1
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Idotta C, Pagano MA, Tibaldi E, Cadamuro M, Saetti R, Silvestrini M, Pigato G, Leanza L, Peruzzo R, Meneghetti L, Piazza S, Meneguzzo P, Favaro A, Grassi L, Toffanin T, Brunati AM. Neural stem/progenitor cells from olfactory neuroepithelium collected by nasal brushing as a cell model reflecting molecular and cellular dysfunctions in schizophrenia. World J Biol Psychiatry 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38869228 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2024.2357096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neural stem/progenitor cells derived from olfactory neuroepithelium (hereafter olfactory neural stem/progenitor cells, ONSPCs) are emerging as a potential tool in the exploration of psychiatric disorders. The present study intended to assess whether ONSPCs could help discern individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) from non-schizophrenic (NS) subjects by exploring specific cellular and molecular features. METHODS ONSPCs were collected from 19 in-patients diagnosed with SZ and 31 NS individuals and propagated in basal medium. Mitochondrial ATP production, expression of β-catenin and cell proliferation, which are described to be altered in SZ, were examined in freshly isolated or newly thawed ONSPCs after a few culture passages. RESULTS SZ-ONSPCs exhibited a lower mitochondrial ATP production and insensitivity to agents capable of positively or negatively affecting β-catenin expression with respect to NS-ONSPCs. As to proliferation, it declined in SZ-ONSPCs as the number of culture passages increased compared to a steady level of growth shown by NS-ONSPCs. CONCLUSIONS The ease and safety of sample collection as well as the differences observed between NS- and SZ-ONSPCs, may lay the groundwork for a new approach to obtain biological material from a large number of living individuals and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying SZ pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Idotta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Angelo Pagano
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Tibaldi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Saetti
- Department of Otolaryngology, San Bortolo Hospital, ULSS 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Marina Silvestrini
- Department of Otolaryngology, San Bortolo Hospital, ULSS 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Leanza
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Roberta Peruzzo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Stefano Piazza
- Department of Mental Health, ULSS 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Meneguzzo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Angela Favaro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luigi Grassi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tommaso Toffanin
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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2
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Xu Y, Yu Y, Yan R, Ke X, Qu Y. Modulating β-catenin homeostasis for cancer therapy. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:507-518. [PMID: 38521655 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.02.006] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
β-Catenin is a well-established driver of many cancers; however, there are challenges in developing agents targeting β-catenin for clinical use. Recent progress has indicated that most of the pathological changes in β-catenin may be commonly caused by loss of protein homeostasis. Modulation of β-catenin homeostasis, especially by hyperactivation of β-catenin, potentially leads to robust antitumor outcomes. Here, we comprehensively dissect the protein homeostasis of β-catenin in terms of time, compartmentalization, supramolecular assemblies, and dynamics, with emphasis on changes in β-catenin homeostasis upon oncogenic mutations. We propose that altered β-catenin homeostasis could be deleterious for β-catenin-dependent cancers and that modulation of β-catenin homeostasis offers a novel avenue for targeting β-catenin for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ying Yu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Rong Yan
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xisong Ke
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
| | - Yi Qu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
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3
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Ko BS, Han MH, Kwon MJ, Cha DG, Ji Y, Park ES, Jeon MJ, Kim S, Lee K, Choi YH, Lee J, Torras-Llort M, Yoon KJ, Lee H, Kim JK, Lee SB. Baf-mediated transcriptional regulation of teashirt is essential for the development of neural progenitor cell lineages. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:422-440. [PMID: 38374207 PMCID: PMC10907700 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01169-3] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence hints heterochromatin anchoring to the inner nuclear membrane as an upstream regulatory process of gene expression. Given that the formation of neural progenitor cell lineages and the subsequent maintenance of postmitotic neuronal cell identity critically rely on transcriptional regulation, it seems possible that the development of neuronal cells is influenced by cell type-specific and/or context-dependent programmed regulation of heterochromatin anchoring. Here, we explored this possibility by genetically disrupting the evolutionarily conserved barrier-to-autointegration factor (Baf) in the Drosophila nervous system. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that Baf knockdown induces prominent transcriptomic changes, particularly in type I neuroblasts. Among the differentially expressed genes, our genetic analyses identified teashirt (tsh), a transcription factor that interacts with beta-catenin, to be closely associated with Baf knockdown-induced phenotypes that were suppressed by the overexpression of tsh or beta-catenin. We also found that Baf and tsh colocalized in a region adjacent to heterochromatin in type I NBs. Notably, the subnuclear localization pattern remained unchanged when one of these two proteins was knocked down, indicating that both proteins contribute to the anchoring of heterochromatin to the inner nuclear membrane. Overall, this study reveals that the Baf-mediated transcriptional regulation of teashirt is a novel molecular mechanism that regulates the development of neural progenitor cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Su Ko
