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Zhong MZ, Peng T, Duarte ML, Wang M, Cai D. Updates on mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:23. [PMID: 38462606 PMCID: PMC10926682 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00712-0] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States (US). Animal models, specifically mouse models have been developed to better elucidate disease mechanisms and test therapeutic strategies for AD. A large portion of effort in the field was focused on developing transgenic (Tg) mouse models through over-expression of genetic mutations associated with familial AD (FAD) patients. Newer generations of mouse models through knock-in (KI)/knock-out (KO) or CRISPR gene editing technologies, have been developed for both familial and sporadic AD risk genes with the hope to more accurately model proteinopathies without over-expression of human AD genes in mouse brains. In this review, we summarized the phenotypes of a few commonly used as well as newly developed mouse models in translational research laboratories including the presence or absence of key pathological features of AD such as amyloid and tau pathology, synaptic and neuronal degeneration as well as cognitive and behavior deficits. In addition, advantages and limitations of these AD mouse models have been elaborated along with discussions of any sex-specific features. More importantly, the omics data from available AD mouse models have been analyzed to categorize molecular signatures of each model reminiscent of human AD brain changes, with the hope to guide future selection of most suitable models for specific research questions to be addressed in the AD field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Z Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Thomas Peng
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Science Research Program, Scarsdale High School, New York, NY, 10583, USA
| | - Mariana Lemos Duarte
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Research & Development, James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Dongming Cai
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Research & Development, James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Department of Neurology, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Geriatric Research Education & Clinical Center (GRECC), The Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
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Zheng Y, Li Y, Zhou K, Li T, VanDusen NJ, Hua Y. Precise genome-editing in human diseases: mechanisms, strategies and applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:47. [PMID: 38409199 PMCID: PMC10897424 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01750-2] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise genome-editing platforms are versatile tools for generating specific, site-directed DNA insertions, deletions, and substitutions. The continuous enhancement of these tools has led to a revolution in the life sciences, which promises to deliver novel therapies for genetic disease. Precise genome-editing can be traced back to the 1950s with the discovery of DNA's double-helix and, after 70 years of development, has evolved from crude in vitro applications to a wide range of sophisticated capabilities, including in vivo applications. Nonetheless, precise genome-editing faces constraints such as modest efficiency, delivery challenges, and off-target effects. In this review, we explore precise genome-editing, with a focus on introduction of the landmark events in its history, various platforms, delivery systems, and applications. First, we discuss the landmark events in the history of precise genome-editing. Second, we describe the current state of precise genome-editing strategies and explain how these techniques offer unprecedented precision and versatility for modifying the human genome. Third, we introduce the current delivery systems used to deploy precise genome-editing components through DNA, RNA, and RNPs. Finally, we summarize the current applications of precise genome-editing in labeling endogenous genes, screening genetic variants, molecular recording, generating disease models, and gene therapy, including ex vivo therapy and in vivo therapy, and discuss potential future advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjiang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Yifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Kaiyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Tiange Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Nathan J VanDusen
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Yimin Hua
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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3
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Guo L, Yang G. Pioneering DNA assembling techniques and their applications in eukaryotic microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 70:108301. [PMID: 38101551 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108301] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Assembling DNA fragments is a fundamental manipulation of cloning microalgal genes and carrying out microalgal synthetic biological studies. From the earliest DNA recombination to current trait and metabolic pathway engineering, we are always accompanied by homology-based DNA assembling. The improvement and modification of pioneering DNA assembling techniques and the combinational applications of the available assembling techniques have diversified and complicated the literature environment and aggravated our identification of the core and pioneering methodologies. Identifying the core assembling methodologies and using them appropriately and flourishing them even are important for researchers. A group of microalgae have been evolving as the models for both industrial applications and biological studies. DNA assembling requires researchers to know the methods available and their improvements and evolvements. In this review, we summarized the pioneering (core; leading) DNA assembling techniques developed previously, extended these techniques to their modifications, improvements and their combinations, and highlighted their applications in eukaryotic microalgae. We predicted that the gene(s) will be assembled into a functional cluster (e.g., those involving in a metabolic pathway, and stacked on normal microalgal chromosomes, their artificial episomes and looming artificial chromosomes. It should be particularly pointed out that the techniques mentioned in this review are classified according to the strategy used to assemble the final construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China
| | - Guanpin Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China; Institutes of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China; MoE Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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4
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Halurkar MS, Inoue O, Mukherjee R, Paese CLB, Duszynski M, Brugmann SA, Lim HW, Sanchez-Gurmaches J. The widely used Ucp1-CreEvdr transgene elicits complex developmental and metabolic phenotypes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563165. [PMID: 37904917 PMCID: PMC10614962 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic models, including most Cre-recombinases, enable potent interrogation of gene function in vivo but require rigorous validation as limitations emerge. Due to its high relevance to metabolic studies, we performed comprehensive analysis of the Ucp1-CreEvdr line which is widely used for brown fat research. Hemizygotes exhibited major brown and white fat transcriptomic dysregulation, indicating potential altered tissue function. Ucp1-CreEvdr homozygotes also show high mortality, growth defects, and craniofacial abnormalities. Mapping the transgene insertion site revealed insertion in chromosome 1 accompanied by large genomic alterations disrupting several genes expressed in a range of tissues. Notably, Ucp1-CreEvdr transgene retains an extra Ucp1 gene copy that may be highly expressed under high thermogenic burden. Our multi-faceted analysis highlights a complex phenotype arising from the presence of the Ucp1-CreEvdr transgene independently of the intended genetic manipulations. Overall, comprehensive validation of transgenic mice is imperative to maximize discovery while mitigating unexpected, off-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasi Suchit Halurkar
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Oto Inoue
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Rajib Mukherjee
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | | | - Molly Duszynski
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Samantha A. Brugmann
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
| | - Hee-Woong Lim
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
| | - Joan Sanchez-Gurmaches
- Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA
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Rudolph A, Nyerges A, Chiappino-Pepe A, Landon M, Baas-Thomas M, Church G. Strategies to identify and edit improvements in synthetic genome segments episomally. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10094-10106. [PMID: 37615546 PMCID: PMC10570025 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome engineering projects often utilize bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) to carry multi-kilobase DNA segments at low copy number. However, all stages of whole-genome engineering have the potential to impose mutations on the synthetic genome that can reduce or eliminate the fitness of the final strain. Here, we describe improvements to a multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) protocol to improve recombineering frequency and multiplexability. This protocol was applied to recoding an Escherichia coli strain to replace seven codons with synonymous alternatives genome wide. Ten 44 402-47 179 bp de novo synthesized DNA segments contained in a BAC from the recoded strain were unable to complement deletion of the corresponding 33-61 wild-type genes using a single antibiotic resistance marker. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to identify 1-7 non-recoding mutations in essential genes per segment, and MAGE in turn proved a useful strategy to repair these mutations on the recoded segment contained in the BAC when both the recoded and wild-type copies of the mutated genes had to exist by necessity during the repair process. Finally, two web-based tools were used to predict the impact of a subset of non-recoding missense mutations on strain fitness using protein structure and function calls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Rudolph
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Akos Nyerges
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anush Chiappino-Pepe
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Matthieu Landon
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - George Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Yi J, Zhang M, Zhu L, Xu C, Li B, Wu P, Wu H, Zhang B. High-efficiency genetic engineering toolkit for virus based on lambda red-mediated recombination. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:1327-1337. [PMID: 37526868 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03412-9] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Viruses, such as Ebola virus (EBOV), evolve rapidly and threaten the human health. There is a great demand to exploit efficient gene-editing techniques for the identification of virus to probe virulence mechanism for drug development. METHODS Based on lambda Red recombination in Escherichia coli (E. coli), counter-selection, and in vitro annealing, a high-efficiency genetic method was utilized here for precisely engineering viruses. EBOV trVLPs assay and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to further test the effect of mutations on virus replication. RESULTS Considering the significance of matrix protein VP24 in EBOV replication, the types of mutations within vp24, including several single-base substitutions, one double-base substitution, two seamless deletions, and one targeted insertion, were generated on the multi-copy plasmid of E. coli. Further, the length of the homology arms for recombination and in vitro annealing, and the amount of DNA cassettes and linear plasmids were optimized to create a more elaborate and cost-efficient protocol than original approach. The effects of VP24 mutations on the expression of a reporter gene (luciferase) from the EBOV minigenome were determined, and results indicated that mutations of key sites within VP24 have significant impacts on EBOV replication. CONCLUSION This precise mutagenesis method will facilitate effective and simple editing of viral genes in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Maifei Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Changzhi Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Binglin Li
