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Zhang X, Sun D, Wong K, Salkini A, Najafi H, Kim WJ. The astrocyte-enriched gene deathstar plays a crucial role in the development, locomotion, and lifespan of D. melanogaster. Fly (Austin) 2024; 18:2368336. [PMID: 38884422 PMCID: PMC11185185 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2024.2368336] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila melanogaster brain is a complex organ with various cell types, orchestrating the development, physiology, and behaviors of the fly. While each cell type in Drosophila brain is known to express a unique gene set, their complete genetic profile is still unknown. Advances in the RNA sequencing techniques at single-cell resolution facilitate identifying novel cell type markers and/or re-examining the specificity of the available ones. In this study, exploiting a single-cell RNA sequencing data of Drosophila optic lobe, we categorized the cells based on their expression pattern for known markers, then the genes with enriched expression in astrocytes were identified. CG11000 was identified as a gene with a comparable expression profile to the Eaat1 gene, an astrocyte marker, in every individual cell inside the Drosophila optic lobe and midbrain, as well as in the entire Drosophila brain throughout its development. Consistent with our bioinformatics data, immunostaining of the brains dissected from transgenic adult flies showed co-expression of CG11000 with Eaat1 in a set of single cells corresponding to the astrocytes in the Drosophila brain. Physiologically, inhibiting CG11000 through RNA interference disrupted the normal development of male D. melanogaster, while having no impact on females. Expression suppression of CG11000 in adult flies led to decreased locomotion activity and also shortened lifespan specifically in astrocytes, indicating the gene's significance in astrocytes. We designated this gene as 'deathstar' due to its crucial role in maintaining the star-like shape of glial cells, astrocytes, throughout their development into adult stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Zhang
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Dongyu Sun
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Kyle Wong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ammar Salkini
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hadi Najafi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Woo Jae Kim
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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2
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Elagoz AM, Van Dijck M, Lassnig M, Seuntjens E. Embryonic development of a centralised brain in coleoid cephalopods. Neural Dev 2024; 19:8. [PMID: 38907272 PMCID: PMC11191162 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-024-00186-2] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The last common ancestor of cephalopods and vertebrates lived about 580 million years ago, yet coleoid cephalopods, comprising squid, cuttlefish and octopus, have evolved an extraordinary behavioural repertoire that includes learned behaviour and tool utilization. These animals also developed innovative advanced defence mechanisms such as camouflage and ink release. They have evolved unique life cycles and possess the largest invertebrate nervous systems. Thus, studying coleoid cephalopods provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into the evolution and development of large centralised nervous systems. As non-model species, molecular and genetic tools are still limited. However, significant insights have already been gained to deconvolve embryonic brain development. Even though coleoid cephalopods possess a typical molluscan circumesophageal bauplan for their central nervous system, aspects of its development are reminiscent of processes observed in vertebrates as well, such as long-distance neuronal migration. This review provides an overview of embryonic coleoid cephalopod research focusing on the cellular and molecular aspects of neurogenesis, migration and patterning. Additionally, we summarize recent work on neural cell type diversity in embryonic and hatchling cephalopod brains. We conclude by highlighting gaps in our knowledge and routes for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M Elagoz
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Marie Van Dijck
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark Lassnig
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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3
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Sukumar SK, Antonydhason V, Molander L, Sandakly J, Kleit M, Umapathy G, Mendoza-Garcia P, Masudi T, Schlosser A, Nässel DR, Wegener C, Shirinian M, Palmer RH. The Alk receptor tyrosine kinase regulates Sparkly, a novel activity regulating neuropeptide precursor in the Drosophila central nervous system. eLife 2024; 12:RP88985. [PMID: 38904987 PMCID: PMC11196111 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88985] [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: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous roles for the Alk receptor tyrosine kinase have been described in Drosophila, including functions in the central nervous system (CNS), however the molecular details are poorly understood. To gain mechanistic insight, we employed Targeted DamID (TaDa) transcriptional profiling to identify targets of Alk signaling in the larval CNS. TaDa was employed in larval CNS tissues, while genetically manipulating Alk signaling output. The resulting TaDa data were analyzed together with larval CNS scRNA-seq datasets performed under similar conditions, identifying a role for Alk in the transcriptional regulation of neuroendocrine gene expression. Further integration with bulk and scRNA-seq datasets from larval brains in which Alk signaling was manipulated identified a previously uncharacterized Drosophila neuropeptide precursor encoded by CG4577 as an Alk signaling transcriptional target. CG4577, which we named Sparkly (Spar), is expressed in a subset of Alk-positive neuroendocrine cells in the developing larval CNS, including circadian clock neurons. In agreement with our TaDa analysis, overexpression of the Drosophila Alk ligand Jeb resulted in increased levels of Spar protein in the larval CNS. We show that Spar protein is expressed in circadian (clock) neurons, and flies lacking Spar exhibit defects in sleep and circadian activity control. In summary, we report a novel activity regulating neuropeptide precursor gene that is regulated by Alk signaling in the Drosophila CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kumar Sukumar
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Vimala Antonydhason
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Linnea Molander
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Jawdat Sandakly
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of BeirutBeirutLebanon
| | - Malak Kleit
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of BeirutBeirutLebanon
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Patricia Mendoza-Garcia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Tafheem Masudi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Andreas Schlosser
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Rudolf-Virchow-Center, Center for Integrative and Translational BioimagingWürzburgGermany
| | - Dick R Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | - Christian Wegener
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Biocenter, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Neurobiology and GeneticsWürzburgGermany
| | - Margret Shirinian
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of BeirutBeirutLebanon
| | - Ruth H Palmer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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4
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Hoedjes KM, Grath S, Posnien N, Ritchie MG, Schlötterer C, Abbott JK, Almudi I, Coronado-Zamora M, Durmaz Mitchell E, Flatt T, Fricke C, Glaser-Schmitt A, González J, Holman L, Kankare M, Lenhart B, Orengo DJ, Snook RR, Yılmaz VM, Yusuf L. From whole bodies to single cells: A guide to transcriptomic approaches for ecology and evolutionary biology. Mol Ecol 2024:e17382. [PMID: 38856653 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
RNA sequencing (RNAseq) methodology has experienced a burst of technological developments in the last decade, which has opened up opportunities for studying the mechanisms of adaptation to environmental factors at both the organismal and cellular level. Selecting the most suitable experimental approach for specific research questions and model systems can, however, be a challenge and researchers in ecology and evolution are commonly faced with the choice of whether to study gene expression variation in whole bodies, specific tissues, and/or single cells. A wide range of sometimes polarised opinions exists over which approach is best. Here, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each of these approaches to provide a guide to help researchers make informed decisions and maximise the power of their study. Using illustrative examples of various ecological and evolutionary research questions, we guide the readers through the different RNAseq approaches and help them identify the most suitable design for their own projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja M Hoedjes
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sonja Grath
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Nico Posnien
- Department of Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael G Ritchie
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | | | | | - Isabel Almudi
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Esra Durmaz Mitchell
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Functional Genomics and Metabolism Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Thomas Flatt
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Zoology/Animal Ecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Josefa González
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, CSIC, UPF, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luke Holman
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maaria Kankare
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Benedict Lenhart
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Dorcas J Orengo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rhonda R Snook
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vera M Yılmaz
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Leeban Yusuf
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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5
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Ramirez MD, Bui TN, Katz PS. Cellular-resolution gene expression mapping reveals organization in the head ganglia of the gastropod, Berghia stephanieae. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25628. [PMID: 38852042 PMCID: PMC11198006 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25628] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Gastropod molluscs such as Aplysia, Lymnaea, and Tritonia have been important for determining fundamental rules of motor control, learning, and memory because of their large, individually identifiable neurons. Yet only a small number of gastropod neurons have known molecular markers, limiting the ability to establish brain-wide structure-function relations. Here we combine high-throughput, single-cell RNA sequencing with in situ hybridization chain reaction in the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae to identify and visualize the expression of markers for cell types. Broad neuronal classes were characterized by genes associated with neurotransmitters, like acetylcholine, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA, as well as neuropeptides. These classes were subdivided by other genes including transcriptional regulators and unannotated genes. Marker genes expressed by neurons and glia formed discrete, previously unrecognized regions within and between ganglia. This study provides the foundation for understanding the fundamental cellular organization of gastropod nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thi N. Bui
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
| | - Paul S. Katz
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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6
