1
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Bai X, Smith HE, Golden A. Identification of genetic suppressors for a BSCL2 lipodystrophy pathogenic variant in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050524. [PMID: 38454882 PMCID: PMC11051982 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050524] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Seipin (BSCL2), a conserved endoplasmic reticulum protein, plays a critical role in lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis and in regulating LD morphology, pathogenic variants of which are associated with Berardinelli-Seip congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2 (BSCL2). To model BSCL2 disease, we generated an orthologous BSCL2 variant, seip-1(A185P), in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, we conducted an unbiased chemical mutagenesis screen to identify genetic suppressors that restore embryonic viability in the seip-1(A185P) mutant background. A total of five suppressor lines were isolated and recovered from the screen. The defective phenotypes of seip-1(A185P), including embryonic lethality and impaired eggshell formation, were significantly suppressed in each suppressor line. Two of the five suppressor lines also alleviated the enlarged LDs in the oocytes. We then mapped a suppressor candidate gene, lmbr-1, which is an ortholog of human limb development membrane protein 1 (LMBR1). The CRISPR/Cas9 edited lmbr-1 suppressor alleles, lmbr-1(S647F) and lmbr-1(P314L), both significantly suppressed embryonic lethality and defective eggshell formation in the seip-1(A185P) background. The newly identified suppressor lines offer valuable insights into potential genetic interactors and pathways that may regulate seipin in the lipodystrophy model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Bai
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Harold E. Smith
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andy Golden
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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2
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Raices M, Balmir F, Silva N, Li W, Grundy MK, Hoffman DK, Altendorfer E, Camacho CJ, Bernstein KA, Colaiácovo MP, Yanowitz J. Genetic and physical interactions reveal overlapping and distinct contributions to meiotic double-strand break formation in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.23.581796. [PMID: 38463951 PMCID: PMC10925144 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.23.581796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious lesions experienced by our genome. Yet, DSBs are intentionally induced during gamete formation to promote the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. While the conserved topoisomerase-like enzyme Spo11 catalyzes DSBs, additional regulatory proteins-referred to as "Spo11 accessory factors"- regulate the number, timing, and placement of DSBs during early meiotic prophase ensuring that SPO11 does not wreak havoc on the genome. Despite the importance of the accessory factors, they are poorly conserved at the sequence level suggesting that these factors may adopt unique functions in different species. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the genetic and physical interactions between the DSB factors in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans providing new insights into conserved and novel functions of these proteins. This work shows that HIM-5 is the determinant of X-chromosome-specific crossovers and that its retention in the nucleus is dependent on DSB-1, the sole accessory factor that interacts with SPO-11. We further provide evidence that HIM-5 coordinates the actions of the different accessory factors sub-groups, providing insights into how components on the DNA loops may interact with the chromosome axis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabiola Balmir
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Nicola Silva
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
| | - Wei Li
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
- Tsinghua U. Medical School, China
| | - McKenzie K. Grundy
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Elisabeth Altendorfer
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Room 334, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Carlos Jaime Camacho
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
| | - Kara A. Bernstein
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Penn Center for Genome Integrity, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Monica P. Colaiácovo
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Room 334, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Judith Yanowitz
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA
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3
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Williamson N, Zheng Y, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hofmann A, Chang BCH, Wells TNC, Häberli C, Keiser J, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Structure-activity relationship and target investigation of 2-aryl quinolines with nematocidal activity. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 24:100522. [PMID: 38295619 PMCID: PMC10845918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100522] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Within the context of our anthelmintic discovery program, we recently identified and evaluated a quinoline derivative, called ABX464 or obefazimod, as a nematocidal candidate; synthesised a series of analogues which were assessed for activity against the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; and predicted compound-target relationships by thermal proteome profiling (TPP) and in silico docking. Here, we logically extended this work and critically evaluated the anthelmintic activity of ABX464 analogues on Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm) - a highly pathogenic nematode of ruminant livestock. First, we tested a series of 44 analogues on H. contortus (larvae and adults) to investigate the nematocidal pharmacophore of ABX464, and identified one compound with greater potency than the parent compound and showed moderate activity against a select number of other parasitic nematodes (including Ancylostoma, Heligmosomoides and Strongyloides species). Using TPP and in silico modelling studies, we predicted protein HCON_00074590 (a predicted aldo-keto reductase) as a target candidate for ABX464 in H. contortus. Future work aims to optimise this compound as a nematocidal candidate and investigate its pharmacokinetic properties. Overall, this study presents a first step toward the development of a new nematocide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; National Reference Centre for Authentic Food, Max Rubner-Institut, 95326, Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Bill C H Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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4
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Williamson N, Chang BCH, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Comparative structure activity and target exploration of 1,2-diphenylethynes in Haemonchus contortus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100534. [PMID: 38554597 PMCID: PMC10992699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Infections and diseases caused by parasitic nematodes have a major adverse impact on the health and productivity of animals and humans worldwide. The control of these parasites often relies heavily on the treatment with commercially available chemical compounds (anthelmintics). However, the excessive or uncontrolled use of these compounds in livestock animals has led to major challenges linked to drug resistance in nematodes. Therefore, there is a need to develop new anthelmintics with novel mechanism(s) of action. Recently, we identified a small molecule, designated UMW-9729, with nematocidal activity against the free-living model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we evaluated UMW-9729's potential as an anthelmintic in a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study in C. elegans and the highly pathogenic, blood-feeding Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm), and explored the compound-target relationship using thermal proteome profiling (TPP). First, we synthesised and tested 25 analogues of UMW-9729 for their nematocidal activity in both H. contortus (larvae and adults) and C. elegans (young adults), establishing a preliminary nematocidal pharmacophore for both species. We identified several compounds with marked activity against either H. contortus or C. elegans which had greater efficacy than UMW-9729, and found a significant divergence in compound bioactivity between these two nematode species. We also identified a UMW-9729 analogue, designated 25, that moderately inhibited the motility of adult female H. contortus in vitro. Subsequently, we inferred three H. contortus proteins (HCON_00134350, HCON_00021470 and HCON_00099760) and five C. elegans proteins (F30A10.9, F15B9.8, B0361.6, DNC-4 and UNC-11) that interacted directly with UMW-9729; however, no conserved protein target was shared between the two nematode species. Future work aims to extend the SAR investigation in these and other parasitic nematode species, and validate individual proteins identified here as possible targets of UMW-9729. Overall, the present study evaluates this anthelmintic candidate and highlights some challenges associated with early anthelmintic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bill C H Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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5
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Byrne JJ, Nguyen N, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. A phenotypic screen of the Global Health Priority Box identifies an insecticide with anthelmintic activity. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:131. [PMID: 38486232 PMCID: PMC10938758 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with parasitic nematodes (helminths), particularly those of the order Strongylida (such as Haemonchus contortus), can cause significant and burdensome diseases in humans and animals. Widespread drug (anthelmintic) resistance in livestock parasites, the absence of vaccines against most of these nematodes, and a lack of new and effective chemical entities on the commercial market demands the discovery of new anthelmintics. In the present study, we searched the Global Health Priority Box (Medicines for Malaria Venture) for new candidates for anthelmintic development. METHODS We employed a whole-organism, motility-based phenotypic screening assay to identify compounds from the Global Health Priority Box with activity against larvae of the model parasite H. contortus, and the free-living comparator nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Hit compounds were further validated via dose-response assays, with lead candidates then assessed for nematocidal activity against H. contortus adult worms, and additionally, for cytotoxic and mitotoxic effects on human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. RESULTS The primary screen against H. contortus and C. elegans revealed or reidentified 16 hit compounds; further validation established MMV1794206, otherwise known as 'flufenerim', as a significant inhibitor of H. contortus larval motility (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 18 μM) and development (IC50 = 1.2 μM), H. contortus adult female motility (100% after 12 h of incubation) and C. elegans larval motility (IC50 = 0.22 μM). Further testing on a mammalian cell line (human hepatoma HepG2 cells), however, identified flufenerim to be both cytotoxic (half-maximal cytotoxic concentration [CC50] < 0.7 μM) and mitotoxic (half-maximal mitotoxic concentration [MC50] < 0.7 μM). CONCLUSIONS The in vitro efficacy of MMV1794206 against the most pathogenic stages of H. contortus, as well as the free-living C. elegans, suggests the potential for development as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic compound; however, the high toxicity towards mammalian cells presents a significant hindrance. Further work should seek to establish the protein-drug interactions of MMV1794206 in a nematode model, to unravel the mechanism of action, in addition to an advanced structure-activity relationship investigation to optimise anthelmintic activity and eliminate mammalian cell toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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6