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Hoon Han
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jee Kwon
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Gon Cha
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuri Ji
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Seo Park
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jae Jeon
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Somi Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongho Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ha Choi
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jusung Lee
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Ki-Jun Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyosang Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kyoung Kim
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung Bae Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Huang Dennis Z, Benman W, Dong L, Bugaj LJ. Rapid Optogenetic Clustering in the Cytoplasm with BcLOVclust. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168452. [PMID: 38246410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168452] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Protein clustering is a powerful form of optogenetic control, yet remarkably few proteins are known to oligomerize with light. Recently, the photoreceptor BcLOV4 was found to form protein clusters in mammalian cells in response to blue light, although clustering coincided with its translocation to the plasma membrane, potentially constraining its application as an optogenetic clustering module. Herein we identify key amino acids that couple BcLOV4 clustering to membrane binding, allowing us to engineer a variant that clusters in the cytoplasm and does not associate with the membrane in response to blue light. This variant-called BcLOVclust-clustered over many cycles with substantially faster clustering and de-clustering kinetics compared to the widely used optogenetic clustering protein Cry2. The magnitude of clustering could be strengthened by appending an intrinsically disordered region from the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein, or by selecting the appropriate fluorescent protein to which it was fused. Like wt BcLOV4, BcLOVclust activity was sensitive to temperature: light-induced clusters spontaneously dissolved at a rate that increased with temperature despite constant illumination. At low temperatures, BcLOVclust and Cry2 could be multiplexed in the same cells, allowing light control of independent protein condensates. BcLOVclust could also be applied to control signaling proteins and stress granules in mammalian cells. While its usage is currently best suited in cells and organisms that can be cultured below ∼30 °C, a deeper understanding of BcLOVclust thermal response will further enable its use at physiological mammalian temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zikang Huang Dennis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William Benman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lukasz J Bugaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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5
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Zhou H, Chen N, He B, Ma Z, Liu W, Xu B. Melatonin modulates the differentiation of neural stem cells exposed to manganese via SIRT1/β-catenin signaling. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 184:114349. [PMID: 38081531 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114349] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Excessive exposure of children to manganese (Mn) in the environment has a bearing on developmental neurotoxicity. Although melatonin (Mel) can play a neuroprotective role by modulating the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the developing brain, its specific mechanism under Mn overexposure remains to be explored. Here, we cultured primary NSCs as an available model to investigate the relevant molecular mechanism of Mel mitigation on Mn-induced disorder of NSCs differentiation through sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/β-catenin pathway. It was found that Mel could facilitate the differentiation of Mn-treated NSCs into neurons. Further, our results uncovered that the pro-differentiation mechanism of Mel depended upon ascending the activity of SIRT1, thereby weakening β-catenin acetylation and increasing phosphorylation of β-catenin ser675 in the cytoplasm, which facilitates the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Furthermore, the role of SIRT1 in Mel-mediated signal transduction was investigated through the pretreatment of NSCs using a highly specific SIRT1 inhibitor, EX527. After EX527 pretreatment, Mel could not maintain its protective effect. Overall, our results revealed that Mel could alleviate Mn-induced disorder of NSCs differentiation through the activation of the SIRT1/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhou
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Bin He
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Zhuo Ma
- Key laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Bin Xu
- Key laboratory of Environmental Stress and Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (China Medical University), Ministry of Education, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
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6
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See WZC, Naidu R, Tang KS. Paraquat and Parkinson's Disease: The Molecular Crosstalk of Upstream Signal Transduction Pathways Leading to Apoptosis. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:140-151. [PMID: 36703582 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230126161524] [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: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous disease involving a complex interaction between genes and the environment that affects various cellular pathways and neural networks. Several studies have suggested that environmental factors such as exposure to herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, and other organic pollutants are significant risk factors for the development of PD. Among the herbicides, paraquat has been commonly used, although it has been banned in many countries due to its acute toxicity. Although the direct causational relationship between paraquat exposure and PD has not been established, paraquat has been demonstrated to cause the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The underlying mechanisms of the dopaminergic lesion are primarily driven by the generation of reactive oxygen species, decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ER stress, leading to a cascade of molecular crosstalks that result in the initiation of apoptosis. This review critically analyses the crucial upstream molecular pathways of the apoptotic cascade involved in paraquat neurotoxicity, including mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Zhi Chung See
