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Shao Y, Li Y, Wang D. Polylactic acid microplastics cause transgenerational reproductive toxicity associated with activation of insulin and hedgehog ligands in C. elegans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 942:173746. [PMID: 38851356 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173746] [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: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
As a member of biodegradable plastics, exposure risk of polylactic acid microplastic (PLA-MP) has received attention recently. Toxicity of PLA-MP at parental generation (P0-G) has been observed in some organisms; however, its possible transgenerational toxicity and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In Caenorhabditis elegans, 10 and 100 μg/L PLA-MP resulted in transgenerational inhibition in reproductive capacity and transgenerational damage on gonad development. Meanwhile, transgenerational increase in germline apoptosis was detected after PLA-MP exposure at P0-G, which was associated with transgenerational dysregulation in expressions of genes governing apoptosis (ced-3, ced-4, egl-1, and ced-9) and DNA damage related genes (cep-1, mrt-2, hus-1, and clk-2). Among secreted ligand genes, PLA-MP exposure induced transgenerational increase in expression of ins-39 and wrt-3, and RNAi of ins-39 and wrt-3 inhibited germline apoptosis in PLA-MP exposed nematodes. Additionally, PLA-MP caused transgenerational increase in expression of met-2 and set-6 encoding histone methylation transferases, and germline apoptosis induced by PLA-MP could be suppressed by RNAi of met-2 and set-6. Dysregulated expressions of some apoptosis and DNA damage related genes caused by PLA-MP were reversed by RNAi of ins-39, wrt-3, met-2, and set-6. Moreover, in PLA-MP exposed animals, expression of ins-39 and wrt-3 could be further inhibited by RNAi of met-2 and set-6. Therefore, PLA-MP potentially induced reproductive toxicity across multiple generations, which was under the control of MET-2 and SET-6 activated ligands of INS-39 and WRT-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Shao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yunhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Dayong Wang
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Shenzhen Ruipuxun Academy for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
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2
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Pal A, Vasudevan V, Houle F, Lantin M, Maniates K, Huberdeau MQ, Abbott A, Simard M. Defining the contribution of microRNA-specific Argonautes with slicer capability in animals. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5002-5015. [PMID: 38477356 PMCID: PMC11109967 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
microRNAs regulate gene expression through interaction with an Argonaute protein. While some members of this protein family retain an enzymatic activity capable of cleaving RNA molecules complementary to Argonaute-bound small RNAs, the role of the slicer residues in the canonical microRNA pathway is still unclear in animals. To address this, we created Caenorhabditis elegans strains with mutated slicer residues in the endogenous ALG-1 and ALG-2, the only two slicing Argonautes essential for the miRNA pathway in this animal model. We observe that the mutation in ALG-1 and ALG-2 catalytic residues affects overall animal fitness and causes phenotypes reminiscent of miRNA defects only when grown and maintained at restrictive temperature. Furthermore, the analysis of global miRNA expression shows that the slicer residues of ALG-1 and ALG-2 contribute differentially to regulate the level of specific subsets of miRNAs in young adults. We also demonstrate that altering the catalytic tetrad of those miRNA-specific Argonautes does not result in any defect in the production of canonical miRNAs. Together, these data support that the slicer residues of miRNA-specific Argonautes contribute to maintaining levels of a set of miRNAs for optimal viability and fitness in animals particularly exposed to specific growing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisha Pal
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Vaishnav Vasudevan
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - François Houle
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Michael Lantin
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Katherine A Maniates
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, USA
| | - Miguel Quévillon Huberdeau
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Allison L Abbott
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - Martin J Simard
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
- Université Laval Cancer Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
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Haque R, Kurien SP, Setty H, Salzberg Y, Stelzer G, Litvak E, Gingold H, Rechavi O, Oren-Suissa M. Sex-specific developmental gene expression atlas unveils dimorphic gene networks in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4273. [PMID: 38769103 PMCID: PMC11106331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48369-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: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in the nervous system of each sex. However, the genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we create a comprehensive gene expression atlas of pure populations of hermaphrodites and males of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. We discover numerous differentially expressed genes, including neuronal gene families like transcription factors, neuropeptides, and G protein-coupled receptors. We identify INS-39, an insulin-like peptide, as a prominent male-biased gene expressed specifically in ciliated sensory neurons. We show that INS-39 serves as an early-stage male marker, facilitating the effective isolation of males in high-throughput experiments. Through complex and sex-specific regulation, ins-39 plays pleiotropic sexually dimorphic roles in various behaviors, while also playing a shared, dimorphic role in early life stress. This study offers a comparative sexual and developmental gene expression database for C. elegans. Furthermore, it highlights conserved genes that may underlie the sexually dimorphic manifestation of different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwanul Haque
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sonu Peedikayil Kurien
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hagar Setty
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yehuda Salzberg
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gil Stelzer
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Einav Litvak
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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4
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Pal A, Vasudevan V, Houle F, Lantin M, Maniates KA, Quevillon Huberdeau M, Abbott A, Simard MJ. Defining the contribution of microRNA-specific slicing Argonautes in animals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.01.19.524781. [PMID: 36711744 PMCID: PMC9882343 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.524781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
microRNAs regulate gene expression through interaction with an Argonaute protein family member. While some members of this protein family retain an enzymatic activity capable of cleaving RNA molecules complementary to Argonaute-bound small RNAs, the role of the slicing activity in the canonical microRNA pathway is still unclear in animals. To address the importance of slicing Argonautes in animals, we created Caenorhabditis elegans strains, carrying catalytically dead endogenous ALG-1 and ALG-2, the only two slicing Argonautes essential for the miRNA pathway in this animal model. We observe that the loss of ALG-1 and ALG-2 slicing activity affects overall animal fitness and causes phenotypes, reminiscent of miRNA defects, only when grown and maintained at restrictive temperature. Furthermore, the analysis of global miRNA expression shows that the catalytic activity of ALG-1 and ALG-2 differentially regulate the level of specific subsets of miRNAs in young adults. We also demonstrate that altering the slicing activity of those miRNA-specific Argonautes does not result in any defect in the production of canonical miRNAs. Together, these data support that the slicing activity of miRNA-specific Argonautes function to maintain the levels of a set of miRNAs for optimal viability and fitness in animals particularly exposed to specific growing conditions.