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Williamson N, Zheng Y, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hofmann A, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Structure activity relationship and target prediction for ABX464 analogues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 98:117540. [PMID: 38134663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Global challenges with treatment failures and/or widespread resistance in parasitic worms against commercially available anthelmintics lend impetus to the development of new anthelmintics with novel mechanism(s) of action. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism used for drug discovery, including the screening and structure-activity investigation of new compounds, and target deconvolution. Previously, we conducted a whole-organism phenotypic screen of the 'Pandemic Response Box' (from Medicines for Malaria Venture, MMV) and identified a hit compound, called ABX464, with activity against C. elegans and a related, parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus. Here, we tested a series of 44 synthesized analogues to explore the pharmacophore of activity on C. elegans and revealed five compounds whose potency was similar or greater than that of ABX464, but which were not toxic to human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Subsequently, we employed thermal proteome profiling (TPP), protein structure prediction and an in silico-docking algorithm to predict ABX464-target candidates. Taken together, the findings from this study contribute significantly to the early-stage drug discovery of a new nematocide based on ABX464. Future work is aimed at validating the ABX464-protein interactions identified here, and at assessing ABX464 and associated analogues against a panel of parasitic nematodes, towards developing a new anthelmintic with a mechanism of action that is distinct from any of the compounds currently-available commercially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; National Reference Centre for Authentic Food, Max Rubner-Institut, 95326 Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Kamal M, Tokmakjian L, Knox J, Han D, Moshiri H, Magomedova L, Nguyen KCQ, Zheng H, Burns AR, Cooke B, Lacoste J, Yeo M, Hall DH, Cummins CL, Roy PJ. PGP-14 establishes a polar lipid permeability barrier within the C. elegans pharyngeal cuticle. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011008. [PMID: 37930961 PMCID: PMC10653525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011008] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The cuticles of ecdysozoan animals are barriers to material loss and xenobiotic insult. Key to this barrier is lipid content, the establishment of which is poorly understood. Here, we show that the p-glycoprotein PGP-14 functions coincidently with the sphingomyelin synthase SMS-5 to establish a polar lipid barrier within the pharyngeal cuticle of the nematode C. elegans. We show that PGP-14 and SMS-5 are coincidentally expressed in the epithelium that surrounds the anterior pharyngeal cuticle where PGP-14 localizes to the apical membrane. pgp-14 and sms-5 also peak in expression at the time of new cuticle synthesis. Loss of PGP-14 and SMS-5 dramatically reduces pharyngeal cuticle staining by Nile Red, a key marker of polar lipids, and coincidently alters the nematode's response to a wide-range of xenobiotics. We infer that PGP-14 exports polar lipids into the developing pharyngeal cuticle in an SMS-5-dependent manner to safeguard the nematode from environmental insult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Levon Tokmakjian
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Knox
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Duhyun Han
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Houtan Moshiri
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lilia Magomedova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ken CQ Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew R. Burns
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brittany Cooke
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Lacoste
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - May Yeo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David H. Hall
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Carolyn L. Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter J. Roy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Bai X, Smith HE, Golden A. Identification of Genetic Suppressors for a Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy Type 2 (BSCL2) Pathogenic Variant in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.22.559059. [PMID: 37790539 PMCID: PMC10542546 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.559059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining the metabolic homeostasis of fatty acids is crucial for human health. Excess fatty acids are stored in lipid droplets (LDs), the primary energy reservoir that helps regulate fat and lipid homeostasis in nearly all cell types. Seipin (BSCL2), a conserved endoplasmic reticulum protein, plays a critical role in LD biogenesis and regulating LD morphology. Pathogenic variants of seipin are associated with multiple human genetic diseases, including Berardinelli-Seip Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy Type 2 (BSCL2). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which dysfunctional seipin leads to these diseases remain unclear. To model BSCL2 disease, we generated an orthologous BSCL2 pathogenic variant seip-1(A185P) using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in Caenorhabditis elegans . This variant led to severe developmental and cellular defects, including embryonic lethality, impaired eggshell formation, and abnormally enlarged LDs. We set out to identify genetic determinants that could suppress these defective phenotypes in the seip-1(A185P) mutant background. To this end, we conducted an unbiased chemical mutagenesis screen to identify genetic suppressors that restore embryonic viability in the seip-1(A185P) mutant background. A total of five suppressor lines were isolated and recovered from the screen. The defective phenotypes of seip-1(A185P) , including embryonic lethality and impaired eggshell formation, were significantly suppressed in each suppressor line. Two of the five suppressor lines also alleviated the enlarged LDs in the oocytes. We then mapped a suppressor candidate gene, R05D3.2 (renamed as lmbr-1 ), which is an ortholog of human LMBR1 (limb development membrane protein 1). The CRISPR/Cas9 edited lmbr-1 suppressor alleles, lmbr-1(Ser647Phe) and lmbr-1(Pro314Leu) , both significantly suppressed embryonic lethality and defective eggshell formation in the seip-1(A185P) background. The newly identified suppressor lines offer valuable insights into potential genetic interactors and pathways that may regulate seipin in the lipodystrophy model.
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9
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Zarroug SHO, Bajaman JS, Hamza FN, Saleem RA, Abdalla HK. Caenorhabditis elegans as an In Vivo Model for the Discovery and Development of Natural Plant-Based Antimicrobial Compounds. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1070. [PMID: 37630985 PMCID: PMC10458014 DOI: 10.3390/ph16081070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the identification of new antimicrobial agents with innovative mechanisms of action is urgently required. Medicinal plants that have been utilised for centuries with minor side effects may hold great promise as sources of effective antimicrobial products. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is an excellent live infection model for the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds. However, while C. elegans has widely been utilised to explore the effectiveness and toxicity of synthetic antibiotics, it has not been used to a comparable extent for the analysis of natural products. By screening the PubMed database, we identified articles reporting the use of the C. elegans model for the identification of natural products endowed with antibacterial and antifungal potential, and we critically analysed their results. The studies discussed here provide important information regarding "in vivo" antimicrobial effectiveness and toxicity of natural products, as evaluated prior to testing in conventional vertebrate models, thereby supporting the relevance of C. elegans as a highly proficient model for their identification and functional assessment. However, their critical evaluation also underlines that the characterisation of active phytochemicals and of their chemical structure, and the unravelling of their mechanisms of action represent decisive challenges for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah H. O. Zarroug
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Juhaina S. Bajaman
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatheia N. Hamza
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (F.N.H.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Rimah A. Saleem
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (F.N.H.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Hana K. Abdalla
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
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10
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Bajpai A, Jackson MA, Huang YH, Yap K, Du Q, Chau TCY, Craik DJ, Gilding EK. Nematicidal Activity of Cyclotides: Toxicity Against Caenorhabditis elegans. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:1222-1229. [PMID: 37099442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c01124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a unique family of stable and cyclic mini-proteins found in plants that have nematicidal and anthelmintic activities. They are distributed across the Rubiaceae, Violaceae, Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Solanaceae plant families, where they are posited to act as protective agents against pests. In this study, we tested the nematicidal properties of extracts from four major cyclotide-producing plants, Oldenlandia affinis, Clitoria ternatea, Viola odorata, and Hybanthus enneaspermus, against the free-living model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We evaluated the nematicidal activity of the cyclotides kalata B1, cycloviolacin O2, and hyen D present in these extracts and found them to be active against the larvae of C. elegans. Both the plant extracts and isolated cyclotides exerted dose-dependent toxicity on the first-stage larvae of C. elegans. Isolated cyclotides caused death or damage upon interacting with the worms' mouth, pharynx, and midgut or membrane. Cycloviolacin O2 and hyen D produced bubble-like structures around the C. elegans membrane, termed blebs, implicating membrane disruption causing toxicity and death. All tested cyclotides lost their toxicity when the hydrophobic patches present on them were disrupted via a single-point mutation. The present results provide a facile assay design to measure and explore the nematicidal activities of plant extracts and purified cyclotides on C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Bajpai
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mark A Jackson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Kuok Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Qingdan Du
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Tevin Chui-Ying Chau
- ACRF Cancer Biology Imaging Facility, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Edward K Gilding
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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11
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Burns AR, Baker RJ, Kitner M, Knox J, Cooke B, Volpatti JR, Vaidya AS, Puumala E, Palmeira BM, Redman EM, Snider J, Marwah S, Chung SW, MacDonald MH, Tiefenbach J, Hu C, Xiao Q, Finney CAM, Krause HM, MacParland SA, Stagljar I, Gilleard JS, Cowen LE, Meyer SLF, Cutler SR, Dowling JJ, Lautens M, Zasada I, Roy PJ. Selective control of parasitic nematodes using bioactivated nematicides. Nature 2023:10.1038/s41586-023-06105-5. [PMID: 37225985 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes are a major threat to global food security, particularly as the world amasses 10 billion people amid limited arable land1-4. Most traditional nematicides have been banned owing to poor nematode selectivity, leaving farmers with inadequate means of pest control4-12. Here we use the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to identify a family of selective imidazothiazole nematicides, called selectivins, that undergo cytochrome-p450-mediated bioactivation in nematodes. At low parts-per-million concentrations, selectivins perform comparably well with commercial nematicides to control root infection by Meloidogyne incognita, a highly destructive plant-parasitic nematode. Tests against numerous phylogenetically diverse non-target systems demonstrate that selectivins are more nematode-selective than most marketed nematicides. Selectivins are first-in-class bioactivated nematode controls that provide efficacy and nematode selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Burns
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Rachel J Baker
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Megan Kitner
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jessica Knox
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brittany Cooke
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan R Volpatti
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aditya S Vaidya
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Emily Puumala
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bruna M Palmeira
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Host-Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Redman
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Host-Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jamie Snider
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sagar Marwah
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sai W Chung
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret H MacDonald
- USDA-ARS Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Jens Tiefenbach
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chun Hu
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Qi Xiao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Host Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Constance A M Finney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Host Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Henry M Krause
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonya A MacParland
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Igor Stagljar
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences, Split, Croatia
| | - John S Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Host-Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan L F Meyer
- USDA-ARS Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Sean R Cutler
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - James J Dowling
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology and Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Lautens
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Inga Zasada
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Peter J Roy
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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12