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rakesh Naidu
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim San Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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7
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Mohan NH, Pathak P, Buragohain L, Deka J, Bharati J, Das AK, Thomas R, Singh R, Sarma DK, Gupta VK, Das BC. Comparative muscle transcriptome of Mali and Hampshire breeds of pigs: a preliminary study. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:3946-3961. [PMID: 37587839 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2244988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Muscle development is an important priority of pig breeding programs. There is a considerable variation in muscularity between the breeds, but the regulation mechanisms of genes underlying myogenesis are still unclear. Transcriptome data from two breeds of pigs with divergent muscularity (Mali and Hampshire) were integrated with histology, immunofluorescence and meat yield to identify differences in myogenesis during the early growth phase. The muscle transcriptomics analysis revealed 17,721 common, 1413 and 1115 unique transcripts to Hampshire and Mali, respectively. This study identified 908 differentially expressed genes (p < 0.05; log2FC > ±1) in the muscle samples, of which 550 were upregulated and 358 were downregulated in Hampshire pigs, indicating differences in physiological process related to muscle function and development. Expression of genes related to myoblast fusion (MYMK), skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation (ANGPT1, CDON) and growth factors (HGF, IGF1, IGF2) were higher in Hampshire than Mali, even though transcript levels of several other myogenesis-related genes (MYF6, MYOG, MSTN) were similar. The number of fibers per fascicle and the expression of myogenic marker proteins (MYOD1, MYOG and PAX7) were more in Hampshire as compared to Mali breed of pig, supporting results of transcriptome studies. The results suggest that differences in muscularity between breeds could be related to the regulation of myoblast fusion and myogenic activities. The present study will help to identify genes that could be explored for their utility in the selection of animals with different muscularities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Juri Deka
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Jaya Bharati
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Anil Kumar Das
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | | | - Rajendra Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
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8
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Coronel R, López-Alonso V, Gallego MI, Liste I. Low Levels of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Promote Neurogenesis and Decrease Gliogenesis in Human Neural Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14635. [PMID: 37834082 PMCID: PMC10572469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914635] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been widely studied due to its association with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the physiological functions of APP are still largely unexplored. APP is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose expression in humans is abundant in the central nervous system. Specifically, several studies have revealed the high expression of APP during brain development. Previous studies in our laboratory revealed that a transient increase in APP expression induces early cell cycle exit of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) and directs their differentiation towards glial cells (gliogenesis) while decreasing their differentiation towards neurons (neurogenesis). In the present study, we have evaluated the intrinsic cellular effects of APP down-expression (using siRNA) on cell death, cell proliferation, and cell fate specification of hNSCs. Our data indicate that APP silencing causes cellular effects opposite to those obtained in previous APP overexpression assays, inducing cell proliferation in hNS1 cells (a model line of hNSCs) and favoring neurogenesis instead of gliogenesis in these cells. In addition, we have analyzed the gene and protein expression levels of β-Catenin as a possible molecule involved in these cellular effects. These data could help to understand the biological role of APP, which is necessary to deepen the knowledge of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Coronel
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Victoria López-Alonso
- Unidad de Biología Computacional, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain;
| | - Marta I. Gallego
- Unidad de Histología y Patología Mamaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain;
| | - Isabel Liste
- Unidad de Regeneración Neural, Unidad Funcional de Investigación de Enfermedades Crónicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Huang Z, Benman W, Dong L, Bugaj LJ. Rapid optogenetic clustering of a cytoplasmic BcLOV4 variant. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.14.557726. [PMID: 37745456 PMCID: PMC10515924 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.14.557726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Protein clustering is a powerful form of optogenetic control, yet there is currently only one protein -Cry2-whose light-induced clustering has been harnessed for these purposes. Recently, the photoreceptor BcLOV4 was found to form protein clusters in mammalian cells in response to blue light, although clustering coincided with its translocation to the plasma membrane, potentially constraining its application as an optogenetic clustering module. Herein we identify key amino acids that couple clustering to membrane binding, allowing us to engineer a variant of BcLOV4 that clusters in the cytoplasm and does not associate with the membrane in response to blue light. This variant, BcLOVclust, clustered over many cycles with dramatically faster clustering and de-clustering kinetics compared to Cry2. The magnitude of BcLOVclust clustering could be strengthened by appending an intrinsically disordered region from the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein, or by optimizing the fluorescent protein to which it was fused. BcLOVclust retained the temperature sensitivity of BcLOV4 such that light induced clustering was transient, and the rate of spontaneous declustering increased with temperature. At low temperatures, BcLOVclust and Cry2 could be multiplexed in the same cells, allowing light control of independent protein condensates. BcLOVclust could also be applied to control signaling proteins and stress granules in mammalian cells. Thus BcLOVclust provides an alternative to Cry2 for optogenetic clustering and a method for multiplexed clustering. While its usage is currently suited for organisms that can be cultured below ~30 °C, a deeper understanding of BcLOVclust thermal response will further enable its use at physiological mammalian temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zikang Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William Benman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lukasz J. Bugaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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10
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Pal AA, Benman W, Mumford TR, Huang Z, Chow BY, Bugaj LJ. Optogenetic clustering and membrane translocation of the BcLOV4 photoreceptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221615120. [PMID: 37527339 PMCID: PMC10410727 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221615120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic tools respond to light through one of a small number of behaviors including allosteric changes, dimerization, clustering, or membrane translocation. Here, we describe a new class of optogenetic actuator that simultaneously clusters and translocates to the plasma membrane in response to blue light. We demonstrate that dual translocation and clustering of the BcLOV4 photoreceptor can be harnessed for novel single-component optogenetic tools, including for control of the entire family of epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB1-4) tyrosine kinases. We further find that clustering and membrane translocation are mechanistically linked. Stronger clustering increased the magnitude of translocation and downstream signaling, increased sensitivity to light by ~threefold-to-fourfold, and decreased the expression levels needed for strong signal activation. Thus light-induced clustering of BcLOV4 provides a strategy to generate a new class of optogenetic tools and to enhance existing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayush Aditya Pal
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - William Benman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Thomas R. Mumford
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Zikang Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Brian Y. Chow
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Lukasz J. Bugaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
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11
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Scortegagna M, Du Y, Bradley LM, Wang K, Molinolo A, Ruppin E, Murad R, Ronai ZA. Ubiquitin Ligases Siah1a/2 Control Alveolar Macrophage Functions to Limit Carcinogen-Induced Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:2016-2033. [PMID: 37078793 PMCID: PMC10330299 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Cellular components of the tumor microenvironment, including myeloid cells, play important roles in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and its response to therapy. Here, we characterize the function of the ubiquitin ligases Siah1a/2 in regulating the differentiation and activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) and assess the implication of Siah1a/2 control of AMs for carcinogen-induced LUAD. Macrophage-specific genetic ablation of Siah1a/2 promoted accumulation of AMs with an immature phenotype and increased expression of protumorigenic and pro-inflammatory Stat3 and β-catenin gene signatures. Administration of urethane to wild-type mice promoted enrichment of immature-like AMs and lung tumor development, which was enhanced by macrophage-specific Siah1a/2 ablation. The profibrotic gene signature seen in Siah1a/2-ablated immature-like macrophages was associated with increased tumor infiltration of CD14+ myeloid cells and poorer survival of patients with LUAD. Single-cell RNA-seq confirmed the presence of a cluster of immature-like AMs expressing a profibrotic signature in lungs of patients with LUAD, a signature enhanced in smokers. These findings identify Siah1a/2 in AMs as gatekeepers of lung cancer development. SIGNIFICANCE The ubiquitin ligases Siah1a/2 control proinflammatory signaling, differentiation, and profibrotic phenotypes of alveolar macrophages to suppress lung carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Scortegagna
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA
| | - Yuanning Du
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA
| | - Linda M. Bradley
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA
| | - Kun Wang
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Rabi Murad
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA
| | - Ze’ev A. Ronai
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla CA
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12
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McNamara HM, Ramm B, Toettcher JE. Synthetic developmental biology: New tools to deconstruct and rebuild developmental systems. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 141:33-42. [PMID: 35484026 PMCID: PMC10332110 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Technological advances have driven many recent advances in developmental biology. Light sheet imaging can reveal single-cell dynamics in living three-dimensional tissues, whereas single-cell genomic methods open the door to a complete catalogue of cell types and gene expression states. An equally powerful but complementary set of approaches are also becoming available to define development processes from the bottom up. These synthetic approaches aim to reconstruct the minimal developmental patterns, signaling processes, and gene networks that produce the basic set of developmental operations: spatial polarization, morphogen interpretation, tissue movement, and cellular memory. In this review we discuss recent approaches at the intersection of synthetic biology and development, including synthetic circuits to deliver and record signaling stimuli and synthetic reconstitution of pattern formation on multicellular scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold M McNamara