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5
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Harris N, Bates SG, Zhuang Z, Bernstein M, Stonemetz JM, Hill TJ, Yu YV, Calarco JA, Sengupta P. Molecular encoding of stimulus features in a single sensory neuron type enables neuronal and behavioral plasticity. Curr Biol 2023; 33:1487-1501.e7. [PMID: 36977417 PMCID: PMC10133190 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Neurons modify their transcriptomes in response to an animal's experience. How specific experiences are transduced to modulate gene expression and precisely tune neuronal functions are not fully defined. Here, we describe the molecular profile of a thermosensory neuron pair in C. elegans experiencing different temperature stimuli. We find that distinct salient features of the temperature stimulus, including its duration, magnitude of change, and absolute value, are encoded in the gene expression program in this single neuron type, and we identify a novel transmembrane protein and a transcription factor whose specific transcriptional dynamics are essential to drive neuronal, behavioral, and developmental plasticity. Expression changes are driven by broadly expressed activity-dependent transcription factors and corresponding cis-regulatory elements that nevertheless direct neuron- and stimulus-specific gene expression programs. Our results indicate that coupling of defined stimulus characteristics to the gene regulatory logic in individual specialized neuron types can customize neuronal properties to drive precise behavioral adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
| | - Samuel G Bates
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Zihao Zhuang
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Matthew Bernstein
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Jamie M Stonemetz
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Tyler J Hill
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Yanxun V Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - John A Calarco
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord St., Toronto, ON M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, MS008, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
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6
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Harris N, Bates S, Zhuang Z, Bernstein M, Stonemetz J, Hill T, Yu YV, Calarco JA, Sengupta P. Molecular encoding of stimulus features in a single sensory neuron type enables neuronal and behavioral plasticity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.22.525070. [PMID: 36711719 PMCID: PMC9882311 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.22.525070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurons modify their transcriptomes in response to an animal’s experience. How specific experiences are transduced to modulate gene expression and precisely tune neuronal functions are not fully defined. Here, we describe the molecular profile of a thermosensory neuron pair in C. elegans experiencing different temperature stimuli. We find that distinct salient features of the temperature stimulus including its duration, magnitude of change, and absolute value are encoded in the gene expression program in this single neuron, and identify a novel transmembrane protein and a transcription factor whose specific transcriptional dynamics are essential to drive neuronal, behavioral, and developmental plasticity. Expression changes are driven by broadly expressed activity-dependent transcription factors and corresponding cis -regulatory elements that nevertheless direct neuron- and stimulus-specific gene expression programs. Our results indicate that coupling of defined stimulus characteristics to the gene regulatory logic in individual specialized neuron types can customize neuronal properties to drive precise behavioral adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA,Co-corresponding authors: ;
| | - Samuel Bates
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Zihao Zhuang
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA,Current address: Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Jamie Stonemetz
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Tyler Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Yanxun V. Yu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - John A. Calarco
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA,Co-corresponding authors: ;
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7
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Servello FA, Fernandes R, Eder M, Harris N, Martin OMF, Oswal N, Lindberg A, Derosiers N, Sengupta P, Stroustrup N, Apfeld J. Neuronal temperature perception induces specific defenses that enable C. elegans to cope with the enhanced reactivity of hydrogen peroxide at high temperature. eLife 2022; 11:e78941. [PMID: 36226814 PMCID: PMC9635881 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide is the most common reactive chemical that organisms face on the microbial battlefield. The rate with which hydrogen peroxide damages biomolecules required for life increases with temperature, yet little is known about how organisms cope with this temperature-dependent threat. Here, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes use temperature information perceived by sensory neurons to cope with the temperature-dependent threat of hydrogen peroxide produced by the pathogenic bacterium Enterococcus faecium. These nematodes preemptively induce the expression of specific hydrogen peroxide defenses in response to perception of high temperature by a pair of sensory neurons. These neurons communicate temperature information to target tissues expressing those defenses via an insulin/IGF1 hormone. This is the first example of a multicellular organism inducing their defenses to a chemical when they sense an inherent enhancer of the reactivity of that chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rute Fernandes
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Matthias Eder
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Nathan Harris
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Olivier MF Martin
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Natasha Oswal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Anders Lindberg
- Biology Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
| | | | - Piali Sengupta
- Department of Biology, Brandeis UniversityWalthamUnited States
| | - Nicholas Stroustrup
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Javier Apfeld
- Biology Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
- Bioengineering Department, Northeastern UniversityBostonUnited States
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