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Katagade V, Kandroo M, Ratnaparkhi A. Embryonic spatiotemporal expression pattern of Folded gastrulation suggests roles in multiple morphogenetic events and regulation by AbdA. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae032. [PMID: 38366558 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae032] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In Drosophila, the signaling pathway activated by the ligand Folded gastrulation (Fog) is among the few known G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways to regulate cell shape change with a well-characterized role in gastrulation. However, an understanding of the spectrum of morphogenetic events regulated by Fog signaling is still lacking. Here, we present an analysis of the expression pattern and regulation of fog using a genome-engineered Fog::sfGFP line. We show that Fog expression is widespread and in tissues previously not associated with the signaling pathway including germ cells, trachea, and amnioserosa. In the central nervous system (CNS), we find that the ligand is expressed in multiple types of glia indicating a prominent role in the development of these cells. Consistent with this, we have identified 3 intronic enhancers whose expression in the CNS overlaps with Fog::sfGFP. Further, we show that enhancer-1, (fogintenh-1) located proximal to the coding exon is responsive to AbdA. Supporting this, we find that fog expression is downregulated in abdA mutants. Together, our study highlights the broad scope of Fog-GPCR signaling during embryogenesis and identifies Hox gene AbdA as a novel regulator of fog expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vrushali Katagade
- MACS-Agharkar Research Institute (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University), Developmental Biology Group, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
| | - Manisha Kandroo
- MACS-Agharkar Research Institute (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University), Developmental Biology Group, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anuradha Ratnaparkhi
- MACS-Agharkar Research Institute (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University), Developmental Biology Group, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, Maharashtra, India
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7
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Nguyen TH, Vicidomini R, Choudhury SD, Han TH, Maric D, Brody T, Serpe M. scRNA-seq data from the larval Drosophila ventral cord provides a resource for studying motor systems function and development. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1210-1230.e9. [PMID: 38569548 PMCID: PMC11078614 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.016] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord (VNC) shares many similarities with the spinal cord of vertebrates and has emerged as a major model for understanding the development and function of motor systems. Here, we use high-quality scRNA-seq, validated by anatomical identification, to create a comprehensive census of larval VNC cell types. We show that the neural lineages that comprise the adult VNC are already defined, but quiescent, at the larval stage. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-enriched populations, we separate all motor neuron bundles and link individual neuron clusters to morphologically characterized known subtypes. We discovered a glutamate receptor subunit required for basal neurotransmission and homeostasis at the larval neuromuscular junction. We describe larval glia and endorse the general view that glia perform consistent activities throughout development. This census represents an extensive resource and a powerful platform for future discoveries of cellular and molecular mechanisms in repair, regeneration, plasticity, homeostasis, and behavioral coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dragan Maric
- Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Yin J, Chen HL, Grigsby-Brown A, He Y, Cotten ML, Short J, Dermady A, Lei J, Gibbs M, Cheng ES, Zhang D, Long C, Xu L, Zhong T, Abzalimov R, Haider M, Sun R, He Y, Zhou Q, Tjandra N, Yuan Q. Glia-derived secretory fatty acid binding protein Obp44a regulates lipid storage and efflux in the developing Drosophila brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588417. [PMID: 38645138 PMCID: PMC11030299 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Glia derived secretory factors play diverse roles in supporting the development, physiology, and stress responses of the central nervous system (CNS). Through transcriptomics and imaging analyses, we have identified Obp44a as one of the most abundantly produced secretory proteins from Drosophila CNS glia. Protein structure homology modeling and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments reveal Obp44a as a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) with a high affinity towards long-chain fatty acids in both native and oxidized forms. Further analyses demonstrate that Obp44a effectively infiltrates the neuropil, traffics between neuron and glia, and is secreted into hemolymph, acting as a lipid chaperone and scavenger to regulate lipid and redox homeostasis in the developing brain. In agreement with this essential role, deficiency of Obp44a leads to anatomical and behavioral deficits in adult animals and elevated oxidized lipid levels. Collectively, our findings unveil the crucial involvement of a noncanonical lipid chaperone to shuttle fatty acids within and outside the brain, as needed to maintain a healthy brain lipid environment. These findings could inspire the design of novel approaches to restore lipid homeostasis that is dysregulated in CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yin
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Hsueh-Ling Chen
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Anna Grigsby-Brown
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Yi He
- Fermentation Facility, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Myriam L Cotten
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
| | - Jacob Short
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Aidan Dermady
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jingce Lei
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Mary Gibbs
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ethan S Cheng
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Dean Zhang
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Caixia Long
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Lele Xu
- Advanced Science Research Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY
| | - Tiffany Zhong
- Neuroscience Program, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
| | - Rinat Abzalimov
- Advanced Science Research Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY
| | - Mariam Haider
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Rong Sun
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Ye He
- Advanced Science Research Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY
| | - Qiangjun Zhou
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Nico Tjandra
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Quan Yuan
- Dendrite Morphogenesis and Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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9
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Samuels TJ, Gui J, Gebert D, Karam Teixeira F. Two distinct waves of transcriptome and translatome changes drive Drosophila germline stem cell differentiation. EMBO J 2024; 43:1591-1617. [PMID: 38480936 PMCID: PMC11021484 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00070-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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The tight control of fate transitions during stem cell differentiation is essential for proper tissue development and maintenance. However, the challenges in studying sparsely distributed adult stem cells in a systematic manner have hindered efforts to identify how the multilayered regulation of gene expression programs orchestrates stem cell differentiation in vivo. Here, we synchronised Drosophila female germline stem cell (GSC) differentiation in vivo to perform in-depth transcriptome and translatome analyses at high temporal resolution. This characterisation revealed widespread and dynamic changes in mRNA level, promoter usage, exon inclusion, and translation efficiency. Transient expression of the master regulator, Bam, drives a first wave of expression changes, primarily modifying the cell cycle program. Surprisingly, as Bam levels recede, differentiating cells return to a remarkably stem cell-like transcription and translation program, with a few crucial changes feeding into a second phase driving terminal differentiation to form the oocyte. Altogether, these findings reveal that rather than a unidirectional accumulation of changes, the in vivo differentiation of stem cells relies on distinctly regulated and developmentally sequential waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin J Samuels
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EH, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3DY, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jinghua Gui
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EH, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Gebert
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EH, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3DY, Cambridge, UK
| | - Felipe Karam Teixeira
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3EH, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CB2 3DY, Cambridge, UK.
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10
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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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11
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Wang X, Zhai Y, Zheng H. Deciphering the cellular heterogeneity of the insect brain with single-cell RNA sequencing. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:314-327. [PMID: 37702319 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13270] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Insects show highly complicated adaptive and sophisticated behaviors, including spatial orientation skills, learning ability, and social interaction. These behaviors are controlled by the insect brain, the central part of the nervous system. The tiny insect brain consists of millions of highly differentiated and interconnected cells forming a complex network. Decades of research has gone into an understanding of which parts of the insect brain possess particular behaviors, but exactly how they modulate these functional consequences needs to be clarified. Detailed description of the brain and behavior is required to decipher the complexity of cell types, as well as their connectivity and function. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged recently as a breakthrough technology to understand the transcriptome at cellular resolution. With scRNA-seq, it is possible to uncover the cellular heterogeneity of brain cells and elucidate their specific functions and state. In this review, we first review the basic structure of insect brains and the links to insect behaviors mainly focusing on learning and memory. Then the scRNA applications on insect brains are introduced by representative studies. Single-cell RNA-seq has allowed researchers to classify cell subpopulations within different insect brain regions, pinpoint single-cell developmental trajectories, and identify gene regulatory networks. These developments empower the advances in neuroscience and shed light on the intricate problems in understanding insect brain functions and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and In-sect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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12
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Lin KY, Gujar MR, Lin J, Ding WY, Huang J, Gao Y, Tan YS, Teng X, Christine LSL, Kanchanawong P, Toyama Y, Wang H. Astrocytes control quiescent NSC reactivation via GPCR signaling-mediated F-actin remodeling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.11.584337. [PMID: 38903085 PMCID: PMC11188063 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.11.584337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
The transitioning of neural stem cells (NSCs) between quiescent and proliferative states is fundamental for brain development and homeostasis. Defects in NSC reactivation are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Drosophila quiescent NSCs extend an actin-rich primary protrusion toward the neuropil. However, the function of the actin cytoskeleton during NSC reactivation is unknown. Here, we reveal the fine F-actin structures in the protrusions of quiescent NSCs by expansion and super-resolution microscopy. We show that F-actin polymerization promotes the nuclear translocation of Mrtf, a microcephaly-associated transcription factor, for NSC reactivation and brain development. F-actin polymerization is regulated by a signaling cascade composed of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Smog, G-protein αq subunit, Rho1 GTPase, and Diaphanous (Dia)/Formin during NSC reactivation. Further, astrocytes secrete a Smog ligand Fog to regulate Gαq-Rho1-Dia-mediated NSC reactivation. Together, we establish that the Smog-Gαq-Rho1 signaling axis derived from astrocytes, a NSC niche, regulates Dia-mediated F-actin dynamics in NSC reactivation.
