Analysis of two-dimensional protein patterns from mouse embryos with different trisomies

Autophagy-mediated apoptosis eliminates aneuploid cells in a mouse model of chromosome mosaicism

The high incidence of aneuploidy in the embryo is considered the principal cause for low human fecundity. However, the prevalence of aneuploidy dramatically declines as pregnancy progresses, with the steepest drop occurring as the embryo completes implantation. Despite the fact that the plasticity of the embryo in dealing with aneuploidy is fundamental to normal development, the mechanisms responsible for eliminating aneuploid cells are unclear. Here, using a mouse model of chromosome mosaicism, we show that aneuploid cells are preferentially eliminated from the embryonic lineage in a p53-dependent process involving both autophagy and apoptosis before, during and after implantation. Moreover, we show that diploid cells in mosaic embryos undertake compensatory proliferation during the implantation stages to confer embryonic viability. Together, our results indicate a close link between aneuploidy, autophagy, and apoptosis to refine the embryonic cell population and ensure only chromosomally fit cells proceed through development of the fetus.

The mechanisms behind the plasticity of embryos and how they deal with aneuploid cells are unclear. Here, the authors show that aneuploid cells in a mouse embryo are preferentially eliminated during pre- and peri-implantation development in a p53-dependent process involving both autophagy and apoptosis.

New insights into the troubles of aneuploidy

Deviation from a balanced genome by either gain or loss of entire chromosomes is generally tolerated poorly in all eukaryotic systems studied to date. Errors in mitotic or meiotic cell division lead to aneuploidy, which places a burden of additional or insufficient gene products from the missegregated chromosomes on the daughter cells. The burden of aneuploidy often manifests itself as impaired fitness of individual cells and whole organisms, in which abnormal development is also characteristic. However, most human cancers, noted for their rapid growth, also display various levels of aneuploidy. Here we discuss the detrimental, potentially beneficial, and sometimes puzzling effects of aneuploidy on cellular and organismal fitness and tissue function as well as its role in diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

Aneuploidy: cells losing their balance

A change in chromosome number that is not the exact multiple of the haploid karyotype is known as aneuploidy. This condition interferes with growth and development of an organism and is a common characteristic of solid tumors. Here, we review the history of studies on aneuploidy and summarize some of its major characteristics. We will then discuss the molecular basis for the defects caused by aneuploidy and end with speculations as to whether and how aneuploidy, despite its deleterious effects on organismal and cellular fitness, contributes to tumorigenesis.

Dosage-dependent gene regulation in multicellular eukaryotes: implications for dosage compensation, aneuploid syndromes, and quantitative traits

Evidence from a variety of data suggests that regulatory mechanisms in multicellular eukaryotes have evolved in such a manner that the stoichiometric relationship of the components of regulatory complexes affects target gene expression. This type of mechanism sets the level of gene expression and, as a consequence, the phenotypic characteristics. Because many types of regulatory processes exhibit dosage-dependent behavior, they would impact quantitative traits and contribute to their multigenic control in a semidominant fashion. Many dosage-dependent effects would also account for the extensive modulation of gene expression throughout the genome that occurs when chromosomes are added to or subtracted from the karyotype (aneuploidy). Moreover, because the majority of dosage-dependent regulators act negatively, this property can account for the up-regulation of genes in monosomics and hemizygous sex chromosomes to achieve dosage compensation.

Creation of monosomic derivatives of human cultured cell lines

Monosomic mammalian cell lines would be ideal for studying gene dosage effects, including gene imprinting, and for systematic isolation of recessive somatic mutants parallel to the invaluable mutants derived from haploid yeast. But autosomal monosomies are lethal in early development; although monosomies appear in tumors, deriving cell lines from these tumors is difficult and cannot provide several syngenic lines. We have developed a strategy for generating stable monosomic human cells, based on random autosomal integration of the gpt plasmid, partial inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II during mitosis to promote chromatid nondisjunction, and selection against retention of gpt. These are likely to be valuable as a source of otherwise inaccessible mutants. The strategy can also be used to generate partial mammalian monosomies, which are desirable as a source of information on recessive genes and gene imprinting.