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Panpan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
| | - Buchang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, People's Republic of China
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Lee CYD, De La Rocha AJ, Inouye K, Langfelder P, Daggett A, Gu X, Jiang LL, Pamonag Z, Vaca RG, Richman J, Kawaguchi R, Gao F, Xu H, Yang XW. BAC Transgenic Expression of Human TREM2-R47H Remodels Amyloid Plaques but Unable to Reprogram Plaque-associated Microglial Reactivity in 5xFAD Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.03.551881. [PMID: 37577582 PMCID: PMC10418161 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.03.551881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Genetic study of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) reveals that a rare Arginine-to-Histamine mutation at amino acid residue 47 (R47H) in Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) results in increased disease risk. TREM2 plays critical roles in regulating microglial response to amyloid plaques in AD, leading to their clustering and activation surrounding the plaques. We previously showed that increasing human TREM2 gene dosage exerts neuroprotective effects against AD-related deficits in amyloid depositing mouse models of AD. However, the in vivo effects of the R47H mutation on human TREM2-mediated microglial reprogramming and neuroprotection remains poorly understood. Method Here we created a BAC transgenic mouse model expressing human TREM2 with the R47H mutation in its cognate genomic context (BAC-TREM2-R47H). Importantly, the BAC used in this study was engineered to delete critical exons of other TREM-like genes on the BAC to prevent confounding effects of overexpressing multiple TREM-like genes. We crossed BAC-TREM2- R47H mice with 5xFAD [1], an amyloid depositing mouse model of AD, to evaluate amyloid pathologies and microglial phenotypes, transcriptomics and in situ expression of key TREM2 -dosage dependent genes. We also compared the key findings in 5xFAD/BAC-TREM2-R47H to those observed in 5xFAD/BAC-TREM2 mice. Result Both BAC-TREM2 and BAC-TREM2-R47H showed proper expression of three splicing isoforms of TREM2 that are normally found in human. In 5xFAD background, elevated TREM2-R47H gene dosages significantly reduced the plaque burden, especially the filamentous type. The results were consistent with enhanced phagocytosis and altered NLRP3 inflammasome activation in BAC- TREM2-R47H microglia in vitro. However, unlike TREM2 overexpression, elevated TREM2- R47H in 5xFAD failed to ameliorate cognitive and transcriptomic deficits. In situ analysis of key TREM2 -dosage dependent genes and microglial morphology uncovered that TREM2-R47H showed a loss-of-function phenotype in reprogramming of plaque-associated microglial reactivity and gene expression in 5xFAD. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the AD-risk variant has a previously unknown, mixture of partial and full loss of TREM2 functions in modulating microglial response in AD mouse brains. Together, our new BAC-TREM2-R47H model and prior BAC-TREM2 mice are invaluable resource to facilitate the therapeutic discovery that target human TREM2 and its R47H variant to ameliorate AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Subkhankulova T, Camargo Sosa K, Uroshlev LA, Nikaido M, Shriever N, Kasianov AS, Yang X, Rodrigues FSLM, Carney TJ, Bavister G, Schwetlick H, Dawes JHP, Rocco A, Makeev VJ, Kelsh RN. Zebrafish pigment cells develop directly from persistent highly multipotent progenitors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1258. [PMID: 36878908 PMCID: PMC9988989 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36876-4] [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: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cells are highly multipotent stem cells, but it remains unclear how their fate restriction to specific fates occurs. The direct fate restriction model hypothesises that migrating cells maintain full multipotency, whilst progressive fate restriction envisages fully multipotent cells transitioning to partially-restricted intermediates before committing to individual fates. Using zebrafish pigment cell development as a model, we show applying NanoString hybridization single cell transcriptional profiling and RNAscope in situ hybridization that neural crest cells retain broad multipotency throughout migration and even in post-migratory cells in vivo, with no evidence for partially-restricted intermediates. We find that leukocyte tyrosine kinase early expression marks a multipotent stage, with signalling driving iridophore differentiation through repression of fate-specific transcription factors for other fates. We reconcile the direct and progressive fate restriction models by proposing that pigment cell development occurs directly, but dynamically, from a highly multipotent state, consistent with our recently-proposed Cyclical Fate Restriction model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Camargo Sosa
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Leonid A Uroshlev
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Masataka Nikaido
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Ako-gun, Hyogo Pref., 678-1297, Japan
| | - Noah Shriever
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Artem S Kasianov
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Department of Medical and Biological Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
- A.A. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems (IITP), Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoy Karetny per. 19, build.1, Moscow, 127051, Russia
| | - Xueyan Yang
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, PR China
| | | | - Thomas J Carney
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, Yunnan Garden Campus, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Drive, Yunnan Garden, 636921, Singapore
| | - Gemma Bavister
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Hartmut Schwetlick
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jonathan H P Dawes
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Andrea Rocco
- Department of Microbial Sciences, FHMS, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
- Department of Physics, FEPS, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, Guildford, UK
| | - Vsevolod J Makeev
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Gubkina 3, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Department of Medical and Biological Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per., Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
- Laboratory 'Regulatory Genomics', Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya street, Kazan, 420008, Russia
| | - Robert N Kelsh
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
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Yu C, Caothien R, Pham A, Tam L, Alcantar T, Bacarro N, Reyes J, Jackson M, Nakao B, Roose-Girma M. ASIS-Seq: Transgene Insertion Site Mapping by Nanopore Adaptive Sampling. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2631:135-153. [PMID: 36995666 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2990-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Generation of transgenic mice by direct microinjection of foreign DNA into fertilized ova has become a routine technique in biomedical research. It remains an essential tool for studying gene expression, developmental biology, genetic disease models, and their therapies. However, the random integration of foreign DNA into the host genome that is inherent to this technology can lead to confounding effects associated with insertional mutagenesis and transgene silencing. Locations of most transgenic lines remain unknown because the methods are often burdensome (Nicholls et al., G3: Genes Genomes Genetics 9:1481-1486, 2019) or have limitations (Goodwin et al., Genome Research 29:494-505, 2019). Here, we present a method that we call Adaptive Sampling Insertion Site Sequencing (ASIS-Seq) to locate transgene integration sites using targeted sequencing on Oxford Nanopore Technologies' (ONT) sequencers. ASIS-Seq requires only about 3 ug of genomic DNA, 3 hours of hands-on sample preparation time, and 3 days of sequencing time to locate transgenes in a host genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Yu
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roger Caothien
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anna Pham
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda Tam
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tuija Alcantar
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Natasha Bacarro
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juan Reyes
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marques Jackson
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian Nakao
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Merone Roose-Girma
- Genentech, Inc., Department of Molecular Biology, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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10
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Montoliu L. Transgenesis and Genome Engineering: A Historical Review. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2631:1-32. [PMID: 36995662 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2990-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to modify DNA molecules and to introduce them into mammalian cells or embryos almost appears in parallel, starting from the 1970s of the last century. Genetic engineering techniques rapidly developed between 1970 and 1980. In contrast, robust procedures to microinject or introduce DNA constructs into individuals did not take off until 1980 and evolved during the following two decades. For some years, it was only possible to add transgenes, de novo, of different formats, including artificial chromosomes, in a variety of vertebrate species or to introduce specific mutations essentially in mice, thanks to the gene-targeting methods by homologous recombination approaches using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Eventually, genome-editing tools brought the possibility to add or inactivate DNA sequences, at specific sites, at will, irrespective of the animal species involved. Together with a variety of additional techniques, this chapter will summarize the milestones in the transgenesis and genome engineering fields from the 1970s to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluis Montoliu
- National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC) and Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
- National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Yoshiki A, Ballard G, Perez AV. Genetic quality: a complex issue for experimental study reproducibility. Transgenic Res 2022; 31:413-430. [PMID: 35751794 PMCID: PMC9489590 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-022-00314-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory animal research involving mice, requires consideration of many factors to be controlled. Genetic quality is one factor that is often overlooked but is essential for the generation of reproducible experimental results. Whether experimental research involves inbred mice, spontaneous mutant, or genetically modified strains, exercising genetic quality through careful breeding, good recordkeeping, and prudent quality control steps such as validation of the presence of mutations and verification of the genetic background, will help ensure that experimental results are accurate and that reference controls are representative for the particular experiment. In this review paper, we will discuss various techniques used for the generation of genetically altered mice, and the different aspects to be considered regarding genetic quality, including inbred strains and substrains used, quality check controls during and after genetic manipulation and breeding. We also provide examples for when to use the different techniques and considerations on genetic quality checks. Further, we emphasize on the importance of establishing an in-house genetic quality program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Yoshiki
- Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, 3050074, Japan.
