in vitro across comprehensive biochemical assays for protein stability, ATP binding, UFM1 activation, and UFM1 transthiolation. Importantly, there is a strong correlation between in vivo and in vitro phenotypes, establishing a classification of LoF variants into mild, intermediate, and severe allelic strengths. By systemically evaluating UBA5 variants across in vivo and in vitro platforms, this study provides a foundation for more basic and translational UBA5 research, as well as a basis for evaluating current and future individuals afflicted with this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Albert N Alvarez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Mengqi Ma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Shenzhao Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Michael W Crawford
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Lauren C Briere
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonUnited States
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - David A Sweetser
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonUnited States
- Division of Medical Genetics & Metabolism, Massachusetts General Hospital for ChildrenBostonUnited States
| | - Jenny L Wilson
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Ruth J Napier
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- VA Portland Health Care SystemPortlandUnited States
- Division of Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Jonathan N Pruneda
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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18
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Brown EB, Zhang J, Lloyd E, Lanzon E, Botero V, Tomchik S, Keene AC. Neurofibromin 1 mediates sleep depth in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011049. [PMID: 38091360 PMCID: PMC10763969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011049] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural regulation of sleep and metabolic homeostasis are critical in many aspects of human health. Despite extensive epidemiological evidence linking sleep dysregulation with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, little is known about the neural and molecular basis for the integration of sleep and metabolic function. The RAS GTPase-activating gene Neurofibromin (Nf1) has been implicated in the regulation of sleep and metabolic rate, raising the possibility that it serves to integrate these processes, but the effects on sleep consolidation and physiology remain poorly understood. A key hallmark of sleep depth in mammals and flies is a reduction in metabolic rate during sleep. Here, we examine multiple measures of sleep quality to determine the effects of Nf1 on sleep-dependent changes in arousal threshold and metabolic rate. Flies lacking Nf1 fail to suppress metabolic rate during sleep, raising the possibility that loss of Nf1 prevents flies from integrating sleep and metabolic state. Sleep of Nf1 mutant flies is fragmented with a reduced arousal threshold in Nf1 mutants, suggesting Nf1 flies fail to enter deep sleep. The effects of Nf1 on sleep can be localized to a subset of neurons expressing the GABAA receptor Rdl. Sleep loss has been associated with changes in gut homeostasis in flies and mammals. Selective knockdown of Nf1 in Rdl-expressing neurons within the nervous system increases gut permeability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the gut, raising the possibility that loss of sleep quality contributes to gut dysregulation. Together, these findings suggest Nf1 acts in GABA-sensitive neurons to modulate sleep depth in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Brown
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jiwei Zhang
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Evan Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Lanzon
- Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Valentina Botero
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Seth Tomchik
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Alex C. Keene
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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19
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Bosch JA, Keith N, Escobedo F, Fisher WW, LaGraff JT, Rabasco J, Wan KH, Weiszmann R, Hu Y, Kondo S, Brown JB, Perrimon N, Celniker SE. Molecular and functional characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster conserved smORFome. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113311. [PMID: 37889754 PMCID: PMC10843857 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113311] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Short polypeptides encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) are ubiquitously found in eukaryotic genomes and are important regulators of physiology, development, and mitochondrial processes. Here, we focus on a subset of 298 smORFs that are evolutionarily conserved between Drosophila melanogaster and humans. Many of these smORFs are conserved broadly in the bilaterian lineage, and ∼182 are conserved in plants. We observe remarkably heterogeneous spatial and temporal expression patterns of smORF transcripts-indicating wide-spread tissue-specific and stage-specific mitochondrial architectures. In addition, an analysis of annotated functional domains reveals a predicted enrichment of smORF polypeptides localizing to mitochondria. We conduct an embryonic ribosome profiling experiment and find support for translation of 137 of these smORFs during embryogenesis. We further embark on functional characterization using CRISPR knockout/activation, RNAi knockdown, and cDNA overexpression, revealing diverse phenotypes. This study underscores the importance of identifying smORF function in disease and phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Bosch
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathan Keith
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Felipe Escobedo
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - William W Fisher
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - James Thai LaGraff
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jorden Rabasco
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kenneth H Wan
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Richard Weiszmann
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shu Kondo
- Laboratory of Invertebrate Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - James B Brown
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Susan E Celniker
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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20
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Bazzi W, Monticelli S, Delaporte C, Riet C, Giangrande A, Cattenoz PB. Gcm counteracts Toll-induced inflammation and impacts hemocyte number through cholinergic signaling. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1293766. [PMID: 38035083 PMCID: PMC10684909 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1293766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemocytes, the myeloid-like immune cells of Drosophila, fulfill a variety of functions that are not completely understood, ranging from phagocytosis to transduction of inflammatory signals. We here show that downregulating the hemocyte-specific Glial cell deficient/Glial cell missing (Glide/Gcm) transcription factor enhances the inflammatory response to the constitutive activation of the Toll pathway. This correlates with lower levels of glutathione S-transferase, suggesting an implication of Glide/Gcm in reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and calling for a widespread anti-inflammatory potential of Glide/Gcm. In addition, our data reveal the expression of acetylcholine receptors in hemocytes and that Toll activation affects their expressions, disclosing a novel aspect of the inflammatory response mediated by neurotransmitters. Finally, we provide evidence for acetylcholine receptor nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 6 (nAchRalpha6) regulating hemocyte proliferation in a cell autonomous fashion and for non-cell autonomous cholinergic signaling regulating the number of hemocytes. Altogether, this study provides new insights on the molecular pathways involved in the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Bazzi
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Sara Monticelli
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Claude Delaporte
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Céline Riet
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Angela Giangrande
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
| | - Pierre B. Cattenoz
- Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- CNRS, UMR 7104, Illkirch, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, France
- IGBMC, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France
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21