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Harrington S, Pyche J, Burns AR, Spalholz T, Ryan KT, Baker RJ, Ching J, Rufener L, Lautens M, Kulke D, Vernudachi A, Zamanian M, Deuther-Conrad W, Brust P, Roy PJ. Nemacol is a small molecule inhibitor of C. elegans vesicular acetylcholine transporter with anthelmintic potential. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1816. [PMID: 37002199 PMCID: PMC10066365 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37452-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nematode parasites of humans and livestock pose a significant burden to human health, economic development, and food security. Anthelmintic drug resistance is widespread among parasites of livestock and many nematode parasites of humans lack effective treatments. Here, we present a nitrophenyl-piperazine scaffold that induces motor defects rapidly in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We call this scaffold Nemacol and show that it inhibits the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a target recognized by commercial animal and crop health groups as a viable anthelmintic target. We demonstrate that it is possible to create Nemacol analogs that maintain potent in vivo activity whilst lowering their affinity to the mammalian VAChT 10-fold. We also show that Nemacol enhances the ability of the anthelmintic Ivermectin to paralyze C. elegans and the ruminant nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. Hence, Nemacol represents a promising new anthelmintic scaffold that acts through a validated anthelmintic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Harrington
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jacob Pyche
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Andrew R Burns
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Tina Spalholz
- Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kaetlyn T Ryan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rachel J Baker
- The Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Justin Ching
- The Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Lucien Rufener
- INVENesis Sàrl, Route de Neuchâtel 15A, 2072, St Blaise (NE), Switzerland
| | - Mark Lautens
- The Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Daniel Kulke
- Research Parasiticides, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Monheim, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Global Innovation, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Binger Str. 173, 55218, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | | | - Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Winnie Deuther-Conrad
- Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Brust
- Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- The Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Peter J Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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13
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Yang A, Lin X, Liu Z, Duan X, Yuan Y, Zhang J, Liang Q, Ji X, Sun N, Yu H, He W, Zhu L, Xu B, Lin X. Worm Generator: A System for High-Throughput in Vivo Screening. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:1280-1288. [PMID: 36719250 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale screening of molecules in organisms requires high-throughput and cost-effective evaluating tools during preclinical development. Here, a novel in vivo screening strategy combining hierarchically structured biohybrid triboelectric nanogenerators (HB-TENGs) arrays with computational bioinformatics analysis for high-throughput pharmacological evaluation using Caenorhabditis elegans is described. Unlike the traditional methods for behavioral monitoring of the animals, which are laborious and costly, HB-TENGs with micropillars are designed to efficiently convert animals' behaviors into friction deformation and result in a contact-separation motion between two triboelectric layers to generate electrical outputs. The triboelectric signals are recorded and extracted to various bioinformation for each screened compound. Moreover, the information-rich electrical readouts are successfully demonstrated to be sufficient to predict a drug's identity by multiple-Gaussian-kernels-based machine learning methods. This proposed strategy can be readily applied to various fields and is especially useful in in vivo explorations to accelerate the identification of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xiang Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Zijian Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xin Duan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yurou Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Jiaxuan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Qilin Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xianglin Ji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Nannan Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
| | - Huajun Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
| | - Weiwei He
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lili Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Bingzhe Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xudong Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
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14
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Njume FN, Razzauti A, Soler M, Perschin V, Fazeli G, Bourez A, Delporte C, Ghogomu SM, Poelvoorde P, Pichard S, Birck C, Poterszman A, Souopgui J, Van Antwerpen P, Stigloher C, Vanhamme L, Laurent P. A lipid transfer protein ensures nematode cuticular impermeability. iScience 2022; 25:105357. [PMID: 36339267 PMCID: PMC9626681 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The cuticle of C. elegans is impermeable to chemicals, toxins, and pathogens. However, increased permeability is a desirable phenotype because it facilitates chemical uptake. Surface lipids contribute to the permeability barrier. Here, we identify the lipid transfer protein GMAP-1 as a critical element setting the permeability of the C. elegans cuticle. A gmap-1 deletion mutant increases cuticular permeability to sodium azide, levamisole, Hoechst, and DiI. Expressing GMAP-1 in the hypodermis or transiently in the adults is sufficient to rescue this gmap-1 permeability phenotype. GMAP-1 protein is secreted from the hypodermis to the aqueous fluid filling the space between collagen fibers of the cuticle. In vitro, GMAP-1 protein binds phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine while in vivo, GMAP-1 sets the surface lipid composition and organization. Altogether, our results suggest GMAP-1 secreted by hypodermis shuttles lipids to the surface to form the permeability barrier of C. elegans. GMAP-1 is secreted by the hypodermis toward the cuticle of Caenorhabditis elegans GMAP-1 binds and shuttle phosphoglycerides GMAP-1 sets the lipid composition of the cuticle While healthy, gmap-1 mutant displays high cuticular permeability
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Ngale Njume
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Institute for Neuroscience, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Adria Razzauti
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Institute for Neuroscience, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Miguel Soler
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Institute for Neuroscience, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Veronika Perschin
- Imaging Core Facility, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gholamreza Fazeli
- Imaging Core Facility, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Axelle Bourez
- RD3-Pharmacognosy, Bioanalysis and Drug Discovery and Analytical Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Cedric Delporte
- RD3-Pharmacognosy, Bioanalysis and Drug Discovery and Analytical Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Stephen M. Ghogomu
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Philippe Poelvoorde
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Simon Pichard
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Catherine Birck
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Arnaud Poterszman
- Department of Integrated Structural Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jacob Souopgui
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Pierre Van Antwerpen
- RD3-Pharmacognosy, Bioanalysis and Drug Discovery and Analytical Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | - Luc Vanhamme
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Patrick Laurent
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, ULB Institute for Neuroscience, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
- Corresponding author
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15
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Wang KL, Dou ZR, Gong GF, Li HF, Jiang B, Xu Y. Anti-Larval and Anti-Algal Natural Products from Marine Microorganisms as Sources of Anti-Biofilm Agents. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20020090. [PMID: 35200620 PMCID: PMC8876061 DOI: 10.3390/md20020090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria growing inside biofilms are more resistant to hostile environments, conventional antibiotics, and mechanical stresses than their planktonic counterparts. It is estimated that more than 80% of microbial infections in human patients are biofilm-based, and biofouling induced by the biofilms of some bacteria causes serious ecological and economic problems throughout the world. Therefore, exploring highly effective anti-biofilm compounds has become an urgent demand for the medical and marine industries. Marine microorganisms, a well-documented and prolific source of natural products, provide an array of structurally distinct secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities. However, up to date, only a handful of anti-biofilm natural products derived from marine microorganisms have been reported. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that some promising antifouling (AF) compounds from marine microbes, particularly those that inhibit settlement of fouling invertebrate larvae and algal spores, can be considered as potential anti-biofilm agents owing to the well-known knowledge of the correlations between biofilm formation and the biofouling process of fouling organisms. In this review, a total of 112 anti-biofilm, anti-larval, and anti-algal natural products from marine microbes and 26 of their synthetic analogues are highlighted from 2000 to 2021. These compounds are introduced based on their microbial origins, and then categorized into the following different structural groups: fatty acids, butenolides, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenyl ethers, polyketides, alkaloids, flavonoids, amines, nucleosides, and peptides. The preliminary structure-activity relationships (SAR) of some important compounds are also briefly discussed. Finally, current challenges and future research perspectives are proposed based on opinions from many previous reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Ling Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (K.-L.W.); (Z.-R.D.); (G.-F.G.); (H.-F.L.); (B.J.)
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Zheng-Rong Dou
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (K.-L.W.); (Z.-R.D.); (G.-F.G.); (H.-F.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Gao-Fen Gong
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (K.-L.W.); (Z.-R.D.); (G.-F.G.); (H.-F.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Hai-Feng Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (K.-L.W.); (Z.-R.D.); (G.-F.G.); (H.-F.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Bei Jiang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (K.-L.W.); (Z.-R.D.); (G.-F.G.); (H.-F.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Ying Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-7552-695-8849
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16
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Taki AC, Byrne JJ, Boag PR, Jabbar A, Gasser RB. Practical High-Throughput Method to Screen Compounds for Anthelmintic Activity against Caenorhabditis elegans. Molecules 2021; 26:4156. [PMID: 34299431 PMCID: PMC8305057 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we established a practical and cost-effective high throughput screening assay, which relies on the measurement of the motility of Caenorhabditis elegans by infrared light-interference. Using this assay, we screened 14,400 small molecules from the "HitFinder" library (Maybridge), achieving a hit rate of 0.3%. We identified small molecules that reproducibly inhibited the motility of C. elegans (young adults) and assessed dose relationships for a subset of compounds. Future work will critically evaluate the potential of some of these hits as candidates for subsequent optimisation or repurposing as nematocides or nematostats. This high throughput screening assay has the advantage over many previous assays in that it is cost- and time-effective to carry out and achieves a markedly higher throughput (~10,000 compounds per week); therefore, it is suited to the screening of libraries of tens to hundreds of thousands of compounds for subsequent evaluation and development. The present phenotypic whole-worm assay should be readily adaptable to a range of socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes of humans and animals, depending on their dimensions and motility characteristics in vitro, for the discovery of new anthelmintic candidates. This focus is particularly important, given the widespread problems associated with drug resistance in many parasitic worms of livestock animals globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya C. Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (A.J.)
| | - Joseph J. Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (A.J.)
| | - Peter R. Boag
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia;
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (A.J.)
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (A.J.)
