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Duarte RMF, Malta SM, Mascarenhas FNADP, Bittar VP, Borges AL, Teixeira RR, Zanon RG, Vieira CU, Espindola FS. Chronic exposure to 2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane that induces intestinal damage and oxidative stress in larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 106:104388. [PMID: 38355029 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Embryonic development is exceptionally susceptible to pathogenic, chemistry and mechanical stressors as they can disrupt homeostasis, causing damage and impacted viability. Oxidative stress has the capacity to induce alterations and reshape the environment. However, the specific impacts of these oxidative stress-induced damages in the gastrointestinal tract of Drosophila melanogaster larvae have been minimally explored. This study used 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a free radical generator, to investigate oxidative stress effects on Drosophila embryo development. The results showed that exposing Drosophila eggs to 30 mM AAPH during 1st instar larva, 2nd instar larva and 3rd instar larva stages significantly reduced hatching rates and pupal generation. It increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased oxidative damage to proteins and MDA content, indicating severe oxidative stress. Morphological changes in 3rd individuals included decreased brush borders in enterocytes and reduced lipid vacuoles in trophocytes, essential fat bodies for insect metabolism. Immunostaining revealed elevated cleaved caspase 3, an apoptosis marker. This evidence validates the impact of oxidative stress toxicity and cell apoptosis following exposure, offering insights into comprehending the chemically induced effects of oxidative stress by AAPH on animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Serena Mares Malta
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Vinicius Prado Bittar
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza Borges
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Renata Graciele Zanon
- Institute of Biomedicals Science, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ueira Vieira
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil
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Chakravorty A, Sheeba V, Manjithaya R. Drosophila melanogaster Neuromuscular Junction as a Model to Study Synaptopathies and Neuronal Autophagy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2761:97-120. [PMID: 38427233 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3662-6_9] [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: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal synapse dysfunction is a key characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, and Huntington's disease. Modeling these disorders to study synaptic dysfunction requires a robust and reproducible method for assaying the subtle changes associated with synaptopathies in terms of structure and function of the synapses. Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) serve as good models to study such alterations. Further, modifications in the microenvironment of synapses can sometimes reflect in the behavior of the animal, which can also be assayed in a high-throughput manner. The methods outlined in this chapter highlight assays to study the behavioral changes associated with synaptic dysfunction in a spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) model. Further, molecular assessment of alterations in NMJ structure and function is also summarized, followed by effects of autophagy pathway upregulation in providing neuroprotection. These methods can be further extended and modified to study the therapeutic effects of drugs or small molecules in providing neuroprotection for any synaptopathy models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka Chakravorty
- Autophagy Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Vasu Sheeba
- Chronobiology and Behavioural Neurogenetics Laboratory, Neuroscience Unit, Bangalore, India.
| | - Ravi Manjithaya
- Autophagy Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India.
- Chronobiology and Behavioural Neurogenetics Laboratory, Neuroscience Unit, Bangalore, India.
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Schiemann R, Buhr A, Cordes E, Walter S, Heinisch JJ, Ferrero P, Milting H, Paululat A, Meyer H. Neprilysins regulate muscle contraction and heart function via cleavage of SERCA-inhibitory micropeptides. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4420. [PMID: 35906206 PMCID: PMC9338278 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31974-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle contraction depends on strictly controlled Ca2+ transients within myocytes. A major player maintaining these transients is the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, SERCA. Activity of SERCA is regulated by binding of micropeptides and impaired expression or function of these peptides results in cardiomyopathy. To date, it is not known how homeostasis or turnover of the micropeptides is regulated. Herein, we find that the Drosophila endopeptidase Neprilysin 4 hydrolyzes SERCA-inhibitory Sarcolamban peptides in membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, thereby ensuring proper regulation of SERCA. Cleavage is necessary and sufficient to maintain homeostasis and function of the micropeptides. Analyses on human Neprilysin, sarcolipin, and ventricular cardiomyocytes indicates that the regulatory mechanism is evolutionarily conserved. By identifying a neprilysin as essential regulator of SERCA activity and Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, these data contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms that control muscle contraction and heart function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Schiemann
- Department of Zoology & Developmental Biology, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Annika Buhr
- Department of Zoology & Developmental Biology, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Eva Cordes
- Department of Zoology & Developmental Biology, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Stefan Walter
- Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück - CellNanOs, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Jürgen J Heinisch
- Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück - CellNanOs, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.,Department of Genetics, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Paola Ferrero
- Center for Cardiovascular Research - CONICET/National University of La Plata, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Hendrik Milting
- Heart & Diabetes Center NRW, University of Bochum, Erich & Hanna Klessmann-Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Development, 32545, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
| | - Achim Paululat
- Department of Zoology & Developmental Biology, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.,Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück - CellNanOs, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Heiko Meyer
- Department of Zoology & Developmental Biology, Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany. .,Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück - CellNanOs, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.
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Krishnamoorthy A, Kadener S. Using Drosophila to uncover molecular and physiological functions of circRNAs. Methods 2021; 196:74-84. [PMID: 33901645 PMCID: PMC8542058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of covalently closed RNA molecules generated by backsplicing. circRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific manner, accumulate with age in neural tissues, and are highly stable. In many cases, circRNAs are generated at the expense of a linear transcript as back-splicing competes with linear splicing. Some circRNAs regulate gene expression in cis, and some circRNAs can be translated into protein. The advent of deep sequencing and new bioinformatic tools has allowed detection of thousands of circRNAs in eukaryotes. Studying the functions of circRNAs is done using a combination of molecular and genetic methods. The unique genetic tools that can be used in studies of Drosophila melanogaster are ideal for deciphering the functions of circRNAs in vivo. These tools include the GAL4-UAS system, which can be used to manipulate the levels of circRNAs with exquisite temporal and spatial control, and genetic interaction screening, which could be used to identify pathways regulated by circRNAs. Research performed in Drosophila has revealed circRNAs production mechanisms, details of their translation, and their physiological functions. Due to their short lifecycle and the existence of excellent neurodegeneration models, Drosophila can also be used to study the role of circRNAs in aging and age-related disorders. Here, we review molecular and genetic tools and methods for detecting, manipulating, and studying circRNAs in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian Kadener
- Biology Department, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, United States.
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