A sex-influenced modifier in Drosophila that affects a broad spectrum of target loci including the histone repeats

A second chromosomal trans-acting modifier, Lightener of white (Low), modulates the phenotypic expression of various alleles of the white eye color gene. This modifier has an unusually broad spectrum of affected genes including white, brown, scarlet and the eye developmental genes, Bar and Lobe. In addition, Low weakly suppresses position effect variegation. Northern blot hybridization with different X and autosomal probes reveals that Low modulates genes of independent expression patterns. Interestingly, many of the modulations of gene expression are developmentally restricted and differ in intensity between the sexes. Low also elevates the expression of the histone tandem repeats in three distinct developmental stages. A deficiency encompassing the histone cluster reduces their transcript levels and significantly alters the expression of some of the tested genes. Thus, Low is a modifier that plays a role in modulating the expression of genes governing various processes including pigment deposition, eye development, chromosomal proteins and position effect variegation.

Mutations at the Darkener of apricot locus modulate transcript levels of copia and copia-induced mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations of the Doa locus of Drosophila melanogaster darken the eye color of the copia-induced white(apricot) (wa) allele and increase the accumulation of white promoter-initiated transcripts encoding functional mRNA. We show here that quantities of transcripts initiated in both long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the specific wa-copia element are increased, and those initiating in the 5' LTR of the element are structurally altered, yielding a slightly shortened transcript. Accumulation of host-initiated transcripts of a copia-induced mutation within the achaete-scute complex, Hairy-wing Ua (HwUa), are reduced by Doa mutations. Finally, we show that homozygosity for Doa mutations increases the accumulation of copia transcripts from the population of elements in the genome. These results suggest that Doa modulates the severity of copia-induced mutations while functioning as a dosage-sensitive modulator of copia transcription.

Lens and mesenchyme ultrastructure in gestational day 11 trisomy 1 mice

The lenses and head mesenchyme of two 11-gestational day trisomy 1 mouse embryos and a normal littermate were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). One trisomic embryo had a small lens with a lens stalk; the other was aphakic. The resolution available with TEM allowed detailed evaluation of cell organelles, spatial relationships and the intra- and extracellular structural environment of the lens and head mesenchyme in normal and aneuploid embryos. Differences in fine structure between normal and trisomic lenses included (1) type of epithelium, (2) size of intercellular lacunae, and (3) activity of Golgi complexes. Differences in mesenchyme included (1) the number and size of cytoplasmic extensions, (2) shape of the cells, and (3) reduced endotheliomesenchymal interactions.

Expression of cis-regulatory mutations of the white locus in metafemales of Drosophila melanogaster

At the white eye colour locus, there are a number of alleles that have altered expression between males and females. To test these regulatory mutations of the white eye colour locus for their phenotypic expression in metafemales (3X; 2A) compared to diploid females and males, eleven alleles or transduced copies of white were analysed. Two alleles that exhibit dosage compensation between males and females (apricot, blood) also exhibit dosage compensation in metafemales. White-ivory and white-eosin, which fail to dosage compensate in males compared to females, but that are distinct physical lesions, also show a dosage effect in metafemales. Two alleles with greater expression in males than females (spotted, spotted-55) exhibit even lower expression in metafemales. Lastly, five transduced copies of white carrying three different lengths of the white promoter, but that all exhibit higher expression in males, show reduced expression in metafemales, exhibiting an inverse correlation between the level of expression and the dosage of the X chromosome. Because these alleles of white respond to dosage compensation in metafemales as a continuum of the male and female responses, it is concluded that the same basic mechanism of dosage compensation is involved and that the dosage of the X chromosome conditions the sexually dimorphic expression.

A trans-acting regulatory gene that inversely affects the expression of the white, brown and scarlet loci in Drosophila

A trans-acting regulatory gene, Inr-a, that alters the level of expression of the white eye color locus as an inverse function of the number of its functional copies is described. Several independent lines of evidence demonstrate that this regulatory gene interacts with white via the promoter sequences. Among these are the observations that the inverse regulatory effect is conferred to the Adh gene when fused to the white promoter and that cis-regulatory mutants of white fail to respond. The phenotypic response to Inr-a is found in all tissues in which white is expressed, and mutants of the regulator exhibit a recessive lethality during larval periods. Increased white messenger RNA levels in pupal stages are found in Inr-a/+ individuals versus +/+ and a coordinate response is observed for mRNA levels from the brown and scarlet loci. All are structurally related and participate in pigment deposition. These experiments demonstrate that a single regulatory gene can exert an inverse effect on a target structural locus, a situation postulated from segmental aneuploid studies of gene expression and dosage compensation.