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17
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Tjahjono E, Revtovich AV, Kirienko NV. Imaging and Fluorescence Quantification in Caenorhabditis eleganswith Flow Vermimetry and Automated Microscopy. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4024. [PMID: 34150931 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene activation and cellular biomarkers are commonly monitored using fluorescent signals from transgenic reporters or dyes. These quantifiable markers are critical for biological research and serve as an incredibly powerful tool, even more so when combined with high-throughput screening. Caenorhabditis elegans is a particularly useful model in this regard, as it is inexpensive to grow in vast numbers, has a rapid generation time, is optically transparent, and can readily fit within 384-well plates. However, fluorescence quantification in worms is often cumbersome. Quantification is frequently performed using laborious, low-throughput, bias-prone methods that measure fluorescence in a comparatively small number of individual worms. Here we describe two methods, flow vermimetry using a COPAS BioSorter and an automated imaging platform and analysis pipeline using a Cytation5 multimode plate reader and image analysis software, that enable high-throughput, high-content screening in C. elegans. Flow vermimetry provides a better signal-to-noise ratio with fewer processing steps, while the Cytation5 provides a convenient platform to image samples across time. Fluorescence values from the two methods show strong correlation. Either method can be easily extended to include other parameters, such as the measurement of various metabolites, worm viability, and other aspects of cell physiology. This broadens the utility of the system and allows it to be used for a wide range of molecular biological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa Tjahjono
- Department of BioSciences, 6100 Main St, MS140, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Alexey V Revtovich
- Department of BioSciences, 6100 Main St, MS140, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Natalia V Kirienko
- Department of BioSciences, 6100 Main St, MS140, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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18
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Robles P, Turner A, Zuco G, Adams S, Paganopolou P, Winton M, Hill B, Kache V, Bateson C, Pires-daSilva A. Parental energy-sensing pathways control intergenerational offspring sex determination in the nematode Auanema freiburgensis. BMC Biol 2021; 19:102. [PMID: 34001117 PMCID: PMC8130380 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental stimuli experienced by the parental generation influence the phenotype of subsequent generations (Demoinet et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E2689-E2698, 2017; Burton et al., Nat Cell Biol 19:252-257, 2017; Agrawal et al., Nature 401:60-63, 1999). The effects of these stimuli on the parental generation may be passed through the germline, but the mechanisms at the basis of this non-Mendelian type of inheritance, their level of conservation, how they lead to adaptive vs non-adaptive, and intergenerational vs transgenerational inheritance are poorly understood. Here we show that modulation of nutrient-sensing pathways in the parental generation of the nematode Auanema freiburgensis regulates phenotypic plasticity of its offspring. RESULTS In response to con-specific pheromones indicative of stress, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and insulin signaling regulate stress resistance and sex determination across one generation, and these effects can be mimicked by pathway modulators. The effectors of these pathways are closely associated with the chromatin, and their regulation affects the chromatin acetylation status in the germline. CONCLUSION These results suggest that highly conserved metabolic sensors regulate phenotypic plasticity through regulation of subcellular localization of their effectors, leading to changes in chromatin acetylation and epigenetic status of the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Robles
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Anisa Turner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Giusy Zuco
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Sally Adams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Michael Winton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Beth Hill
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Vikas Kache
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Christine Bateson
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Andre Pires-daSilva
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
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19
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Sivasankara Pillai S, Dandurand LM. Potato Cyst Nematode Egg Viability Assessment and Preparasitic Juvenile Screening Using a Large Particle Flow Cytometer and Sorter. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:713-719. [PMID: 32900268 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-06-20-0255-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Potato cyst nematode (PCN) cysts consist of heterogenous populations of eggs, juveniles, and eggshells that make manual sorting of individual life stages cumbersome. The number of viable PCN eggs is a major determinant of crop damage. An accurate high-throughput PCN egg viability assay is useful for developing effective management and eradication plans. In this study, we present a method for rapid and precise enumeration and sorting of PCN eggs and juveniles, along with an egg viability assessment by staining eggs with the fluorescent stain, acridine orange, and sorting with the Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) system, a large particle flow cytometer. Both size sorting and fluorescent sorting capabilities of the COPAS were explored. By using the COPAS, sorting efficiency for eggs and preparasitic second-stage juveniles (J2s) was 97.6 and 97.2%, respectively, with 99% recovery at a flow rate of 15 events/s. Purity of sorted live and dead eggs was 95.5 and 94.1%, respectively. Sorting of J2s by size indicated that 15 to 16.4% of Globodera ellingtonae or G. pallida had an average body length of 436.1 ± 3.4 µm compared with an average size of 512.9 ± 4.4 µm for the majority of the J2 population for both species. A red autofluorescing J2 population was also identified through sorting. Sorting of eggs by flow cytometry did not significantly affect hatching (55.1 ± 1.2 and 53.9 ± 1.6%, respectively, for sorted or nonsorted eggs) or juvenile motility (91.3 ± 1.0 or 90.1 ± 1.1%, respectively), thus confirming that the method does not impair the biological activity of the nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise-Marie Dandurand
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844
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20
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Kamal M, Moshiri H, Magomedova L, Han D, Nguyen KCQ, Yeo M, Knox J, Bagg R, Won AM, Szlapa K, Yip CM, Cummins CL, Hall DH, Roy PJ. The marginal cells of the Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx scavenge cholesterol and other hydrophobic small molecules. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3938. [PMID: 31477732 PMCID: PMC6718421 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11908-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a bacterivore filter feeder. Through the contraction of the worm’s pharynx, a bacterial suspension is sucked into the pharynx’s lumen. Excess liquid is then shunted out of the buccal cavity through ancillary channels made by surrounding marginal cells. We find that many worm-bioactive small molecules (a.k.a. wactives) accumulate inside of the marginal cells as crystals or globular spheres. Through screens for mutants that resist the lethality associated with one crystallizing wactive we identify a presumptive sphingomyelin-synthesis pathway that is necessary for crystal and sphere accumulation. We find that expression of sphingomyelin synthase 5 (SMS-5) in the marginal cells is not only sufficient for wactive accumulation but is also important for absorbing exogenous cholesterol, without which C. elegans cannot develop. We conclude that sphingomyelin-rich marginal cells act as a sink to scavenge important nutrients from filtered liquid that might otherwise be shunted back into the environment. The C. elegans nematode worm is a filter-feeder and requires dietary sources of cholesterol. Here, the authors show that the C. elegans pharynx works as a filter to scavenge hydrophobic small molecules from its surrounding liquid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Houtan Moshiri
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Lilia Magomedova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Duhyun Han
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ken C Q Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - May Yeo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jessica Knox
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Rachel Bagg
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Amy M Won
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Karolina Szlapa
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Christopher M Yip
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - David H Hall
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Peter J Roy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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21
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Spensley M, Del Borrello S, Pajkic D, Fraser AG. Acute Effects of Drugs on Caenorhabditis elegans Movement Reveal Complex Responses and Plasticity. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2018; 8:2941-2952. [PMID: 30061375 PMCID: PMC6118317 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Many drugs act very rapidly - they can turn on or off their targets within minutes in a whole animal. What are the acute effects of drug treatment and how does an animal respond to these? We developed a simple assay to measure the acute effects of drugs on C. elegans movement and examined the effects of a range of compounds including neuroactive drugs, toxins, environmental stresses and novel compounds on worm movement over a time period of 3 hr. We found a wide variety of acute responses. Many compounds cause rapid paralysis which may be permanent or followed by one or more recovery phases. The recoveries are not the result of some generic stress response but are specific to the drug e.g., recovery from paralysis due to a neuroactive drug requires neurotransmitter pathways whereas recovery from a metabolic inhibitor requires metabolic changes. Finally, we also find that acute responses can vary greatly across development and that there is extensive natural variation in acute responses. In summary, acute responses are sensitive probes of the ability of biological networks to respond to drug treatment and these responses can reveal the action of unexplored pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Spensley
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
| | - Samantha Del Borrello
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
| | - Djina Pajkic
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
| | - Andrew G Fraser
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1 Canada
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22
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Hernando-Rodríguez B, Erinjeri AP, Rodríguez-Palero MJ, Millar V, González-Hernández S, Olmedo M, Schulze B, Baumeister R, Muñoz MJ, Askjaer P, Artal-Sanz M. Combined flow cytometry and high-throughput image analysis for the study of essential genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. BMC Biol 2018; 16:36. [PMID: 29598825 PMCID: PMC5875015 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0496-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Advances in automated image-based microscopy platforms coupled with high-throughput liquid workflows have facilitated the design of large-scale screens utilising multicellular model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans to identify genetic interactions, therapeutic drugs or disease modifiers. However, the analysis of essential genes has lagged behind because lethal or sterile mutations pose a bottleneck for high-throughput approaches, and a systematic way to analyse genetic interactions of essential genes in multicellular organisms has been lacking. Results In C. elegans, non-conditional lethal mutations can be maintained in heterozygosity using chromosome balancers, commonly expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the pharynx. However, gene expression or function is typically monitored by the use of fluorescent reporters marked with the same fluorophore, presenting a challenge to sort worm populations of interest, particularly at early larval stages. Here, we develop a sorting strategy capable of selecting homozygous mutants carrying a GFP stress reporter from GFP-balanced animals at the second larval stage. Because sorting is not completely error-free, we develop an automated high-throughput image analysis protocol that identifies and discards animals carrying the chromosome balancer. We demonstrate the experimental usefulness of combining sorting of homozygous lethal mutants and automated image analysis in a functional genomic RNA interference (RNAi) screen for genes that genetically interact with mitochondrial prohibitin (PHB). Lack of PHB results in embryonic lethality, while homozygous PHB deletion mutants develop into sterile adults due to maternal contribution and strongly induce the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt). In a chromosome-wide RNAi screen for C. elegans genes having human orthologues, we uncover both known and new PHB genetic interactors affecting the UPRmt and growth. Conclusions The method presented here allows the study of balanced lethal mutations in a high-throughput manner. It can be easily adapted depending on the user’s requirements and should serve as a useful resource for the C. elegans community for probing new biological aspects of essential nematode genes as well as the generation of more comprehensive genetic networks. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0496-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Hernando-Rodríguez
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Annmary Paul Erinjeri
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - María Jesús Rodríguez-Palero
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Val Millar
- GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Maynard Centre, Forest Farm, Whitchurch, Cardiff, UK.,Present address: Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sara González-Hernández
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Present address: Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Olmedo
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Present address: Department of Genetics, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Bettina Schulze
- Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, and ZBMZ Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology (Faculty of Medicine), Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Baumeister
- Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, and ZBMZ Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology (Faculty of Medicine), Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuel J Muñoz
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Peter Askjaer
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Artal-Sanz
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain. .,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain.