- Lewis Sigler Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Beatrice Ramm
- Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jared E Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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13
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Wu JY, Yeager K, Tavakol DN, Morsink M, Wang B, Soni RK, Hung CT, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Directed differentiation of human iPSCs into mesenchymal lineages by optogenetic control of TGF-β signaling. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112509. [PMID: 37178118 PMCID: PMC10278972 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In tissue development and homeostasis, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling is finely coordinated by latent forms and matrix sequestration. Optogenetics can offer precise and dynamic control of cell signaling. We report the development of an optogenetic human induced pluripotent stem cell system for TGF-β signaling and demonstrate its utility in directing differentiation into the smooth muscle, tenogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Light-activated TGF-β signaling resulted in expression of differentiation markers at levels close to those in soluble factor-treated cultures, with minimal phototoxicity. In a cartilage-bone model, light-patterned TGF-β gradients allowed the establishment of hyaline-like layer of cartilage tissue at the articular surface while attenuating with depth to enable hypertrophic induction at the osteochondral interface. By selectively activating TGF-β signaling in co-cultures of light-responsive and non-responsive cells, undifferentiated and differentiated cells were simultaneously maintained in a single culture with shared medium. This platform can enable patient-specific and spatiotemporally precise studies of cellular decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Y Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Keith Yeager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Margaretha Morsink
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Bryan Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Rajesh Kumar Soni
- Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography Shared Resource, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Clark T Hung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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14
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Lee S, Cui M, Lee D, Han K, Sun W, Lee D. A rationally designed optochemogenetic switch for activating canonical Wnt signaling. iScience 2023; 26:106233. [PMID: 36915690 PMCID: PMC10006827 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106233] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate spatiotemporal control of multicellular self-organization by various signaling pathways is essential for developmental stages. In particular, evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling serves as a major morphogenetic switch to determine the anteroposterior axis of the embryo. Here, we developed a genetically encoded optochemogenetic Wnt switch, named optochemoWnt, by coupling a blue light-inducible CRY2olig and rapamycin-inducible LRP6c clustering. The rationally designed optochemoWnt successfully modulated Wnt signaling with AND-gated patterns and demonstrated an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The dual-triggered switch provides a safeguard to prevent signal leakage resulting from ambient light sources under general laboratory conditions. OptochemoWnt expands the molecular toolbox available for the fields of developmental biology and tissue engineering. In addition, the AND-gated strategy of optochemoWnt may be used for other biomedical applications that integrate user defined switch elements with Boolean logic gates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghwan Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mingguang Cui
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghun Lee
- Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihoon Han
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Neuroscience, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongmin Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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15
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Zhang Q, Liu J, Chen L, Zhang M. Promoting Endogenous Neurogenesis as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1353-1368. [PMID: 36445633 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03145-2] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most universal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. AD is biologically defined by production and aggregation of misfolded protein including extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) peptide and intracellular microtubule-associated protein tau tangles in neurons, leading to irreversible neuronal loss. At present, regulation of endogenous neurogenesis to supplement lost neurons has been proposed as a promising strategy for treatment of AD. However, the exact underlying mechanisms of impaired neurogenesis in AD have not been fully explained and effective treatments targeting neurogenesis for AD are limited. In this review, we mainly focus on the latest research of impaired neurogenesis in AD. Then we discuss the factors affecting stages of neurogenesis and the interplay between neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurogenic niche under AD pathological conditions. This review aims to explore potential therapeutic strategies that promote endogenous neurogenesis for AD treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jingyue Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China. .,School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
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16