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Steinmetz EL, Noh S, Klöppel C, Fuhr MF, Bach N, Raffael ME, Hildebrandt K, Wittling F, Jann D, Walldorf U. Generation of Mutants from the 57B Region of Drosophila melanogaster. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2047. [PMID: 38002990 PMCID: PMC10671637 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112047] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The 57B region of Drosophila melanogaster includes a cluster of the three homeobox genes orthopedia (otp), Drosophila Retinal homeobox (DRx), and homeobrain (hbn). In an attempt to isolate mutants for these genes, we performed an EMS mutagenesis and isolated lethal mutants from the 57B region, among them mutants for otp, DRx, and hbn. With the help of two newly generated deletions from the 57B region, we mapped additional mutants to specific chromosomal intervals and identified several of these mutants from the 57B region molecularly. In addition, we generated mutants for CG15651 and RIC-3 by gene targeting and mutants for the genes CG9344, CG15649, CG15650, and ND-B14.7 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We determined the lethality period during development for most isolated mutants. In total, we analysed alleles from nine different genes from the 57B region of Drosophila, which could now be used to further explore the functions of the corresponding genes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Louise Steinmetz
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Zoology & Physiology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building B2.1, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sandra Noh
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Christine Klöppel
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin F. Fuhr
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Bach
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Mona Evelyn Raffael
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hildebrandt
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Fabienne Wittling
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, Building E8.1, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Doris Jann
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 45.2, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Walldorf
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
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22
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Nuñez KM, Catalano JL, Scaplen KM, Kaun KR. Ethanol Behavioral Responses in Drosophila. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:719-24. [PMID: 37019606 PMCID: PMC10551053 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful genetic model for investigating the mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced behaviors, metabolism, and preference. Ethanol-induced locomotor activity is especially useful for understanding the mechanisms by which ethanol acutely affects the brain and behavior. Ethanol-induced locomotor activity is characterized by hyperlocomotion and subsequent sedation with increased exposure duration or concentration. Locomotor activity is an efficient, easy, robust, and reproducible behavioral screening tool for identifying underlying genes and neuronal circuits as well as investigating genetic and molecular pathways. We introduce a detailed protocol for performing experiments investigating how volatilized ethanol affects locomotor activity using the fly Group Activity Monitor (flyGrAM). We introduce installation, implementation, data collection, and subsequent data-analysis methods for investigating how volatilized stimuli affect activity. We also introduce a procedure for how to optogenetically probe neuronal activity to identify the neural mechanisms underlying locomotor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavin M Nuñez
- Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Jamie L Catalano
- Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Kristin M Scaplen
- Department of Psychology, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917, USA
- Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island 02917, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Karla R Kaun
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
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23
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Pan X, Alvarez AN, Ma M, Lu S, Crawford MW, Briere LC, Kanca O, Yamamoto S, Sweetser DA, Wilson JL, Napier RJ, Pruneda JN, Bellen HJ. Allelic strengths of encephalopathy-associated UBA5 variants correlate between in vivo and in vitro assays. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.17.23292782. [PMID: 37502976 PMCID: PMC10371176 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.23292782] [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
Protein UFMylation downstream of the E1 enzyme UBA5 plays essential roles in development and ER stress. Variants in the UBA5 gene are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 44 (DEE44), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by early-onset encephalopathy, movement abnormalities, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and seizures. DEE44 is caused by at least twelve different missense variants described as loss of function (LoF), but the relationships between genotypes and molecular or clinical phenotypes remains to be established. We developed a humanized UBA5 fly model and biochemical activity assays in order to describe in vivo and in vitro genotype-phenotype relationships across the UBA5 allelic series. In vivo, we observed a broad spectrum of phenotypes in viability, developmental timing, lifespan, locomotor activity, and bang sensitivity. A range of functional effects was also observed in vitro across comprehensive biochemical assays for protein stability, ATP binding, UFM1 activation, and UFM1 transthiolation. Importantly, there is a strong correlation between in vivo and in vitro phenotypes, establishing a classification of LoF variants into mild, intermediate, and severe allelic strengths. By systemically evaluating UBA5 variants across in vivo and in vitro platforms, this study provides a foundation for more basic and translational UBA5 research, as well as a basis for evaluating current and future individuals afflicted with this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyang Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Albert N. Alvarez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Mengqi Ma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shenzhao Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael W. Crawford
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Lauren C. Briere
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David A. Sweetser
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Division of Medical Genetics & Metabolism, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jenny L. Wilson
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Ruth J. Napier
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Division of Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pruneda
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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24
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Doll RM, Boutros M, Port F. A temperature-tolerant CRISPR base editor mediates highly efficient and precise gene editing in Drosophila. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj1568. [PMID: 37647411 PMCID: PMC10468138 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR nucleases generate a broad spectrum of mutations that includes undesired editing outcomes. Here, we develop optimized C-to-T base editing systems for the generation of precise loss- or gain-of-function alleles in Drosophila and identify temperature as a crucial parameter for efficiency. We find that a variant of the widely used APOBEC1 deaminase has attenuated activity at 18° to 29°C and shows considerable dose-dependent toxicity. In contrast, the temperature-tolerant evoCDA1 domain mediates editing of typically more than 90% of alleles and is substantially better tolerated. Furthermore, formation of undesired mutations is exceptionally rare in Drosophila compared to other species. The predictable editing outcome, high efficiency, and product purity enables near homogeneous induction of STOP codons or alleles encoding protein variants in vivo. Last, we demonstrate how optimized expression enables conditional base editing in marked cell populations. This work substantially facilitates creation of precise alleles in Drosophila and provides key design parameters for developing efficient base editing systems in other ectothermic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman M. Doll
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics and BioQuant & Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Biosciences/Cancer Biology Program, Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics and BioQuant & Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fillip Port
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics and BioQuant & Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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25
