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Bounas A, Komini C, Toli EA, Talioura A, Sotiropoulos K, Barboutis C. Expression patterns of heat-shock genes during stopover and the trade-off between refueling and stress response in a passerine migrant. J Comp Physiol B 2024; 194:1-6. [PMID: 38296861 PMCID: PMC10940366 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-023-01529-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Migrating birds are often exposed to variable environments and face a multitude of stress exposures along their long-distance flights. During stopover refueling, migratory birds must balance the need to accumulate energy reserves to continue their migration with the need to respond to environmental and physiological stressors. We examined the gene expression patterns of different Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) in migrating birds during stopover at different body condition states (lean vs. fat), to provide some first insights on the role of HSPs in bird migration and explore the concept of a trade-off between refueling and stress response. Our results showed upregulation of HSP expression at release that could be associated with muscle growth and increased cholesterol and lipid synthesis needed for birds to fuel their upcoming migration. On the other hand, during capture, upregulation of HSP5 could be attributed to physiological recovery from the non-stop endurance flight when crossing the Sahara Desert-Mediterranean Sea ecological barrier. All birds significantly increased their fuel loads up to 48% of lean body mass and we provide evidence for muscle rebuilding during stopover as flight muscle mass increased by 10%, highlighting the fact that stopover sites can play a major role in the physiological recovery of migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Bounas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Elisavet-Aspasia Toli
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Artemis Talioura
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Sotiropoulos
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Christos Barboutis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
- Antikythira Bird Observatory, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife Greece, 52 Ag. Konstantinou Str., 10437, Athens, Greece
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Bounas A, Komini C, Talioura A, Toli EA, Sotiropoulos K, Barboutis C. Adaptive regulation of stopover refueling during bird migration: insights from whole blood transcriptomics. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:7126623. [PMID: 37067540 PMCID: PMC10139441 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Migration is one of the most energy-demanding tasks in avian life cycle. Many birds might not have sufficient fuel stores to cover long-distances, so they must stop to rest and refuel at stopover sites, especially after the crossing of large ecological barriers. There, birds undergo several behavioral, morphological and physiological trait adjustments to recover from and prepare for their journey, however regulation of such processes at the molecular level remains largely unknown. In this study we used transcriptomic information from the whole blood of migrating Garden warblers (Sylvia borin) to identify key regulatory pathways related to adaptations for migration. Birds were temporarily caged during spring migration stopover and then sampled twice at different refuelling states (lean vs fat), reflecting different migratory stages (stopover arrival vs departure) after the crossing of an extended ecological barrier. Our results show that top expressed genes during migration are involved in important pathways regarding adaptations to migration at high altitudes such as increase of aerobic capacity and angiogenesis. Gene expression profiles largely reflected the two experimental conditions with several enzymes involved in different aspects of metabolic activity being differentially expressed between states providing several candidate genes for future functional studies. Additionally, we identified several hub genes, upregulated in lean birds that could be involved in the extraordinary phenotypic flexibility in organ mass displayed by avian migrants. Finally, our approach provides novel evidence that regulation of water homeostasis may represent a significant adaptive mechanism, allowing birds to conserve water during long-distance flight, mainly through protein catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Bounas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Artemis Talioura
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Elisavet-Aspasia Toli
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Sotiropoulos
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Christos Barboutis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
- Antikythira Bird Observatory, Hellenic Ornithological Society/BirdLife Greece, 52 Ag. Konstantinou Str., Athens, GR-10437, Greece
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Komini C, Bounas A. Recovery of RNA from avian nucleated whole blood stored under field conditions: an evaluation of commercial methods. Br Poult Sci 2022; 63:730-734. [PMID: 35373667 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2022.2061838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
1. Whole blood can be used to gain insights on several molecular mechanisms involved in animal physiology. However, its use to extract RNA from organisms that carry nucleated red blood cells is limited due to its high nuclease content and instability under field conditions. 2. Here, we evaluate three commercially available RNA preservation and extraction methods applied to avian whole blood samples kept in different storage conditions to identify the most suitable ones for use in field studies. 3. Whole blood starting volume was the most important factor; only samples with a starting volume of 50 µl yielded RNA whereas all 100 µl samples failed to provide any RNA regardless of the method used. RNA concentration decreased with storage time in every method employed. Samples stored at -20 °C yielded higher RNA concentration than the ones stored at 4°C although some possible effects of freeze-thaw cycles were observed. 4. For the two out of three methods it is likely that DNA contamination and/or extensive degradation of RNA could have taken place. Only whole blood stored and extracted using the Quick RNA Whole Blood kit provided high quality RNA in every condition tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysoula Komini
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Anastasios Bounas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
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Komini C, Theohari I, Lambrianidou A, Nakopoulou L, Trangas T. PAPOLA contributes to cyclin D1 mRNA alternative polyadenylation and promotes breast cancer cell proliferation. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:237820. [PMID: 33712453 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.252304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(A) polymerases add the poly(A) tail at the 3' end of nearly all eukaryotic mRNA, and are associated with proliferation and cancer. To elucidate the role of the most-studied mammalian poly(A) polymerase, poly(A) polymerase α (PAPOLA), in cancer, we assessed its expression in 221 breast cancer samples and found it to correlate strongly with the aggressive triple-negative subtype. Silencing PAPOLA in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells reduced proliferation and anchorage-independent growth by decreasing steady-state cyclin D1 (CCND1) mRNA and protein levels. Whereas the length of the CCND1 mRNA poly(A) tail was not affected, its 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) lengthened. Overexpressing PAPOLA caused CCND1 mRNA 3'UTR shortening with a concomitant increase in the amount of corresponding transcript and protein, resulting in growth arrest in MCF-7 cells and DNA damage in HEK-293 cells. Such overexpression of PAPOLA promoted proliferation in the p53 mutant MDA-MB-231 cells. Our data suggest that PAPOLA is a possible candidate target for the control of tumor growth that is mostly relevant to triple-negative tumors, a group characterized by PAPOLA overexpression and lack of alternative targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysoula Komini