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Surya K, Manickam N, Jayachandran KS, Kandasamy M, Anusuyadevi M. Resveratrol Mediated Regulation of Hippocampal Neuroregenerative Plasticity via SIRT1 Pathway in Synergy with Wnt Signaling: Neurotherapeutic Implications to Mitigate Memory Loss in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:S125-S140. [PMID: 36463442 PMCID: PMC10473144 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major form of dementia. Abnormal amyloidogenic event-mediated degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the cognitive centers of the brain has been attributed to neuropathological sequelae and behavioral deficits in AD. Besides, impaired adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus has experimentally been realized as an underlying cause of dementia regardless of neurodegeneration. Therefore, nourishing the neurogenic process in the hippocampus has been considered an effective therapeutic strategy to mitigate memory loss. In the physiological state, the Wnt pathway has been identified as a potent mitogenic generator in the hippocampal stem cell niche. However, downstream components of Wnt signaling have been noticed to be downregulated in AD brains. Resveratrol (RSV) is a potent Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) enhancer that facilitates neuroprotection and promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus of the adult brain. While SIRT1 is an important positive regulator of Wnt signaling, ample reports indicate that RSV treatment strongly mediates the fate determination of stem cells through Wnt signaling. However, the possible therapeutic roles of RSV-mediated SIRT1 enhancement on the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis and reversal of memory loss through the Wnt signaling pathway have not been addressed yet. Taken together, this review describes RSV-mediated effects on the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis via the activation of SIRT1 in synergy with the Wnt signaling. Further, the article emphasizes a hypothesis that RSV treatment can provoke the activation of quiescent neural stem cells and prime their neurogenic capacity in the hippocampus via Wnt signaling in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Surya
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Neuro-gerontology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nivethitha Manickam
- Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kesavan Swaminathan Jayachandran
- Department of Bioinformatics, Molecular Cardiology and Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mahesh Kandasamy
- Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- University Grants Commission-Faculty Recharge Programme (UGC-FRP), New Delhi, India
| | - Muthuswamy Anusuyadevi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Neuro-gerontology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
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17
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A Tale of Two: When Neural Stem Cells Encounter Hypoxia. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022:10.1007/s10571-022-01293-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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18
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Nucleation of the destruction complex on the centrosome accelerates degradation of β-catenin and regulates Wnt signal transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204688119. [PMID: 36037369 PMCID: PMC9457612 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204688119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) governs a variety of mesoscale cellular processes. However, less is known about how cells utilize LLPS to drive cellular function. Here, we examined the destruction complex (DC), an organelle which controls Wnt signaling and whose components phase separate. Through a combination of advanced microscopy, CRISPR, computational modeling, and optogenetics, we find that the DC is nucleated by the centrosome and that this nucleation drives efficient signal transduction. Our work not only uncovers a biological function for LLPS but also highlights nucleation as a general method for controlling the function of intracellular condensates. Finally, our findings suggest a thermodynamic coupling between Wnt signal transduction and the cell cycle which could lead to insights into Wnt-driven cancers. Wnt signal transduction is controlled by the destruction complex (DC), a condensate comprising scaffold proteins and kinases that regulate β-catenin stability. Overexpressed DC scaffolds undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), but DC mesoscale organization at endogenous expression levels and its role in β-catenin processing were previously unknown. Here, we find that DC LLPS is nucleated by the centrosome. Through a combination of CRISPR-engineered custom fluorescent tags, finite element simulations, and optogenetic tools that allow for manipulation of DC concentration and multivalency, we find that centrosomal nucleation drives processing of β-catenin by colocalizing DC components to a single reaction crucible. Enriching GSK3β partitioning on the centrosome controls β-catenin processing and prevents Wnt-driven embryonic stem cell differentiation to mesoderm. Our findings demonstrate the role of nucleators in controlling biomolecular condensates and suggest tight integration between Wnt signal transduction and the cell cycle.
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19
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Baumschlager A. Engineering Light-Control in Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:901300. [PMID: 35573251 PMCID: PMC9096073 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.901300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unraveling the transformative power of optogenetics in biology requires sophisticated engineering for the creation and optimization of light-regulatable proteins. In addition, diverse strategies have been used for the tuning of these light-sensitive regulators. This review highlights different protein engineering and synthetic biology approaches, which might aid in the development and optimization of novel optogenetic proteins (Opto-proteins). Focusing on non-neuronal optogenetics, chromophore availability, general strategies for creating light-controllable functions, modification of the photosensitive domains and their fusion to effector domains, as well as tuning concepts for Opto-proteins are discussed. Thus, this review shall not serve as an encyclopedic summary of light-sensitive regulators but aims at discussing important aspects for the engineering of light-controllable proteins through selected examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Baumschlager
