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Metabolic Biomarkers in Aging and Anti-Aging Research. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1178:247-264. [PMID: 31493231 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25650-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although human life expectancy has increased significantly over the last two centuries, this has not been paralleled by a similar rise in healthy life expectancy. Thus, an important goal of anti-aging research has been to reduce the impact of age-associated diseases as a way of extending the human healthspan. This review will explore some of the potential avenues which have emerged from this research as the most promising strategies and drug targets for therapeutic interventions to promote healthy aging.
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2
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Franke K, Karl I, Centeno TP, Feldmeyer B, Lassek C, Oostra V, Riedel K, Stanke M, Wheat CW, Fischer K. Effects of adult temperature on gene expression in a butterfly: identifying pathways associated with thermal acclimation. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:32. [PMID: 30674272 PMCID: PMC6345059 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1362-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotypic plasticity is a pervasive property of all organisms and considered to be of key importance for dealing with environmental variation. Plastic responses to temperature, which is one of the most important ecological factors, have received much attention over recent decades. A recurrent pattern of temperature-induced adaptive plasticity includes increased heat tolerance after exposure to warmer temperatures and increased cold tolerance after exposure to cooler temperatures. However, the mechanisms underlying these plastic responses are hitherto not well understood. Therefore, we here investigate effects of adult acclimation on gene expression in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana, using an RNAseq approach. RESULTS We show that several antioxidant markers (e.g. peroxidase, cytochrome P450) were up-regulated at a higher temperature compared with a lower adult temperature, which might play an important role in the acclamatory responses subsequently providing increased heat tolerance. Furthermore, several metabolic pathways were up-regulated at the higher temperature, likely reflecting increased metabolic rates. In contrast, we found no evidence for a decisive role of the heat shock response. CONCLUSIONS Although the important role of antioxidant defence mechanisms in alleviating detrimental effects of oxidative stress is firmly established, we speculate that its potentially important role in mediating heat tolerance and survival under stress has been underestimated thus far and thus deserves more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Franke
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Isabell Karl
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tonatiuh Pena Centeno
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, D-17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Molecular Ecology Group, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian Lassek
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Vicencio Oostra
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Katharina Riedel
- Institute for Microbiology, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, D-17487, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany. .,Present address: Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, University Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstraße 1, D-56070, Koblenz, Germany.
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3
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Willmes DM, Kurzbach A, Henke C, Schumann T, Zahn G, Heifetz A, Jordan J, Helfand SL, Birkenfeld AL. The longevity gene INDY ( I 'm N ot D ead Y et) in metabolic control: Potential as pharmacological target. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 185:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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4
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Liew JW, Fong MY, Lau YL. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Anopheles dirus TEP1 and NOS during Plasmodium berghei infection, using three reference genes. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3577. [PMID: 28761783 PMCID: PMC5533154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) has been an integral part of characterizing the immunity of Anopheles mosquitoes towards Plasmodium invasion. Two anti-Plasmodium factors of Anopheles, thioester-containing protein 1 (TEP1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), play a role in the refractoriness of Anopheles towards Plasmodium infection and are generally expressed during infection. However, these are less studied in Anopheles dirus, a dominant malaria vector in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, most studies used a single reference gene for normalization during gene expression analysis without proper validation. This may lead to erroneous quantification of expression levels. Therefore, the present study characterized and investigated the expression profiles of TEP1 and NOS of Anopheles dirus during P. berghei infection. Prior to that, the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1), actin 1 (Act) and ribosomal protein S7 (S7) genes were validated for their suitability as a set of reference genes. TEP1 and NOS expressions in An. dirus were found to be significantly induced after P. berghei infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W.K. Liew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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5
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Steroid hormone signaling during development has a latent effect on adult male sexual behavior in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174403. [PMID: 28328961 PMCID: PMC5362226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that steroid hormones regulate sexual behavior in vertebrates via organizational and activational effects. However, whether the organizational/activational paradigm applies more broadly to the sexual behavior of other animals such as insects is not well established. Here we describe the hormonal regulation of a sexual behavior in the seasonally polyphenic butterfly Bicyclus anynana is consistent with the characteristics of an organizational effect. By measuring hormone titer levels, quantifying hormone receptor gene expression in the brain, and performing hormone manipulations, we demonstrate steroid hormone signaling early in pupal development has a latent effect on adult male sexual behavior in B. anynana. These findings suggest the organizational/activational paradigm may be more highly conserved across animal taxa than previously thought.