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13
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Ko BS, Han MH, Kwon MJ, Cha DG, Ji Y, Park ES, Jeon MJ, Kim S, Lee K, Choi YH, Lee J, Torras-Llort M, Yoon KJ, Lee H, Kim JK, Lee SB. Baf-mediated transcriptional regulation of teashirt is essential for the development of neural progenitor cell lineages. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:422-440. [PMID: 38374207 PMCID: PMC10907700 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01169-3] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence hints heterochromatin anchoring to the inner nuclear membrane as an upstream regulatory process of gene expression. Given that the formation of neural progenitor cell lineages and the subsequent maintenance of postmitotic neuronal cell identity critically rely on transcriptional regulation, it seems possible that the development of neuronal cells is influenced by cell type-specific and/or context-dependent programmed regulation of heterochromatin anchoring. Here, we explored this possibility by genetically disrupting the evolutionarily conserved barrier-to-autointegration factor (Baf) in the Drosophila nervous system. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that Baf knockdown induces prominent transcriptomic changes, particularly in type I neuroblasts. Among the differentially expressed genes, our genetic analyses identified teashirt (tsh), a transcription factor that interacts with beta-catenin, to be closely associated with Baf knockdown-induced phenotypes that were suppressed by the overexpression of tsh or beta-catenin. We also found that Baf and tsh colocalized in a region adjacent to heterochromatin in type I NBs. Notably, the subnuclear localization pattern remained unchanged when one of these two proteins was knocked down, indicating that both proteins contribute to the anchoring of heterochromatin to the inner nuclear membrane. Overall, this study reveals that the Baf-mediated transcriptional regulation of teashirt is a novel molecular mechanism that regulates the development of neural progenitor cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Su Ko
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Hoon Han
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jee Kwon
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Gon Cha
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuri Ji
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Seo Park
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jae Jeon
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Somi Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongho Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ha Choi
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jusung Lee
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Ki-Jun Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyosang Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kyoung Kim
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Bae Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Yin C, Morita T, Parrish JZ. A cell atlas of the larval Aedes aegypti ventral nerve cord. Neural Dev 2024; 19:2. [PMID: 38297398 PMCID: PMC10829479 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-023-00178-8] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases account for nearly 1 million human deaths annually, yet we have a limited understanding of developmental events that influence host-seeking behavior and pathogen transmission in mosquitoes. Mosquito-borne pathogens are transmitted during blood meals, hence adult mosquito behavior and physiology have been intensely studied. However, events during larval development shape adult traits, larvae respond to many of the same sensory cues as adults, and larvae are susceptible to infection by many of the same disease-causing agents as adults. Hence, a better understanding of larval physiology will directly inform our understanding of physiological processes in adults. Here, we use single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to provide a comprehensive view of cellular composition in the Aedes aegypti larval ventral nerve cord (VNC), a central hub of sensory inputs and motor outputs which additionally controls multiple aspects of larval physiology. We identify more than 35 VNC cell types defined in part by neurotransmitter and neuropeptide expression. We also explore diversity among monoaminergic and peptidergic neurons that likely control key elements of larval physiology and developmental timing, and identify neuroblasts and immature neurons, providing a view of neuronal differentiation in the VNC. Finally, we find that larval cell composition, number, and position are preserved in the adult abdominal VNC, suggesting studies of larval VNC form and function will likely directly inform our understanding adult mosquito physiology. Altogether, these studies provide a framework for targeted analysis of VNC development and neuronal function in Aedes aegypti larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Yin
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Division of Education, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Takeshi Morita
- Division of Education, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jay Z Parrish
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Division of Education, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
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15
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Vieira Contreras F, Auger GM, Müller L, Richter V, Huetteroth W, Seufert F, Hildebrand PW, Scholz N, Thum AS, Ljaschenko D, Blanco-Redondo B, Langenhan T. The adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor mayo/CG11318 controls midgut development in Drosophila. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113640. [PMID: 38180839 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113640] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) form a large family of cell surface molecules with versatile tasks in organ development. Many aGPCRs still await their functional and pharmacological deorphanization. Here, we characterized the orphan aGPCR CG11318/mayo of Drosophila melanogaster and found it expressed in specific regions of the gastrointestinal canal and anal plates, epithelial specializations that control ion homeostasis. Genetic removal of mayo results in tachycardia, which is caused by hyperkalemia of the larval hemolymph. The hyperkalemic effect can be mimicked by a raise in ambient potassium concentration, while normal potassium levels in mayoKO mutants can be restored by pharmacological inhibition of potassium channels. Intriguingly, hyperkalemia and tachycardia are caused non-cell autonomously through mayo-dependent control of enterocyte proliferation in the larval midgut, which is the primary function of this aGPCR. These findings characterize the ancestral aGPCR Mayo as a homeostatic regulator of gut development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Vieira Contreras
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Genevieve M Auger
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lena Müller
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vincent Richter
- Institute of Biology, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolf Huetteroth
- Institute of Biology, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Florian Seufert
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicole Scholz
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas S Thum
- Institute of Biology, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dmitrij Ljaschenko
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beatriz Blanco-Redondo
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Langenhan
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Talstraße 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), Germany.
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16
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Chen J, Stork T, Kang Y, Nardone KAM, Auer F, Farrell RJ, Jay TR, Heo D, Sheehan A, Paton C, Nagel KI, Schoppik D, Monk KR, Freeman MR. Astrocyte growth is driven by the Tre1/S1pr1 phospholipid-binding G protein-coupled receptor. Neuron 2024; 112:93-112.e10. [PMID: 38096817 PMCID: PMC11073822 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.008] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Astrocytes play crucial roles in regulating neural circuit function by forming a dense network of synapse-associated membrane specializations, but signaling pathways regulating astrocyte morphogenesis remain poorly defined. Here, we show the Drosophila lipid-binding G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Tre1 is required for astrocytes to establish their intricate morphology in vivo. The lipid phosphate phosphatases Wunen/Wunen2 also regulate astrocyte morphology and, via Tre1, mediate astrocyte-astrocyte competition for growth-promoting lipids. Loss of s1pr1, the functional analog of Tre1 in zebrafish, disrupts astrocyte process elaboration, and live imaging and pharmacology demonstrate that S1pr1 balances proper astrocyte process extension/retraction dynamics during growth. Loss of Tre1 in flies or S1pr1 in zebrafish results in defects in simple assays of motor behavior. Tre1 and S1pr1 are thus potent evolutionarily conserved regulators of the elaboration of astrocyte morphological complexity and, ultimately, astrocyte control of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakun Chen
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Tobias Stork
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Yunsik Kang
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Katherine A M Nardone
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Franziska Auer
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ryan J Farrell
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Taylor R Jay
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Dongeun Heo
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Amy Sheehan
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Cameron Paton
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | | | - David Schoppik
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kelly R Monk
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Marc R Freeman
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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17
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Qu S, Zhou X, Wang Z, Wei Y, Zhou H, Zhang X, Zhu Q, Wang Y, Yang Q, Jiang L, Ma Y, Gao Y, Kong L, Zhang L. The effects of methylphenidate and atomoxetine on Drosophila brain at single-cell resolution and potential drug repurposing for ADHD treatment. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:165-185. [PMID: 37957291 PMCID: PMC11078728 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02314-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The stimulant methylphenidate (MPH) and the non-stimulant atomoxetine (ATX) are frequently used for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, the function of these drugs in different types of brain cells and their effects on related genes remain largely unknown. To address these questions, we built a pipeline for the simultaneous examination of the activity behavior and transcriptional responses of Drosophila melanogaster at single-cell resolution following drug treatment. We selected the Drosophila with significantly increased locomotor activities (hyperactivity-like behavior) following the administration of each drug in comparison with the control (same food as the drug-treated groups with 5% sucrose, yeast, and blue food dye solution) using EasyFlyTracker. Subsequently, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNASEQ) was used to capture the transcriptome of 82,917 cells, unsupervised clustering analysis of which yielded 28 primary cell clusters representing the major cell types in adult Drosophila brain. Indeed, both neuronal and glial cells responded to MPH and ATX. Further analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed distinct transcriptional changes associated with these two drugs, such as two well-studied dopamine receptor genes (Dop2R and DopEcR) were responsive to MPH but not to ATX at their optimal doses, in addition to genes involved in dopamine metabolism pathways such as Syt1, Sytalpha, Syt7, and Ih in different cell types. More importantly, MPH also suppressed the expression of genes encoding other neurotransmitter receptors and synaptic signaling molecules in many cell types, especially those for Glu and GABA, while the responsive effects of ATX were much weaker. In addition to monoaminergic neuronal transmitters, other neurotransmitters have also shown a similar pattern with respect to a stronger effect associated with MPH than with ATX. Moreover, we identified four distinct glial cell subtypes responsive to the two drugs and detected a greater number of differentially expressed genes associated with ensheathing and astrocyte-like glia. Furthermore, our study provides a rich resource of candidate target genes, supported by drug set enrichment analysis (P = 2.10E-4; hypergeometric test), for the further exploration of drug repurposing. The whole list of candidates can be found at ADHDrug ( http://adhdrug.cibr.ac.cn/ ). In conclusion, we propose a fast and cost-efficient pipeline to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of ADHD drug treatment in Drosophila brain at single-cell resolution, which may further facilitate drug repurposing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susu Qu
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiangyu Zhou
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wei
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Han Zhou
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | | | - Qingjie Zhu
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yanmin Wang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Quanjun Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Likun Jiang
- Department of Computer Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Kong
- Center for Bioinformatics, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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18