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23
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Zhou Y, Xu Q, Zhou X, Song S, Zhu B. Stress resistance and lifespan extension of Caenorhabditis elegans enhanced by peptides from mussel (Mytilus edulis) protein hydrolyzate. Food Funct 2018; 9:3313-3320. [DOI: 10.1039/c8fo00021b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mussel (Mytilus edulis) peptides increased stress resistance and reduced endogenous ROS level and lipofuscin accumulation of C. elegans. Mussel peptides could contribute to healthspan extension of C. elegans through regulating the mRNA expression of daf-2 and daf-16.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- School of Food Science and Technology
- Dalian Polytechnic University
- Dalian 116034
- China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering
| | - Qinggang Xu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering
- Jiangsu University
- Zhenjiang 212013
- China
| | - Xinghua Zhou
- School of Food and Biological Engineering
- Jiangsu University
- Zhenjiang 212013
- China
| | - Shuang Song
- School of Food Science and Technology
- Dalian Polytechnic University
- Dalian 116034
- China
| | - Beiwei Zhu
- School of Food Science and Technology
- Dalian Polytechnic University
- Dalian 116034
- China
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Pir GJ, Choudhary B, Mandelkow E. Caenorhabditis elegans models of tauopathy. FASEB J 2017; 31:5137-5148. [PMID: 29191965 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201701007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of the tauopathies, which include the neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), corticobasal degeneration, frontotemporal dementia, and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), is the abnormal accumulation of post-translationally modified, insoluble tau. The result is a loss of neurons, decreased mental function, and complete dependence of patients on others. Aggregation of tau, which under physiologic conditions is a highly soluble protein, is thought to be central to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Indeed one of the strongest lines of evidence is the MAPT gene polymorphisms that lead to the familial forms of tauopathy. Extensive research in animal models over the years has contributed some of the most important findings regarding the pathogenesis of these diseases. Despite this, the precise molecular mechanisms that lead to abnormal tau folding, accumulation, and spreading remain unknown. Owing to the fact that most of the biochemical pathways are conserved, Caenorhabditis elegans provides an alternative approach to identify cellular mechanisms and druggable genes that operate in such disorders. Many human genes implicated in neurodegenerative diseases have counterparts in C. elegans, making it an excellent model in which to study their pathogenesis. In this article, we review some of the important findings gained from C. elegans tauopathy models.-Pir, G. J., Choudhary, B., Mandelkow, E. Caenorhabditiselegans models of tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Jeelani Pir
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; .,Max-Planck-Institute for Metabolism Research-Cologne, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bikash Choudhary
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for Metabolism Research-Cologne, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institute for Metabolism Research-Cologne, Hamburg, Germany.,Caesar Research Center, Bonn, Germany
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Fatin SN, Boon-Khai T, Shu-Chien AC, Khairuddean M, Al-Ashraf Abdullah A. A Marine Actinomycete Rescues Caenorhabditis elegans from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection through Restitution of Lysozyme 7. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2267. [PMID: 29201023 PMCID: PMC5696594 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to conventional antimicrobial treatment is a major scourge in healthcare. Therefore, it is crucial that novel potent anti-infectives are discovered. The aim of the present study is to screen marine actinomycetes for chemical entities capable of overcoming P. aeruginosa infection through mechanisms involving anti-virulence or host immunity activities. A total of 18 actinomycetes isolates were sampled from marine sediment of Songsong Island, Kedah, Malaysia. Upon confirming that the methanolic crude extract of these isolates do not display direct bactericidal activities, they were tested for capacity to rescue Caenorhabditis elegans infected with P. aeruginosa strain PA14. A hexane partition of the extract from one isolate, designated as Streptomyces sp. CCB-PSK207, could promote the survival of PA14 infected worms by more than 60%. Partial 16S sequence analysis on this isolate showed identity of 99.79% with Streptomyces sundarbansensis. This partition did not impair feeding behavior of C. elegans worms. Tested on PA14, the partition also did not affect bacterial growth or its ability to colonize host gut. The production of biofilm, protease, and pyocyanin in PA14 were uninterrupted, although there was an increase in elastase production. In lys-7::GFP worms, this partition was shown to induce the expression of lysozyme 7, an important innate immunity defense molecule that was repressed during PA14 infection. GC-MS analysis of the bioactive fraction of Streptomyces sp. CCB-PSK207 revealed the presence of methyl esters of branched saturated fatty acids. In conclusion, this is the first report of a marine actinomycete producing metabolites capable of rescuing C. elegans from PA14 through a lys-7 mediated activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti N. Fatin
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
| | - Tan Boon-Khai
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
| | - Alexander Chong Shu-Chien
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals (IPHARM), National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Bukit Gambir, Malaysia
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | - Melati Khairuddean
- School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
| | - Amirul Al-Ashraf Abdullah
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
- Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals (IPHARM), National Institute of Biotechnology Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Bukit Gambir, Malaysia
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Malaysia
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26
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Li Y, Wang J, Zhao F, Bai B, Nie G, Nel AE, Zhao Y. Nanomaterial libraries and model organisms for rapid high-content analysis of nanosafety. Natl Sci Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwx120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Safety analysis of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) presents a formidable challenge regarding environmental health and safety, due to their complicated and diverse physicochemical properties. Although large amounts of data have been published regarding the potential hazards of these materials, we still lack a comprehensive strategy for their safety assessment, which generates a huge workload in decision-making. Thus, an integrated approach is urgently required by government, industry, academia and all others who deal with the safe implementation of nanomaterials on their way to the marketplace. The rapid emergence and sheer number of new nanomaterials with novel properties demands rapid and high-content screening (HCS), which could be performed on multiple materials to assess their safety and generate large data sets for integrated decision-making. With this approach, we have to consider reducing and replacing the commonly used rodent models, which are expensive, time-consuming, and not amenable to high-throughput screening and analysis. In this review, we present a ‘Library Integration Approach’ for high-content safety analysis relevant to the ENMs. We propose the integration of compositional and property-based ENM libraries for HCS of cells and biologically relevant organisms to be screened for mechanistic biomarkers that can be used to generate data for HCS and decision analysis. This systematic approach integrates the use of material and biological libraries, automated HCS and high-content data analysis to provide predictions about the environmental impact of large numbers of ENMs in various categories. This integrated approach also allows the safer design of ENMs, which is relevant to the implementation of nanotechnology solutions in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiye Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bing Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - André E Nel
- Division of NanoMedicine, Department of Medicine, and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yuliang Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Xiong H, Pears C, Woollard A. An enhanced C. elegans based platform for toxicity assessment. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9839. [PMID: 28852193 PMCID: PMC5575006 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a well-defined regulatory framework governing the approval of chemicals for use as pharmaceuticals or release into the environment. Toxicity assessment is thus a major hurdle in the compound discovery pipeline, currently involving large scale animal testing. The search for alternative testing platforms is therefore an important priority. We have developed a convenient, low cost assay utilising the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, to rapidly assess both acute toxicity and developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART). However the worm is protected by a robust cuticle that forms a barrier to chemical uptake. We assessed mutants with altered cuticle properties to identify sensitized strains optimized for toxicity assays. Evaluating the trade-off between increased permeability and reduced fitness identifies bus-5(br19) as the most suitable strain for chemical exposure. We demonstrate the applicability of this assay for a range of chemicals with differing properties, including a modified exposure protocol for volatile or less soluble compounds. This work enhances the effectiveness of C. elegans for convenient toxicity assessment, which could contribute to a reduction in the use of vertebrates particularly at the crucial early stages of product development. Strains identified in this work will also enhance the sensitivity of C. elegans based drug discovery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajiang Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Catherine Pears
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
| | - Alison Woollard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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The novel nematicide wact-86 interacts with aldicarb to kill nematodes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005502. [PMID: 28379972 PMCID: PMC5393889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes negatively impact human and animal health worldwide. The market withdrawal of nematicidal agents due to unfavourable toxicities has limited the available treatment options. In principle, co-administering nematicides at lower doses along with molecules that potentiate their activity could mitigate adverse toxicities without compromising efficacy. Here, we screened for new small molecules that interact with aldicarb, which is a highly effective treatment for plant-parasitic nematodes whose toxicity hampers its utility. From our collection of 638 worm-bioactive compounds, we identified 20 molecules that interact positively with aldicarb to either kill or arrest the growth of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We investigated the mechanism of interaction between aldicarb and one of these novel nematicides called wact-86. We found that the carboxylesterase enzyme GES-1 hydrolyzes wact-86, and that the interaction is manifested by aldicarb’s inhibition of wact-86’s metabolism by GES-1. This work demonstrates the utility of C. elegans as a platform to search for new molecules that can positively interact with industrial nematicides, and provides proof-of-concept for prospective discovery efforts. Many nematicides that have been used to kill plant and animal parasitic nematodes are being phased out over concerns of toxicity to humans. One potential solution to reduce toxicity is to use the nematicide at a lower concentration in combination with a second compound that together will produce a synergistic killing effect. That is, the use of either molecule alone at low concentrations is non-lethal, but when used together at these same concentrations, the cocktail is lethal. This strategy has two benefits. First, the killing effect is concentrated at the site of use and as the two molecules diffuse from the targeted site, toxicity is negated. Second, less of the toxic molecule is needed and therefore less is dispersed into the environment. Here, we describe our use of a model nematode called C. elegans to search for molecules that interact with aldicarb, which is one of the nematicides being phased out by environmental agencies. We identified 20 compounds that interact with aldicarb and describe how one of these, called wact-86, functions with aldicarb to kill worms. Our work provides proof-of-principle that C. elegans is a useful model for identifying compounds that positively interact with industrial nematicides and for understanding the nature of such interactions.
