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Saha B, McNinch CM, Lu S, Ho MCW, De Carvalho SS, Barillas-Mury C. In-depth transcriptomic analysis of Anopheles gambiae hemocytes uncovers novel genes and the oenocytoid developmental lineage. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:80. [PMID: 38243165 PMCID: PMC10799387 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-09986-6] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemocytes are immune cells that patrol the mosquito hemocoel and mediate critical cellular defense responses against pathogens. However, despite their importance, a comprehensive transcriptome of these cells was lacking because they constitute a very small fraction of the total cells in the insect, limiting the study of hemocyte differentiation and immune function. RESULTS In this study, an in-depth hemocyte transcriptome was built by extensive bulk RNA sequencing and assembly of hemocyte RNAs from adult A. gambiae female mosquitoes, based on approximately 2.4 billion short Illumina and about 9.4 million long PacBio high-quality reads that mapped to the A. gambiae PEST genome (P4.14 version). A total of 34,939 transcripts were annotated including 4,020 transcripts from novel genes and 20,008 novel isoforms that result from extensive differential splicing of transcripts from previously annotated genes. Most hemocyte transcripts identified (89.8%) are protein-coding while 10.2% are non-coding RNAs. The number of transcripts identified in the novel hemocyte transcriptome is twice the number in the current annotation of the A. gambiae genome (P4.14 version). Furthermore, we were able to refine the analysis of a previously published single-cell transcriptome (scRNAseq) data set by using the novel hemocyte transcriptome as a reference to re-define the hemocyte clusters and determine the path of hemocyte differentiation. Unsupervised pseudo-temporal ordering using the Tools for Single Cell Analysis software uncovered a novel putative prohemocyte precursor cell type that gives rise to prohemocytes. Pseudo-temporal ordering with the Monocle 3 software, which analyses changes in gene expression during dynamic biological processes, determined that oenocytoids derive from prohemocytes, a cell population that also gives rise to the granulocyte lineage. CONCLUSION A high number of mRNA splice variants are expressed in hemocytes, and they may account for the plasticity required to mount efficient responses to many different pathogens. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive set of reference transcripts to perform robust single-cell transcriptomic data analysis of cells present in low abundance. The detailed annotation of the hemocyte transcriptome will uncover new facets of hemocyte development and function in adult dipterans and is a valuable community resource for future studies on mosquito cellular immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banhisikha Saha
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, USA
| | - Colton M McNinch
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Margaret C W Ho
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health, 20892, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie Serafim De Carvalho
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, USA.
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Mukherjee A, Nongthomba U. To RNA-binding and beyond: Emerging facets of the role of Rbfox proteins in development and disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023:e1813. [PMID: 37661850 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding Fox-1 homologue (Rbfox) proteins represent an ancient family of splicing factors, conserved through evolution. All members share an RNA recognition motif (RRM), and a particular affinity for the GCAUG signature in target RNA molecules. The role of Rbfox, as a splice factor, deciding the tissue-specific inclusion/exclusion of an exon, depending on its binding position on the flanking introns, is well known. Rbfox often acts in concert with other splicing factors, and forms splicing regulatory networks. Apart from this canonical role, recent studies show that Rbfox can also function as a transcription co-factor, and affects mRNA stability and translation. The repertoire of Rbfox targets is vast, including genes involved in the development of tissue lineages, such as neurogenesis, myogenesis, and erythropoeiesis, and molecular processes, including cytoskeletal dynamics, and calcium handling. A second layer of complexity is added by the fact that Rbfox expression itself is regulated by multiple mechanisms, and, in vertebrates, exhibits tissue-specific expression. The optimum dosage of Rbfox is critical, and its misexpression is etiological to various disease conditions. In this review, we discuss the contextual roles played by Rbfox as a tissue-specific regulator for the expression of many important genes with diverse functions, through the lens of the emerging data which highlights its involvement in many human diseases. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic details provided by studies in model organisms, with emphasis on the work with Drosophila. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amartya Mukherjee
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Upendra Nongthomba
- Department of Developmental Biology and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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An anti-inflammatory transcriptional cascade conserved from flies to humans. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111506. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Silver LW, Cheng Y, Quigley BL, Robbins A, Timms P, Hogg CJ, Belov K. A targeted approach to investigating immune genes of an iconic Australian marsupial. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3286-3303. [PMID: 35510793 PMCID: PMC9325493 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Disease is a contributing factor to the decline of wildlife populations across the globe. Koalas, iconic yet declining Australian marsupials, are predominantly impacted by two pathogens, Chlamydia and koala retrovirus. Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacterium and one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections in humans worldwide. In koalas, Chlamydia infections can present as asymptomatic or can cause a range of ocular and urogenital disease signs, such as conjunctivitis, cystitis and infertility. In this study, we looked at differences in response to Chlamydia in two northern populations of koalas using a targeted gene sequencing of 1209 immune genes in addition to genome‐wide reduced representation data. We identified two MHC Class I genes associated with Chlamydia disease progression as well as 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 17 genes that were associated with resolution of Chlamydia infection. These genes are involved in the innate immune response (TLR5) and defence (TLR5, IFNγ, SERPINE1, STAT2 and STX4). This study deepens our understanding of the role that genetics plays in disease progression in koalas and leads into future work that will use whole genome resequencing of a larger sample set to investigate in greater detail regions identified in this study. Elucidation of the role of host genetics in disease progression and resolution in koalas will directly contribute to better design of Chlamydia vaccines and management of koala populations which have recently been listed as “endangered.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke W Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Bonnie L Quigley