Situs inversus in the developing mouse: proteins affected by the iv mutation (genocopy) and the teratogen retinoic acid (phenocopy)

To decipher genes that are important in the determination of laterality, we compared two-dimensional protein gels from wild-type C57BL/6J mice and C57BL/6J mice that carried the iv mutation, which confers random determination of visceral situs. To span the time period(s) during which laterality determination occurs, we compared computer-analyzed two-dimensional protein gels from wild-type mouse embryos and iv/iv mouse embryos at 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5 days post-coitum. One polypeptide that was expressed only on day 8.0 of development and only in wild-type embryos represents a particular candidate for determination of laterality. Day 8.5 postcoitum represents the earliest time in murine development that laterality is manifest. Two-dimensional gels were compared from 8.5 day embryos that were C57BL/6J wild-type, C57BL/6J iv/iv, or C57BL/6J wild-type and exposed to the teratogen retinoic acid late on day 7. Reproducible alterations of protein synthesis were observed in both the iv genocopy and retinoic acid phenocopy, yielding abnormal laterality determination. The intersection of these peptide changes identifies a protein likely to play a role in the determination of laterality.

Analysis of proteins expressed at the time of murine organogenesis

Two-dimensional electrophoretograms were prepared from wild-type C57BL/6J embryos from day 7.5 through day 9.0 of development. This time period encompasses a critical window of development as the embryo traverses from an egg cylinder through major organogenesis. Consequently, we term this resource MOPED (for mouse organogenesis protein electrophoresis database). By resolving and analyzing the behavior of approximately 1,000 polypeptides per time point, we were able to track many of these polypeptides through this time period in development. Of special note was a burst of induced protein synthesis that was observed in mouse embryos development. Polypeptides observed in mouse embryos that match those identified previously in mouse fibroblasts were noted. Two of them (the intermediate filament-associated protein and tropomyosin-4) were significantly altered in 8.5 day embryos. As more polypeptides are designated, it will be possible to expand the known proteins in the database. MOPED establishes the patterns of synthesis of a large number of polypeptides during a crucial period of development. Thus MOPED is designed to analyze proteins relevant to mouse embryogenesis in the future.

Gene expression in adult metafemales of Drosophila melanogaster

The expression of selected X-linked and autosomal genes was examined in metafemales (3X:2A) compared to diploid sisters. Three enzyme activities (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, beta-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase) encoded by X-linked genes are not significantly different in the two classes of flies. In contrast, three autosomally encoded enzyme activities (alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase) are reduced in metafemales. Protein and DNA comparisons between metafemales and diploid sisters show a lowered level of total protein whereas the total DNA measurements are similar. Thus, the total cell number in metafemales is basically unchanged but gene expression is reduced. Phenotypic analysis of three autosomal loci, glass (gl), purple (pr) and pink-peach (pp), show that all three have lowered expression in metafemales while the X-linked loci, white-apricot (wa) and Bar (B), are dosage compensated. Quantitative dot blot analysis of messenger RNA levels of the second chromosomal locus, alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), and the X chromosomal locus, rudimentary (r), show that Adh has reduced expression and r is partially compensated per total RNA in metafemales. It is proposed that the increased dosage of the X chromosome inversely affects both the X and autosomal gene expression but the simultaneous increased dosage of the structural genes on the X results in dosage compensation. The reduced levels of expression of autosomal genes could contribute to the great inviability of metafemales.