| | - Gregory Ballard
- Comparative Medicine and Quality, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
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12
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Gu X, Richman J, Langfelder P, Wang N, Zhang S, Bañez-Coronel M, Wang HB, Yang L, Ramanathan L, Deng L, Park CS, Choi CR, Cantle JP, Gao F, Gray M, Coppola G, Bates GP, Ranum LPW, Horvath S, Colwell CS, Yang XW. Uninterrupted CAG repeat drives striatum-selective transcriptionopathy and nuclear pathogenesis in human Huntingtin BAC mice. Neuron 2022; 110:1173-1192.e7. [PMID: 35114102 PMCID: PMC9462388 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In Huntington's disease (HD), the uninterrupted CAG repeat length, but not the polyglutamine length, predicts disease onset. However, the underlying pathobiology remains unclear. Here, we developed bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mice expressing human mutant huntingtin (mHTT) with uninterrupted, and somatically unstable, CAG repeats that exhibit progressive disease-related phenotypes. Unlike prior mHTT transgenic models with stable, CAA-interrupted, polyglutamine-encoding repeats, BAC-CAG mice show robust striatum-selective nuclear inclusions and transcriptional dysregulation resembling those in murine huntingtin knockin models and HD patients. Importantly, the striatal transcriptionopathy in HD models is significantly correlated with their uninterrupted CAG repeat length but not polyglutamine length. Finally, among the pathogenic entities originating from mHTT genomic transgenes and only present or enriched in the uninterrupted CAG repeat model, somatic CAG repeat instability and nuclear mHTT aggregation are best correlated with early-onset striatum-selective molecular pathogenesis and locomotor and sleep deficits, while repeat RNA-associated pathologies and repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation may play less selective or late pathogenic roles, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Gu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Richman
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Langfelder
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nan Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shasha Zhang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Monica Bañez-Coronel
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Huei-Bin Wang
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucia Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lalini Ramanathan
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Linna Deng
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chang Sin Park
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R Choi
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fuying Gao
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Gray
- Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for Neurogenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Jane and Terry Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Montoliu L. Historical DNA Manipulation Overview. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2495:3-28. [PMID: 35696025 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2301-5_1] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The history of DNA manipulation for the creation of genetically modified animals began in the 1970s, using viruses as the first DNA molecules microinjected into mouse embryos at different preimplantation stages. Subsequently, simple DNA plasmids were used to microinject into the pronuclei of fertilized mouse oocytes and that method became the reference for many years. The isolation of embryonic stem cells together with advances in genetics allowed the generation of gene-specific knockout mice, later on improved with conditional mutations. Cloning procedures expanded the gene inactivation to livestock and other non-model mammalian species. Lentiviruses, artificial chromosomes, and intracytoplasmic sperm injections expanded the toolbox for DNA manipulation. The last chapter of this short but intense history belongs to programmable nucleases, particularly CRISPR-Cas systems, triggering the development of genomic-editing techniques, the current revolution we are living in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluis Montoliu
- National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC) and Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
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14
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GluA2 overexpression in oligodendrocyte progenitors promotes postinjury oligodendrocyte regeneration. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109147. [PMID: 34010640 PMCID: PMC8185898 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are essential for developmental myelination and oligodendrocyte regeneration after CNS injury. These progenitors express calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and form direct synapses with neurons throughout the CNS, but the roles of this signaling are unclear. To enable selective alteration of the properties of AMPARs in oligodendroglia, we generate mice that allow cell-specific overexpression of EGFP-GluA2 in vivo. In healthy conditions, OPC-specific GluA2 overexpression significantly increase their proliferation in an age-dependent manner but did not alter their rate of differentiation into oligodendrocytes. In contrast, after demyelinating brain injury in neonates or adults, higher GluA2 levels promote both OPC proliferation and oligodendrocyte regeneration, but do not prevent injury-induced initial cell loss. These findings indicate that AMPAR GluA2 content regulates the proliferative and regenerative behavior of adult OPCs, serving as a putative target for better myelin repair.
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15
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Singhi D, Parwin S, Srivastava P. Genomic deletions in Rhodococcus based on transformation of linear heterologous DNA. Microbiology (Reading) 2021; 167. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several genome engineering methods have been developed for
Rhodococcus
. However, they suffer from limitations such as extensive cloning, multiple steps, successful expression of heterologous genes via plasmid etc. Here, we report a rapid method for performing genomic deletions/disruptions in
Rhodococcus
spp. using heterologous linear DNA. The method is cost effective and less labour intensive. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by successful disruption of rodA and orphan parA. None of the disrupted genes were found to be essential for the viability of the cell. Disruption of orphan parA and rodA resulted in elongated cells and short rods, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating disruption of rodA and orphan parA genes by electroporation of heterologous linear DNA in
Rhodococcus
spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Singhi
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Shabnam Parwin
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Preeti Srivastava
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India
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16
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Pata M, Yousefi Behzadi P, Vacher J. Expression pattern of the V5-Ostm1 protein in bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice. Genesis 2021; 59:e23409. [PMID: 33484096 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23409] [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: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the osteopetrotic transmembrane protein 1 (Ostm1) gene are responsible for the most severe form of autosomal recessive osteopetrosis both in humans and in the gray lethal (gl/gl) mouse. This defect leads to increased bone mass with bone marrow occlusion and hematopoietic defects. To establish the expression profile of the mouse Ostm1 protein in vivo, homologous recombination in bacteria was designed to generate a V5-Ostm1 bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) that was subsequently integrated in the mouse genome. Tissue expression of the transgene V5-Ostm1 RNA and protein in transgenic mice follow the endogenous expression profile. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated expression in neuronal populations from central and peripheral nervous system and defined a unique cellular expression pattern. Importantly, together with appropriate protein post-translational modification, in vivo rescue of the osteopetrotic bone gl/gl phenotype in BAC V5-Ostm1 gl/gl mice is consistent with the expression of a fully functional and active protein. These mice represent a unique tool to unravel novel Ostm1 functions in individual tissue and neuronal cell populations and the V5-Ostm1 transgene represents an easy visual marker to monitor the expression of Ostm1 in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Pata
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Pardis Yousefi Behzadi
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean Vacher
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Bozzi M, Sciandra F. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Muscle Wasting in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218314. [PMID: 33167595 PMCID: PMC7664236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by pathogenic expansions of the triplet cytosine-adenosine-guanosine (CAG) within the Huntingtin gene. These expansions lead to a prolongation of the poly-glutamine stretch at the N-terminus of Huntingtin causing protein misfolding and aggregation. Huntingtin and its pathological variants are widely expressed, but the central nervous system is mainly affected, as proved by the wide spectrum of neurological symptoms, including behavioral anomalies, cognitive decline and motor disorders. Other hallmarks of HD are loss of body weight and muscle atrophy. This review highlights some key elements that likely provide a major contribution to muscle atrophy, namely, alteration of the transcriptional processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, which is strictly correlated to loss of energy homeostasis, inflammation, apoptosis and defects in the processes responsible for the protein quality control. The improvement of muscular symptoms has proven to slow the disease progression and extend the life span of animal models of HD, underlining the importance of a deep comprehension of the molecular mechanisms driving deterioration of muscular tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Bozzi
- Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Sezione di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”– SCITEC Sede di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesca Sciandra
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche “Giulio Natta”– SCITEC Sede di Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Roma, Italy;
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18
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Xing Y, Steele HR, Hilley HB, Zhu Y, Lawson K, Niehoff T, Han L. Visualizing the Itch-Sensing Skin Arbors. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 141:1308-1316. [PMID: 33091423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Diverse sensory neurons exhibit distinct neuronal morphologies with a variety of axon terminal arborizations subserving their functions. Because of its clinical significance, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of itch are being intensely studied. However, a complete analysis of itch-sensing terminal arborization is missing. Using an MrgprC11CreERT2 transgenic mouse line, we labeled a small subset of itch-sensing neurons that express multiple itch-related molecules including MrgprA3, MrgprC11, histamine receptor H1, IL-31 receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1F, natriuretic precursor peptide B, and neuromedin B. By combining sparse genetic labeling and whole-mount placental alkaline phosphatase histochemistry, we found that itch-sensing skin arbors exhibit free endings with extensive axonal branching in the superficial epidermis and large receptive fields. These results revealed the unique morphological characteristics of itch-sensing neurons and provide intriguing insights into the basic mechanisms of itch transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Xing
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Haley R Steele
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Henry B Hilley
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yuyan Zhu
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katy Lawson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Taylor Niehoff
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Liang Han
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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19
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Heintz N, Gong S. Working with Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) and Other High-Capacity Vectors. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2020; 2020:2020/10/pdb.top097998. [PMID: 33004554 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top097998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetic targeting of specific cell types is fundamentally important for modern molecular-genetic studies. The development of simple methods to engineer high-capacity vectors-in particular, bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs)-for the preparation of transgenic lines that accurately express a gene of interest has resulted in commonplace usage of transgenic techniques in a wide variety of experimental systems. Here we provide a brief description of each of the four major types of large-capacity vectors, with a focus on the use of BAC vectors.
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20
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STAT3β is a tumor suppressor in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Adv 2020; 3:1989-2002. [PMID: 31270081 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018026385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) exists in 2 alternatively spliced isoforms, STAT3α and STAT3β. Although truncated STAT3β was originally postulated to act as a dominant-negative form of STAT3α, it has been shown to have various STAT3α-independent regulatory functions. Recently, STAT3β gained attention as a powerful antitumorigenic molecule in cancer. Deregulated STAT3 signaling is often found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, the role of STAT3β in AML remains elusive. Therefore, we analyzed the STAT3β/α messenger RNA (mRNA) expression ratio in AML patients, where we observed that a higher STAT3β/α mRNA ratio correlated with a favorable prognosis and increased overall survival. To gain better understanding of the function of STAT3β in AML, we engineered a transgenic mouse allowing for balanced Stat3β expression. Transgenic Stat3β expression resulted in decelerated disease progression and extended survival in PTEN- and MLL-AF9-dependent AML mouse models. Our findings further suggest that the antitumorigenic function of STAT3β depends on the tumor-intrinsic regulation of a small set of significantly up- and downregulated genes, identified via RNA sequencing. In conclusion, we demonstrate that STAT3β plays an essential tumor-suppressive role in AML.