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Wilby EL, Weil TT. Relating the Biogenesis and Function of P Bodies in Drosophila to Human Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1675. [PMID: 37761815 PMCID: PMC10530015 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091675] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila has been a premier model organism for over a century and many discoveries in flies have furthered our understanding of human disease. Flies have been successfully applied to many aspects of health-based research spanning from behavioural addiction, to dysplasia, to RNA dysregulation and protein misfolding. Recently, Drosophila tissues have been used to study biomolecular condensates and their role in multicellular systems. Identified in a wide range of plant and animal species, biomolecular condensates are dynamic, non-membrane-bound sub-compartments that have been observed and characterised in the cytoplasm and nuclei of many cell types. Condensate biology has exciting research prospects because of their diverse roles within cells, links to disease, and potential for therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss processing bodies (P bodies), a conserved biomolecular condensate, with a particular interest in how Drosophila can be applied to advance our understanding of condensate biogenesis and their role in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy T. Weil
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK;
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26
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Boutet A, Zeledon C, Emery G. ArfGAP1 regulates the endosomal sorting of guidance receptors to promote directed collective cell migration in vivo. iScience 2023; 26:107467. [PMID: 37599820 PMCID: PMC10432204 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107467] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotaxis drives diverse migrations important for development and involved in diseases, including cancer progression. Using border cells in the Drosophila egg chamber as a model for collective cell migration, we characterized the role of ArfGAP1 in regulating chemotaxis during this process. We found that ArfGAP1 is required for the maintenance of receptor tyrosine kinases, the guidance receptors, at the plasma membrane. In the absence of ArfGAP1, the level of active receptors is reduced at the plasma membrane and increased in late endosomes. Consequently, clusters with impaired ArfGAP1 activity lose directionality. Furthermore, we found that the number and size of late endosomes and lysosomes are increased in the absence of ArfGAP1. Finally, genetic interactions suggest that ArfGAP1 acts on the kinase and GTPase Lrrk to regulate receptor sorting. Overall, our data indicate that ArfGAP1 is required to maintain guidance receptors at the plasma membrane and promote chemotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Boutet
- Vesicular Trafficking and Cell Signalling Research Unit, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Carlos Zeledon
- Vesicular Trafficking and Cell Signalling Research Unit, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Gregory Emery
- Vesicular Trafficking and Cell Signalling Research Unit, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
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27
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MacPherson RA, Shankar V, Anholt RRH, Mackay TFC. Genetic and genomic analyses of Drosophila melanogaster models of chromatin modification disorders. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad061. [PMID: 37036413 PMCID: PMC10411607 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF)-related intellectual disability disorders (SSRIDDs) and Cornelia de Lange syndrome are rare syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping clinical phenotypes. SSRIDDs are associated with the BAF (Brahma-Related Gene-1 associated factor) complex, whereas CdLS is a disorder of chromatin modification associated with the cohesin complex. Here, we used RNA interference in Drosophila melanogaster to reduce the expression of six genes (brm, osa, Snr1, SMC1, SMC3, vtd) orthologous to human genes associated with SSRIDDs and CdLS. These fly models exhibit changes in sleep, activity, startle behavior (a proxy for sensorimotor integration), and brain morphology. Whole genome RNA sequencing identified 9,657 differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05), 156 of which are differentially expressed in both sexes in SSRIDD- and CdLS-specific analyses, including Bap60, which is orthologous to SMARCD1, an SSRIDD-associated BAF component. k-means clustering reveals genes co-regulated within and across SSRIDD and CdLS fly models. RNAi-mediated reduction of expression of six genes co-regulated with focal genes brm, osa, and/or Snr1 recapitulated changes in the behavior of the focal genes. Based on the assumption that fundamental biological processes are evolutionarily conserved, Drosophila models can be used to understand underlying molecular effects of variants in chromatin-modification pathways and may aid in the discovery of drugs that ameliorate deleterious phenotypic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A MacPherson
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
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28
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Bonheur M, Swartz KJ, Metcalf MG, Wen X, Zhukovskaya A, Mehta A, Connors KE, Barasch JG, Jamieson AR, Martin KC, Axel R, Hattori D. A rapid and bidirectional reporter of neural activity reveals neural correlates of social behaviors in Drosophila. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1295-1307. [PMID: 37308660 PMCID: PMC10866131 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01357-w] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Neural activity is modulated over different timescales encompassing subseconds to hours, reflecting changes in external environment, internal state and behavior. Using Drosophila as a model, we developed a rapid and bidirectional reporter that provides a cellular readout of recent neural activity. This reporter uses nuclear versus cytoplasmic distribution of CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activator (CRTC). Subcellular distribution of GFP-tagged CRTC (CRTC::GFP) bidirectionally changes on the order of minutes and reflects both increases and decreases in neural activity. We established an automated machine-learning-based routine for efficient quantification of reporter signal. Using this reporter, we demonstrate mating-evoked activation and inactivation of modulatory neurons. We further investigated the functional role of the master courtship regulator gene fruitless (fru) and show that fru is necessary to ensure activation of male arousal neurons by female cues. Together, our results establish CRTC::GFP as a bidirectional reporter of recent neural activity suitable for examining neural correlates in behavioral contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moise Bonheur
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kurtis J Swartz
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Melissa G Metcalf
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xinke Wen
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anna Zhukovskaya
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Avirut Mehta
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kristin E Connors
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Julia G Barasch
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew R Jamieson
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kelsey C Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Axel
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daisuke Hattori
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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29
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Rozich E, Randolph LK, Insolera R. An optimized temporally controlled Gal4 system in Drosophila reveals degeneration caused by adult-onset neuronal Vps13D knockdown. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1204068. [PMID: 37457002 PMCID: PMC10339317 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1204068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the human gene VPS13D cause the adult-onset neurodegenerative disease ataxia. Our previous work showed that disruptions in the Vps13D gene in Drosophila neurons causes mitochondrial defects. However, developmental lethality caused by Vps13D loss limited our understanding of the long-term physiological effects of Vps13D perturbation in neurons. Here, we optimized a previously generated system to temporally knock down Vps13D expression precisely in adult Drosophila neurons using a modification to the Gal4/UAS system. Adult-onset activation of Gal4 was enacted using the chemically-inducible tool which fuses a destabilization-domain to the Gal4 repressor Gal80 (Gal80-DD). Optimization of the Gal80-DD tool shows that feeding animals the DD-stabilizing drug trimethoprim (TMP) during development and rearing at a reduced temperature maximally represses Gal4 activity. Temperature shift and removal of TMP from the food after eclosion robustly activates Gal4 expression in adult neurons. Using the optimized Gal80-DD system, we find that adult-onset Vps13D RNAi expression in neurons causes the accumulation of mitophagy intermediates, progressive deficits in locomotor activity, early lethality, and brain vacuolization characteristic of neurodegeneration. The development of this optimized system allows us to more precisely examine the degenerative phenotypes caused by Vps13D disruption, and can likely be utilized in the future for other genes associated with neurological diseases whose manipulation causes developmental lethality in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rozich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Lynsey K. Randolph