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
| | - Irini Theohari
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, 11517, Greece
| | - Andromachi Lambrianidou
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
| | - Lydia Nakopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, 11517, Greece
| | - Theoni Trangas
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
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Vlaikou AM, Nussbaumer M, Komini C, Lambrianidou A, Konidaris C, Trangas T, Filiou MD. Exploring the crosstalk of glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism in psychiatric disorders and brain tumours. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:3002-3018. [PMID: 33226682 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunction of metabolic pathways characterises a plethora of common pathologies and has emerged as an underlying hallmark of disease phenotypes. Here, we focus on psychiatric disorders and brain tumours and explore changes in the interplay between glycolysis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in the brain. We discuss alterations in glycolysis versus core mitochondrial metabolic pathways, such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, in major psychiatric disorders and brain tumours. We investigate potential common patterns of altered mitochondrial metabolism in different brain regions and sample types and explore how changes in mitochondrial number, shape and morphology affect disease-related manifestations. We also highlight the potential of pharmacologically targeting mitochondria to achieve therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki-Maria Vlaikou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Biomedical Research Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Markus Nussbaumer
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Biomedical Research Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Biomedical Research Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Andromachi Lambrianidou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Constantinos Konidaris
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Biomedical Research Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Theoni Trangas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Michaela D Filiou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Biomedical Research Division, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Ioannina, Greece
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Lambrianidou A, Sereti E, Soupsana K, Komini C, Dimas K, Trangas T. mTORC2 deploys the mRNA binding protein IGF2BP1 to regulate c-MYC expression and promote cell survival. Cell Signal 2021; 80:109912. [PMID: 33388443 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
mTORC2 promotes cell survival by phosphorylating AKT and enhancing its activity. Inactivation of mTORC2 reduces viability through down-regulation of E2F1 caused by up-regulation of c-MYC. An additional target of mTORC2 is IGF2BP1, an oncofetal RNA binding protein expressed de novo in a wide array of malignancies. IGF2BP1 enhances c-MYC expression by protecting the coding region instability sequence (CRD) of its mRNA from endonucleolytic cleavage. Here we show that repression of mTORC2 signalling and prevention of Ser181 phosphorylation of IGF2BP1 enhanced translation and destabilization of the endogenous c-myc mRNA as well as the mRNA of reporter transcripts carrying the CRD sequence in frame. The consequent increase in c-MYC protein was accompanied by the emergence of an apoptotic c-MYC overexpressing population. On the other hand, preventing phosphorylation of IGF2BP1 on Tyr396 by Src kinase caused the accumulation of translationally silent transcripts through sequestration by IGF2BP1 into cytoplasmic granules. The apoptotic effect of mTORC2 signalling deprivation was augmented when preceded by inhibition of IGF2BP1 phosphorylation by the Src kinase in concert with further increase of c-MYC levels because of enhanced translation of the previously stored mRNA only in the presence of IGF2BP1. Furthermore, the combined administration of mTORC2 and Src inhibitors exhibited synergism in delaying xenograft growth in female NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice. The above in vitro and in vivo findings may be applied for the induction of targeted apoptosis of cells expressing de novo the oncofetal protein IGF2BP1, a feature of aggressive malignancies resulting in a more focused anticancer therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andromachi Lambrianidou
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Evangelia Sereti
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Katerina Soupsana
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Dimas
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Theoni Trangas
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
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7
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Papadopoulou Z, Vlaikou AM, Theodoridou D, Komini C, Chalkiadaki G, Vafeiadi M, Margetaki K, Trangas T, Turck CW, Syrrou M, Chatzi L, Filiou MD. Unraveling the Serum Metabolomic Profile of Post-partum Depression. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:833. [PMID: 31507354 PMCID: PMC6716353 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-partum depression (PPD) is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting ∼15% of young mothers. Early life stressful conditions in periconceptual, fetal and early infant periods or exposure to maternal psychiatric disorders, have been linked to adverse childhood outcomes interfering with physiological, cognitive and emotional development. The molecular mechanisms of PPD are not yet fully understood. Unraveling the molecular underpinnings of PPD will allow timely detection and establishment of effective therapeutic approaches. To investigate the underlying molecular correlates of PPD in peripheral material, we compared the serum metabolomes of an in detail characterized group of mothers suffering from PPD and a control group of mothers, all from Heraklion, Crete in Greece. Serum samples were analyzed by a mass spectrometry platform for targeted metabolomics, based on selected reaction monitoring (SRM), which measures the levels of up to 300 metabolites. In the PPD group, we observed increased levels of glutathione-disulfide, adenylosuccinate, and ATP, which associate with oxidative stress, nucleotide biosynthesis and energy production pathways. We also followed up the metabolomic findings in a validation cohort of PPD mothers and controls. To the very best of our knowledge, this is the first metabolomic serum analysis in PPD. Our data show that molecular changes related to PPD are detectable in peripheral material, thus paving the way for additional studies in order to shed light on the molecular correlates of PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Papadopoulou
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Angeliki-Maria Vlaikou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Daniela Theodoridou
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chrysoula Komini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Georgia Chalkiadaki
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Marina Vafeiadi
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Katerina Margetaki
- Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Theoni Trangas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Chris W Turck
- Proteomics and Biomarkers, Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Syrrou
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michaela D Filiou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
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