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21
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Evaluation of musculoskeletal phenotype of the G608G progeria mouse model with lonafarnib, pravastatin, and zoledronic acid as treatment groups. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12029-12040. [PMID: 32404427 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906713117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a uniformly fatal condition that is especially prevalent in skin, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. A wide gap exists between our knowledge of the disease and a promising treatment or cure. The aim of this study was to first characterize the musculoskeletal phenotype of the homozygous G608G BAC-transgenic progeria mouse model, and to determine the phenotype changes of HGPS mice after a five-arm preclinical trial of different treatment combinations with lonafarnib, pravastatin, and zoledronic acid. Microcomputed tomography and CT-based rigidity analyses were performed to assess cortical and trabecular bone structure, density, and rigidity. Bones were loaded to failure with three-point bending to assess strength. Contrast-enhanced µCT imaging of mouse femurs was performed to measure glycosaminoglycan content, thickness, and volume of the femoral head articular cartilage. Advanced glycation end products were assessed with a fluorometric assay. The changes demonstrated in the cortical bone structure, rigidity, stiffness, and modulus of the HGPS G608G mouse model may increase the risk for bending and deformation, which could result in the skeletal dysplasia characteristic of HGPS. Cartilage abnormalities seen in this HGPS model resemble changes observed in the age-matched WT controls, including early loss of glycosaminoglycans, and decreased cartilage thickness and volume. Such changes might mimic prevalent degenerative joint diseases in the elderly. Lonafarnib monotherapy did not improve bone or cartilage parameters, but treatment combinations with pravastatin and zoledronic acid significantly improved bone structure and mechanical properties and cartilage structural parameters, which ameliorate the musculoskeletal phenotype of the disease.
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22
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Valadão PAC, de Aragão BC, Andrade JN, Magalhães-Gomes MPS, Foureaux G, Joviano-Santos JV, Nogueira JC, Machado TCG, de Jesus ICG, Nogueira JM, de Paula RS, Peixoto L, Ribeiro FM, Tapia JC, Jorge ÉC, Guatimosim S, Guatimosim C. Abnormalities in the Motor Unit of a Fast-Twitch Lower Limb Skeletal Muscle in Huntington's Disease. ASN Neuro 2020; 11:1759091419886212. [PMID: 31818120 PMCID: PMC6904785 DOI: 10.1177/1759091419886212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a disorder characterized by chronic
involuntary movements, dementia, and psychiatric symptoms. It is
caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes for huntingtin protein
(HTT), leading to the formation of mutant proteins expressed in
various tissues. Although brain pathology has become the hallmark for
HD, recent studies suggest that damage of peripheral structures also
contributes to HD progression. We previously identified severe
alterations in the motor units that innervate cervical muscles in
12-month-old BACHD (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Huntington’s
Disease) mice, a well-established mouse model for HD. Here, we studied
lumbar motoneurons and their projections onto hind limb fast-twitch
skeletal muscles (tibialis anterior), which control balance and gait
in HD patients. We found that lumbar motoneurons were altered in the
HD mouse model; the number and size of lumbar motoneurons were reduced
in BACHD. Structural alterations were also present in the sciatic
nerve and neuromuscular junctions. Acetylcholine receptors were
organized in several small patches (acetylcholine receptor
fragmentation), many of which were partially innervated. In BACHD
mice, we observed atrophy of tibialis anterior muscles, decreased
expression of glycolytic fast Type IIB fibers, and at the
ultrastructural level, alterations of sarcomeres and mitochondria.
Corroborating all these findings, BACHD animals performed worse on
motor behavior tests. Our results provide additional evidences that
nerve–muscle communication is impaired in HD and that motoneurons from
distinct spinal cord locations are similarly affected in the
disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jéssica Neves Andrade
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Giselle Foureaux
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - José Carlos Nogueira
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rayan Silva de Paula
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Luisa Peixoto
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Mara Ribeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - ÉriKa Cristina Jorge
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Silvia Guatimosim
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cristina Guatimosim
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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23
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Lobner E, Wachernig A, Gudipati V, Mayrhofer P, Salzer B, Lehner M, Huppa JB, Kunert R. Getting CD19 Into Shape: Expression of Natively Folded "Difficult-to- Express" CD19 for Staining and Stimulation of CAR-T Cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:49. [PMID: 32117929 PMCID: PMC7020774 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane protein CD19 is exclusively expressed on normal and malignant B cells and therefore constitutes the target of approved CAR-T cell-based cancer immunotherapies. Current efforts to assess CAR-T cell functionality in a quantitative fashion both in vitro and in vivo are hampered by the limited availability of the properly folded recombinant extracellular domain of CD19 (CD19-ECD) considered as "difficult-to-express" (DTE) protein. Here, we successfully expressed a novel fusion construct consisting of the full-length extracellular domain of CD19 and domain 2 of human serum albumin (CD19-AD2), which was integrated into the Rosa26 bacterial artificial chromosome vector backbone for generation of a recombinant CHO-K1 production cell line. Product titers could be further boosted using valproic acid as a chemical chaperone. Purified monomeric CD19-AD2 proved stable as shown by non-reduced SDS-PAGE and SEC-MALS measurements. Moreover, flow cytometric analysis revealed specific binding of CD19-AD2 to CD19-CAR-T cells. Finally, we demonstrate biological activity of our CD19-AD2 fusion construct as we succeeded in stimulating CD19-CAR-T cells effectively with the use of CD19-AD2-decorated planar supported lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Lobner
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Wachernig
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Venugopal Gudipati
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Mayrhofer
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Salzer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Lehner
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes B Huppa
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Kunert
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Abbasi MN, Fu J, Bian X, Wang H, Zhang Y, Li A. Recombineering for Genetic Engineering of Natural Product Biosynthetic Pathways. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:715-728. [PMID: 31973879 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Microbial genomes encode many cryptic and uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Exploiting this unexplored genetic wealth to discover microbial novel natural products (NPs) remains a challenging issue. We review homologous recombination (HR)-based recombineering, mediated by the recombinases RecE/RecT from Rac prophage and Redα/Redβ from lambda phage, which has developed into a highly inclusive tool for direct cloning of large DNA up to 100 kb, seamless mutation, multifragment assembly, and heterologous expression of microbial NP BGCs. Its utilization in the refactoring, engineering, and functional expression of long BGCs for NP biosynthesis makes it easy to elucidate NP-producing potential in microbes. This review also highlights various applications of recombineering in NP-derived drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nazeer Abbasi
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Jun Fu
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Bian
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Hailong Wang
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| | - Youming Zhang
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| | - Aiying Li
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-Infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
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25
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Smith MA, Choudhury AI, Glegola JA, Viskaitis P, Irvine EE, de Campos Silva PCC, Khadayate S, Zeilhofer HU, Withers DJ. Extrahypothalamic GABAergic nociceptin-expressing neurons regulate AgRP neuron activity to control feeding behavior. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:126-142. [PMID: 31557134 PMCID: PMC6934207 DOI: 10.1172/jci130340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Arcuate nucleus agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons play a central role in feeding and are under complex regulation by both homeostatic hormonal and nutrient signals and hypothalamic neuronal pathways. Feeding may also be influenced by environmental cues, sensory inputs, and other behaviors, implying the involvement of higher brain regions. However, whether such pathways modulate feeding through direct synaptic control of AgRP neuron activity is unknown. Here, we show that nociceptin-expressing neurons in the anterior bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (aBNST) make direct GABAergic inputs onto AgRP neurons. We found that activation of these neurons inhibited AgRP neurons and feeding. The activity of these neurons increased upon food availability, and their ablation resulted in obesity. Furthermore, these neurons received afferent inputs from a range of upstream brain regions as well as hypothalamic nuclei. Therefore, aBNST GABAergic nociceptin neurons may act as a gateway to feeding behavior by connecting AgRP neurons to both homeostatic and nonhomeostatic neuronal inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Smith
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Elaine E. Irvine
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sanjay Khadayate
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominic J. Withers
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
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26
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A Simple Guide for Generating BAC Transgenic Animals for Retinal Research. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31786785 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0175-4_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are genomic tools that can carry several hundred kilobases of exogenous genomic material. This allows to incorporate sufficiently large DNA stretches to include most if not all upstream and downstream cis-regulatory elements of a gene in order to mimic and analyze its endogenous regulation of expression using a reporter protein in vivo. Here, we illustrate the generation of a BAC:LIF-EGFP transgenic mouse line to describe a simplified version of BAC transgenesis using galK-based recombineering.
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27
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Valadão PAC, Oliveira BDS, Joviano-Santos JV, Vieira ÉLM, Rocha NP, Teixeira AL, Guatimosim C, de Miranda AS. Inflammatory changes in peripheral organs in the BACHD murine model of Huntington's disease. Life Sci 2019; 232:116653. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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28
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Elevated TREM2 Gene Dosage Reprograms Microglia Responsivity and Ameliorates Pathological Phenotypes in Alzheimer's Disease Models. Neuron 2019. [PMID: 29518357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Variants of TREM2 are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). To study whether increasing TREM2 gene dosage could modify the disease pathogenesis, we developed BAC transgenic mice expressing human TREM2 (BAC-TREM2) in microglia. We found that elevated TREM2 expression reduced amyloid burden in the 5xFAD mouse model. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated that increasing TREM2 levels conferred a rescuing effect, which includes dampening the expression of multiple disease-associated microglial genes and augmenting downregulated neuronal genes. Interestingly, 5xFAD/BAC-TREM2 mice showed further upregulation of several reactive microglial genes linked to phagocytosis and negative regulation of immune cell activation. Moreover, these mice showed enhanced process ramification and phagocytic marker expression in plaque-associated microglia and reduced neuritic dystrophy. Finally, elevated TREM2 gene dosage led to improved memory performance in AD models. In summary, our study shows that a genomic transgene-driven increase in TREM2 expression reprograms microglia responsivity and ameliorates neuropathological and behavioral deficits in AD mouse models.