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Aksamit IC, Dorigão-Guimarães F, Gronenberg W, Godfrey RK. Brain size scaling through development in the whitelined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) shows mass and cell number comparable to flies, bees, and wasps. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2024; 78:101329. [PMID: 38171085 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2023.101329] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Factors regulating larval growth and determinants of adult body size are described for several holometabolous insects, but less is known about brain size scaling through development. Here we use the isotropic fractionation ("brain soup") method to estimate the number of brain cells and cell density for the whitelined sphinx moth (Lepidoptera: Hyles lineata) from the first instar through the adult stage. We measure mass and brain cell number and find that, during the larval stages, body mass shows an exponential relationship with head width, while the total number of brain cells increases asymptotically. Larval brain cell number increases by a factor of ten from nearly 8000 in the first instar to over 80,000 in the fifth instar. Brain cell number increases by another factor of 10 during metamorphosis, with the adult brain containing more than 900,000 cells. This is similar to increases during development in the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). The adult brain falls slightly below the brain-to-body allometry for wasps and bees but is comparable in the number of cells per unit brain mass, indicating a general conservation of brain cell density across these divergent lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel C Aksamit
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Felipe Dorigão-Guimarães
- Biodiversity Graduate Program, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - R Keating Godfrey
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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19
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Sun C, Shao Y, Iqbal J. Insect Insights at the Single-Cell Level: Technologies and Applications. Cells 2023; 13:91. [PMID: 38201295 PMCID: PMC10777908 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010091] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell techniques are a promising way to unravel the complexity and heterogeneity of transcripts at the cellular level and to reveal the composition of different cell types and functions in a tissue or organ. In recent years, advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have further changed our view of biological systems. The application of scRNA-seq in insects enables the comprehensive characterization of both common and rare cell types and cell states, the discovery of new cell types, and revealing how cell types relate to each other. The recent application of scRNA-seq techniques to insect tissues has led to a number of exciting discoveries. Here we provide an overview of scRNA-seq and its application in insect research, focusing on biological applications, current challenges, and future opportunities to make new discoveries with scRNA-seq in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Sun
- Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Yongqi Shao
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Junaid Iqbal
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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20
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Jin P, Zhu B, Jia Y, Zhang Y, Wang W, Shen Y, Zhong Y, Zheng Y, Wang Y, Tong Y, Zhang W, Li S. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals the brain evolution of web-building spiders. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:2125-2142. [PMID: 37919396 PMCID: PMC10697844 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02238-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Spiders are renowned for their efficient capture of flying insects using intricate aerial webs. How the spider nervous systems evolved to cope with this specialized hunting strategy and various environmental clues in an aerial space remains unknown. Here we report a brain-cell atlas of >30,000 single-cell transcriptomes from a web-building spider (Hylyphantes graminicola). Our analysis revealed the preservation of ancestral neuron types in spiders, including the potential coexistence of noradrenergic and octopaminergic neurons, and many peptidergic neuronal types that are lost in insects. By comparing the genome of two newly sequenced plesiomorphic burrowing spiders with three aerial web-building spiders, we found that the positively selected genes in the ancestral branch of web-building spiders were preferentially expressed (42%) in the brain, especially in the three mushroom body-like neuronal types. By gene enrichment analysis and RNAi experiments, these genes were suggested to be involved in the learning and memory pathway and may influence the spiders' web-building and hunting behaviour. Our results provide key sources for understanding the evolution of behaviour in spiders and reveal how molecular evolution drives neuron innovation and the diversification of associated complex behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Jin
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bingyue Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinjun Jia
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Yunxiao Shen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yami Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Tong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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21
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Liu X, Zhang Z, Hu B, Chen K, Yu Y, Xiang H, Tan A. Single-cell transcriptomes provide insights into expansion of glial cells in Bombyx mori. INSECT SCIENCE 2023. [PMID: 37984500 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The diversity of cell types in the brain and how these change during different developmental stages, remains largely unknown. The life cycle of insects is short and goes through 4 distinct stages including embryonic, larval, pupal, and adult stages. During postembryonic life, the larval brain transforms into a mature adult version after metamorphosis. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a lepidopteran model insect. Here, we characterized the brain cell repertoire of larval and adult B. mori by obtaining 50 708 single-cell transcriptomes. Seventeen and 12 cell clusters from larval and adult brains were assigned based on marker genes, respectively. Identified cell types include Kenyon cells, optic lobe cells, monoaminergic neurons, surface glia, and astrocyte glia. We further assessed the cell type compositions of larval and adult brains. We found that the transition from larva to adult resulted in great expansion of glial cells. The glial cell accounted for 49.8% of adult midbrain cells. Compared to flies and ants, the mushroom body kenyon cell is insufficient in B. mori, which accounts for 5.4% and 3.6% in larval and adult brains, respectively. Analysis of neuropeptide expression showed that the abundance and specificity of expression varied among individual neuropeptides. Intriguingly, we found that ion transport peptide was specifically expressed in glial cells of larval and adult brains. The cell atlas dataset provides an important resource to explore cell diversity, neural circuits and genetic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhongjie Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Bo Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ye Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hui Xiang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology and School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anjiang Tan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
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22
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Kohsaka H. Linking neural circuits to the mechanics of animal behavior in Drosophila larval locomotion. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1175899. [PMID: 37711343 PMCID: PMC10499525 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1175899] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The motions that make up animal behavior arise from the interplay between neural circuits and the mechanical parts of the body. Therefore, in order to comprehend the operational mechanisms governing behavior, it is essential to examine not only the underlying neural network but also the mechanical characteristics of the animal's body. The locomotor system of fly larvae serves as an ideal model for pursuing this integrative approach. By virtue of diverse investigation methods encompassing connectomics analysis and quantification of locomotion kinematics, research on larval locomotion has shed light on the underlying mechanisms of animal behavior. These studies have elucidated the roles of interneurons in coordinating muscle activities within and between segments, as well as the neural circuits responsible for exploration. This review aims to provide an overview of recent research on the neuromechanics of animal locomotion in fly larvae. We also briefly review interspecific diversity in fly larval locomotion and explore the latest advancements in soft robots inspired by larval locomotion. The integrative analysis of animal behavior using fly larvae could establish a practical framework for scrutinizing the behavior of other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kohsaka
- Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-Communications, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
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23
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Wang M, Ho MS. Profiling neurotransmitter-evoked glial responses by RNA-sequencing analysis. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1252759. [PMID: 37645568 PMCID: PMC10461064 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1252759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fundamental properties of neurons and glia are distinctively different. Neurons are excitable cells that transmit information, whereas glia have long been considered as passive bystanders. Recently, the concept of tripartite synapse is proposed that glia are structurally and functionally incorporated into the synapse, the basic unit of information processing in the brains. It has then become intriguing how glia actively communicate with the presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments to influence the signal transmission. Here we present a thorough analysis at the transcriptional level on how glia respond to different types of neurotransmitters. Adult fly glia were purified from brains incubated with different types of neurotransmitters ex vivo. Subsequent RNA-sequencing analyses reveal distinct and overlapping patterns for these transcriptomes. Whereas Acetylcholine (ACh) and Glutamate (Glu) more vigorously activate glial gene expression, GABA retains its inhibitory effect. All neurotransmitters fail to trigger a significant change in the expression of their synthesis enzymes, yet Glu triggers increased expression of neurotransmitter receptors including its own and nAChRs. Expressions of transporters for GABA and Glutamate are under diverse controls from DA, GABA, and Glu, suggesting that the evoked intracellular pathways by these neurotransmitters are interconnected. Furthermore, changes in the expression of genes involved in calcium signaling also functionally predict the change in the glial activity. Finally, neurotransmitters also trigger a general metabolic suppression in glia except the DA, which upregulates a number of genes involved in transporting nutrients and amino acids. Our findings fundamentally dissect the transcriptional change in glia facing neuronal challenges; these results provide insights on how glia and neurons crosstalk in a synaptic context and underlie the mechanism of brain function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Margaret S. Ho
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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24
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Ferreira AAG, Desplan C. An Atlas of the Developing Drosophila Visual System Glia and Subcellular mRNA Localization of Transcripts in Single Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.06.552169. [PMID: 37609218 PMCID: PMC10441313 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.06.552169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Glial cells are essential for proper nervous system development and function. To understand glial development and function, we comprehensively annotated glial cells in a single-cell mRNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) atlas of the developing Drosophila visual system. This allowed us to study their developmental trajectories, from larval to adult stages, and to understand how specific types of glia diversify during development. For example, neuropil glia that are initially transcriptionally similar in larvae, split into ensheathing and astrocyte-like glia during pupal stages. Other glial types, such as chiasm glia change gradually during development without splitting into two cell types. The analysis of scRNA-seq allowed us to discover that the transcriptome of glial cell bodies can be distinguished from that of their broken processes. The processes contain distinct enriched mRNAs that were validated in vivo. Therefore, we have identified most glial types in the developing optic lobe and devised a computational approach to identify mRNA species that are localized to cell bodies or cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claude Desplan
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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25