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ryan Insolera
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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30
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Teague AG, Quintero M, Karimi Dermani F, Cagan RL, Bangi E. A polycistronic transgene design for combinatorial genetic perturbations from a single transcript in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010792. [PMID: 37267433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental models that capture the genetic complexity of human disease and allow mechanistic explorations of the underlying cell, tissue, and organ interactions are crucial to furthering our understanding of disease biology. Such models require combinatorial manipulations of multiple genes, often in more than one tissue at once. The ability to perform complex genetic manipulations in vivo is a key strength of Drosophila, where many tools for sophisticated and orthogonal genetic perturbations exist. However, combining the large number of transgenes required to establish more representative disease models and conducting mechanistic studies in these already complex genetic backgrounds is challenging. Here we present a design that pushes the limits of Drosophila genetics by allowing targeted combinatorial ectopic expression and knockdown of multiple genes from a single inducible transgene. The polycistronic transcript encoded by this transgene includes a synthetic short hairpin cluster cloned within an intron placed at the 5' end of the transcript, followed by two protein-coding sequences separated by the T2A sequence that mediates ribosome skipping. This technology is particularly useful for modeling genetically complex diseases like cancer, which typically involve concurrent activation of multiple oncogenes and loss of multiple tumor suppressors. Furthermore, consolidating multiple genetic perturbations into a single transgene further streamlines the ability to perform combinatorial genetic manipulations and makes it readily adaptable to a broad palette of transgenic systems. This flexible design for combinatorial genetic perturbations will also be a valuable tool for functionally exploring multigenic gene signatures identified from omics studies of human disease and creating humanized Drosophila models to characterize disease-associated variants in human genes. It can also be adapted for studying biological processes underlying normal tissue homeostasis and development that require simultaneous manipulation of many genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Teague
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Maria Quintero
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Fateme Karimi Dermani
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ross L Cagan
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
| | - Erdem Bangi
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America
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31
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Alfonso-Gonzalez C, Legnini I, Holec S, Arrigoni L, Ozbulut HC, Mateos F, Koppstein D, Rybak-Wolf A, Bönisch U, Rajewsky N, Hilgers V. Sites of transcription initiation drive mRNA isoform selection. Cell 2023; 186:2438-2455.e22. [PMID: 37178687 PMCID: PMC10228280 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The generation of distinct messenger RNA isoforms through alternative RNA processing modulates the expression and function of genes, often in a cell-type-specific manner. Here, we assess the regulatory relationships between transcription initiation, alternative splicing, and 3' end site selection. Applying long-read sequencing to accurately represent even the longest transcripts from end to end, we quantify mRNA isoforms in Drosophila tissues, including the transcriptionally complex nervous system. We find that in Drosophila heads, as well as in human cerebral organoids, 3' end site choice is globally influenced by the site of transcription initiation (TSS). "Dominant promoters," characterized by specific epigenetic signatures including p300/CBP binding, impose a transcriptional constraint to define splice and polyadenylation variants. In vivo deletion or overexpression of dominant promoters as well as p300/CBP loss disrupted the 3' end expression landscape. Our study demonstrates the crucial impact of TSS choice on the regulation of transcript diversity and tissue identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alfonso-Gonzalez
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwig University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMPRS-MCB), 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ivano Legnini
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Holec
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Arrigoni
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hasan Can Ozbulut
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert Ludwig University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fernando Mateos
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - David Koppstein
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf
- Organoid Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Bönisch
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Laboratory for Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Charitépl. 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK); National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Hilgers
- Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centre CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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Datta I, Vassel T, Linkous B, Odum T, Drew C, Taylor A, Bangi E. A targeted genetic modifier screen in Drosophila uncovers vulnerabilities in a genetically complex model of colon cancer. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad053. [PMID: 36880303 PMCID: PMC10151408 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Received on 16 January 2023; accepted on 21 February 2023Kinases are key regulators of cellular signal transduction pathways. Many diseases, including cancer, are associated with global alterations in protein phosphorylation networks. As a result, kinases are frequent targets of drug discovery efforts. However, target identification and assessment, a critical step in targeted drug discovery that involves identifying essential genetic mediators of disease phenotypes, can be challenging in complex, heterogeneous diseases like cancer, where multiple concurrent genomic alterations are common. Drosophila is a particularly useful genetic model system to identify novel regulators of biological processes through unbiased genetic screens. Here, we report 2 classic genetic modifier screens focusing on the Drosophila kinome to identify kinase regulators in 2 different backgrounds: KRAS TP53 PTEN APC, a multigenic cancer model that targets 4 genes recurrently mutated in human colon tumors and KRAS alone, a simpler model that targets one of the most frequently altered pathways in cancer. These screens identified hits unique to each model and one shared by both, emphasizing the importance of capturing the genetic complexity of human tumor genome landscapes in experimental models. Our follow-up analysis of 2 hits from the KRAS-only screen suggests that classical genetic modifier screens in heterozygous mutant backgrounds that result in a modest, nonlethal reduction in candidate gene activity in the context of a whole animal-a key goal of systemic drug treatment-may be a particularly useful approach to identify the most rate-limiting genetic vulnerabilities in disease models as ideal candidate drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishwaree Datta
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Tajah Vassel
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Benjamin Linkous
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Tyler Odum
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Christian Drew
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Andrew Taylor
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
| | - Erdem Bangi
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