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29
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Wattez JS, Qiao L, Lee S, Natale DRC, Shao J. The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha promoter-directed expression of cre recombinase in mouse placenta. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:363-374. [PMID: 30843624 PMCID: PMC6488356 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous pathologies of pregnancy originate from placental dysfunction. It is essential to understand the functions of key genes in the placenta in order to discern the etiology of placental pathologies. A paucity of animal models that allow conditional and inducible expression of a target gene in the placenta is a major limitation for studying placental development and function. Results To study the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα)‐directed and tamoxifen‐induced Cre recombinase expression in the placenta, PDGFRα‐CreER mice were crossed with mT/mG dual‐fluorescent reporter mice. The expression of endogenous membrane‐localized enhanced green fluorescent protein (mEGFP) and/or dTomato in the placenta was examined to identify PDGFRα promoter‐directed Cre expression. Pregnant PDGFRα‐CreER;mT/mG mice were treated with tamoxifen at various gestational ages. Upon tamoxifen treatment, reporter protein mEGFP was observed in the junctional zone (JZ) and chorionic plate (CP). Furthermore, a single dose of tamoxifen was sufficient to induce the recombination. Conclusions PDGFRα‐CreER expression is restricted to the JZ and CP of mouse placentas. PDGFRα‐CreER mice provide a useful tool to conditionally knock out or overexpress a target gene in these regions of the mouse placenta. Inducible PDGFRα‐directed Cre expression trophoblasts cells. A single tamoxifen treatment is sufficient to induce the recombination. Valuable tool to temporary knockout or over‐express a target gene in the placenta. Do not require sophisticated system and suitable for ordinary laboratory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liping Qiao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Samuel Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | | | - Jianhua Shao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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Buckley KM, Ettensohn CA. Techniques for analyzing gene expression using BAC-based reporter constructs. Methods Cell Biol 2019; 151:197-218. [PMID: 30948008 PMCID: PMC7215881 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To characterize the complex regulatory control of gene expression using fluorescent protein reporters, it is often necessary to analyze large genomic regions. Bacteria artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors, which are able to support DNA fragments of up to 300kb, provide stable platforms for experimental manipulation. Using phage-based systems of homologous recombination, BACs can be efficiently engineered for a variety of aims. These include expressing fluorescent proteins to delineate gene expression boundaries using high-resolution, in vivo microscopy, tracing cell lineages using stable fluorescent proteins, perturbing endogenous protein function by expressing dominant negative forms, interfering with development by mis-expressing transcription factors, and identifying regulatory regions through deletion analysis. Here, we present a series of protocols for identifying BAC clones that contain genes of interest, modifying BACs for use as reporter constructs, and preparing BAC DNA for microinjection into fertilized eggs. Although the protocols here are tailored for use in echinoderm embryonic and larval stages, these methods are easily adaptable for use in other transgenic systems. As fluorescent protein technology continues to expand, so do the potential applications for recombinant BACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Buckley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
| | - Charles A Ettensohn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Fan H, Liu X, Shen Y, Chen S, Huan Y, Shan J, Zhou C, Wu S, Zhang Z, Wang Y. In Vivo Genetic Strategies for the Specific Lineage Tracing of Stem Cells. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 14:230-238. [PMID: 30047336 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x13666180726110138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characterization of the fate changes of stem cells is essential to understand the roles of certain stem cells both during development and in diseases, such as cancer. In the past two decades, more and more importance has been paid to the studies of in vivo lineage tracing, because they could authentically reveal the differentiation, migration and even proliferation of stem cells. However, specific genetic tools have only been developed until recently. OBJECTIVE To summarize the progresses of genetic tools for specific lineage tracing with emphasis on their applications in investigating the stem cell niche signals. RESULTS Three major genetic strategies have been reviewed according to the development of technique, particularly the advantages and disadvantages of individual methods. CONCLUSION In vivo specific lineage tracing of stem cells could be achieved by comprehensive application of multiple genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Fan
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Cadet team of undergraduate, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yahui Shen
- Cadet team of undergraduate, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Siwei Chen
- Cadet team of undergraduate, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yu Huan
- Cadet team of undergraduate, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Junjia Shan
- Cadet team of undergraduate, School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Chengji Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California-Davis, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States
| | - Shengxi Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Zifeng Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurosciences, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an 710032, China
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32
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Of rodents and men: understanding the emergence of motor and cognitive symptoms in Huntington disease. Behav Pharmacol 2017; 27:403-14. [PMID: 26886208 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Arguably, one of the most important milestones in Huntington disease research since the discovery of the gene responsible has been the generation of different genetic animal models. Although clinical reports have shown evidence of progressive cognitive impairments in gene carriers before motor symptoms are diagnosed, such symptoms have been much less obvious in animal models. In this review, we summarize the three main classes of animal models for Huntington disease and describe some relevant translational assays for behavioural deficits evaluation. Finally, we argue that a good knowledge of the emergence of motor and cognitive symptoms in mice and rat models is indispensable for the selection of endpoint measures in early preclinical drug screening studies.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The
Lactobacillus
genus is a diverse group of microorganisms, many of which are of industrial and medical relevance. Several
Lactobacillus
species have been used as probiotics, organisms that when present in sufficient quantities confer a health benefit to the host. A significant limitation to the mechanistic understanding of how these microbes provide health benefits to their hosts and how they can be used as therapeutic delivery systems has been the lack of genetic strategies to efficiently manipulate their genomes. This article will review the development and employment of traditional genetic tools in lactobacilli and highlight the latest methodologies that are allowing for precision genome engineering of these probiotic organisms. The application of these tools will be key in providing mechanistic insights into probiotics as well as maximizing the value of lactobacilli as either a traditional probiotic or as a platform for the delivery of therapeutic proteins. Finally, we will discuss concepts that we consider relevant for the delivery of engineered therapeutics to the human gut.
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Shi HB, Lou JL, Shi HL, Ren F, Chen Y, Duan ZP. Construction of Gpm6a/Reelin GFPCreERT2 by BAC recombination using a specific gene in hepatic mesothelial or stellate cells. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:224-231. [PMID: 28127196 PMCID: PMC5236502 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i2.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To prepare a Gpm6a/ReelinGFPCreERT2 construct with a rapid and reliable strategy using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC). METHODS Gpm6a and Reelin BACs were purified and transformed into SW102 E. coli by electroporation. The GFPCreERT2 fragment was prepared from a shuttle vector and transformed into SW102 E. coli carrying a BAC. Homologous recombination was induced in SW102 E. coli. Recombinant clones were screened and confirmed by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Recombinant clones were transformed into SW102 E. coli to remove the kanamycin unit. RESULTS A complete BAC was successfully transformed into SW102 E. coli by electroporation because BAC purified from SW102 E. coli showed the same pattern as the original BAC with BamHI digestion. The GFPCreERT2 fragment was deemed to have been prepared successfully because we obtained the same size fragment as expected. Homologous recombination was induced, and GFPCreERT2 was deemed to have been inserted into the correct site of the BAC because we found the band change was the same as the expected pattern after restriction enzyme digestion. The kanamycin unit was deemed to have been removed successfully because we obtained different sizes of bands that were consistent with the results expected by PCR with different primers. CONCLUSION The construct of Gpm6aGFPCreERT2 or ReelinGFPCreERT2 was prepared successfully, which will establish a foundation for tracing the hepatic stellate cell lineage and studying its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Bo Shi
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jin-Li Lou
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Hong-Lin Shi
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Feng Ren
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Zhong-Ping Duan
- Hong-Bo Shi, Hong-Lin Shi, Feng Ren, Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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35
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Versatile functional roles of horizontal cells in the retinal circuit. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5540. [PMID: 28717219 PMCID: PMC5514144 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In the retinal circuit, environmental light signals are converted into electrical signals that can be decoded properly by the brain. At the first synapse of the visual system, information flow from photoreceptors to bipolar cells is modulated by horizontal cells (HCs), however, their functional contribution to retinal output and individual visual function is not fully understood. In the current study, we investigated functional roles for HCs in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) response properties and optokinetic responses by establishing a HC-depleted mouse line. We observed that HC depletion impairs the antagonistic center-surround receptive field formation of RGCs, supporting a previously reported HC function revealed by pharmacological approaches. In addition, we found that HC loss reduces both the ON and OFF response diversities of RGCs, impairs adjustment of the sensitivity to ambient light at the retinal output level, and alters spatial frequency tuning at an individual level. Taken together, our current study suggests multiple functional aspects of HCs crucial for visual processing.