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
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20
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Arredondo SB, Valenzuela-Bezanilla D, Santibanez SH, Varela-Nallar L. Wnt signaling in the adult hippocampal neurogenic niche. Stem Cells 2022; 40:630-640. [PMID: 35446432 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is a neurogenic niche of the adult brain that contains neural stem cells (NSCs) able to generate excitatory glutamatergic granule neurons, which integrate into the DG circuit and contribute to hippocampal plasticity, learning, and memory. Thus, endogenous NSCs could be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. In this context, it is critical to characterize the molecular mechanisms controlling the generation and functional integration of adult-born neurons. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is tightly controlled by both cell-autonomous mechanisms and the interaction with the complex niche microenvironment, which harbors the NSCs and provides the signals to support their maintenance, activation, and differentiation. Among niche-derived factors, Wnt ligands play diverse roles. Wnts are secreted glycoproteins that bind to Frizzled receptors and co-receptors to trigger the Wnt signaling pathway. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about the roles of Wnts in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. We discuss the possible contribution of the different niche cells to the regulation of local Wnt signaling activity, and how Wnts derived from different cell types could induce differential effects. Finally, we discuss how the effects of Wnt signaling on hippocampal network activity might contribute to neurogenesis regulation. Although the evidence supports relevant roles for Wnt signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis, defining the cellular source and the mechanisms controlling secretion and diffusion of Wnts will be crucial to further understand Wnt signaling regulation of adult NSCs, and eventually, to propose this pathway as a therapeutic target to promote neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian B Arredondo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Valenzuela-Bezanilla
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian H Santibanez
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Varela-Nallar
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Echaurren 183, 8370071, Santiago, Chile
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21
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Zhu D, Johnson HJ, Chen J, Schaffer DV. Optogenetic Application to Investigating Cell Behavior and Neurological Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:811493. [PMID: 35273478 PMCID: PMC8902366 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.811493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells reside in a dynamic microenvironment that presents them with regulatory signals that vary in time, space, and amplitude. The cell, in turn, interprets these signals and accordingly initiates downstream processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and self-organization. Conventional approaches to perturb and investigate signaling pathways (e.g., agonist/antagonist addition, overexpression, silencing, knockouts) are often binary perturbations that do not offer precise control over signaling levels, and/or provide limited spatial or temporal control. In contrast, optogenetics leverages light-sensitive proteins to control cellular signaling dynamics and target gene expression and, by virtue of precise hardware control over illumination, offers the capacity to interrogate how spatiotemporally varying signals modulate gene regulatory networks and cellular behaviors. Recent studies have employed various optogenetic systems in stem cell, embryonic, and somatic cell patterning studies, which have addressed fundamental questions of how cell-cell communication, subcellular protein localization, and signal integration affect cell fate. Other efforts have explored how alteration of signaling dynamics may contribute to neurological diseases and have in the process created physiologically relevant models that could inform new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on emerging applications within the expanding field of optogenetics to study gene regulation, cell signaling, neurodevelopment, and neurological disorders, and we comment on current limitations and future directions for the growth of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danqing Zhu
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Hunter J. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jun Chen
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - David V. Schaffer
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: David V. Schaffer
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22
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Signalling dynamics in embryonic development. Biochem J 2021; 478:4045-4070. [PMID: 34871368 PMCID: PMC8718268 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, cellular behaviour is tightly regulated to allow proper embryonic development and maintenance of adult tissue. A critical component in this control is the communication between cells via signalling pathways, as errors in intercellular communication can induce developmental defects or diseases such as cancer. It has become clear over the last years that signalling is not static but varies in activity over time. Feedback mechanisms present in every signalling pathway lead to diverse dynamic phenotypes, such as transient activation, signal ramping or oscillations, occurring in a cell type- and stage-dependent manner. In cells, such dynamics can exert various functions that allow organisms to develop in a robust and reproducible way. Here, we focus on Erk, Wnt and Notch signalling pathways, which are dynamic in several tissue types and organisms, including the periodic segmentation of vertebrate embryos, and are often dysregulated in cancer. We will discuss how biochemical processes influence their dynamics and how these impact on cellular behaviour within multicellular systems.