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Mathew MD, Mathew ND, Miller A, Simpson M, Au V, Garland S, Gestin M, Edgley ML, Flibotte S, Balgi A, Chiang J, Giaever G, Dean P, Tung A, Roberge M, Roskelley C, Forge T, Nislow C, Moerman D. Using C. elegans Forward and Reverse Genetics to Identify New Compounds with Anthelmintic Activity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005058. [PMID: 27755544 PMCID: PMC5068747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The lack of new anthelmintic agents is of growing concern because it affects human health and our food supply, as both livestock and plants are affected. Two principal factors contribute to this problem. First, nematode resistance to anthelmintic drugs is increasing worldwide and second, many effective nematicides pose environmental hazards. In this paper we address this problem by deploying a high throughput screening platform for anthelmintic drug discovery using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a surrogate for infectious nematodes. This method offers the possibility of identifying new anthelmintics in a cost-effective and timely manner. Methods/Principal findings Using our high throughput screening platform we have identified 14 new potential anthelmintics by screening more than 26,000 compounds from the Chembridge and Maybridge chemical libraries. Using phylogenetic profiling we identified a subset of the 14 compounds as potential anthelmintics based on the relative sensitivity of C. elegans when compared to yeast and mammalian cells in culture. We showed that a subset of these compounds might employ mechanisms distinct from currently used anthelmintics by testing diverse drug resistant strains of C. elegans. One of these newly identified compounds targets mitochondrial complex II, and we used structural analysis of the target to suggest how differential binding of this compound may account for its different effects in nematodes versus mammalian cells. Conclusions/Significance The challenge of anthelmintic drug discovery is exacerbated by several factors; including, 1) the biochemical similarity between host and parasite genomes, 2) the geographic location of parasitic nematodes and 3) the rapid development of resistance. Accordingly, an approach that can screen large compound collections rapidly is required. C. elegans as a surrogate parasite offers the ability to screen compounds rapidly and, equally importantly, with specificity, thus reducing the potential toxicity of these compounds to the host and the environment. We believe this approach will help to replenish the pipeline of potential nematicides. With over two billion people infected and many billions of dollars of lost crops annually, nematode infections are a serious problem for human health and for agricultural production. While there are drugs to treat infections, many pockets of parasites have been identified worldwide that are developing immunity to the standard treatment regimen. In this study we describe a strategy using the model organism C. elegans as a surrogate parasite to identify several new chemical compounds that may offer additional treatments for infection. We demonstrate how to use our platform to identify compounds that are specific in their effect to nematodes and are not simply biocides. We also show through genetic and molecular analysis in this organism that we can quickly identify the mode of action of any new compound. Most critically, we show that a compound first identified in a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, is also effective on a parasitic nematode, Meloidogyne hapla. With this result and considering the level of sequence conservation across much of the nematode phyla we believe our strategy can be more widely applied to find new anthelmintics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Mathew
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Neal D. Mathew
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angela Miller
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mike Simpson
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Vinci Au
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephanie Garland
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Mark L. Edgley
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephane Flibotte
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aruna Balgi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennifer Chiang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Guri Giaever
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pamela Dean
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Audrey Tung
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michel Roberge
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Calvin Roskelley
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tom Forge
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Corey Nislow
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Donald Moerman
- Department of Zoology and Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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30
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Schwendeman AR, Shaham S. A High-Throughput Small Molecule Screen for C. elegans Linker Cell Death Inhibitors. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164595. [PMID: 27716809 PMCID: PMC5055323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death is a ubiquitous process in metazoan development. Apoptosis, one cell death form, has been studied extensively. However, mutations inactivating key mammalian apoptosis regulators do not block most developmental cell culling, suggesting that other cell death pathways are likely important. Recent work in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans identified a non-apoptotic cell death form mediating the demise of the male-specific linker cell. This cell death process (LCD, linker cell-type death) is morphologically conserved, and its molecular effectors also mediate axon degeneration in mammals and Drosophila. To develop reagents to manipulate LCD, we established a simple high-throughput screening protocol for interrogating the effects of small molecules on C. elegans linker cell death in vivo. From 23,797 compounds assayed, 11 reproducibly block linker cell death onset. Of these, five induce animal lethality, and six promote a reversible developmental delay. These results provide proof-of principle validation of our screening protocol, demonstrate that developmental progression is required for linker cell death, and suggest that larger scale screens may identify LCD-specific small-molecule regulators that target the LCD execution machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Schwendeman
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shai Shaham
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Bioactive Peptides from Angelica sinensis Protein Hydrolyzate Delay Senescence in Caenorhabditis elegans through Antioxidant Activities. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2016; 2016:8956981. [PMID: 26941890 PMCID: PMC4752986 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8956981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Since excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to be associated with aging and age-related diseases, strategies modulating ROS level and antioxidant defense systems may contribute to the delay of senescence. Here we show that the protein hydrolyzate from Angelica sinensis was capable of increasing oxidative survival of the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans intoxicated by paraquat. The hydrolyzate was then fractionated by ultrafiltration, and the antioxidant fraction (<3 kDa) was purified by gel filtration to obtain the antioxidant A. sinensis peptides (AsiPeps), which were mostly composed of peptides with <20 amino acid residues. Further studies demonstrate that AsiPeps were able to reduce the endogenous ROS level, increase the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, and decrease the content of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde in nematodes treated with paraquat or undergoing senescence. AsiPeps were also shown to reduce age pigments accumulation and extend lifespan but did not affect the food-intake behavior of the nematodes. Taken together, our results demonstrate that A. sinensis peptides (AsiPeps) are able to delay aging process in C. elegans through antioxidant activities independent of dietary restriction.
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Muhammed M, Arvanitis M, Mylonakis E. Whole animal HTS of small molecules for antifungal compounds. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 11:177-84. [PMID: 26593386 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1122591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The high morbidity and mortality among patients with invasive fungal infections and the growing problem of fungal resistance have resulted in an urgent need for new antifungal agents. AREAS COVERED This review covers the importance of antifungal drug discovery with an emphasis on whole-animal high-throughput techniques. More specifically, the authors focus on Caenorhabditis elegans, as a substitute model host and discuss C. elegans as an alternative model host for the study of microbial pathogenesis and the identification of novel antifungal compounds. EXPERT OPINION There are significant advantages from using the substitute model host C. elegans in high-throughput drug discovery. The C. elegans-microbe model provides a whole animal system where host-pathogen interactions can be studied along with the evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of compounds. This approach allows the study of compound characteristics, such as toxicity and solubility, during the initial screen and compounds discovered using C. elegans are affective in mammalian models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maged Muhammed
- a Division of Infectious Diseases , Rhode Island Hospital , Providence , RI , USA.,b Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence , RI , USA
| | - Marios Arvanitis
- c Department of Medicine , Boston Medical Center, Boston University , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- a Division of Infectious Diseases , Rhode Island Hospital , Providence , RI , USA.,b Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence , RI , USA
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Abstract
The main goal of this paper is to present the case for shifting the focus of research on aging and anti-aging from lifespan pharmacology to what I like to call healthspan pharmacology, in which the desired outcome is the extension of healthy years of life rather than lifespan alone. Lifespan could be influenced by both genetic and epigenetic factors, but a long lifespan may not be a good indicator of an optimal healthspan. Without improving healthspan, prolonging longevity would have enormous negative socioeconomic outcomes for humans. Therefore, the goal of aging and anti-aging research should be to add healthy years to life and not merely to increase the chronological age. This article summarizes and compares two categories of pharmacologically induced lifespan extension studies in animal model systems from the last two decades-those reporting the effects of pharmacological interventions on lifespan extension alone versus others that include their effects on both lifespan and healthspan in the analysis. The conclusion is that the extrapolation of pharmacological results from animal studies to humans is likely to be more relevant when both lifespan and healthspan extension properties of pharmacological intervention are taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahtab Jafari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine , Irvine, California
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34
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Wang Z, Wang W, Bu X, Wei Z, Geng L, Wu Y, Dong C, Li L, Zhang D, Yang S, Wang F, Lausted C, Hood L, Hu Z. Microarray based screening of peptide nano probes for HER2 positive tumor. Anal Chem 2015. [PMID: 26218790 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Peptides are excellent biointerface molecules and diagnostic probes with many advantages such as good penetration, short turnover time, and low cost. We report here an efficient peptide screening strategy based on in situ single bead sequencing on a microarray. Two novel peptides YLFFVFER (H6) and KLRLEWNR (H10) specifically binding to the tumor biomarker human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with aKD of 10(-8) M were obtained from a 10(5) library. Conjugated to nanoparticles, both the H6 and H10 probes showed specific accumulation in HER2-positive tumor tissues in xenografted mice by in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yue Wu
- ‡Medical Isotopes Research Center, Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing China, 100191
| | - Chengyan Dong
- ‡Medical Isotopes Research Center, Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing China, 100191
| | - Liqiang Li
- ‡Medical Isotopes Research Center, Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing China, 100191
| | | | | | - Fan Wang
- ‡Medical Isotopes Research Center, Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing China, 100191
| | - Christopher Lausted
- §Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Leroy Hood
- §Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- §Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States.,∥Beijing Proteome Research Center, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing China, 102206
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35
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Burns AR, Luciani GM, Musso G, Bagg R, Yeo M, Zhang Y, Rajendran L, Glavin J, Hunter R, Redman E, Stasiuk S, Schertzberg M, Angus McQuibban G, Caffrey CR, Cutler SR, Tyers M, Giaever G, Nislow C, Fraser AG, MacRae CA, Gilleard J, Roy PJ. Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model for anthelmintic discovery. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7485. [PMID: 26108372 PMCID: PMC4491176 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes infect one quarter of the world's population and impact all humans through widespread infection of crops and livestock. Resistance to current anthelmintics has prompted the search for new drugs. Traditional screens that rely on parasitic worms are costly and labour intensive and target-based approaches have failed to yield novel anthelmintics. Here, we present our screen of 67,012 compounds to identify those that kill the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We then rescreen our hits in two parasitic nematode species and two vertebrate models (HEK293 cells and zebrafish), and identify 30 structurally distinct anthelmintic lead molecules. Genetic screens of 19 million C. elegans mutants reveal those nematicides for which the generation of resistance is and is not likely. We identify the target of one lead with nematode specificity and nanomolar potency as complex II of the electron transport chain. This work establishes C. elegans as an effective and cost-efficient model system for anthelmintic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Burns
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - Genna M. Luciani
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Gabriel Musso
- Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Rachel Bagg
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - May Yeo
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - Yuqian Zhang
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - Luckshika Rajendran
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - John Glavin
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - Robert Hunter
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - Elizabeth Redman
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6
| | - Susan Stasiuk
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6
| | - Michael Schertzberg
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
| | - G. Angus McQuibban
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Sean R. Cutler
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Mike Tyers
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1J4
| | - Guri Giaever
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Corey Nislow
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Andy G. Fraser
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Calum A. MacRae
- Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - John Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4Z6
| | - Peter J. Roy
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E1
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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36
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Maglioni S, Arsalan N, Franchi L, Hurd A, Opipari AW, Glick GD, Ventura N. An automated phenotype-based microscopy screen to identify pro-longevity interventions acting through mitochondria in C. elegans. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2015; 1847:1469-78. [PMID: 25979236 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2015] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that play a central role in cellular homeostasis. Severe mitochondrial dysfunction leads to life-threatening diseases in humans and accelerates the aging process. Surprisingly, moderate reduction of mitochondrial function in different species has anti-aging effects. High-throughput screenings in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans lead to the identification of several pro-longevity genetic and pharmacological interventions. Large-scale screens, however, are manual, subjective, time consuming and costly. These limitations could be reduced by the identification of automatically quantifiable biomarkers of healthy aging. In this study we exploit the distinct and reproducible phenotypes described in C. elegans upon different levels of mitochondrial alteration to develop an automated high-content strategy to identify new potential pro-longevity interventions. Utilizing the microscopy platform Cellomics ArrayScan Reader, we optimize a workflow to automatically and reliably quantify the discrete phenotypic readouts associated with different degrees of silencing of mitochondrial respiratory chain regulatory proteins, and validate the approach with mitochondrial-targeting drugs known to extend lifespan in C. elegans. Finally, we report that a new mitochondrial ATPase modulator matches our screening phenotypic criteria and extends nematode's lifespan thus providing the proof of principle that our strategy could be exploited to identify novel mitochondrial-targeted drugs with pro-longevity activity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Maglioni
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Nayna Arsalan
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Natascia Ventura
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany.