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36
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Gut P, Reischauer S, Stainier DYR, Arnaout R. LITTLE FISH, BIG DATA: ZEBRAFISH AS A MODEL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR AND METABOLIC DISEASE. Physiol Rev 2017; 97:889-938. [PMID: 28468832 PMCID: PMC5817164 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00038.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases worldwide is staggering. The emergence of systems approaches in biology promises new therapies, faster and cheaper diagnostics, and personalized medicine. However, a profound understanding of pathogenic mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels remains a fundamental requirement for discovery and therapeutics. Animal models of human disease are cornerstones of drug discovery as they allow identification of novel pharmacological targets by linking gene function with pathogenesis. The zebrafish model has been used for decades to study development and pathophysiology. More than ever, the specific strengths of the zebrafish model make it a prime partner in an age of discovery transformed by big-data approaches to genomics and disease. Zebrafish share a largely conserved physiology and anatomy with mammals. They allow a wide range of genetic manipulations, including the latest genome engineering approaches. They can be bred and studied with remarkable speed, enabling a range of large-scale phenotypic screens. Finally, zebrafish demonstrate an impressive regenerative capacity scientists hope to unlock in humans. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide on applications of zebrafish to investigate cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We delineate advantages and limitations of zebrafish models of human disease and summarize their most significant contributions to understanding disease progression to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Gut
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sven Reischauer
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Rima Arnaout
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, Lausanne, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany; and Cardiovascular Research Institute and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Valadão PAC, de Aragão BC, Andrade JN, Magalhães-Gomes MPS, Foureaux G, Joviano-Santos JV, Nogueira JC, Ribeiro FM, Tapia JC, Guatimosim C. Muscle atrophy is associated with cervical spinal motoneuron loss in BACHD mouse model for Huntington's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 45:785-796. [PMID: 27992085 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Involuntary choreiform movements are clinical hallmark of Huntington's disease, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an increased number of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the huntingtin gene. Involuntary movements start with an impairment of facial muscles and then affect trunk and limbs muscles. Huntington's disease symptoms are caused by changes in cortex and striatum neurons induced by mutated huntingtin protein. However, little is known about the impact of this abnormal protein in spinal cord motoneurons that control movement. Therefore, in this study we evaluated abnormalities in the motor unit (spinal cervical motoneurons, motor axons, neuromuscular junctions and muscle) in a mouse model for Huntington's disease (BACHD). Using light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy, we showed significant changes such as muscle fibers atrophy, fragmentation of neuromuscular junctions, axonal alterations, and motoneurons death in BACHD mice. Noteworthy, the surviving motoneurons from BACHD spinal cords were smaller than WT. We suggest that this loss of larger putative motoneurons is accompanied by a decrease in the expression of fast glycolytic muscle fibers in this model for Huntington's disease. These observations show spinal cord motoneurons loss in BACHD that might help to understand neuromuscular changes in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Aparecida Costa Valadão
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Campos de Aragão
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Neves Andrade
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Matheus Proença S Magalhães-Gomes
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Giselle Foureaux
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | | | - José Carlos Nogueira
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Mara Ribeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Juan Carlos Tapia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Cristina Guatimosim
- Departamento de Morfologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
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Grove M, Kim H, Santerre M, Krupka AJ, Han SB, Zhai J, Cho JY, Park R, Harris M, Kim S, Sawaya BE, Kang SH, Barbe MF, Cho SH, Lemay MA, Son YJ. YAP/TAZ initiate and maintain Schwann cell myelination. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28124973 PMCID: PMC5287714 DOI: 10.7554/elife.20982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear exclusion of the transcriptional regulators and potent oncoproteins, YAP/TAZ, is considered necessary for adult tissue homeostasis. Here we show that nuclear YAP/TAZ are essential regulators of peripheral nerve development and myelin maintenance. To proliferate, developing Schwann cells (SCs) require YAP/TAZ to enter S-phase and, without them, fail to generate sufficient SCs for timely axon sorting. To differentiate, SCs require YAP/TAZ to upregulate Krox20 and, without them, completely fail to myelinate, resulting in severe peripheral neuropathy. Remarkably, in adulthood, nuclear YAP/TAZ are selectively expressed by myelinating SCs, and conditional ablation results in severe peripheral demyelination and mouse death. YAP/TAZ regulate both developmental and adult myelination by driving TEAD1 to activate Krox20. Therefore, YAP/TAZ are crucial for SCs to myelinate developing nerve and to maintain myelinated nerve in adulthood. Our study also provides a new insight into the role of nuclear YAP/TAZ in homeostatic maintenance of an adult tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Grove
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Hyukmin Kim
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Maryline Santerre
- FELS Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Alexander J Krupka
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Seung Baek Han
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Jinbin Zhai
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Jennifer Y Cho
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Raehee Park
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Michele Harris
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Seonhee Kim
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Bassel E Sawaya
- FELS Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Shin H Kang
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Mary F Barbe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Seo-Hee Cho
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Michel A Lemay
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Young-Jin Son
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Center for Neural Repair, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
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Tarusawa E, Sanbo M, Okayama A, Miyashita T, Kitsukawa T, Hirayama T, Hirabayashi T, Hasegawa S, Kaneko R, Toyoda S, Kobayashi T, Kato-Itoh M, Nakauchi H, Hirabayashi M, Yagi T, Yoshimura Y. Establishment of high reciprocal connectivity between clonal cortical neurons is regulated by the Dnmt3b DNA methyltransferase and clustered protocadherins. BMC Biol 2016; 14:103. [PMID: 27912755 PMCID: PMC5133762 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-016-0326-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The specificity of synaptic connections is fundamental for proper neural circuit function. Specific neuronal connections that underlie information processing in the sensory cortex are initially established without sensory experiences to a considerable extent, and then the connections are individually refined through sensory experiences. Excitatory neurons arising from the same single progenitor cell are preferentially connected in the postnatal cortex, suggesting that cell lineage contributes to the initial wiring of neurons. However, the postnatal developmental process of lineage-dependent connection specificity is not known, nor how clonal neurons, which are derived from the same neural stem cell, are stamped with the identity of their common neural stem cell and guided to form synaptic connections. RESULTS We show that cortical excitatory neurons that arise from the same neural stem cell and reside within the same layer preferentially establish reciprocal synaptic connections in the mouse barrel cortex. We observed a transient increase in synaptic connections between clonal but not nonclonal neuron pairs during postnatal development, followed by selective stabilization of the reciprocal connections between clonal neuron pairs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that selective stabilization of the reciprocal connections between clonal neuron pairs is impaired by the deficiency of DNA methyltransferase 3b (Dnmt3b), which determines DNA-methylation patterns of genes in stem cells during early corticogenesis. Dnmt3b regulates the postnatal expression of clustered protocadherin (cPcdh) isoforms, a family of adhesion molecules. We found that cPcdh deficiency in clonal neuron pairs impairs the whole process of the formation and stabilization of connections to establish lineage-specific connection reciprocity. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that local, reciprocal neural connections are selectively formed and retained between clonal neurons in layer 4 of the barrel cortex during postnatal development, and that Dnmt3b and cPcdhs are required for the establishment of lineage-specific reciprocal connections. These findings indicate that lineage-specific connection reciprocity is predetermined by Dnmt3b during embryonic development, and that the cPcdhs contribute to postnatal cortical neuron identification to guide lineage-dependent synaptic connections in the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etsuko Tarusawa
- Section of Visual Information Processing, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 Japan
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
| | - Makoto Sanbo
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Section of Mammalian Transgenesis, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787 Japan
| | - Atsushi Okayama
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Toshio Miyashita
- Section of Visual Information Processing, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 Japan
| | - Takashi Kitsukawa
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Teruyoshi Hirayama
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Takahiro Hirabayashi
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Sonoko Hasegawa
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Ryosuke Kaneko
- Bioresource Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511 Japan
| | - Shunsuke Toyoda
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Toshihiro Kobayashi
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639 Japan
| | - Megumi Kato-Itoh
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639 Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Nakauchi
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639 Japan
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, 291 Campus Drive, Li Ka Shing Building, Stanford, CA 94305-5101 USA
| | - Masumi Hirabayashi
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Section of Mammalian Transgenesis, Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787 Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 Japan
| | - Takeshi Yagi
- AMED-CREST, AMED, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Yumiko Yoshimura
- Section of Visual Information Processing, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 Japan
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Sjulson L, Cassataro D, DasGupta S, Miesenböck G. Cell-Specific Targeting of Genetically Encoded Tools for Neuroscience. Annu Rev Genet 2016; 50:571-594. [PMID: 27732792 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-120215-035011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetically encoded tools for visualizing and manipulating neurons in vivo have led to significant advances in neuroscience, in large part because of the ability to target expression to specific cell populations of interest. Current methods enable targeting based on marker gene expression, development, anatomical projection pattern, synaptic connectivity, and recent activity as well as combinations of these factors. Here, we review these methods, focusing on issues of practical implementation as well as areas for future improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Sjulson
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; .,Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Smilow Neuroscience Program, and New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York, NY 10016
| | - Daniela Cassataro
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Smilow Neuroscience Program, and New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York, NY 10016
| | - Shamik DasGupta
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom; .,Present address: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, 400005, India
| | - Gero Miesenböck
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom;
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41