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Li Y, Wang X, Dong H, Xia Q, Zhao P. Transcriptomic Analysis of Starvation on the Silkworm Brain. INSECTS 2023; 14:658. [PMID: 37504664 PMCID: PMC10380768 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Starvation imposes significant stress on animal survival and development, resulting in organ damage within the organism. The brain, being one of the most vital organs in animals, plays a crucial role in coordinating the physiological functions of other organs. However, performing brain experiments on the human body is challenging. In this work, we selected the silkworm, a model Lepidoptera organism, due to its favorable characteristics. A comprehensive transcriptome analysis was conducted on the brain of silkworm subjected to starvation treatment. The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significant alterations in 330 genes following the period of starvation. Through an enrichment analysis, we successfully identified pathways associated with metabolism, hormones, immunity, and diseases. Our findings highlight the transcriptional response of the brain to starvation, providing valuable insights for comprehending the impact of starvation stress in other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Haonan Dong
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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26
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Shen C, Hao S, Duan W, Liu L, Wei H. Ionizing radiation alters functional neurotransmission in Drosophila larvae. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1151489. [PMID: 37484822 PMCID: PMC10357008 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1151489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Patients undergoing cranial ionizing radiation therapy for brain malignancies are at increased risk of long-term neurocognitive decline, which is poorly understood and currently untreatable. Although the molecular pathogenesis has been intensively researched in many organisms, whether and how ionizing radiation alters functional neurotransmission remains unknown. This is the first study addressing physiological changes in neurotransmission after ionizing radiation exposure. Methods To elucidate the cellular mechanisms of radiation damage, using calcium imaging, we analyzed the effects of ionizing radiation on the neurotransmitter-evoked responses of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-releasing neurons in Drosophila larvae, which play essential roles in normal larval development. Results The neurotransmitters dopamine and tyramine decreased intracellular calcium levels of PTTH neurons in a dose-dependent manner. In gamma irradiated third-instar larvae, a dose of 25 Gy increased the sensitivity of PTTH neurons to dopamine and tyramine, and delayed development, possibly in response to abnormal functional neurotransmission. This irradiation level did not affect the viability and arborization of PTTH neurons and successful survival to adulthood. Exposure to a 40-Gy dose of gamma irradiation decreased the neurotransmitter sensitivity, physiological viability and axo-dendritic length of PTTH neurons. These serious damages led to substantial developmental delays and a precipitous reduction in the percentage of larvae that survived to adulthood. Our results demonstrate that gamma irradiation alters neurotransmitter-evoked responses, indicating synapses are vulnerable targets of ionizing radiation. Discussion The current study provides new insights into ionizing radiation-induced disruption of physiological neurotransmitter signaling, which should be considered in preventive therapeutic interventions to reduce risks of neurological deficits after photon therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- North China Research Institute of Electro-Optics, Beijing, China
| | - Yihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Shen
- China Electronics Technology Group Corporation No. 45 Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Shun Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenlan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongying Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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27
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Oh Y, Suh GSB. Starvation-induced sleep suppression requires the Drosophila brain nutrient sensor. J Neurogenet 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37267057 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2023.2203489] [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: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Animals increase their locomotion activity and reduce sleep duration under starved conditions. This suggests that sleep and metabolic status are closely interconnected. The nutrient and hunger sensors in the Drosophila brain, including diuretic hormone 44 (DH44)-, CN-, and cupcake-expressing neurons, detect circulating glucose levels in the internal milieu, regulate the insulin and glucagon secretion and promote food consumption. Food deprivation is known to reduce sleep duration, but a potential role mediated by the nutrient and hunger sensors in regulating sleep and locomotion activity remains unclear. Here, we show that DH44 neurons are involved in regulating starvation-induced sleep suppression, but CN neurons or cupcake neurons may not be involved in regulating starvation-induced sleep suppression or baseline sleep patterns. Inactivation of DH44 neurons resulted in normal daily sleep durations and patterns under fed conditions, whereas it ablated sleep reduction under starved conditions. Inactivation of CN neurons or cupcake neurons, which were proposed to be nutrient and hunger sensors in the fly brain, did not affect sleep patterns under both fed and starved conditions. We propose that the glucose-sensing DH44 neurons play an important role in mediating starvation-induced sleep reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangkyun Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Greg S B Suh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
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28
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Ma D, Herndon N, Le JQ, Abruzzi KC, Zinn K, Rosbash M. Neural connectivity molecules best identify the heterogeneous clock and dopaminergic cell types in the Drosophila adult brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade8500. [PMID: 36812309 PMCID: PMC9946362 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Our recent single-cell sequencing of most adult Drosophila circadian neurons indicated notable and unexpected heterogeneity. To address whether other populations are similar, we sequenced a large subset of adult brain dopaminergic neurons. Their gene expression heterogeneity is similar to that of clock neurons, i.e., both populations have two to three cells per neuron group. There was also unexpected cell-specific expression of neuron communication molecule messenger RNAs: G protein-coupled receptor or cell surface molecule (CSM) transcripts alone can define adult brain dopaminergic and circadian neuron cell type. Moreover, the adult expression of the CSM DIP-beta in a small group of clock neurons is important for sleep. We suggest that the common features of circadian and dopaminergic neurons are general, essential for neuronal identity and connectivity of the adult brain, and that these features underlie the complex behavioral repertoire of Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingbang Ma
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Nicholas Herndon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Jasmine Quynh Le
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Katharine C. Abruzzi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Kai Zinn
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Michael Rosbash
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
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29
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Palmateer CM, Artikis C, Brovero SG, Friedman B, Gresham A, Arbeitman MN. Single-cell transcriptome profiles of Drosophila fruitless-expressing neurons from both sexes. eLife 2023; 12:e78511. [PMID: 36724009 PMCID: PMC9891730 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster reproductive behaviors are orchestrated by fruitless neurons. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing on pupal neurons that produce sex-specifically spliced fru transcripts, the fru P1-expressing neurons. Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) with clustering generates an atlas containing 113 clusters. While the male and female neurons overlap in UMAP space, more than half the clusters have sex differences in neuron number, and nearly all clusters display sex-differential expression. Based on an examination of enriched marker genes, we annotate clusters as circadian clock neurons, mushroom body Kenyon cell neurons, neurotransmitter- and/or neuropeptide-producing, and those that express doublesex. Marker gene analyses also show that genes that encode members of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules, transcription factors, neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptors, and Wnts have unique patterns of enriched expression across the clusters. In vivo spatial gene expression links to the clusters are examined. A functional analysis of fru P1 circadian neurons shows they have dimorphic roles in activity and period length. Given that most clusters are comprised of male and female neurons indicates that the sexes have fru P1 neurons with common gene expression programs. Sex-specific expression is overlaid on this program, to build the potential for vastly different sex-specific behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M Palmateer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Catherina Artikis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Savannah G Brovero
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Benjamin Friedman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Alexis Gresham
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
| | - Michelle N Arbeitman
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, College of MedicineTallahasseeUnited States
- Program of Neuroscience, Florida State UniversityTallahasseeUnited States
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30
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Jetti SK, Crane AB, Akbergenova Y, Aponte-Santiago NA, Cunningham KL, Whittaker CA, Littleton JT. Molecular Logic of Synaptic Diversity Between Drosophila Tonic and Phasic Motoneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524447. [PMID: 36711745 PMCID: PMC9882338 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Although neuronal subtypes display unique synaptic organization and function, the underlying transcriptional differences that establish these features is poorly understood. To identify molecular pathways that contribute to synaptic diversity, single neuron PatchSeq RNA profiling was performed on Drosophila tonic and phasic glutamatergic motoneurons. Tonic motoneurons form weaker facilitating synapses onto single muscles, while phasic motoneurons form stronger depressing synapses onto multiple muscles. Super-resolution microscopy and in vivo imaging demonstrated synaptic active zones in phasic motoneurons are more compact and display enhanced Ca 2+ influx compared to their tonic counterparts. Genetic analysis identified unique synaptic properties that mapped onto gene expression differences for several cellular pathways, including distinct signaling ligands, post-translational modifications and intracellular Ca 2+ buffers. These findings provide insights into how unique transcriptomes drive functional and morphological differences between neuronal subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh K Jetti
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Andrés B Crane
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Yulia Akbergenova
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Nicole A Aponte-Santiago
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Karen L Cunningham
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Charles A Whittaker
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - J Troy Littleton
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
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31
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Park A, Croset V, Otto N, Agarwal D, Treiber CD, Meschi E, Sims D, Waddell S. Gliotransmission of D-serine promotes thirst-directed behaviors in Drosophila. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3952-3970.e8. [PMID: 35963239 PMCID: PMC9616736 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thirst emerges from a range of cellular changes that ultimately motivate an animal to consume water. Although thirst-responsive neuronal signals have been reported, the full complement of brain responses is unclear. Here, we identify molecular and cellular adaptations in the brain using single-cell sequencing of water-deprived Drosophila. Water deficiency primarily altered the glial transcriptome. Screening the regulated genes revealed astrocytic expression of the astray-encoded phosphoserine phosphatase to bi-directionally regulate water consumption. Astray synthesizes the gliotransmitter D-serine, and vesicular release from astrocytes is required for drinking. Moreover, dietary D-serine rescues aay-dependent drinking deficits while facilitating water consumption and expression of water-seeking memory. D-serine action requires binding to neuronal NMDA-type glutamate receptors. Fly astrocytes contribute processes to tripartite synapses, and the proportion of astrocytes that are themselves activated by glutamate increases with water deprivation. We propose that thirst elevates astrocytic D-serine release, which awakens quiescent glutamatergic circuits to enhance water procurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Park
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Vincent Croset
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Nils Otto
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Devika Agarwal
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme (CGAT), MRC Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Christoph D Treiber
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Eleonora Meschi
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - David Sims
- MRC Computational Genomics Analysis and Training Programme (CGAT), MRC Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Scott Waddell
- Centre for Neural Circuits & Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK.