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37
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Mendenhall AR, Tedesco PM, Sands B, Johnson TE, Brent R. Single Cell Quantification of Reporter Gene Expression in Live Adult Caenorhabditis elegans Reveals Reproducible Cell-Specific Expression Patterns and Underlying Biological Variation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124289. [PMID: 25946008 PMCID: PMC4422670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In multicellular organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, differences in complex phenotypes such as lifespan correlate with the level of expression of particular engineered reporter genes. In single celled organisms, quantitative understanding of responses to extracellular signals and of cell-to-cell variation in responses has depended on precise measurement of reporter gene expression. Here, we developed microscope-based methods to quantify reporter gene expression in cells of Caenorhabditis elegans with low measurement error. We then quantified expression in strains that carried different configurations of Phsp-16.2-fluorescent-protein reporters, in whole animals, and in all 20 cells of the intestine tissue, which is responsible for most of the fluorescent signal. Some animals bore more recently developed single copy Phsp-16.2 reporters integrated at defined chromosomal sites, others, “classical” multicopy reporter gene arrays integrated at random sites. At the level of whole animals, variation in gene expression was similar: strains with single copy reporters showed the same amount of animal-to-animal variation as strains with multicopy reporters. At the level of cells, in animals with single copy reporters, the pattern of expression in cells within the tissue was highly stereotyped. In animals with multicopy reporters, the cell-specific expression pattern was also stereotyped, but distinct, and somewhat more variable. Our methods are rapid and gentle enough to allow quantification of expression in the same cells of an animal at different times during adult life. They should allow investigators to use changes in reporter expression in single cells in tissues as quantitative phenotypes, and link those to molecular differences. Moreover, by diminishing measurement error, they should make possible dissection of the causes of the remaining, real, variation in expression. Understanding such variation should help reveal its contribution to differences in complex phenotypic outcomes in multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R. Mendenhall
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RB); (ARM)
| | - Patricia M. Tedesco
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Bryan Sands
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Johnson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Roger Brent
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RB); (ARM)
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Chin MR, Zlotkowski K, Han M, Patel S, Eliasen AM, Axelrod A, Siegel D. Expedited access to vinaxanthone and chemically edited derivatives possessing neuronal regenerative effects through ynone coupling reactions. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:542-50. [PMID: 25615693 DOI: 10.1021/cn500237z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural product vinaxanthone has demonstrated a remarkable capability to promote nerve growth following injury or transplantation. In rats following total transection of the spinal cord delivery of vinaxanthone enhanced axonal regeneration, remyelination and angiogenesis at the site of injury all leading to an improved reinstatement of motor function. Through the development of a new ynone coupling reaction, chemically edited derivatives of vinaxanthone have been prepared and studied for improved activity. The coupling reaction allows rapid access to new derivatives, wherein n ynone precursors provide n(2) vinaxanthone analogues. These compounds have been tested for their ability to promote neuronal regrowth using laser axotomy, severing axonal connections in Caenorhabditis elegans. This precise microsurgery using C. elegans allows a new in vivo approach for medicinal chemistry based optimization of neuronal growth promoting compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Chin
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Katherine Zlotkowski
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Michelle Han
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Saagar Patel
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Anders M. Eliasen
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
| | - Abram Axelrod
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Dionicio Siegel
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92039, United States
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Law W, Wuescher LM, Ortega A, Hapiak VM, Komuniecki PR, Komuniecki R. Heterologous Expression in Remodeled C. elegans: A Platform for Monoaminergic Agonist Identification and Anthelmintic Screening. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004794. [PMID: 25928899 PMCID: PMC4415803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoamines, such as 5-HT and tyramine (TA), paralyze both free-living and parasitic nematodes when applied exogenously and serotonergic agonists have been used to clear Haemonchus contortus infections in vivo. Since nematode cell lines are not available and animal screening options are limited, we have developed a screening platform to identify monoamine receptor agonists. Key receptors were expressed heterologously in chimeric, genetically-engineered Caenorhabditis elegans, at sites likely to yield robust phenotypes upon agonist stimulation. This approach potentially preserves the unique pharmacologies of the receptors, while including nematode-specific accessory proteins and the nematode cuticle. Importantly, the sensitivity of monoamine-dependent paralysis could be increased dramatically by hypotonic incubation or the use of bus mutants with increased cuticular permeabilities. We have demonstrated that the monoamine-dependent inhibition of key interneurons, cholinergic motor neurons or body wall muscle inhibited locomotion and caused paralysis. Specifically, 5-HT paralyzed C. elegans 5-HT receptor null animals expressing either nematode, insect or human orthologues of a key Gαo-coupled 5-HT1-like receptor in the cholinergic motor neurons. Importantly, 8-OH-DPAT and PAPP, 5-HT receptor agonists, differentially paralyzed the transgenic animals, with 8-OH-DPAT paralyzing mutant animals expressing the human receptor at concentrations well below those affecting its C. elegans or insect orthologues. Similarly, 5-HT and TA paralyzed C. elegans 5-HT or TA receptor null animals, respectively, expressing either C. elegans or H. contortus 5-HT or TA-gated Cl- channels in either C. elegans cholinergic motor neurons or body wall muscles. Together, these data suggest that this heterologous, ectopic expression screening approach will be useful for the identification of agonists for key monoamine receptors from parasites and could have broad application for the identification of ligands for a host of potential anthelmintic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Law
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Leah M. Wuescher
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amanda Ortega
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Vera M. Hapiak
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Patricia R. Komuniecki
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Richard Komuniecki
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
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Conery AL, Larkins-Ford J, Ausubel FM, Kirienko NV. High-throughput screening for novel anti-infectives using a C. elegans pathogenesis model. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 6:25-37. [PMID: 24652621 DOI: 10.1002/9780470559277.ch130160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In recent history, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has provided a compelling platform for the discovery of novel antimicrobial drugs. In this protocol, we present an automated, high-throughput C. elegans pathogenesis assay, which can be used to screen for anti-infective compounds that prevent nematodes from dying due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. New antibiotics identified from such screens would be promising candidates for treatment of human infections, and also can be used as probe compounds to identify novel targets in microbial pathogenesis or host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie L Conery
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonah Larkins-Ford
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Frederick M Ausubel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Natalia V Kirienko
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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41
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Paveley RA, Bickle QD. Automated imaging and other developments in whole-organism anthelmintic screening. Parasite Immunol 2014; 35:302-13. [PMID: 23581722 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Helminth infections still represent a huge public health problem throughout the developing world and in the absence of vaccines control is based on periodic mass drug administration. Poor efficacy of some anthelmintics and concerns about emergence of drug resistance has highlighted the need for new drug discovery. Most current anthelmintics were discovered through in vivo screening of selected compounds in animal models but recent approaches have shifted towards screening for activity against adult or larval stages in vitro. Larvae are normally available in greater numbers than adults, can often be produced in vitro and are small enough for microplate assays. However, the manual visualization of drug effects in vitro is subjective, laborious and slow. This can be overcome by application of automated readouts including high-content imaging. Incorporated into robotically controlled HTS platforms such methods allow the very large compound collections being made available by the pharmaceutical industry or academic organizations to be screened against helminths for the first time, invigorating the drug discovery pipeline. Here, we review the status of whole-organism screens based on in vitro activity against living worms and highlight the recent progress towards automated image-based readouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Paveley
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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42
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Wang W, Wei Z, Wang Z, Ma H, Bu X, Hu Z. A continuous flow microfluidic-MS system for efficient OBOC screening. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra12911c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A microfluidic chip based method utilized for effective screening of high-throughput peptide libraries was achieved. 105beads was processed within 4 hours and peptide ligands towardtarget protein AHA and APN were successfully discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zewen Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zihua Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
| | - Huailei Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xiangli Bu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
- Beijing 100190, China
- Beijing Proteome Research Center
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine
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43
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Developing a rapid throughput screen for detection of nematicidal activity of plant cysteine proteinases: the role of Caenorhabditis elegans cystatins. Parasitology 2013; 141:164-80. [PMID: 24001183 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Plant cysteine proteinases (CPs) from papaya (Carica papaya) are capable of killing parasitic nematode worms in vitro and have been shown to possess anthelmintic effects in vivo. The acute damage reported in gastrointestinal parasites has not been found in free-living nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans nor among the free-living stages of parasitic nematodes. This apparent difference in susceptibility might be the result of active production of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (such as cystatins) by the free-living stages or species. To test this possibility, a supernatant extract of refined papaya latex (PLS) with known active enzyme content was used. The effect on wild-type (Bristol N2) and cystatin null mutant (cpi-1(-/-) and cpi-2(-/-)) C. elegans was concentration-, temperature- and time-dependent. Cysteine proteinases digested the worm cuticle leading to release of internal structures and consequent death. Both cystatin null mutant strains were highly susceptible to PLS attack irrespective of the temperature and concentration of exposure, whereas wild-type N2 worms were generally resistant but far more susceptible to attack at low temperatures. PLS was able to induce elevated cpi-1 and cpi-2 cystatin expression. We conclude that wild-type C. elegans deploy cystatins CPI-1 and CPI-2 to resist CP attack. The results suggest that the cpi-1 or cpi-2 null mutants (or a double mutant combination of the two) could provide a cheap and effective rapid throughput C. elegans-based assay for screening plant CP extracts for anthelmintic activity.