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6
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Willmes DM, Helfand SL, Birkenfeld AL. The longevity transporter mIndy (Slc13a5) as a target for treating hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Aging (Albany NY) 2016; 8:208-9. [PMID: 26928109 PMCID: PMC4789574 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Willmes
- Section of Metabolic Vascular Medicine, Medical Clinic III, Dresden University School of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID), German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephen L Helfand
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Andreas L Birkenfeld
- Section of Metabolic Vascular Medicine, Medical Clinic III, Dresden University School of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID), German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Dresden, Germany
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7
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ERRATUM. Evolution 2016; 70:955-6. [PMID: 27077681 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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Piron Prunier F, Chouteau M, Whibley A, Joron M, Llaurens V. Selection of Valid Reference Genes for Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR Analysis in Heliconius numata (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2016; 16:iew034. [PMID: 27271971 PMCID: PMC4896466 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iew034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Identifying the genetic basis of adaptive variation is challenging in non-model organisms and quantitative real time PCR. is a useful tool for validating predictions regarding the expression of candidate genes. However, comparing expression levels in different conditions requires rigorous experimental design and statistical analyses. Here, we focused on the neotropical passion-vine butterflies Heliconius, non-model species studied in evolutionary biology for their adaptive variation in wing color patterns involved in mimicry and in the signaling of their toxicity to predators. We aimed at selecting stable reference genes to be used for normalization of gene expression data in RT-qPCR analyses from developing wing discs according to the minimal guidelines described in Minimum Information for publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE). To design internal RT-qPCR controls, we studied the stability of expression of nine candidate reference genes (actin, annexin, eF1α, FK506BP, PolyABP, PolyUBQ, RpL3, RPS3A, and tubulin) at two developmental stages (prepupal and pupal) using three widely used programs (GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper). Results showed that, despite differences in statistical methods, genes RpL3, eF1α, polyABP, and annexin were stably expressed in wing discs in late larval and pupal stages of Heliconius numata This combination of genes may be used as a reference for a reliable study of differential expression in wings for instance for genes involved in important phenotypic variation, such as wing color pattern variation. Through this example, we provide general useful technical recommendations as well as relevant statistical strategies for evolutionary biologists aiming to identify candidate-genes involved adaptive variation in non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Piron Prunier
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France
| | - Mathieu Chouteau
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France
| | - Annabel Whibley
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France
| | - Mathieu Joron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France
| | - Violaine Llaurens
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205, CNRS - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle - UPMC - EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France, Corresponding author, e-mail: , and Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier 5, France
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9
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Behavioural antioxidant strategies to cope with high temperatures: a study in a tropical butterfly. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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10
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Beaulieu M, Geiger RE, Reim E, Zielke L, Fischer K. Reproduction alters oxidative status when it is traded-off against longevity. Evolution 2015; 69:1786-96. [PMID: 26095834 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been proposed to mediate one of the most important aspects of life-history evolution: the trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance. However, empirical studies have cast doubt on the generality of this intriguing notion. Here, we hypothesize that reproduction alters oxidative status only when a trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance occurs. Accordingly, in female Bicyclus anynana butterflies, we found that reproduction affected oxidative markers only under challenging thermal conditions that made the trade-off between reproduction and longevity emerge. Interestingly, under such conditions, butterflies favored longevity over reproduction, suggesting that self-maintenance mechanisms were activated. Accordingly, butterflies reproducing under challenging thermal conditions exhibited enhanced antioxidant defenses and stable oxidative damage. Altogether, our results indicate that a trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance is indeed a necessary condition for reproduction to alter oxidative status, and that the effects of such a trade-off on oxidative status depend on whether priority is given to self-maintenance or reproduction. Assessing the existence of the trade-off between self-maintenance and reproduction, and whether self-maintenance is prioritized relative to reproduction is therefore crucial for understanding variation in oxidative status in reproducing animals, which may clarify the general implication of oxidative stress in the resolution of life-history trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Beaulieu