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32
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Lee S, Chen YC, Gillen AE, Taliaferro JM, Deplancke B, Li H, Lai EC. Diverse cell-specific patterns of alternative polyadenylation in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5372. [PMID: 36100597 PMCID: PMC9470587 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32305-0] [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: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most genes in higher eukaryotes express isoforms with distinct 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs), generated by alternative polyadenylation (APA). Since 3' UTRs are predominant locations of post-transcriptional regulation, APA can render such programs conditional, and can also alter protein sequences via alternative last exon (ALE) isoforms. We previously used 3'-sequencing from diverse Drosophila samples to define multiple tissue-specific APA landscapes. Here, we exploit comprehensive single nucleus RNA-sequencing data (Fly Cell Atlas) to elucidate cell-type expression of 3' UTRs across >250 adult Drosophila cell types. We reveal the cellular bases of multiple tissue-specific APA/ALE programs, such as 3' UTR lengthening in differentiated neurons and 3' UTR shortening in spermatocytes and spermatids. We trace dynamic 3' UTR patterns across cell lineages, including in the male germline, and discover new APA patterns in the intestinal stem cell lineage. Finally, we correlate expression of RNA binding proteins (RBPs), miRNAs and global levels of cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) factors in several cell types that exhibit characteristic APA landscapes, yielding candidate regulators of transcriptome complexity. These analyses provide a comprehensive foundation for future investigations of mechanisms and biological impacts of alternative 3' isoforms across the major cell types of this widely-studied model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungjae Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yen-Chung Chen
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10013, USA
| | | | - Austin E Gillen
- Division of Hematology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA.,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - J Matthew Taliaferro
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bart Deplancke
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Genetics, Institute of Bio-engineering & Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hongjie Li
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Eric C Lai
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Ave, Box 252, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Corrales M, Cocanougher BT, Kohn AB, Wittenbach JD, Long XS, Lemire A, Cardona A, Singer RH, Moroz LL, Zlatic M. A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of complete insect nervous systems across multiple life stages. Neural Dev 2022; 17:8. [PMID: 36002881 PMCID: PMC9404646 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-022-00164-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular profiles of neurons influence neural development and function but bridging the gap between genes, circuits, and behavior has been very difficult. Here we used single cell RNAseq to generate a complete gene expression atlas of the Drosophila larval central nervous system composed of 131,077 single cells across three developmental stages (1 h, 24 h and 48 h after hatching). We identify 67 distinct cell clusters based on the patterns of gene expression. These include 31 functional mature larval neuron clusters, 1 ring gland cluster, 8 glial clusters, 6 neural precursor clusters, and 13 developing immature adult neuron clusters. Some clusters are present across all stages of larval development, while others are stage specific (such as developing adult neurons). We identify genes that are differentially expressed in each cluster, as well as genes that are differentially expressed at distinct stages of larval life. These differentially expressed genes provide promising candidates for regulating the function of specific neuronal and glial types in the larval nervous system, or the specification and differentiation of adult neurons. The cell transcriptome Atlas of the Drosophila larval nervous system is a valuable resource for developmental biology and systems neuroscience and provides a basis for elucidating how genes regulate neural development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Corrales
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA.,Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin T Cocanougher
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA.,Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrea B Kohn
- Department of Neuroscience and Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville/St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Jason D Wittenbach
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Xi S Long
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Andrew Lemire
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Albert Cardona
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA.,Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.,MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert H Singer
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Leonid L Moroz
- Department of Neuroscience and Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville/St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.
| | - Marta Zlatic
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA. .,Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. .,MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK.
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34
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Pfeifer K, Wolfstetter G, Anthonydhason V, Masudi T, Arefin B, Bemark M, Mendoza-Garcia P, Palmer RH. Patient-associated mutations in Drosophila Alk perturb neuronal differentiation and promote survival. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049591. [PMID: 35972154 PMCID: PMC9403751 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) mutations occur in pediatric neuroblastoma and are associated with poor prognosis. To study ALK-activating mutations in a genetically controllable system, we employed CRIPSR/Cas9, incorporating orthologs of the human oncogenic mutations ALKF1174L and ALKY1278S in the Drosophila Alk locus. AlkF1251L and AlkY1355S mutant Drosophila exhibited enhanced Alk signaling phenotypes, but unexpectedly depended on the Jelly belly (Jeb) ligand for activation. Both AlkF1251L and AlkY1355S mutant larval brains displayed hyperplasia, represented by increased numbers of Alk-positive neurons. Despite this hyperplasic phenotype, no brain tumors were observed in mutant animals. We showed that hyperplasia in Alk mutants was not caused by significantly increased rates of proliferation, but rather by decreased levels of apoptosis in the larval brain. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified perturbations during temporal fate specification in AlkY1355S mutant mushroom body lineages. These findings shed light on the role of Alk in neurodevelopmental processes and highlight the potential of Alk-activating mutations to perturb specification and promote survival in neuronal lineages. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Pfeifer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Georg Wolfstetter
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Vimala Anthonydhason
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tafheem Masudi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Badrul Arefin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mats Bemark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Mucosal Immunobiology and Vaccine Center, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Patricia Mendoza-Garcia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ruth H. Palmer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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35
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Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of honeybee brains identifies vitellogenin as caste differentiation-related factor. iScience 2022; 25:104643. [PMID: 35800778 PMCID: PMC9254125 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The honeybee (Apis mellifera) is a well-known eusocial insect. In honeybee colonies, thousands of sterile workers, including nurse and forager bees, perform various tasks within or outside the hive, respectively. The queen is the only fertile female and is responsible for reproduction. The queen and workers share similar genomes but occupy different caste statuses. We established single-cell transcriptomic atlases of brains from queens and worker subcastes and identified five major cell groups: Kenyon, optic lobe, olfactory projection, glial, and hemocyte cells. By dividing Kenyon and glial cells into multiple subtypes based on credible markers, we observed that vitellogenin (vg) was highly expressed in specific glial-cell subtypes in brains of queens. Knockdown of vg at the early larval stage significantly suppressed the development into adult queens. We demonstrate vg expression as a "molecular signature" for the queen caste and suggest involvement of vg in regulating caste differentiation. scRNA-seq revealed distinct gene expression in the brains of queens and workers Vitellogenin (vg) may represent a "molecular signature" of the queen caste Knockdown of vg at early larval stage suppressed development into adult queens Vg may be involved in regulating caste differentiation
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36
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Tse J, Li TH, Zhang J, Lee ACK, Lee I, Qu Z, Lin X, Hui J, Chan TF. Single-Cell Atlas of the Drosophila Leg Disc Identifies a Long Non-Coding RNA in Late Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126796. [PMID: 35743238 PMCID: PMC9224501 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila imaginal disc has been an excellent model for the study of developmental gene regulation. In particular, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gained widespread attention in recent years due to their important role in gene regulation. Their specific spatiotemporal expressions further support their role in developmental processes and diseases. In this study, we explored the role of a novel lncRNA in Drosophila leg development by dissecting and dissociating w1118 third-instar larval third leg (L3) discs into single cells and single nuclei, and performing single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell assays for transposase-accessible chromatin (scATAC-seq). Single-cell transcriptomics analysis of the L3 discs across three developmental timepoints revealed different cell types and identified lncRNA:CR33938 as a distal specific gene with high expression in late development. This was further validated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). The scATAC-seq results reproduced the single-cell transcriptomics landscape and elucidated the distal cell functions at different timepoints. Furthermore, overexpression of lncRNA:CR33938 in the S2 cell line increased the expression of leg development genes, further elucidating its potential role in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Tse
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tsz Ho Li
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jizhou Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Alan Chun Kit Lee
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ivy Lee
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhe Qu
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao Lin
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jerome Hui
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ting-Fung Chan
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; (J.T.); (T.H.L.); (J.Z.); (A.C.K.L.); (I.L.); (Z.Q.); (X.L.); (J.H.)
- State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Correspondence:
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37
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Perkins ML, Gandara L, Crocker J. A synthetic synthesis to explore animal evolution and development. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200517. [PMID: 35634925 PMCID: PMC9149795 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the general principles by which genotypes are converted into phenotypes remains a challenge in the post-genomic era. We still lack a predictive understanding of how genes shape interactions among cells and tissues in response to signalling and environmental cues, and hence how regulatory networks generate the phenotypic variation required for adaptive evolution. Here, we discuss how techniques borrowed from synthetic biology may facilitate a systematic exploration of evolvability across biological scales. Synthetic approaches permit controlled manipulation of both endogenous and fully engineered systems, providing a flexible platform for investigating causal mechanisms in vivo. Combining synthetic approaches with multi-level phenotyping (phenomics) will supply a detailed, quantitative characterization of how internal and external stimuli shape the morphology and behaviour of living organisms. We advocate integrating high-throughput experimental data with mathematical and computational techniques from a variety of disciplines in order to pursue a comprehensive theory of evolution. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Genetic basis of adaptation and speciation: from loci to causative mutations’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy Liu Perkins
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lautaro Gandara
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Justin Crocker
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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38
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Abstract
Many insect cells are encapsulated within the exoskeleton and cannot be dissociated intact, making them inaccessible to single-cell transcriptomic profiling. We have used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to extract transcriptomic information from multiple Drosophila tissues. Here, we describe procedures for the (1) dissociation of single nuclei, (2) isolation of single nuclei using two popular cell sorters, and (3) preparation of libraries for Smart-seq2 and 10× Genomics. This protocol enables generation of high-quality transcriptomes from single nuclei and can be applied to other species. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to McLaughlin et al. (2021) and Li et al. (2022).