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Xu J, Bernstein AM, Wong A, Lu XH, Khoja S, Yang XW, Davies DL, Micevych P, Sofroniew MV, Khakh BS. P2X4 Receptor Reporter Mice: Sparse Brain Expression and Feeding-Related Presynaptic Facilitation in the Arcuate Nucleus. J Neurosci 2016; 36:8902-20. [PMID: 27559172 PMCID: PMC4995303 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1496-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED P2X4 receptors are ATP-gated cation channels that are widely expressed in the nervous system. To identify P2X4 receptor-expressing cells, we generated BAC transgenic mice expressing tdTomato under the control of the P2X4 receptor gene (P2rx4). We found sparse populations of tdTomato-positive neurons in most brain areas with patterns that matched P2X4 mRNA distribution. tdTomato expression within microglia was low but was increased by an experimental manipulation that triggered microglial activation. We found surprisingly high tdTomato expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc) (i.e., within parts of the neural circuitry controlling feeding). Immunohistochemistry and genetic crosses of P2rx4 tdTomato mice with cell-specific GFP reporter lines showed that the tdTomato-expressing cells were mainly AgRP-NPY neurons and tanycytes. There was no electrophysiological evidence for functional expression of P2X4 receptors on AgRP-NPY neuron somata, but instead, we found clear evidence for functional presynaptic P2X4 receptor-mediated responses in terminals of AgRP-NPY neurons onto two of their postsynaptic targets (Arc POMC and paraventricular nucleus neurons), where ATP dramatically facilitated GABA release. The presynaptic responses onto POMC neurons, and the expression of tdTomato in AgRP-NPY neurons and tanycytes, were significantly decreased by food deprivation in male mice in a manner that was partially reversed by the satiety-related peptide leptin. Overall, we provide well-characterized tdTomato reporter mice to study P2X4-expressing cells in the brain, new insights on feeding-related regulation of presynaptic P2X4 receptor responses, and the rationale to explore extracellular ATP signaling in the control of feeding behaviors. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cells expressing ATP-gated P2X4 receptors have proven problematic to identify and study in brain slice preparations because P2X4 expression is sparse. To address this limitation, we generated and characterized BAC transgenic P2rx4 tdTomato reporter mice. We report the distribution of tdTomato-expressing cells throughout the brain and particularly strong expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Together, our studies provide a new, well-characterized tool with which to study P2X4 receptor-expressing cells. The electrophysiological studies enabled by this mouse suggest previously unanticipated roles for ATP and P2X4 receptors in the neural circuitry controlling feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Xu
- Departments of Physiology and
| | - Alexander M Bernstein
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Angela Wong
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Xiao-Hong Lu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Sheraz Khoja
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, and
| | - Daryl L Davies
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Paul Micevych
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Baljit S Khakh
- Departments of Physiology and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095,
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42
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Jung CJ, Ménoret S, Brusselle L, Tesson L, Usal C, Chenouard V, Remy S, Ouisse LH, Poirier N, Vanhove B, de Jong PJ, Anegon I. Comparative Analysis of piggyBac, CRISPR/Cas9 and TALEN Mediated BAC Transgenesis in the Zygote for the Generation of Humanized SIRPA Rats. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31455. [PMID: 27530248 PMCID: PMC4987655 DOI: 10.1038/srep31455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BAC transgenic mammalian systems offer an important platform for recapitulating human gene expression and disease modeling. While the larger body mass, and greater genetic and physiologic similarity to humans render rats well suited for reproducing human immune diseases and evaluating therapeutic strategies, difficulties of generating BAC transgenic rats have hindered progress. Thus, an efficient method for BAC transgenesis in rats would be valuable. Immunodeficient mice carrying a human SIRPA transgene have previously been shown to support improved human cell hematopoiesis. Here, we have generated for the first time, human SIRPA BAC transgenic rats, for which the gene is faithfully expressed, functionally active, and germline transmissible. To do this, human SIRPA BAC was modified with elements to work in coordination with genome engineering technologies-piggyBac, CRISPR/Cas9 or TALEN. Our findings show that piggyBac transposition is a more efficient approach than the classical BAC transgenesis, resulting in complete BAC integration with predictable end sequences, thereby permitting precise assessment of the integration site. Neither CRISPR/Cas9 nor TALEN increased BAC transgenesis. Therefore, an efficient generation of human SIRPA transgenic rats using piggyBac opens opportunities for expansion of humanized transgenic rat models in the future to advance biomedical research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Jung
- Center for Genetics, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, CA 94609, Oakland, USA
| | - Séverine Ménoret
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Lucas Brusselle
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Laurent Tesson
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Claire Usal
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Vanessa Chenouard
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Séverine Remy
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Laure-Hélène Ouisse
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
| | - Nicolas Poirier
- INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Bernard Vanhove
- INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France.,OSE Immunotherapeutics, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Pieter J de Jong
- Center for Genetics, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, CA 94609, Oakland, USA
| | - Ignacio Anegon
- Platform Rat Transgenesis Immunophenomic, SFR Francois Bonamy, CNRS UMS3556 Nantes, F44093, France.,INSERM UMR 1064-ITUN; CHU de Nantes, Nantes F44093, France
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43
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BAC mediated transgenic Large White boars with FSHα/β genes from Chinese Erhualian pigs. Transgenic Res 2016; 25:693-709. [PMID: 27229510 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-016-9963-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a critical hormone regulating reproduction in mammals. Transgenic mice show that overexpression of FSH can improve female fecundity. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system and somatic cell nuclear transfer, we herein generated 67 Large White transgenic (TG) boars harboring FSHα/β genes from Chinese Erhualian pigs, the most prolific breed in the world. We selected two F0 TG boars for further breeding and conducted molecular characterization and biosafety assessment for F1 boars. We showed that 8-9 copies of exogenous FSHα and 5-6 copies of exogenous FSHβ were integrated into the genome of transgenic pigs. The inheritance of exogenous genes conforms to the Mendel's law of segregation. TG boars had higher levels of serum FSH, FSHα mRNA in multiple tissues, FSHβ protein in pituitary and more germ cells per seminiferous tubule compared with their wild-type half sibs without any reproductive defects. Analysis of growth curve, hematological and biochemical parameters and histopathology illustrated that TG boars grew healthily and normally. By applying 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we demonstrated that exogenous genes had no impact on the bacterial community structures of pig guts. Moreover, foreign gene drift did not occur as verified by horizontal gene transfer. Our findings indicate that overexpression of FSH could improve spermatogenesis ability of boars. This work provides insight into the effect of FSHα/β genes on male reproductive performance on pigs by a BAC-mediated transgenic approach.
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44
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Shima Y, Sugino K, Hempel CM, Shima M, Taneja P, Bullis JB, Mehta S, Lois C, Nelson SB. A Mammalian enhancer trap resource for discovering and manipulating neuronal cell types. eLife 2016; 5:e13503. [PMID: 26999799 PMCID: PMC4846381 DOI: 10.7554/elife.13503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a continuing need for driver strains to enable cell-type-specific manipulation in the nervous system. Each cell type expresses a unique set of genes, and recapitulating expression of marker genes by BAC transgenesis or knock-in has generated useful transgenic mouse lines. However, since genes are often expressed in many cell types, many of these lines have relatively broad expression patterns. We report an alternative transgenic approach capturing distal enhancers for more focused expression. We identified an enhancer trap probe often producing restricted reporter expression and developed efficient enhancer trap screening with the PiggyBac transposon. We established more than 200 lines and found many lines that label small subsets of neurons in brain substructures, including known and novel cell types. Images and other information about each line are available online (enhancertrap.bio.brandeis.edu). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13503.001 Scientists can track and even alter the activity of different kinds of neurons, as well as the connections between neurons, by manipulating their genes. However, most genes are active in many different kinds of cells in many different places in the brain, making it difficult to track or target only a particular neuron or brain area. Enhancers are sections of DNA that can regulate the activity of nearby genes so that they are only active in very specific cell types, and an “enhancer trap” is a genetic approach that essentially hijacks enhancers to express artificial genes in those same cell types. The technique relies on inserting a genetic marker, which can be easily tracked, into random locations in the genome. If this marker then interacts with an enhancer, it is activated and the effect of the enhancer on gene expression can be assessed. This method has been used in fruit flies and fish to identify enhancers that specifically restrict gene expression to a small subset of cells. Now, Shima et al. show that enhancer traps can be used successfully in mammals too. The experiments produced over 200 different strains of mice, many with the fluorescent marker only in specific brain areas or in specific kinds of brain cells. Some of the types of brain cells uncovered by these experiments are new, and the labelling of specific brain cells and brain areas in different strains makes these mice a useful resource for future work. Furthermore, it will be relatively straightforward to produce many more strains of these mice, because it would simply involve crossbreeding mice. It is likely that some of these to-be-discovered strains will be useful tools for research as well. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13503.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Shima
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Ken Sugino
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Chris Martin Hempel
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Masami Shima
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Praveen Taneja
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - James B Bullis
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Sonam Mehta
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
| | - Carlos Lois
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
| | - Sacha B Nelson
- Department of Biology and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, United States
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45
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Karas BJ, Suzuki Y, Weyman PD. Strategies for cloning and manipulating natural and synthetic chromosomes. Chromosome Res 2015; 23:57-68. [PMID: 25596826 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-014-9455-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Advances in synthetic biology methods to assemble and edit DNA are enabling genome engineering at a previously impracticable scale and scope. The synthesis of the Mycoplasma mycoides genome followed by its transplantation to convert a related cell into M. mycoides has transformed strain engineering. This approach exemplifies the combination of newly emerging chromosome-scale genome editing strategies that can be defined in three main steps: (1) chromosome acquisition into a microbial engineering platform, (2) alteration and improvement of the acquired chromosome, and (3) installation of the modified chromosome into the original or alternative organism. In this review, we outline recent progress in methods for acquiring chromosomes and chromosome-scale DNA molecules in the workhorse organisms Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We present overviews of important genetic strategies and tools for each of the three organisms, point out their respective strengths and weaknesses, and highlight how the host systems can be used in combination to facilitate chromosome assembly or engineering. Finally, we highlight efforts for the installation of the cloned/altered chromosomes or fragments into the target organism and present remaining challenges in expanding this powerful experimental approach to a wider range of target organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogumil J Karas
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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46
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Yang Y, Wang W, Huang T, Ruan W, Cao G. Transgenesis of Tol2-mediated seamlessly constructed BAC mammary gland expression vectors in Mus musculus. J Biotechnol 2015; 218:66-72. [PMID: 26656225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are vectors that are capable of carrying gene fragments of up to 300 kb in size, and in theory, harbor cis-regulatory elements that are necessary for the expression of specific genes. Therefore, BACs can effectively alleviate or even eliminate the position effect induced by gene-integration, rendering these as ideal expression vectors of exogenous genes. However, the number of relevant studies involving BACs as vectors of exogenous genes are limited. In the present study, we converted the BAC regulatory region of the Mus musculus Wap gene into a mammary gland-specific expression vector. Using the galK-based positive-negative selection method, we seamlessly replaced the Wap gene in a BAC with Homo sapiens GPX3, MT2, and Luc genes while keeping the original mammary gland-specific regulatory sequence intact, without introducing any extra sequences (Loxp/Frt). To improve the efficiency of creating BAC transgenic mice, we used a Tol2 transposon system optimized for mammalian codons and eliminated 100 kb of sequence from the BAC 5' end (173 kb), which resulted in an 8.5% rate of successful gene transmission via pronuclear injection. The results of the present study indicate that seamlessly constructed BAC expression vectors can be used for the transmission of the GPX3 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohui Yang
- School of Life Sciences,Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China
| | - Wenyuan Wang
- School of Life Sciences,Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China
| | - Tian Huang
- School of Life Sciences,Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China
| | - Weimin Ruan
- School of Life Sciences,Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China
| | - Gengsheng Cao
- School of Life Sciences,Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China; Institute of Bioengineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China.