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Rina E Geiger
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Reim
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Luisa Zielke
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Klaus Fischer
- Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Johann-Sebastian Bach Str. 11/12, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
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11
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Arun A, Baumlé V, Amelot G, Nieberding CM. Selection and validation of reference genes for qRT-PCR expression analysis of candidate genes involved in olfactory communication in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120401. [PMID: 25793735 PMCID: PMC4368739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is a technique widely used to quantify the transcriptional expression level of candidate genes. qRT-PCR requires the selection of one or several suitable reference genes, whose expression profiles remain stable across conditions, to normalize the qRT-PCR expression profiles of candidate genes. Although several butterfly species (Lepidoptera) have become important models in molecular evolutionary ecology, so far no study aimed at identifying reference genes for accurate data normalization for any butterfly is available. The African bush brown butterfly Bicyclus anynana has drawn considerable attention owing to its suitability as a model for evolutionary ecology, and we here provide a maiden extensive study to identify suitable reference gene in this species. We monitored the expression profile of twelve reference genes: eEF-1α, FK506, UBQL40, RpS8, RpS18, HSP, GAPDH, VATPase, ACT3, TBP, eIF2 and G6PD. We tested the stability of their expression profiles in three different tissues (wings, brains, antennae), two developmental stages (pupal and adult) and two sexes (male and female), all of which were subjected to two food treatments (food stress and control feeding ad libitum). The expression stability and ranking of twelve reference genes was assessed using two algorithm-based methods, NormFinder and geNorm. Both methods identified RpS8 as the best suitable reference gene for expression data normalization. We also showed that the use of two reference genes is sufficient to effectively normalize the qRT-PCR data under varying tissues and experimental conditions that we used in B. anynana. Finally, we tested the effect of choosing reference genes with different stability on the normalization of the transcript abundance of a candidate gene involved in olfactory communication in B. anynana, the Fatty Acyl Reductase 2, and we confirmed that using an unstable reference gene can drastically alter the expression profile of the target candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alok Arun
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics group, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- * E-mail: (AA); (CMN)
| | - Véronique Baumlé
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics group, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Gaël Amelot
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics group, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Caroline M. Nieberding
- Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics group, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 4, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- * E-mail: (AA); (CMN)
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12
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Willmes DM, Birkenfeld AL. The Role of INDY in Metabolic Regulation. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2013; 6:e201303020. [PMID: 24688728 PMCID: PMC3962103 DOI: 10.5936/csbj.201303020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced expression of the Indy (I'm Not Dead Yet) gene in D. melanogaster and C. elegans extends longevity. Indy and its mammalian homolog mINDY (Slc13a5, NaCT) are transporters of TCA cycle intermediates, mainly handling the uptake of citrate via the plasma membrane into the cytosol. Deletion of mINDY in mice leads to significant metabolic changes akin to caloric restriction, likely caused by reducing the effects of mINDY-imported citrate on fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, glucose metabolism and ß-oxidation. This review will provide an overview on different mammalian SLC1 3 family members with a focus on mINDY (SLCl3A5) in glucose and energy metabolism and will highlight the role of mINDY as a putative therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Willmes
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité - University School of Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas L Birkenfeld
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Charité - University School of Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Extavour CG. Live long and prosper: germline stem cell maintenance revisited (retrospective on DOI: 10.1002/bies.201000085). Bioessays 2013; 35:763. [PMID: 23801082 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201300067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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14
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Alcedo J, Flatt T, Pasyukova EG. Neuronal inputs and outputs of aging and longevity. Front Genet 2013; 4:71. [PMID: 23653632 PMCID: PMC3644678 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An animal’s survival strongly depends on its ability to maintain homeostasis in response to the changing quality of its external and internal environment. This is achieved through intracellular and intercellular communication within and among different tissues. One of the organ systems that plays a major role in this communication and the maintenance of homeostasis is the nervous system. Here we highlight different aspects of the neuronal inputs and outputs of pathways that affect aging and longevity. Accordingly, we discuss how sensory inputs influence homeostasis and lifespan through the modulation of different types of neuronal signals, which reflects the complexity of the environmental cues that affect physiology. We also describe feedback, compensatory, and feed-forward mechanisms in these longevity-modulating pathways that are necessary for homeostasis. Finally, we consider the temporal requirements for these neuronal processes and the potential role of natural genetic variation in shaping the neurobiology of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Alcedo