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Fisher WW, Hammonds AS, Weiszmann R, Booth BW, Gevirtzman L, Patton JEJ, Kubo CA, Waterston RH, Celniker SE. A modERN resource: identification of Drosophila transcription factor candidate target genes using RNAi. Genetics 2023; 223:iyad004. [PMID: 36652461 PMCID: PMC10078917 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) play a key role in development and in cellular responses to the environment by activating or repressing the transcription of target genes in precise spatial and temporal patterns. In order to develop a catalog of target genes of Drosophila melanogaster TFs, the modERN consortium systematically knocked down the expression of TFs using RNAi in whole embryos followed by RNA-seq. We generated data for 45 TFs which have 18 different DNA-binding domains and are expressed in 15 of the 16 organ systems. The range of inactivation of the targeted TFs by RNAi ranged from log2fold change -3.52 to +0.49. The TFs also showed remarkable heterogeneity in the numbers of candidate target genes identified, with some generating thousands of candidates and others only tens. We present detailed analysis from five experiments, including those for three TFs that have been the focus of previous functional studies (ERR, sens, and zfh2) and two previously uncharacterized TFs (sens-2 and CG32006), as well as short vignettes for selected additional experiments to illustrate the utility of this resource. The RNA-seq datasets are available through the ENCODE DCC (http://encodeproject.org) and the Sequence Read Archive (SRA). TF and target gene expression patterns can be found here: https://insitu.fruitfly.org. These studies provide data that facilitate scientific inquiries into the functions of individual TFs in key developmental, metabolic, defensive, and homeostatic regulatory pathways, as well as provide a broader perspective on how individual TFs work together in local networks during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Fisher
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ann S Hammonds
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Richard Weiszmann
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Benjamin W Booth
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Louis Gevirtzman
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jaeda E J Patton
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Connor A Kubo
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Robert H Waterston
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Susan E Celniker
- Division of Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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MacPherson RA, Shankar V, Anholt RRH, Mackay TFC. Genetic and Genomic Analyses of Drosophila melanogaster Models of Chromatin Modification Disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.30.534923. [PMID: 37034595 PMCID: PMC10081333 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.534923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Switch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF)-related intellectual disability disorders (SSRIDDs) and Cornelia de Lange syndrome are rare syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping clinical phenotypes. SSRIDDs are associated with the BAF (Brahma-Related Gene-1 Associated Factor) complex, whereas CdLS is a disorder of chromatin modification associated with the cohesin complex. Here, we used RNA interference in Drosophila melanogaster to reduce expression of six genes (brm, osa, Snr1, SMC1, SMC3, vtd) orthologous to human genes associated with SSRIDDs and CdLS. These fly models exhibit changes in sleep, activity, startle behavior (a proxy for sensorimotor integration) and brain morphology. Whole genome RNA sequencing identified 9,657 differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05), 156 of which are differentially expressed in both sexes in SSRIDD- and CdLS-specific analyses, including Bap60, which is orthologous to SMARCD1, a SSRIDD-associated BAF component, k-means clustering reveals genes co-regulated within and across SSRIDD and CdLS fly models. RNAi-mediated reduction of expression of six genes co-regulated with focal genes brm, osa, and/or Snr1 recapitulated changes in behavior of the focal genes. Based on the assumption that fundamental biological processes are evolutionarily conserved, Drosophila models can be used to understand underlying molecular effects of variants in chromatin-modification pathways and may aid in discovery of drugs that ameliorate deleterious phenotypic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. MacPherson
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Robert R. H. Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
| | - Trudy F. C. Mackay
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
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Ma M, Zhang X, Zheng Y, Lu S, Pan X, Mao X, Pan H, Chung HL, Wang H, Guo H, Bellen HJ. The fly homolog of SUPT16H, a gene associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, is required in a cell-autonomous fashion for cell survival. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:984-997. [PMID: 36255738 PMCID: PMC9991001 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
SUPT16H encodes the large subunit of the FAcilitate Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, which functions as a nucleosome organizer during transcription. We identified two individuals from unrelated families carrying de novo missense variants in SUPT16H. The probands exhibit global developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, facial dysmorphism and brain structural abnormalities. We used Drosophila to characterize two variants: p.T171I and p.G808R. Loss of the fly ortholog, dre4, causes lethality at an early developmental stage. RNAi-mediated knockdown of dre4 in either glia or neurons causes severely reduced eclosion and longevity. Tissue-specific knockdown of dre4 in the eye or wing leads to the loss of these tissues, whereas overexpression of SUPT16H has no dominant effect. Moreover, expression of the reference SUPT16H significantly rescues the loss-of-function phenotypes in the nervous system as well as wing and eye. In contrast, expression of SUPT16H p.T171I or p.G808R rescues the phenotypes poorly, indicating that the variants are partial loss-of-function alleles. While previous studies argued that the developmental arrest caused by loss of dre4 is due to impaired ecdysone production in the prothoracic gland, our data show that dre4 is required for proper cell growth and survival in multiple tissues in a cell-autonomous manner. Altogether, our data indicate that the de novo loss-of-function variants in SUPT16H are indeed associated with developmental and neurological defects observed in the probands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Ma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xi Zhang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research, Prevention and Treatment, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yiming Zheng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shenzhao Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xueyang Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiao Mao
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research, Prevention and Treatment, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Hongling Pan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hyung-lok Chung
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hua Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research, Prevention and Treatment, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, Hunan Children’s Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Hong Guo
- Department of Medical Genetics, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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36
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Mele S, Martelli F, Lin J, Kanca O, Christodoulou J, Bellen HJ, Piper MDW, Johnson TK. Drosophila as a diet discovery tool for treating amino acid disorders. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:85-105. [PMID: 36567227 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Amino acid disorders (AADs) are a large group of rare inherited conditions that collectively impact one in 6500 live births, often resulting in rapid neurological decline and death during infancy. For several AADs, including phenylketonuria, dietary modification prevents physiological deterioration and ameliorates symptoms. Despite this remarkable potential for treatment success, dietary therapy for most AADs remains largely unexplored. Although animal models have provided novel insights into AAD mechanisms, few have been used for therapeutic diet discovery. Here, we find that of all the animal models, Drosophila is particularly well suited for nutrigenomic disease modelling, having amino acid pathways conserved with humans, exceptional genetic tractability, and the unique availability of a synthetic customisable diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mele
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Felipe Martelli
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jiayi Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Christodoulou
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Duncan Neurological Research Institute of Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew D W Piper