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Chen Y, Molet J, Gunn BG, Ressler K, Baram TZ. Diversity of Reporter Expression Patterns in Transgenic Mouse Lines Targeting Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Expressing Neurons. Endocrinology 2015; 156:4769-80. [PMID: 26402844 PMCID: PMC4655217 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic mice, including lines targeting corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF or CRH), have been extensively employed to study stress neurobiology. These powerful tools are poised to revolutionize our understanding of the localization and connectivity of CRH-expressing neurons, and the crucial roles of CRH in normal and pathological conditions. Accurate interpretation of studies using cell type-specific transgenic mice vitally depends on congruence between expression of the endogenous peptide and reporter. If reporter expression does not faithfully reproduce native gene expression, then effects of manipulating unintentionally targeted cells may be misattributed. Here, we studied CRH and reporter expression patterns in 3 adult transgenic mice: Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 (tdTomato mouse), Crfp3.0CreGFP, and Crh-GFP BAC. We employed the CRH antiserum generated by Vale after validating its specificity using CRH-null mice. We focused the analyses on stress-salient regions, including hypothalamus, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and hippocampus. Expression patterns of endogenous CRH were consistent among wild-type and transgenic mice. In tdTomato mice, most CRH-expressing neurons coexpressed the reporter, yet the reporter identified a few non-CRH-expressing pyramidal-like cells in hippocampal CA1 and CA3. In Crfp3.0CreGFP mice, coexpression of CRH and the reporter was found in central amygdala and, less commonly, in other evaluated regions. In Crh-GFP BAC mice, the large majority of neurons expressed either CRH or reporter, with little overlap. These data highlight significant diversity in concordant expression of reporter and endogenous CRH among 3 available transgenic mice. These findings should be instrumental in interpreting important scientific findings emerging from the use of these potent neurobiological tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuncai Chen
- Departments of Pediatrics (Y.C., B.G.G., T.Z.B.) and Anatomy/Neurobiology (Y.C., J.M., B.G.G., T.Z.B.), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (K.R.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-4250
| | - Jenny Molet
- Departments of Pediatrics (Y.C., B.G.G., T.Z.B.) and Anatomy/Neurobiology (Y.C., J.M., B.G.G., T.Z.B.), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (K.R.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-4250
| | - Benjamin G Gunn
- Departments of Pediatrics (Y.C., B.G.G., T.Z.B.) and Anatomy/Neurobiology (Y.C., J.M., B.G.G., T.Z.B.), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (K.R.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-4250
| | - Kerry Ressler
- Departments of Pediatrics (Y.C., B.G.G., T.Z.B.) and Anatomy/Neurobiology (Y.C., J.M., B.G.G., T.Z.B.), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (K.R.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-4250
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Departments of Pediatrics (Y.C., B.G.G., T.Z.B.) and Anatomy/Neurobiology (Y.C., J.M., B.G.G., T.Z.B.), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4475; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (K.R.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-4250
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Parvalbumin+ Neurons and Npas1+ Neurons Are Distinct Neuron Classes in the Mouse External Globus Pallidus. J Neurosci 2015; 35:11830-47. [PMID: 26311767 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4672-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Compelling evidence suggests that pathological activity of the external globus pallidus (GPe), a nucleus in the basal ganglia, contributes to the motor symptoms of a variety of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Recent studies have challenged the idea that the GPe comprises a single, homogenous population of neurons that serves as a simple relay in the indirect pathway. However, we still lack a full understanding of the diversity of the neurons that make up the GPe. Specifically, a more precise classification scheme is needed to better describe the fundamental biology and function of different GPe neuron classes. To this end, we generated a novel multicistronic BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenic mouse line under the regulatory elements of the Npas1 gene. Using a combinatorial transgenic and immunohistochemical approach, we discovered that parvalbumin-expressing neurons and Npas1-expressing neurons in the GPe represent two nonoverlapping cell classes, amounting to 55% and 27% of the total GPe neuron population, respectively. These two genetically identified cell classes projected primarily to the subthalamic nucleus and to the striatum, respectively. Additionally, parvalbumin-expressing neurons and Npas1-expressing neurons were distinct in their autonomous and driven firing characteristics, their expression of intrinsic ion conductances, and their responsiveness to chronic 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. In summary, our data argue that parvalbumin-expressing neurons and Npas1-expressing neurons are two distinct functional classes of GPe neurons. This work revises our understanding of the GPe, and provides the foundation for future studies of its function and dysfunction. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Until recently, the heterogeneity of the constituent neurons within the external globus pallidus (GPe) was not fully appreciated. We addressed this knowledge gap by discovering two principal GPe neuron classes, which were identified by their nonoverlapping expression of the markers parvalbumin and Npas1. Our study provides evidence that parvalbumin and Npas1 neurons have different topologies within the basal ganglia.
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Chiken S, Sato A, Ohta C, Kurokawa M, Arai S, Maeshima J, Sunayama-Morita T, Sasaoka T, Nambu A. Dopamine D1 Receptor-Mediated Transmission Maintains Information Flow Through the Cortico-Striato-Entopeduncular Direct Pathway to Release Movements. Cereb Cortex 2015; 25:4885-97. [PMID: 26443442 PMCID: PMC4635926 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhv209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the basal ganglia (BG), dopamine plays a pivotal role in motor control, and dopamine deficiency results in severe motor dysfunctions as seen in Parkinson's disease. According to the well-accepted model of the BG, dopamine activates striatal direct pathway neurons that directly project to the output nuclei of the BG through D1 receptors (D1Rs), whereas dopamine inhibits striatal indirect pathway neurons that project to the external pallidum (GPe) through D2 receptors. To clarify the exact role of dopaminergic transmission via D1Rs in vivo, we developed novel D1R knockdown mice in which D1Rs can be conditionally and reversibly regulated. Suppression of D1R expression by doxycycline treatment decreased spontaneous motor activity and impaired motor ability in the mice. Neuronal activity in the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN), one of the output nuclei of the rodent BG, was recorded in awake conditions to examine the mechanism of motor deficits. Cortically evoked inhibition in the EPN mediated by the cortico-striato-EPN direct pathway was mostly lost during suppression of D1R expression, whereas spontaneous firing rates and patterns remained unchanged. On the other hand, GPe activity changed little. These results suggest that D1R-mediated dopaminergic transmission maintains the information flow through the direct pathway to appropriately release motor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Chiken
- Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Asako Sato
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Chikara Ohta
- Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Makoto Kurokawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Satoshi Arai
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan
| | - Jun Maeshima
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan
| | - Tomoko Sunayama-Morita
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Toshikuni Sasaoka
- School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nambu
- Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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Candlish M, Angelis RD, Götz V, Boehm U. Gene Targeting in Neuroendocrinology. Compr Physiol 2015; 5:1645-76. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c140079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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