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research Basel, Switzerland ; Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
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15
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Saenko SV, Jerónimo MA, Beldade P. Genetic basis of stage-specific melanism: a putative role for a cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase in insect pigmentation. Heredity (Edinb) 2012; 108:594-601. [PMID: 22234245 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2011.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanism, the overall darkening of the body, is a widespread form of animal adaptation to particular environments, and includes bookcase examples of evolution by natural selection, such as industrial melanism in the peppered moth. The major components of the melanin biosynthesis pathway have been characterized in model insects, but little is known about the genetic basis of life-stage specific melanism such as cases described in some lepidopteran species. Here, we investigate two melanic mutations of Bicyclus anynana butterflies, called Chocolate and melanine, that exclusively affect pigmentation of the larval and adult stages, respectively. Our analysis of Mendelian segregation patterns reveals that the larval and adult melanic phenotypes are due to alleles at different, independently segregating loci. Our linkage mapping analysis excludes the pigmentation candidate gene black as the melanine locus, and implicates a gene encoding a putative pyridoxal phosphate-dependant cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase as the Chocolate locus. We show variation in coding sequence and in expression levels for this candidate larval melanism locus. This is the first study that suggests a biological function for this gene in insects. Our findings open up exciting opportunities to study the role of this locus in the evolution of adaptive variation in pigmentation, and the uncoupling of regulation of pigment biosynthesis across developmental stages with different ecologies and pressures on body coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
- S V Saenko
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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16
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Conceição IC, Long AD, Gruber JD, Beldade P. Genomic sequence around butterfly wing development genes: annotation and comparative analysis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23778. [PMID: 21909358 PMCID: PMC3166123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analysis of genomic sequence allows characterization of genome content and organization, and access beyond gene-coding regions for identification of functional elements. BAC libraries, where relatively large genomic regions are made readily available, are especially useful for species without a fully sequenced genome and can increase genomic coverage of phylogenetic and biological diversity. For example, no butterfly genome is yet available despite the unique genetic and biological properties of this group, such as diversified wing color patterns. The evolution and development of these patterns is being studied in a few target species, including Bicyclus anynana, where a whole-genome BAC library allows targeted access to large genomic regions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We characterize ∼1.3 Mb of genomic sequence around 11 selected genes expressed in B. anynana developing wings. Extensive manual curation of in silico predictions, also making use of a large dataset of expressed genes for this species, identified repetitive elements and protein coding sequence, and highlighted an expansion of Alcohol dehydrogenase genes. Comparative analysis with orthologous regions of the lepidopteran reference genome allowed assessment of conservation of fine-scale synteny (with detection of new inversions and translocations) and of DNA sequence (with detection of high levels of conservation of non-coding regions around some, but not all, developmental genes). CONCLUSIONS The general properties and organization of the available B. anynana genomic sequence are similar to the lepidopteran reference, despite the more than 140 MY divergence. Our results lay the groundwork for further studies of new interesting findings in relation to both coding and non-coding sequence: 1) the Alcohol dehydrogenase expansion with higher similarity between the five tandemly-repeated B. anynana paralogs than with the corresponding B. mori orthologs, and 2) the high conservation of non-coding sequence around the genes wingless and Ecdysone receptor, both involved in multiple developmental processes including wing pattern formation.
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MESH Headings
- Alcohol Dehydrogenase/genetics
- Animals
- Base Composition/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Bombyx/genetics
- Butterflies/genetics
- Butterflies/growth & development
- Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial/genetics
- Computational Biology
- Conserved Sequence/genetics
- DNA Transposable Elements/genetics
- DNA, Intergenic/genetics
- Databases, Genetic
- Expressed Sequence Tags
- Gene Order/genetics
- Genes, Developmental/genetics
- Genes, Insect/genetics
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- Molecular Sequence Annotation
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Open Reading Frames/genetics
- Phylogeny
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid/genetics
- Reproducibility of Results
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Synteny/genetics
- Wings, Animal/growth & development
- Wings, Animal/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony D. Long
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Gruber
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Patrícia Beldade
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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