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Travis K Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Sheppard L, Green DG, Lerchbaumer G, Rothenberg KE, Fernandez-Gonzalez R, Tepass U. The α-Catenin mechanosensing M region is required for cell adhesion during tissue morphogenesis. J Cell Biol 2022; 222:213759. [PMID: 36520419 PMCID: PMC9757846 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202108091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Catenin couples the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. The mechanosensitive α-Catenin M region undergoes conformational changes upon application of force to recruit interaction partners. Here, we took advantage of the tension landscape in the Drosophila embryo to define three different states of α-Catenin mechanosensing in support of cell adhesion. Low-, medium-, and high-tension contacts showed a corresponding recruitment of Vinculin and Ajuba, which was dependent on the α-Catenin M region. In contrast, the Afadin homolog Canoe acts in parallel to α-Catenin at bicellular low- and medium-tension junctions but requires an interaction with α-Catenin for its tension-sensitive enrichment at high-tension tricellular junctions. Individual M region domains make complex contributions to cell adhesion through their impact on interaction partner recruitment, and redundancies with the function of Canoe. Our data argue that α-Catenin and its interaction partners are part of a cooperative and partially redundant mechanoresponsive network that supports AJs remodeling during morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Sheppard
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - David G. Green
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gerald Lerchbaumer
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Katheryn E. Rothenberg
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ulrich Tepass
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada,Correspondence to Ulrich Tepass:
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van der Graaf K, Srivastav S, Singh P, McNew JA, Stern M. The Drosophila melanogaster attP40 docking site and derivatives are insertion mutations of msp-300. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278598. [PMID: 36516171 PMCID: PMC9750024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ɸC31 integrase system is widely used in Drosophila melanogaster to allow transgene targeting to specific loci. Over the years, flies bearing any of more than 100 attP docking sites have been constructed. One popular docking site, termed attP40, is located close to the Nesprin-1 orthologue msp-300 and lies upstream of certain msp-300 isoforms and within the first intron of others. Here we show that attP40 causes larval muscle nuclear clustering, which is a phenotype also conferred by msp-300 mutations. We also show that flies bearing insertions within attP40 can exhibit decreased msp-300 transcript levels in third instar larvae. Finally, chromosomes carrying certain "transgenic RNAi project" (TRiP) insertions into attP40 can confer pupal or adult inviability or infertility, or dominant nuclear clustering effects in certain genetic backgrounds. These phenotypes do not require transcription from the insertions within attP40. These results demonstrate that attP40 and insertion derivatives act as msp-300 insertional mutations. These findings should be considered when interpreting data from attP40-bearing flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin van der Graaf
- Department of Biosciences, Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Saurabh Srivastav
- Department of Biosciences, Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pratibha Singh
- Department of Biosciences, Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - James A. McNew
- Department of Biosciences, Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michael Stern
- Department of Biosciences, Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Zang Y, Chaudhari K, Bashaw GJ. Tace/ADAM17 is a bi-directional regulator of axon guidance that coordinates distinct Frazzled and Dcc receptor signaling outputs. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111785. [PMID: 36476876 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111785] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frazzled (Fra) and deleted in colorectal cancer (Dcc) are homologous receptors that promote axon attraction in response to netrin. In Drosophila, Fra also acts independently of netrin by releasing an intracellular domain (ICD) that activates gene transcription. How neurons coordinate these pathways to make accurate guidance decisions is unclear. Here we show that the ADAM metalloprotease Tace cleaves Fra, and this instructs the switch between the two pathways. Genetic manipulations that either increase or decrease Tace levels disrupt midline crossing of commissural axons. These conflicting phenotypes reflect Tace's function as a bi-directional regulator of axon guidance, a function conserved in its vertebrate homolog ADAM17: while Tace induces the formation of the Fra ICD to activate transcription, excessive Tace cleavage of Fra and Dcc suppresses the response to netrin. We propose that Tace and ADAM17 are key regulators of midline axon guidance by establishing the balance between netrin-dependent and netrin-independent signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Zang
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karina Chaudhari
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Greg J Bashaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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40
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Statins Induce Locomotion and Muscular Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster That Are Reminiscent of Human Myopathy: Evidence for the Role of the Chloride Channel Inhibition in the Muscular Phenotypes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223528. [PMID: 36428957 PMCID: PMC9688544 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms for statin-induced myopathy (SIM) are still equivocal. In this study, we employ Drosophila melanogaster to dissect possible underlying mechanisms for SIM. We observe that chronic fluvastatin treatment causes reduced general locomotion activity and climbing ability. In addition, transmission microscopy of dissected skeletal muscles of fluvastatin-treated flies reveals strong myofibrillar damage, including increased sarcomere lengths and Z-line streaming, which are reminiscent of myopathy, along with fragmented mitochondria of larger sizes, most of which are round-like shapes. Furthermore, chronic fluvastatin treatment is associated with impaired lipid metabolism and insulin signalling. Mechanistically, knockdown of the statin-target Hmgcr in the skeletal muscles recapitulates fluvastatin-induced mitochondrial phenotypes and lowered general locomotion activity; however, it was not sufficient to alter sarcomere length or elicit myofibrillar damage compared to controls or fluvastatin treatment. Moreover, we found that fluvastatin treatment was associated with reduced expression of the skeletal muscle chloride channel, ClC-a (Drosophila homolog of CLCN1), while selective knockdown of skeletal muscle ClC-a also recapitulated fluvastatin-induced myofibril damage and increased sarcomere lengths. Surprisingly, exercising fluvastatin-treated flies restored ClC-a expression and normalized sarcomere lengths, suggesting that fluvastatin-induced myofibrillar phenotypes could be linked to lowered ClC-a expression. Taken together, these results may indicate the potential role of ClC-a inhibition in statin-associated muscular phenotypes. This study underlines the importance of Drosophila melanogaster as a powerful model system for elucidating the locomotion and muscular phenotypes, promoting a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SIM.
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The regulatory role of AP-2β in monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems: insights on its signalling pathway, linked disorders and theragnostic potential. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:151. [PMID: 36076256 PMCID: PMC9461128 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00891-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMonoaminergic neurotransmitter systems play a central role in neuronal function and behaviour. Dysregulation of these systems gives rise to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders with high prevalence and societal burden, collectively termed monoamine neurotransmitter disorders (MNDs). Despite extensive research, the transcriptional regulation of monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems is not fully explored. Interestingly, certain drugs that act on these systems have been shown to modulate central levels of the transcription factor AP-2 beta (AP-2β, gene: TFAP2Β). AP-2β regulates multiple key genes within these systems and thereby its levels correlate with monoamine neurotransmitters measures; yet, its signalling pathways are not well understood. Moreover, although dysregulation of TFAP2Β has been associated with MNDs, the underlying mechanisms for these associations remain elusive. In this context, this review addresses AP-2β, considering its basic structural aspects, regulation and signalling pathways in the controlling of monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems, and possible mechanisms underpinning associated MNDS. It also underscores the significance of AP-2β as a potential diagnostic biomarker and its potential and limitations as a therapeutic target for specific MNDs as well as possible pharmaceutical interventions for targeting it. In essence, this review emphasizes the role of AP-2β as a key regulator of the monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems and its importance for understanding the pathogenesis and improving the management of MNDs.