Systematic analysis of the total proteins of a mammalian organism: principles, problems and implications for sequencing the human genome

High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) has reached a technological level that allows us to resolve most of the numerous unknown protein species of a mammalian organism if appropriate strategies are used. We will discuss the problems of classification and characterization of proteins and propose a systematic approach to the analysis of the total protein complex. Both a comprehensive as well as a pragmatic approach towards systematic analysis have been considered. A "complex protein database" is suggested and considered with regard to various uses. A systematic analysis of the mouse proteins has been started and some of the preliminary results are summarized here. In particular, genetic properties of the proteins were investigated and are presented in order to demonstrate the significance of a systematic analysis of proteins for research and practical application (e.g. mutagenicity testing). A concept is presented for sequencing the coding DNA of mouse and man, starting with a systematic analysis of mouse proteins and then using two recently developed methods - microsequencing of proteins from spots of 2-DE protein patterns, and utilization of the relatively short N-terminal sequences obtained - to produce the corresponding cDNA's of these proteins.

The influence of whole-arm trisomy on gene expression in Drosophila

The biochemical consequences of extensive aneuploidy in Drosophila have been examined by measuring the levels of specific proteins in larvae trisomic for entire chromosome arms. By far the most common effect is a reduction in gene product levels (per gene template) by one-third from the diploid quantity, consistent with the model that concentration-dependent repressors of these loci reside on the duplicated chromosome arms. Most loci appear sensitive to such repression in one or more of the trisomies examined, suggesting that such regulatory loci might be quite common. Repression of gene-product levels in trisomies may significantly contribute to their inviability. Few loci are activated in trisomies implying that most factors necessary for gene expression are in excess. While autosomal trisomies can repress the expression of both X-linked and autosomal loci, X-chromosomal trisomies have little effect on most autosomal genes. A family of genes coding for larval serum proteins do not respond similarly in trisomies, suggesting that regulation operates on a process which is not common to their coordinate regulation. Finally, Adh genes transposed to new chromosomal positions maintain their ability to be repressed in 3L trisomies suggesting that this response to regulation involves a closely linked cis-acting regulatory element.

Analysis of protein patterns from different organs and cell fractions of trisomy 19 mice

Proteins were extracted from liver, brain, and skin of 6-day-old mice with trisomy (Ts) 19 and fractionated into solubilized cell proteins and structure-bound cell proteins. The proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and protein patterns were compared in the combinations Ts/normal and normal/normal. Analysis of the protein patterns revealed protein spots (variants) with densities higher (h-type) or lower (l-type) in trisomies than in normal mice. Some of these variants were found in all Ts individuals investigated for a particular protein class. These variants, termed regular Ts-variants, constituted 0.8%-1.6% of the total number of spots. The proteins of the regular Ts variants were in most cases organ-nonspecific. However, in almost all cases a given quantitative variation was expressed in only one of the three organs investigated. To explain our results, we have presented models for the control of protein levels on the basis of gene regulation. New aspects in the conception of studies on trisomies in man could be gained.

Is the polymorphism of protein amounts related to phenotypic variability? A comparison of two-dimensional electrophoresis data with morphological traits in maize

The hypothesis that the quantitative variations in gene product levels could be a more important basis for morphological and adaptative change than the classical qualitative variability revealed by electrophoretic techniques was studied by comparing five maize lines from three sets of variables: (i) qualitative variations of proteins (presence/absence) revealed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE), at a physiological seedling stage; (ii) quantitative variations in proteins (spots more or less intense) revealed by 2D PAGE, at the same physiological stage; (iii) general combining abilities of fourteen heritable, morphological or agronomical characters measured at various juvenile and adult stages. Distances between lines were defined, based on qualitative and quantitative variations of proteins. These distances do not appear to be correlated and do not give the same patterns of divergence between lines, as shown by principal coordinate analyses. Mahalanobis distances computed from the general combining abilities of the morphological characters are significantly correlated (r=0.75) to quantitative but not to qualitative distances. The comparison of the first planes of the principal coordinate analyses performed on the three kinds of distances clearly confirms this finding. Our results are discussed in connection with the possible genetic meaning of the two molecular distances and with the hypothesis that regulatory processes are primarily implicated in morphological variation.

