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Dong J, Ye T, Dong Y, Hui J, Wang X. Ursolic acid attenuates oligospermia in busulfan-induced mice by promoting motor proteins. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17691. [PMID: 38978752 PMCID: PMC11229684 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Oligospermia is one of the most common reasons for male infertility which is troubling numerous couples of child-bearing age. This investigation scrutinizes the implications and mechanistic underpinnings of ursolic acid's effect on busulfan-induced oligospermia in mouse models. Methods A singular intraperitoneal injection of busulfan at a dosage of 30 mg/kg induced oligospermia. Two weeks subsequent to this induction, mice were subjected to various dosages of ursolic acid (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg body weight, respectively) on a daily basis for four consecutive weeks. Following this treatment period, a meticulous analysis of epididymal sperm parameters, encompassing concentration and motility, was conducted using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. The histopathology of the mice testes was performed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the cytoskeleton regeneration of the testicular tissues was analyzed via immunofluorescent staining. Serum hormone levels, including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, as well as reactive oxygen species levels (inclusive of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde), were gauged employing specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Differentially expressed genes of testicular mRNA between the oligospermia-induced group and the various ursolic acid treatment groups were identified through RNA sequencing analysis. Results The results revealed that a dosage of 50 mg/kg ursolic acid treatment could increase the concentration of epididymal sperm in oligospermia mice, promote the recovery of testicular morphology, regulate hormone levels and ameliorate oxidative damage. The mechanism research results indicated that ursolic acid increased the expression level of genes related to motor proteins in oligospermia mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Dong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Nantong Institute of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Nantong, JIangsu, China
| | - Taowen Ye
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanli Dong
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Hui
- Lianyungang Higher Vocational Technical College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Nantong Institute of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Nantong, JIangsu, China
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Wang Z, Bartholomai BM, Loros JJ, Dunlap JC. Optimized fluorescent proteins for 4-color and photoconvertible live-cell imaging in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 164:103763. [PMID: 36481248 PMCID: PMC10501358 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103763] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fungal cells are quite unique among life in their organization and structure, and yet implementation of many tools recently developed for fluorescence imaging in animal systems and yeast has been slow in filamentous fungi. Here we present analysis of properties of fluorescent proteins in Neurospora crassa as well as describing genetic tools for the expression of these proteins that may be useful beyond cell biology applications. The brightness and photostability of ten different fluorescent protein tags were compared in a well-controlled system; six different promoters are described for the assessment of the fluorescent proteins and varying levels of expression, as well as a customizable bidirectional promoter system. We present an array of fluorescent proteins suitable for use across the visible light spectrum to allow for 4-color imaging, in addition to a photoconvertible fluorescent protein that enables a change in the color of a small subset of proteins in the cell. These tools build on the rich history of cell biology research in filamentous fungi and provide new tools to help expand research capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Wang
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Bradley M Bartholomai
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Jennifer J Loros
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Jay C Dunlap
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Hanover, NH, USA.
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Ramírez-Cota R, Espino-Vazquez AN, Carolina Rodriguez-Vega T, Evelyn Macias-Díaz R, Alicia Callejas-Negrete O, Freitag M, Fischer R, Roberson RW, Mouriño-Pérez RR. The cytoplasmic microtubule array in Neurospora crassa depends on microtubule-organizing centers at spindle pole bodies and microtubule +end-depending pseudo-MTOCs at septa. Fungal Genet Biol 2022; 162:103729. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Raudaskoski M. Kinesin Motors in the Filamentous Basidiomycetes in Light of the Schizophyllum commune Genome. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030294. [PMID: 35330296 PMCID: PMC8950801 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030294] [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: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinesins are essential motor molecules of the microtubule cytoskeleton. All eukaryotic organisms have several genes encoding kinesin proteins, which are necessary for various cell biological functions. During the vegetative growth of filamentous basidiomycetes, the apical cells of long leading hyphae have microtubules extending toward the tip. The reciprocal exchange and migration of nuclei between haploid hyphae at mating is also dependent on cytoskeletal structures, including the microtubules and their motor molecules. In dikaryotic hyphae, resulting from a compatible mating, the nuclear location, synchronous nuclear division, and extensive nuclear separation at telophase are microtubule-dependent processes that involve unidentified molecular motors. The genome of Schizophyllum commune is analyzed as an example of a species belonging to the Basidiomycota subclass, Agaricomycetes. In this subclass, the investigation of cell biology is restricted to a few species. Instead, the whole genome sequences of several species are now available. The analyses of the mating type genes and the genes necessary for fruiting body formation or wood degrading enzymes in several genomes of Agaricomycetes have shown that they are controlled by comparable systems. This supports the idea that the genes regulating the cell biological process in a model fungus, such as the genes encoding kinesin motor molecules, are also functional in other filamentous Agaricomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjatta Raudaskoski
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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Verdín J, Sánchez-León E, Rico-Ramírez AM, Martínez-Núñez L, Fajardo-Somera RA, Riquelme M. Off the wall: The rhyme and reason of Neurospora crassa hyphal morphogenesis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5:100020. [PMID: 32743136 PMCID: PMC7389182 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2019.100020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chitin and β-1,3-glucan synthases are transported separately in chitosomes and macrovesicles. Chitin synthases occupy the core of the SPK; β-1,3-glucan synthases the outer layer. CHS-4 arrival to the SPK and septa is CSE-7 dependent. Rabs YPT-1 and YPT-31 localization at the SPK mimics that of chitosomes and macrovesicles. The exocyst acts as a tether between the SPK outer layer vesicles and the apical PM.