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39
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Nguyen PK, Cheng LY. Non-autonomous regulation of neurogenesis by extrinsic cues: a Drosophila perspective. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 1:kvac004. [PMID: 38596708 PMCID: PMC10913833 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The formation of a functional circuitry in the central nervous system (CNS) requires the correct number and subtypes of neural cells. In the developing brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) self-renew while giving rise to progenitors that in turn generate differentiated progeny. As such, the size and the diversity of cells that make up the functional CNS depend on the proliferative properties of NSCs. In the fruit fly Drosophila, where the process of neurogenesis has been extensively investigated, extrinsic factors such as the microenvironment of NSCs, nutrients, oxygen levels and systemic signals have been identified as regulators of NSC proliferation. Here, we review decades of work that explores how extrinsic signals non-autonomously regulate key NSC characteristics such as quiescence, proliferation and termination in the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong-Khanh Nguyen
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Louise Y Cheng
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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40
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Wang M, Hu Q, Lv T, Wang Y, Lan Q, Xiang R, Tu Z, Wei Y, Han K, Shi C, Guo J, Liu C, Yang T, Du W, An Y, Cheng M, Xu J, Lu H, Li W, Zhang S, Chen A, Chen W, Li Y, Wang X, Xu X, Hu Y, Liu L. High-resolution 3D spatiotemporal transcriptomic maps of developing Drosophila embryos and larvae. Dev Cell 2022; 57:1271-1283.e4. [PMID: 35512700 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila has long been a successful model organism in multiple biomedical fields. Spatial gene expression patterns are critical for the understanding of complex pathways and interactions, whereas temporal gene expression changes are vital for studying highly dynamic physiological activities. Systematic studies in Drosophila are still impeded by the lack of spatiotemporal transcriptomic information. Here, utilizing spatial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), we dissected the spatiotemporal transcriptomic changes of developing Drosophila with high resolution and sensitivity. We demonstrated that Stereo-seq data can be used for the 3D reconstruction of the spatial transcriptomes of Drosophila embryos and larvae. With these 3D models, we identified functional subregions in embryonic and larval midguts, uncovered spatial cell state dynamics of larval testis, and revealed known and potential regulons of transcription factors within their topographic background. Our data provide the Drosophila research community with useful resources of organism-wide spatiotemporally resolved transcriptomic information across developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qinan Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518005, China
| | - Tianhang Lv
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qing Lan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | | | - Zhencheng Tu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanrong Wei
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Kai Han
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao 266555, China
| | - Chang Shi
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Junfu Guo
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Chao Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Tao Yang
- China National Gene Bank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Wensi Du
- China National Gene Bank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Yanru An
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Mengnan Cheng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiangshan Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haorong Lu
- China National Gene Bank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Wangsheng Li
- China National Gene Bank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Shaofang Zhang
- China National Gene Bank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Ao Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | | | | | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Yuhui Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518005, China.
| | - Longqi Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Single-Cell Omics, Shenzhen 518083, China.
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41
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Torres-Méndez A, Pop S, Bonnal S, Almudi I, Avola A, Roberts RJV, Paolantoni C, Alcaina-Caro A, Martín-Anduaga A, Haussmann IU, Morin V, Casares F, Soller M, Kadener S, Roignant JY, Prieto-Godino L, Irimia M. Parallel evolution of a splicing program controlling neuronal excitability in flies and mammals. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk0445. [PMID: 35089784 PMCID: PMC8797185 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing increases neuronal transcriptomic complexity throughout animal phylogeny. To delve into the mechanisms controlling the assembly and evolution of this regulatory layer, we characterized the neuronal microexon program in Drosophila and compared it with that of mammals. In nonvertebrate bilaterians, this splicing program is restricted to neurons by the posttranscriptional processing of the enhancer of microexons (eMIC) domain in Srrm234. In Drosophila, this processing is dependent on regulation by Elav/Fne. eMIC deficiency or misexpression leads to widespread neurological alterations largely emerging from impaired neuronal activity, as revealed by a combination of neuronal imaging experiments and cell type-specific rescues. These defects are associated with the genome-wide skipping of short neural exons, which are strongly enriched in ion channels. We found no overlap of eMIC-regulated exons between flies and mice, illustrating how ancient posttranscriptional programs can evolve independently in different phyla to affect distinct cellular modules while maintaining cell-type specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Torres-Méndez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Sophie Bonnal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Isabel Almudi
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Chiara Paolantoni
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode Building, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ana Alcaina-Caro
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Irmgard U. Haussmann
- Department of Life Science, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B5 3TN, UK
| | - Violeta Morin
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Fernando Casares
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Matthias Soller
- School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Jean-Yves Roignant
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode Building, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
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42
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Contreras EG, Sierralta J. The Fly Blood-Brain Barrier Fights Against Nutritional Stress. Neurosci Insights 2022; 17:26331055221120252. [PMID: 36225749 PMCID: PMC9549514 DOI: 10.1177/26331055221120252] [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: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the wild, animals face different challenges including multiple events of food
scarcity. How they overcome these conditions is essential for survival. Thus,
adaptation mechanisms evolved to allow the development and survival of an
organism during nutrient restriction periods. Given the high energy demand of
the nervous system, the molecular mechanisms of adaptation to malnutrition are
of great relevance to fuel the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the
interface between the central nervous system (CNS) and the circulatory system.
The BBB mediates the transport of macromolecules in and out of the CNS, and
therefore, it can buffer changes in nutrient availability. In this review, we
collect the current evidence using the fruit fly, Drosophila
melanogaster, as a model of the role of the BBB in the adaptation
to starvation. We discuss the role of the Drosophila BBB during
nutrient deprivation as a potential sensor for circulating nutrients, and
transient nutrient storage as a regulator of the CNS neurogenic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban G Contreras
- Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jimena Sierralta
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute and Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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43
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Rajan A, Ostgaard CM, Lee CY. Regulation of Neural Stem Cell Competency and Commitment during Indirect Neurogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12871. [PMID: 34884676 PMCID: PMC8657492 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312871] [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: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Indirect neurogenesis, during which neural stem cells generate neurons through intermediate progenitors, drives the evolution of lissencephalic brains to gyrencephalic brains. The mechanisms that specify intermediate progenitor identity and that regulate stem cell competency to generate intermediate progenitors remain poorly understood despite their roles in indirect neurogenesis. Well-characterized lineage hierarchy and available powerful genetic tools for manipulating gene functions make fruit fly neural stem cell (neuroblast) lineages an excellent in vivo paradigm for investigating the mechanisms that regulate neurogenesis. Type II neuroblasts in fly larval brains repeatedly undergo asymmetric divisions to generate intermediate neural progenitors (INPs) that undergo limited proliferation to increase the number of neurons generated per stem cell division. Here, we review key regulatory genes and the mechanisms by which they promote the specification and generation of INPs, safeguarding the indirect generation of neurons during fly larval brain neurogenesis. Homologs of these regulators of INPs have been shown to play important roles in regulating brain development in vertebrates. Insight into the precise regulation of intermediate progenitors will likely improve our understanding of the control of indirect neurogenesis during brain development and brain evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Rajan
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.R.); (C.M.O.)
| | - Cyrina M. Ostgaard
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.R.); (C.M.O.)
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cheng-Yu Lee
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.R.); (C.M.O.)