Influence of mouse trisomy 16 on expression of specific genes

We examined developmental changes in the relative activities of three different isozyme systems: aldolase, enolase and phosphoglycerate mutase, in tissues of fetal mice with trisomy 16 and of fetal euploid littermates. We wanted to determine whether morphological abnormalities such as reduced weight and size, which are generally observed in murine trisomy, are reflected at the molecular level. Following electrophoretic separation and subsequent measurement of relative activities of enolase isozymes in brain and phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes in heart, we found no significant differences between trisomy 16 fetuses and their euploid littermates. Synthesis of liver-specific aldolase was, however, delayed in trisomy 16 fetuses.

Developmental genetics

Of particular concern to the human geneticist are the effects of genetic abnormalities on development. To gain an understanding of these effects it is necessary to engage in a reciprocal process of using knowledge of normal developmental events to elucidate the mechanisms operative in abnormal situations and then of using what is learned about these abnormal situations to expand our understanding of the normal. True developmental genes have not been described in man, although it is likely that they exist, but many developmental abnormalities are ascribable to mutations in genes coding for enzymes and structural proteins. Some of these even produce multiple malformation syndromes with dysmorphic features. These situations provide a precedent for asserting that not only monogenic developmental abnormalities, but also abnormalities resulting from chromosome imbalance must ultimately be explicable in molecular terms. However, the major problem confronted by the investigator interested in the pathogenesis of any of the chromosome anomaly syndromes is to understand how the presence of an extra set of normal genes or the loss of one of two sets of genes has an adverse effect on development. Several molecular mechanisms for which limited precedents exist may be considered on theoretical grounds. Because of the difficulties in studying developmental disorders in man, a variety of experimental systems have been employed. Particularly useful has been the mouse, which provides models for both monogenic and aneuploidy produced abnormalities of development. An example of the former is the mutation oligosyndactylism which in the heterozygous state causes oligosyndactyly and in the homozygous state causes early embryonic mitotic arrest. All whole arm trisomies and monosomies of the mouse can be produced experimentally, and of special interest is mouse trisomy 16 which has been developed as an animal model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). In the long run, the most direct approach to elucidating the genetic problems of human development will involve not only the study of man himself but also of the appropriate experimental models in other species.

Two-dimensional gel analysis of proteins from human trisomy 21 fetal liver tissue after DEAE-Sepharose chromatography

Isoelectrofocusing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (IEF-2D-PAGE) offers the opportunity to detect typical alterations in the protein pattern from directly prepared liver tissue of fetuses with trisomy 21 and normal controls. The fractionation of the cell lysate by differential centrifugation into various subcellular components (nuclei, membranes, polyribosomes, cytoplasmic proteins) and fractionation of the proteins through DEAE-Sepharose chromatography allows detection of protein differences. In the 19th week of pregnancy it is possible to establish only three differences in the protein patterns between liver tissue from trisomy 21-fetuses and normal controls. All three proteins are synthesized in euploid controls at a higher level than in trisomy 21-liver tissue and are supposed to be consequences of primary gene dosage effects. The molecular mass of the individual proteins ranges from 14 kdaltons to 31 kdaltons. The data reported here raise the question whether some of the differences found by others represent different gene expression of cells under tissue culture conditions and/or of cells derived from different tissues, or developmental stages.

Two-dimensional gel analysis of proteins from mouse fetuses with trisomy 19 after DEAE-Sepharose chromatography

Isoelectrofocusing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (IEF-2D-PAGE) offers the opportunity to detect typical alterations in the protein pattern of trisomic mouse foetuses at a given time of development. The fractionation of the cell lysate by differential centrifugation into various subcellular components (nuclei, membranes, polyribosomes, cytoplasmic proteins) and fractionation of the proteins through DEAE-Sepharose chromatography allows detection of protein differences.

It is possible to detect eight differences in the protein patterns between trisomy 19 (Ts 19) mouse foetuses and euploid mouse fetuses at day 15. Five of these differences are quantitative in nature, three are qualitative. One of these proteins is synthesized in Ts 19 foetuses at a higher level than in euploid mouse fetuses (primary gene dosage effect). The other seven proteins are reduced or not present in trisomic foetuses (consequences of primary gene dosage effects).

The molecular mass of the individual proteins ranges from 13 to 41 kDa.