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44
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Franz AK, Danielewicz MA, Wong DM, Anderson LA, Boothe JR. Phenotypic screening with oleaginous microalgae reveals modulators of lipid productivity. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:1053-62. [PMID: 23521767 DOI: 10.1021/cb300573r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe the first phenotypic screening with microalgae to study lipid metabolism and to discover organic small molecules as chemical triggers that increase growth and lipid production. A microplate assay has been developed for analysis of intracellular lipids using Nile Red fluorescence in order to screen a collection of diverse bioactive organic molecules (e.g., kinase inhibitors) with four strains of oleaginous microalgae (Nannochloropsis salina, Nannochloropsis oculata, Nannochloris sp., and Phaeodactylum tricornutum). Several small molecules identified in microplate screening increased lipid productivity >200% without decreasing growth and biomass production. Selected compounds were further investigated in the context of larger batch culture experiments (e.g., 500 mL) and demonstrated to increase lipid levels (up to 84%) while maintaining or increasing the specific growth rate. Bioactive molecules such as forskolin and quinacrine were identified as promising probes of microalgae lipid pathways. We have also determined that common antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) increase lipid productivity and may represent new probes of oxidative signaling pathways for photooxidative protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaliese K. Franz
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Megan A. Danielewicz
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Diana M. Wong
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Lisa A. Anderson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Jordan R. Boothe
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
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Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is not only a hallmark of rare inherited mitochondrial disorders but also implicated in age-related diseases, including those that affect the metabolic and nervous system, such as type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Numerous pathways maintain and/or restore proper mitochondrial function, including mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response. New and powerful phenotypic assays in cell-based models as well as multicellular organisms have been developed to explore these different aspects of mitochondrial function. Modulating mitochondrial function has therefore emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy for several diseases, which has spurred active drug discovery efforts in this area.
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Kell DB. Finding novel pharmaceuticals in the systems biology era using multiple effective drug targets, phenotypic screening and knowledge of transporters: where drug discovery went wrong and how to fix it. FEBS J 2013; 280:5957-80. [PMID: 23552054 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the sequencing of the human genome, the rate of innovative and successful drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry has continued to decrease. Leaving aside regulatory matters, the fundamental and interlinked intellectual issues proposed to be largely responsible for this are: (a) the move from 'function-first' to 'target-first' methods of screening and drug discovery; (b) the belief that successful drugs should and do interact solely with single, individual targets, despite natural evolution's selection for biochemical networks that are robust to individual parameter changes; (c) an over-reliance on the rule-of-5 to constrain biophysical and chemical properties of drug libraries; (d) the general abandoning of natural products that do not obey the rule-of-5; (e) an incorrect belief that drugs diffuse passively into (and presumably out of) cells across the bilayers portions of membranes, according to their lipophilicity; (f) a widespread failure to recognize the overwhelmingly important role of proteinaceous transporters, as well as their expression profiles, in determining drug distribution in and between different tissues and individual patients; and (g) the general failure to use engineering principles to model biology in parallel with performing 'wet' experiments, such that 'what if?' experiments can be performed in silico to assess the likely success of any strategy. These facts/ideas are illustrated with a reasonably extensive literature review. Success in turning round drug discovery consequently requires: (a) decent systems biology models of human biochemical networks; (b) the use of these (iteratively with experiments) to model how drugs need to interact with multiple targets to have substantive effects on the phenotype; (c) the adoption of polypharmacology and/or cocktails of drugs as a desirable goal in itself; (d) the incorporation of drug transporters into systems biology models, en route to full and multiscale systems biology models that incorporate drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; (e) a return to 'function-first' or phenotypic screening; and (f) novel methods for inferring modes of action by measuring the properties on system variables at all levels of the 'omes. Such a strategy offers the opportunity of achieving a state where we can hope to predict biological processes and the effect of pharmaceutical agents upon them. Consequently, this should both lower attrition rates and raise the rates of discovery of effective drugs substantially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Kell
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, UK; Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, UK
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47
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Dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl formamide increase lifespan of C. elegans in liquid. Mech Ageing Dev 2013; 134:69-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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48
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Zheng SQ, Ding AJ, Li GP, Wu GS, Luo HR. Drug absorption efficiency in Caenorhbditis elegans delivered by different methods. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56877. [PMID: 23451103 PMCID: PMC3581574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caenorhbditis elegans has being vigorously used as a model organism in many research fields and often accompanied by administrating with various drugs. The methods of delivering drugs to worms are varied from one study to another, which make difficult in comparing results between studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We evaluated the drug absorption efficiency in C. elegans using five frequently used methods with resveratrol with low aqueous solubility and water-soluble 5-Fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUDR) as positive compounds. The drugs were either applied to the LB medium with bacteria OP50, before spreading onto Nematode Growth Medium (NGM) plates (LB medium method), or to the NGM with live (NGM live method) or dead bacteria (NGM dead method), or spotting the drug solution to the surface of plates directly (spot dead method), or growing the worms in liquid medium (liquid growing method). The concentration of resveratrol and FUDR increased gradually within C. elegans and reached the highest during 12 hours to one day and then decreased slowly. At the same time point, the higher the drug concentration, the higher the metabolism rate. The drug concentrations in worms fed with dead bacteria were higher than with live bacteria at the same time point. Consistently, the drug concentration in medium with live bacteria decreased much faster than in medium with dead bacteria, reach to about half of the original concentration within 12 hours. CONCLUSION Resveratrol with low aqueous solubility and water-soluble FUDR have the same absorption and metabolism pattern. The drug metabolism rate in worms was both dosage and time dependent. NGM dead method and liquid growing method achieved the best absorption efficiency in worms. The drug concentration within worms was comparable with that in mice, providing a bridge for dose translation from worms to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Qing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ai-Jun Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Ping Li
- The key laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital & Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China
| | - Gui-Sheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huai-Rong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- * E-mail: address:
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Lionaki E, Tavernarakis N. High-throughput and longitudinal analysis of aging and senescent decline in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2013; 965:485-500. [PMID: 23296679 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-239-1_32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is becoming a multipurpose tool for genetic and chemical compound screening approaches aiming to identify and target the molecular mechanisms underlying senescent decline, aging, and associated pathologies. In this chapter, we describe specialized methods that have been developed to facilitate such screening strategies using C. elegans. The first section provides detailed procedures for the assessment of lifespan parameters on liquid growth media that are typically used for rearing nematodes. In the second section, we consider methodologies optimized for high-throughput survival analysis, applicable to large-scale chemical compound or genetic screening ventures. Finally, we discuss recently developed microfluidics tools for the noninvasive monitoring of behavioral and physiological traits in longitudinal studies of aging and senescent decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Lionaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Greece
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Bae YK, Sung JY, Kim YN, Kim S, Hong KM, Kim HT, Choi MS, Kwon JY, Shim J. An in vivo C. elegans model system for screening EGFR-inhibiting anti-cancer drugs. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42441. [PMID: 22957020 PMCID: PMC3434183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a well-established target for cancer treatment. EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors, such as gefinitib and erlotinib, have been developed as anti-cancer drugs. Although non-small cell lung carcinoma with an activating EGFR mutation, L858R, responds well to gefinitib and erlotinib, tumors with a doubly mutated EGFR, T790M-L858R, acquire resistance to these drugs. The C. elegans EGFR homolog LET-23 and its downstream signaling pathway have been studied extensively to provide insight into regulatory mechanisms conserved from C. elegans to humans. To develop an in vivo screening system for potential cancer drugs targeting specific EGFR mutants, we expressed three LET-23 chimeras in which the TK domain was replaced with either the human wild-type TK domain (LET-23::hEGFR-TK), a TK domain with the L858R mutation (LET-23::hEGFR-TK[L858R]), or a TK domain with the T790M-L858R mutations (LET-23::hEGFR-TK[T790M-L858R]) in C. elegans vulval cells using the let-23 promoter. The wild-type hEGFR-TK chimeric protein rescued the let-23 mutant phenotype, and the activating mutant hEGFR-TK chimeras induced a multivulva (Muv) phenotype in a wild-type C. elegans background. The anti-cancer drugs gefitinib and erlotinib suppressed the Muv phenotype in LET-23::hEGFR-TK[L858R]-expressing transgenic animals, but not in LET-23::hEGFR-TK[T790M-L858R] transgenic animals. As a pilot screen, 8,960 small chemicals were tested for Muv suppression, and AG1478 (an EGFR-TK inhibitor) and U0126 (a MEK inhibitor) were identified as potential inhibitors of EGFR-mediated biological function. In conclusion, transgenic C. elegans expressing chimeric LET-23::hEGFR-TK proteins are a model system that can be used in mutation-specific screens for new anti-cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Ki Bae
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jee Young Sung
- Pediatric Oncology Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Yong-Nyun Kim
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sunshin Kim
- New Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Kyeong Man Hong
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Heung Tae Kim
- Center for Lung Cancer, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Min Sung Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jae Young Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jaegal Shim
- Comparative Biomedicine Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
- * E-mail:
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