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Komarov N, Sprecher SG. The chemosensory system of the Drosophila larva: an overview of current understanding. Fly (Austin) 2021; 16:1-12. [PMID: 34612150 PMCID: PMC8496535 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2021.1953364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals must sense their surroundings and be able to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant cues. An enticing area of research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which animals respond to chemical signals that constitute critical sensory input. In this review, we describe the principles of a model chemosensory system: the Drosophila larva. While distinct in many ways, larval behaviour is reminiscent of the dogmatic goals of life: to reach a stage of reproductive potential. It takes into account a number of distinct and identifiable parameters to ultimately provoke or modulate appropriate behavioural output. In this light, we describe current knowledge of chemosensory anatomy, genetic components, and the processing logic of chemical cues. We outline recent advancements and summarize the hypothesized neural circuits of sensory systems. Furthermore, we note yet-unanswered questions to create a basis for further investigation of molecular and systemic mechanisms of chemosensation in Drosophila and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Komarov
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Simon G Sprecher
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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45
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Li H. Single-cell RNA sequencing in Drosophila: Technologies and applications. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2021; 10:e396. [PMID: 32940008 PMCID: PMC7960577 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating cell states and functions at the single-cell level. It has greatly revolutionized transcriptomic studies in many life science research fields, such as neurobiology, immunology, and developmental biology. With the fast development of both experimental platforms and bioinformatics approaches over the past decade, scRNA-seq is becoming economically feasible and experimentally practical for many biomedical laboratories. Drosophila has served as an excellent model organism for dissecting cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie tissue development, adult cell function, disease, and aging. The recent application of scRNA-seq methods to Drosophila tissues has led to a number of exciting discoveries. In this review, I will provide a summary of recent scRNA-seq studies in Drosophila, focusing on technical approaches and biological applications. I will also discuss current challenges and future opportunities of making new discoveries using scRNA-seq in Drosophila. This article is categorized under: Technologies > Analysis of the Transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Li
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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46
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Christesen D, Yang YT, Chen W, Batterham P, Perry T. Loss of the Dβ1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit disrupts bursicon-driven wing expansion and diminishes adult viability in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2021; 219:6320792. [PMID: 34849910 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic signaling dominates the insect central nervous system, contributing to numerous fundamental pathways and behavioral circuits. However, we are only just beginning to uncover the diverse roles different cholinergic receptors may play. Historically, insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have received attention due to several subunits being key insecticide targets. More recently, there has been a focus on teasing apart the roles of these receptors, and their constituent subunits, in native signaling pathways. In this study, we use CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to generate germline and somatic deletions of the Dβ1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit and investigate the consequences of loss of function in Drosophila melanogaster. Severe impacts on movement, male courtship, longevity, and wing expansion were found. Loss of Dβ1 was also associated with a reduction in transcript levels for the wing expansion hormone bursicon. Neuron-specific somatic deletion of Dβ1 in bursicon-producing neurons (CCAP-GAL4) was sufficient to disrupt wing expansion. Furthermore, CCAP-GAL4-specific expression of Dβ1 in a germline deletion background was sufficient to rescue the wing phenotype, pinpointing CCAP neurons as the neuronal subset requiring Dβ1 for the wing expansion pathway. Dβ1 is a known target of multiple commercially important insecticides, and the fitness costs exposed here explain why field-isolated target-site resistance has only been reported for amino acid replacements and not loss of function. This work reveals the importance of Dβ1-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in CCAP neurons for robust bursicon-driven wing expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Christesen
- School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ying Ting Yang
- School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Philip Batterham
- School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Trent Perry
- School of Biosciences, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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Drosophila Corazonin Neurons as a Hub for Regulating Growth, Stress Responses, Ethanol-Related Behaviors, Copulation Persistence and Sexually Dimorphic Reward Pathways. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:jdb9030026. [PMID: 34287347 PMCID: PMC8293205 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal mechanisms by which complex behaviors are coordinated and timed often involve neuropeptidergic regulation of stress and reward pathways. Recent studies of the neuropeptide Corazonin (Crz), a homolog of the mammalian Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH), have suggested its crucial role in the regulation of growth, internal states and behavioral decision making. We focus this review on Crz neurons with the goal to (1) highlight the diverse roles of Crz neuron function, including mechanisms that may be independent of the Crz peptide, (2) emphasize current gaps in knowledge about Crz neuron functions, and (3) propose exciting ideas of novel research directions involving the use of Crz neurons. We describe the different developmental fates of distinct subsets of Crz neurons, including recent findings elucidating the molecular regulation of apoptosis. Crz regulates systemic growth, food intake, stress responses and homeostasis by interacting with the short Neuropeptide F (sNPF) and the steroid hormone ecdysone. Additionally, activation of Crz neurons is shown to be pleasurable by interacting with the Neuropeptide F (NPF) and regulates reward processes such as ejaculation and ethanol-related behaviors in a sexually dimorphic manner. Crz neurons are proposed to be a motivational switch regulating copulation duration using a CaMKII-dependent mechanism described as the first neuronal interval timer lasting longer than a few seconds. Lastly, we propose ideas to use Crz neuron-induced ejaculation to study the effects of fictive mating and sex addiction in flies, as well as to elucidate dimorphic molecular mechanisms underlying reward behaviors and feeding disorders.
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48
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The Serine Protease Homolog, Scarface, Is Sensitive to Nutrient Availability and Modulates the Development of the Drosophila Blood-Brain Barrier. J Neurosci 2021; 41:6430-6448. [PMID: 34210781 PMCID: PMC8318086 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0452-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The adaptable transcriptional response to changes in food availability not only ensures animal survival but also lets embryonic development progress. Interestingly, the CNS is preferentially protected from periods of malnutrition, a phenomenon known as “brain sparing.” However, the mechanisms that mediate this response remain poorly understood. To get a better understanding of this, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a model, analyzing the transcriptional response of neural stem cells (neuroblasts) and glia of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) from larvae of both sexes during nutrient restriction using targeted DamID. We found differentially expressed genes in both neuroblasts and glia of the BBB, although the effect of nutrient deficiency was primarily observed in the BBB. We characterized the function of a nutritional sensitive gene expressed in the BBB, the serine protease homolog, scarface (scaf). Scaf is expressed in subperineurial glia in the BBB in response to nutrition. Tissue-specific knockdown of scaf increases subperineurial glia endoreplication and proliferation of perineurial glia in the blood–brain barrier. Furthermore, neuroblast proliferation is diminished on scaf knockdown in subperineurial glia. Interestingly, reexpression of Scaf in subperineurial glia is able to enhance neuroblast proliferation and brain growth of animals in starvation. Finally, we show that loss of scaf in the blood–brain barrier increases sensitivity to drugs in adulthood, suggesting a physiological impairment. We propose that Scaf integrates the nutrient status to modulate the balance between neurogenesis and growth of the BBB, preserving the proper equilibrium between the size of the barrier and the brain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The Drosophila BBB separates the CNS from the open circulatory system. The BBB glia are not only acting as a physical segregation of tissues but participate in the regulation of the metabolism and neurogenesis during development. Here we analyze the transcriptional response of the BBB glia to nutrient deprivation during larval development, a condition in which protective mechanisms are switched on in the brain. Our findings show that the gene scarface reduces growth in the BBB while promoting the proliferation of neural stem, assuring the balanced growth of the larval brain. Thus, Scarface would link animal nutrition with brain development, coordinating neurogenesis with the growth of the BBB.
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Nguyen TH, Vicidomini R, Choudhury SD, Coon SL, Iben J, Brody T, Serpe M. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Analysis of the Drosophila Larval Ventral Cord. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e38. [PMID: 33620770 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila provides a powerful genetic system and an excellent model to study the development and function of the nervous system. The fly's small brain and complex behavior has been instrumental in mapping neuronal circuits and elucidating the neural basis of behavior. The fast pace of fly development and the wealth of genetic tools has enabled systematic studies on cell differentiation and fate specification, and has uncovered strategies for axon guidance and targeting. The accessibility of neuronal structures and the ability to edit and manipulate gene expression in selective cells and/or synaptic compartments has revealed mechanisms for synapse assembly and neuronal connectivity. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have further enhanced our appreciation and understanding of neuronal diversity in a fly brain. However, due to the small size of the fly brain and its constituent cells, scRNA-seq methodologies require a few adaptations. Here, we describe a set of protocols optimized for scRNA-seq analysis of the Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord, starting from tissue dissection and cell dissociation to cDNA library preparation, sequencing, and data analysis. We apply this workflow to three separate samples and detail the technical challenges associated with successful application of scRNA-seq to studies on neuronal diversity. An accompanying article (Vicidomini, Nguyen, Choudhury, Brody, & Serpe, 2021) presents a custom multistage analysis pipeline that integrates modules contained in different R packages to ensure high-flexibility, high-quality RNA-seq data analysis. These protocols are developed for Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord, but could easily be adapted to other tissues and model organisms. © 2021 U.S. Government. Basic Protocol 1: Dissection of larval ventral nerve cords and preparation of single-cell suspensions Basic Protocol 2: Preparation and sequencing of single-cell transcriptome libraries Basic Protocol 3: Alignment of raw sequencing data to indexed genome and generation of count matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tho Huu Nguyen
- Section on Cellular Communication, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rosario Vicidomini
- Section on Cellular Communication, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Saumitra Dey Choudhury
- Section on Cellular Communication, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Steven L Coon
- Molecular Genomics Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James Iben
- Molecular Genomics Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Thomas Brody
- Section on Cellular Communication, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mihaela Serpe
- Section on Cellular Communication, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
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50
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Mitra R, Richhariya S, Jayakumar S, Notani D, Hasan G. IP3-mediated Ca2+ signals regulate larval to pupal transition under nutrient stress through the H3K36 methyltransferase Set2. Development 2021; 148:269014. [PMID: 34117888 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Persistent loss of dietary protein usually signals a shutdown of key metabolic pathways. In Drosophila larvae that have reached a 'critical weight' and can pupariate to form viable adults, such a metabolic shutdown would needlessly lead to death. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated calcium (IP3/Ca2+) release in some interneurons (vGlutVGN6341) allows Drosophila larvae to pupariate on a protein-deficient diet by partially circumventing this shutdown through upregulation of neuropeptide signaling and the expression of ecdysone synthesis genes. Here, we show that IP3/Ca2+ signals in vGlutVGN6341 neurons drive expression of Set2, a gene encoding Drosophila Histone 3 Lysine 36 methyltransferase. Furthermore, Set2 expression is required for larvae to pupariate in the absence of dietary protein. IP3/Ca2+ signal-driven Set2 expression upregulates key Ca2+-signaling genes through a novel positive-feedback loop. Transcriptomic studies, coupled with analysis of existing ChIP-seq datasets, identified genes from larval and pupal stages that normally exhibit robust H3K36 trimethyl marks on their gene bodies and concomitantly undergo stronger downregulation by knockdown of either the intracellular Ca2+ release channel IP3R or Set2. IP3/Ca2+ signals thus regulate gene expression through Set2-mediated H3K36 marks on select neuronal genes for the larval to pupal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishav Mitra
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Shlesha Richhariya
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Siddharth Jayakumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Dimple Notani
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Gaiti Hasan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
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