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23
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Bou-Rouphael J, Durand BC. T-Cell Factors as Transcriptional Inhibitors: Activities and Regulations in Vertebrate Head Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:784998. [PMID: 34901027 PMCID: PMC8651982 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.784998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its first discovery in the late 90s, Wnt canonical signaling has been demonstrated to affect a large variety of neural developmental processes, including, but not limited to, embryonic axis formation, neural proliferation, fate determination, and maintenance of neural stem cells. For decades, studies have focused on the mechanisms controlling the activity of β-catenin, the sole mediator of Wnt transcriptional response. More recently, the spotlight of research is directed towards the last cascade component, the T-cell factor (TCF)/Lymphoid-Enhancer binding Factor (LEF), and more specifically, the TCF/LEF-mediated switch from transcriptional activation to repression, which in both embryonic blastomeres and mouse embryonic stem cells pushes the balance from pluri/multipotency towards differentiation. It has been long known that Groucho/Transducin-Like Enhancer of split (Gro/TLE) is the main co-repressor partner of TCF/LEF. More recently, other TCF/LEF-interacting partners have been identified, including the pro-neural BarH-Like 2 (BARHL2), which belongs to the evolutionary highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors. This review describes the activities and regulatory modes of TCF/LEF as transcriptional repressors, with a specific focus on the functions of Barhl2 in vertebrate brain development. Specific attention is given to the transcriptional events leading to formation of the Organizer, as well as the roles and regulations of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in growth of the caudal forebrain. We present TCF/LEF activities in both embryonic and neural stem cells and discuss how alterations of this pathway could lead to tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Béatrice C. Durand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, IBPS Developmental Biology Laboratory, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
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24
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Austin SHL, Gabarró-Solanas R, Rigo P, Paun O, Harris L, Guillemot F, Urbán N. Wnt/β-catenin signalling is dispensable for adult neural stem cell homeostasis and activation. Development 2021; 148:272521. [PMID: 34557919 PMCID: PMC8572000 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Adult mouse hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs) generate new neurons that integrate into existing hippocampal networks and modulate mood and memory. These NSCs are largely quiescent and are stimulated by niche signals to activate and produce neurons. Wnt/β-catenin signalling acts at different steps along the hippocampal neurogenic lineage, but whether it has a direct role in the regulation of NSCs remains unclear. Here, we used Wnt/β-catenin reporters and transcriptomic data from in vivo and in vitro models to show that adult NSCs respond to Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Wnt/β-catenin stimulation instructed the neuronal differentiation of proliferating NSCs and promoted the activation or differentiation of quiescent NSCs in a dose-dependent manner. However, deletion of β-catenin in NSCs did not affect either their activation or maintenance of their stem cell characteristics. Together, these results indicate that, although NSCs do respond to Wnt/β-catenin stimulation in a dose-dependent and state-specific manner, Wnt/β-catenin signalling is not cell-autonomously required to maintain NSC homeostasis, which reconciles some of the contradictions in the literature as to the role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in adult hippocampal NSCs. Summary: Wnt/β-catenin signalling stimulation promotes the exit from quiescence and differentiation of adult hippocampal neural stem cells but is dispensable for homeostatic neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of young mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rut Gabarró-Solanas
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.,Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1030, Austria
| | - Piero Rigo
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Oana Paun
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | | | - Noelia Urbán
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.,Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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25
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Da Silva F, Zhang K, Pinson A, Fatti E, Wilsch-Bräuninger M, Herbst J, Vidal V, Schedl A, Huttner WB, Niehrs C. Mitotic WNT signalling orchestrates neurogenesis in the developing neocortex. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108041. [PMID: 34431536 PMCID: PMC8488556 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of WNT/β‐catenin signalling in mouse neocortex development remains ambiguous. Most studies demonstrate that WNT/β‐catenin regulates progenitor self‐renewal but others suggest it can also promote differentiation. Here we explore the role of WNT/STOP signalling, which stabilizes proteins during G2/M by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3)‐mediated protein degradation. We show that mice mutant for cyclin Y and cyclin Y‐like 1 (Ccny/l1), key regulators of WNT/STOP signalling, display reduced neurogenesis in the developing neocortex. Specifically, basal progenitors, which exhibit delayed cell cycle progression, were drastically decreased. Ccny/l1‐deficient apical progenitors show reduced asymmetric division due to an increase in apical–basal astral microtubules. We identify the neurogenic transcription factors Sox4 and Sox11 as direct GSK3 targets that are stabilized by WNT/STOP signalling in basal progenitors during mitosis and that promote neuron generation. Our work reveals that WNT/STOP signalling drives cortical neurogenesis and identifies mitosis as a critical phase for neural progenitor fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Da Silva
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kaiqing Zhang
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anneline Pinson
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Edoardo Fatti
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jessica Herbst
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Valerie Vidal
- INSERM, CNRS, iBV, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
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Betjes MA, Zheng X, Kok RNU, van Zon JS, Tans SJ. Cell Tracking for Organoids: Lessons From Developmental Biology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:675013. [PMID: 34150770 PMCID: PMC8209328 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.675013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids have emerged as powerful model systems to study organ development and regeneration at the cellular level. Recently developed microscopy techniques that track individual cells through space and time hold great promise to elucidate the organizational principles of organs and organoids. Applied extensively in the past decade to embryo development and 2D cell cultures, cell tracking can reveal the cellular lineage trees, proliferation rates, and their spatial distributions, while fluorescent markers indicate differentiation events and other cellular processes. Here, we review a number of recent studies that exemplify the power of this approach, and illustrate its potential to organoid research. We will discuss promising future routes, and the key technical challenges that need to be overcome to apply cell tracking techniques to organoid biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sander J Tans
- AMOLF, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Bionanoscience Department, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
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