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Klinke N, Meyer H, Ratnavadivel S, Reinhardt M, Heinisch JJ, Malmendal A, Milting H, Paululat A. A Drosophila melanogaster model for TMEM43-related arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy type 5. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:444. [PMID: 35869176 PMCID: PMC9307560 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04458-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractArrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a severe cardiac disease that leads to heart failure or sudden cardiac death (SCD). For the pathogenesis of ARVC, various mutations in at least eight different genes have been identified. A rare form of ARVC is associated with the mutation TMEM43 p.S358L, which is a fully penetrant variant in male carriers. TMEM43 p.S358 is homologous to CG8111 p.S333 in Drosophila melanogaster. We established CRISPR/Cas9-mediated CG8111 knock-out mutants in Drosophila, as well as transgenic fly lines carrying an overexpression construct of the CG8111 p.S333L substitution. Knock-out flies developed normally, whereas the overexpression of CG8111 p.S333L caused growth defects, loss of body weight, cardiac arrhythmias, and premature death. An evaluation of a series of model mutants that replaced S333 by selected amino acids proved that the conserved serine is critical for the physiological function of CG8111. Metabolomic and proteomic analyses revealed that the S333 in CG8111 is essential to proper energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism in the fly. Of note, metabolic impairments were also found in the murine Tmem43 disease model, and fibrofatty replacement is a hallmark of human ARVC5. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular functions of CG8111 in Drosophila, and can represent a valuable basis to assess the aetiology of the human TMEM43 p.S358L variant in more detail.
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Weber JJ, Brummett LM, Coca ME, Tabunoki H, Kanost MR, Ragan EJ, Park Y, Gorman MJ. Phenotypic analyses, protein localization, and bacteriostatic activity of Drosophila melanogaster transferrin-1. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 147:103811. [PMID: 35781032 PMCID: PMC9869689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Transferrin-1 (Tsf1) is an extracellular insect protein with a high affinity for iron. The functions of Tsf1 are still poorly understood; however, Drosophila melanogaster Tsf1 has been shown to influence iron distribution in the fly body and to protect flies against some infections. The goal of this study was to better understand the physiological functions of Tsf1 in D. melanogaster by 1) investigating Tsf1 null phenotypes, 2) determining tissue-specific localization of Tsf1, 3) measuring the concentration of Tsf1 in hemolymph, 4) testing Tsf1 for bacteriostatic activity, and 5) evaluating the effect of metal and paraquat treatments on Tsf1 abundance. Flies lacking Tsf1 had more iron than wild-type flies in specialized midgut cells that take up iron from the diet; however, the absence of Tsf1 had no effect on the iron content of whole midguts, fat body, hemolymph, or heads. Thus, as previous studies have suggested, Tsf1 appears to have a minor role in iron transport. Tsf1 was abundant in hemolymph from larvae (0.4 μM), pupae (1.4 μM), adult females (4.4 μM) and adult males (22 μM). Apo-Tsf1 at 1 μM had bacteriostatic activity whereas holo-Tsf1 did not, suggesting that Tsf1 can inhibit microbial growth by sequestering iron in hemolymph and other extracellular environments. This hypothesis was supported by detection of secreted Tsf1 in tracheae, testes and seminal vesicles. Colocalization of Tsf1 with an endosome marker in oocytes suggested that Tsf1 may provide iron to developing eggs; however, eggs from mothers lacking Tsf1 had the same amount of iron as control eggs, and they hatched at a wild-type rate. Thus, the primary function of Tsf1 uptake by oocytes may be to defend against infection rather than to provide eggs with iron. In beetles, Tsf1 plays a role in protection against oxidative stress. In contrast, we found that flies lacking Tsf1 had a typical life span and greater resistance to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. In addition, Tsf1 abundance remained unchanged in response to ingestion of iron, cadmium or paraquat or to injection of iron. These results suggest that Tsf1 has a limited role in protection against oxidative stress in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Weber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Lisa M Brummett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Michelle E Coca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Hiroko Tabunoki
- Department of Science of Biological Production, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.
| | - Michael R Kanost
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Emily J Ragan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80217, USA.
| | - Yoonseong Park
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
| | - Maureen J Gorman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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Hale C, Moulton JK, Otis Y, Ganter G. ARMADILLO REGULATES NOCICEPTIVE SENSITIVITY IN THE ABSENCE OF INJURY. Mol Pain 2022; 18:17448069221111155. [PMID: 35712882 PMCID: PMC9500252 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221111155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal pain has recently been estimated to affect ∼50 million adults each year within the United States. With many treatment options for abnormal pain, such as opioid analgesics, carrying numerous deleterious side effects, research into safer and more effective treatment options is crucial. To help elucidate the mechanisms controlling nociceptive sensitivity, the Drosophila melanogaster larval nociception model has been used to characterize well-conserved pathways through the use of genetic modification and/or injury to alter the sensitivity of experimental animals. Mammalian models have provided evidence of β-catenin signaling involvement in neuropathic pain development. By capitalizing on the conserved nature of β-catenin functions in the fruit fly, here we describe a role for Armadillo, the fly homolog to mammalian β-catenin, in regulating baseline sensitivity in the primary nociceptor of the fly, in the absence of injury, using under- and over-expression of Armadillo in a cell-specific manner. Underexpression of Armadillo resulted in hyposensitivity, while overexpression of wild-type Armadillo or expression of a degradation-resistant Armadillo resulted in hypersensitivity. Neither underexpression nor overexpression of Armadillo resulted in observed dendritic morphological changes that could contribute to behavioral phenotypes observed. These results showed that focused manipulation of Armadillo expression within the nociceptors is sufficient to modulate baseline response in the nociceptors to a noxious stimulus and that these changes are not shown to be associated with a morphogenetic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Hale
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering6251University of Maine System
| | | | - Yvonne Otis
- School of Biological Sciences172741University of New England College of Arts and Sciences
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Lusk JB, Chua EHZ, Kaur P, Sung ICH, Lim WK, Lam VYM, Harmston N, Tolwinski NS. A non-canonical Raf function is required for dorsal-ventral patterning during Drosophila embryogenesis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7684. [PMID: 35538124 PMCID: PMC9090920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11699-3] [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: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper embryonic development requires directional axes to pattern cells into embryonic structures. In Drosophila, spatially discrete expression of transcription factors determines the anterior to posterior organization of the early embryo, while the Toll and TGFβ signalling pathways determine the early dorsal to ventral pattern. Embryonic MAPK/ERK signaling contributes to both anterior to posterior patterning in the terminal regions and to dorsal to ventral patterning during oogenesis and embryonic stages. Here we describe a novel loss of function mutation in the Raf kinase gene, which leads to loss of ventral cell fates as seen through the loss of the ventral furrow, the absence of Dorsal/NFκB nuclear localization, the absence of mesoderm determinants Twist and Snail, and the expansion of TGFβ. Gene expression analysis showed cells adopting ectodermal fates much like loss of Toll signaling. Our results combine novel mutants, live imaging, optogenetics and transcriptomics to establish a novel role for Raf, that appears to be independent of the MAPK cascade, in embryonic patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay B Lusk
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore
| | | | - Prameet Kaur
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore
| | | | - Wen Kin Lim
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore
| | | | - Nathan Harmston
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Nicholas S Tolwinski
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, 138527, Singapore.