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia.,Provectus Algae Pty Ltd, 5 Bartlett Road, Noosaville, Queensland, 4566, Australia
| | - Amy Robbins
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia.,Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd, 1695 Pumicestone Road, Toorbul, Queensland, 4510, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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Nikonova E, Mukherjee A, Kamble K, Barz C, Nongthomba U, Spletter ML. Rbfox1 is required for myofibril development and maintaining fiber type-specific isoform expression in Drosophila muscles. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/4/e202101342. [PMID: 34996845 PMCID: PMC8742874 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101342] [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: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein isoform transitions confer muscle fibers with distinct properties and are regulated by differential transcription and alternative splicing. RNA-binding Fox protein 1 (Rbfox1) can affect both transcript levels and splicing, and is known to contribute to normal muscle development and physiology in vertebrates, although the detailed mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, we report that Rbfox1 contributes to the generation of adult muscle diversity in Drosophila Rbfox1 is differentially expressed among muscle fiber types, and RNAi knockdown causes a hypercontraction phenotype that leads to behavioral and eclosion defects. Misregulation of fiber type-specific gene and splice isoform expression, notably loss of an indirect flight muscle-specific isoform of Troponin-I that is critical for regulating myosin activity, leads to structural defects. We further show that Rbfox1 directly binds the 3'-UTR of target transcripts, regulates the expression level of myogenic transcription factors myocyte enhancer factor 2 and Salm, and both modulates expression of and genetically interacts with the CELF family RNA-binding protein Bruno1 (Bru1). Rbfox1 and Bru1 co-regulate fiber type-specific alternative splicing of structural genes, indicating that regulatory interactions between FOX and CELF family RNA-binding proteins are conserved in fly muscle. Rbfox1 thus affects muscle development by regulating fiber type-specific splicing and expression dynamics of identity genes and structural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nikonova
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
| | - Amartya Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Ketaki Kamble
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Christiane Barz
- Muscle Dynamics Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
| | - Upendra Nongthomba
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics (MRDG), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Maria L Spletter
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried-Planegg, Germany
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A Broad-Based Mosquito Yeast Interfering RNA Pesticide Targeting Rbfox1 Represses Notch Signaling and Kills Both Larvae and Adult Mosquitoes. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101251. [PMID: 34684200 PMCID: PMC8541554 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevention of mosquito-borne infectious diseases will require new classes of environmentally safe insecticides and novel mosquito control technologies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was engineered to express short hairpin RNA (shRNA) corresponding to mosquito Rbfox1 genes. The yeast induced target gene silencing, resulting in larval death that was observed in both laboratory and outdoor semi-field trials conducted on Aedes aegypti. High levels of mortality were also observed during simulated field trials in which adult females consumed yeast delivered through a sugar bait. Mortality correlated with defects in the mosquito brain, in which a role for Rbfox1 as a positive regulator of Notch signaling was identified. The larvicidal and adulticidal activities of the yeast were subsequently confirmed in trials conducted on Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus, yet the yeast had no impact on survival of select non-target arthropods. These studies indicate that yeast RNAi pesticides targeting Rbfox1 could be further developed as broad-based mosquito larvicides and adulticides for deployment in integrated biorational mosquito control programs. These findings also suggest that the species-specificity of attractive targeted sugar baits, a new paradigm for vector control, could potentially be enhanced through RNAi technology, and specifically through the use of yeast-based interfering RNA pesticides.
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Ma L, Liu L, Lu Z. Pea Aphid Rearing, Bacterial Infection and Hemocyte Phagocytosis Assay. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3862. [PMID: 33659504 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3862] [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: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects rely on the simple but effective innate immune system to combat infection. Cellular and humoral responses are interconnected and synergistic in insects' innate immune system. Phagocytosis is one major cellular response. It is difficult to collect clean hemolymph from the small insect like pea aphid. Here, we provide a practicable method for small insects hemocyte phagocytosis assay by taking pea aphid as an example. Furthermore, we provide the protocols for pea aphid rearing and bacterial infection, which offer referential method for related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.,Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhiqiang Lu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Kong X, Zhai J, Yan C, Song Y, Wang J, Bai X, Brown JAL, Fang Y. Recent Advances in Understanding FOXN3 in Breast Cancer, and Other Malignancies. Front Oncol 2019; 9:234. [PMID: 31214487 PMCID: PMC6555274 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXN3 (forkhead box N3; CHES1: check point suppressor 1) belongs to the forkhead box (FOX) protein family. FOXN3 displays transcriptional inhibitory activity, and is involved in cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. FOXN3 is a tumor suppresser and alterations in FOXN3 are found in of a variety of cancers including melanoma, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the roles of FOXN3 role in some cancers have been explored, its role in breast cancer remains unclear. Here we describe current state of knowledge of FOXN3 functions, and focus on its roles (known and potential) in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyi Kong
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhai
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chengrui Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Song
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Bai
- Department of Pancreatic-Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - James A L Brown
- Discipline of Surgery, School of Medicine, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.,Centre for Chromosome Biology, National University of Ireland in Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Yi Fang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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