The fungal cell wall building processes are the ultimate determinants of hyphal shape. In Neurospora crassa the main cell wall components, β-1,3-glucan and chitin, are synthesized by enzymes conveyed by specialized vesicles to the hyphal tip. These vesicles follow different secretory routes, which are delicately coordinated by cargo-specific Rab GTPases until their accumulation at the Spitzenkörper. From there, the exocyst mediates the docking of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane, where they ultimately get fused. Although significant progress has been done on the cellular mechanisms that carry cell wall synthesizing enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum to hyphal tips, a lot of information is still missing. Here, the current knowledge on N. crassa cell wall composition and biosynthesis is presented with an emphasis on the underlying molecular and cellular secretory processes.
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Key Words
- BGT, β-1,3-glucan transferases
- CHS, chitin synthase
- CLSM, confocal laser scanning microscopy
- CWI, cell wall integrity
- CWP, cell wall proteins
- Cell wall
- ER, endoplasmic reticulum
- FRAP, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching
- GEF, guanine nucleotide exchange factor
- GFP, green fluorescent protein
- GH, glycosyl hydrolases
- GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol
- GSC, β-1,3-glucan synthase complex
- MMD, myosin-like motor domain
- MS, mass spectrometry
- MT, microtubule
- NEC, network of elongated cisternae
- PM, plasma membrane
- SPK, Spitzenkörper
- Spitzenkörper
- TIRFM, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy
- TM, transmembrane
- Tip growth
- Vesicles
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Verdín
- Industrial Biotechnology, CIATEJ-Jalisco State Scientific Research and Technology Assistance Center, Mexico National Council for Science and Technology, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Eddy Sánchez-León
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Adriana M Rico-Ramírez
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, CICESE Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Leonora Martínez-Núñez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Rosa A Fajardo-Somera
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, CICESE Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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Ilan Y. Microtubules: From understanding their dynamics to using them as potential therapeutic targets. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:7923-7937. [PMID: 30536951 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules (MT) and actin microfilaments are dynamic cytoskeleton components involved in a range of intracellular processes. MTs play a role in cell division, beating of cilia and flagella, and intracellular transport. Over the past decades, much knowledge has been gained regarding MT function and structure, and its role in underlying disease progression. This makes MT potential therapeutic targets for various disorders. Disturbances in MT and their associated proteins are the underlying cause of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and several genetic diseases. Some of the advances in the field of MT research, as well as the potenti G beta gamma, is needed al uses of MT-targeting agents in various conditions have been reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Ilan
- Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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Weiner A, Orange F, Lacas‐Gervais S, Rechav K, Ghugtyal V, Bassilana M, Arkowitz RA. On‐site secretory vesicle delivery drives filamentous growth in the fungal pathogenCandida albicans. Cell Microbiol 2018; 21:e12963. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Allon Weiner
- Université Côte d'AzurCNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology Valrose Parc Valrose Nice France
| | | | | | - Katya Rechav
- Chemical Research SupportWeizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Vikram Ghugtyal
- Université Côte d'AzurCNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology Valrose Parc Valrose Nice France
| | - Martine Bassilana
- Université Côte d'AzurCNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology Valrose Parc Valrose Nice France
| | - Robert A. Arkowitz
- Université Côte d'AzurCNRS, Inserm, Institute of Biology Valrose Parc Valrose Nice France
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Xiang X. Nuclear movement in fungi. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 82:3-16. [PMID: 29241689 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear movement within a cell occurs in a variety of eukaryotic organisms including yeasts and filamentous fungi. Fungal molecular genetic studies identified the minus-end-directed microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein as a critical protein for nuclear movement or orientation of the mitotic spindle contained in the nucleus. Studies in the budding yeast first indicated that dynein anchored at the cortex via its anchoring protein Num1 exerts pulling force on an astral microtubule to orient the anaphase spindle across the mother-daughter axis before nuclear division. Prior to anaphase, myosin V interacts with the plus end of an astral microtubule via Kar9-Bim1/EB1 and pulls the plus end along the actin cables to move the nucleus/spindle close to the bud neck. In addition, pushing or pulling forces generated from cortex-linked polymerization or depolymerization of microtubules drive nuclear movements in yeasts and possibly also in filamentous fungi. In filamentous fungi, multiple nuclei within a hyphal segment undergo dynein-dependent back-and-forth movements and their positioning is also influenced by cytoplasmic streaming toward the hyphal tip. In addition, nuclear movement occurs at various stages of fungal development and fungal infection of plant tissues. This review discusses our current understanding on the mechanisms of nuclear movement in fungal organisms, the importance of nuclear positioning and the regulatory strategies that ensure the proper positioning of nucleus/spindle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Abstract
Filamentous fungi have proven to be a better-suited model system than unicellular yeasts in analyses of cellular processes such as polarized growth, exocytosis, endocytosis, and cytoskeleton-based organelle traffic. For example, the filamentous fungus
Neurospora crassa develops a variety of cellular forms. Studying the molecular basis of these forms has led to a better, yet incipient, understanding of polarized growth. Polarity factors as well as Rho GTPases, septins, and a localized delivery of vesicles are the central elements described so far that participate in the shift from isotropic to polarized growth. The growth of the cell wall by apical biosynthesis and remodeling of polysaccharide components is a key process in hyphal morphogenesis. The coordinated action of motor proteins and Rab GTPases mediates the vesicular journey along the hyphae toward the apex, where the exocyst mediates vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane. Cytoplasmic microtubules and actin microfilaments serve as tracks for the transport of vesicular carriers as well as organelles in the tubular cell, contributing to polarization. In addition to exocytosis, endocytosis is required to set and maintain the apical polarity of the cell. Here, we summarize some of the most recent breakthroughs in hyphal morphogenesis and apical growth in
N. crassa and the emerging questions that we believe should be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - Leonora Martínez-Núñez
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
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