- Yale-NUS College Research Labs @ E6, E6, 5 Engineering Drive 1, #04-02, Singapore, 117608, Singapore.
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Scott AM, Yan JL, Baxter CM, Dworkin I, Dukas R. The genetic basis of variation in sexual aggression: evolution versus social plasticity. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2865-2881. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.16437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Janice L. Yan
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Carling M. Baxter
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
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Lamont EI, Lee M, Burgdorf D, Ibsen C, McQualter J, Sarhan R, Thompson O, Schulze SR. Mocs1 ( Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1) may contribute to lifespan extension in Drosophila. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000517. [PMID: 35098048 PMCID: PMC8790633 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
While evaluating the effect on lifespan of decreased ribosomal protein (Rp) expression in Drosophila, we discovered a potential function in the same process for the Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1 (Mocs1) gene. We utilized the UAS-GAL4 inducible system, by crossing tissue-specific GAL4 drivers to the Harvard Drosophila Transgenic RNAi Project (TrIP) responder lines for Rp gene knockdown. We also employed a negative control that knocked down a gene unrelated to Drosophila (GAL4). Relative to the genetic background in which no driven transgenes were present, lifespan was significantly lengthened in females, both for Rp knockdown and the negative GAL4 control. We reasoned that the Mocs1 gene, located immediately downstream of the integration site on the third chromosome where all the TrIP responders are targeted might be responsible for the lifespan effects observed, due to the potential for upregulation using the UAS-GAL4 system. We repeated the lifespan experiment using an enhancer trap in the same location as the TrIP transgenes, and found that lifespan was significantly lengthened in females that possessed both the driver and responder, relative to controls, implicating Mocs1 in the biology of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor I. Lamont
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Michael Lee
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - David Burgdorf
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Camille Ibsen
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Jazmyne McQualter
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Ryan Sarhan
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Olivia Thompson
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Sandra R Schulze
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA,
Correspondence to: Sandra R Schulze ()
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Port F, Boutros M. Tissue-Specific CRISPR-Cas9 Screening in Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2540:157-176. [PMID: 35980577 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2541-5_7] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the last century research in Drosophila has resulted in many fundamental contributions to our understanding of the biology of multicellular organisms. Many of these breakthroughs have been based on the identification of novel gene functions in large-scale genetic screens. However, conventional forward-genetic screens have been limited by the random nature of mutagenesis and difficulties in mapping causal mutations, while reverse-genetic RNAi screens suffer from incomplete knockdown of gene expression. Recently developed large-scale CRISPR-Cas9 libraries promise to address these limitations by allowing the induction of targeted mutations in genes with spatial and temporal control. Here, we provide a guide for tissue-specific CRISPR screening in Drosophila, including the characterization of Gal4 UAS-Cas9 lines, selection of sgRNA libraries, and various quality control measures. We also discuss confounding factors that can give rise to false-positive and false-negative results in such experiments and suggest strategies on how to detect and avoid them. Conditional CRISPR screening represents an exciting new approach for functional genomics in vivo and is set to further expand our knowledge of the molecular underpinning of development, homeostasis, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fillip Port
- Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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49
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di Pietro F, Herszterg S, Huang A, Bosveld F, Alexandre C, Sancéré L, Pelletier S, Joudat A, Kapoor V, Vincent JP, Bellaïche Y. Rapid and robust optogenetic control of gene expression in Drosophila. Dev Cell 2021; 56:3393-3404.e7. [PMID: 34879263 PMCID: PMC8693864 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering gene function requires the ability to control gene expression in space and time. Binary systems such as the Gal4/UAS provide a powerful means to modulate gene expression and to induce loss or gain of function. This is best exemplified in Drosophila, where the Gal4/UAS system has been critical to discover conserved mechanisms in development, physiology, neurobiology, and metabolism, to cite a few. Here we describe a transgenic light-inducible Gal4/UAS system (ShineGal4/UAS) based on Magnet photoswitches. We show that it allows efficient, rapid, and robust activation of UAS-driven transgenes in different tissues and at various developmental stages in Drosophila. Furthermore, we illustrate how ShineGal4 enables the generation of gain and loss-of-function phenotypes at animal, organ, and cellular levels. Thanks to the large repertoire of UAS-driven transgenes, ShineGal4 enriches the Drosophila genetic toolkit by allowing in vivo control of gene expression with high temporal and spatial resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia di Pietro
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Anqi Huang
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Floris Bosveld
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Lucas Sancéré
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Pelletier
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Amina Joudat
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Varun Kapoor
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Yohanns Bellaïche
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 3215, Inserm U934, Genetics and Developmental Biology, 75005 Paris, France.
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50
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Zirin J, Bosch J, Viswanatha R, Mohr SE, Perrimon N. State-of-the-art CRISPR for in vivo and cell-based studies in Drosophila. Trends Genet 2021; 38:437-453. [PMID: 34933779 PMCID: PMC9007876 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
For more than 100 years, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has served as a powerful model organism for biological and biomedical research due to its many genetic and physiological similarities to humans and the availability of sophisticated technologies used to manipulate its genome and genes. The Drosophila research community quickly adopted CRISPR technologies and, in the 8 years since the first clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) publications in flies, has explored and innovated methods for mutagenesis, precise genome engineering, and beyond. Moreover, the short lifespan and ease of genetics have made Drosophila an ideal testing ground for in vivo applications and refinements of the rapidly evolving set of CRISPR-associated (CRISPR-Cas) tools. Here, we review innovations in delivery of CRISPR reagents, increased efficiency of cutting and homology-directed repair (HDR), and alternatives to standard Cas9-based approaches. While the focus is primarily on in vivo systems, we also describe the role of Drosophila cultured cells as both an indispensable first step in the process of assessing new CRISPR technologies and a platform for genome-wide CRISPR pooled screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zirin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Justin Bosch
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Raghuvir Viswanatha
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephanie E Mohr
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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