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Jakkamsetti V, Ma Q, Angulo G, Scudder W, Beutler B, Pascual JM. Genetic influences on motor learning and performance and superperforming mutants revealed by random mutational survey of the mouse genome. J Physiol 2024; 602:2649-2664. [PMID: 38299894 PMCID: PMC11142877 DOI: 10.1113/jp285505] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolution depends upon genetic variations that influence physiology. As defined in a genetic screen, phenotypic performance may be enhanced or degraded by such mutations. We set out to detect mutations that influence motor function, including motor learning. Thus, we tested the motor effects of 36,444 non-synonymous coding/splicing mutations induced in the germline of C57BL/6J mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea by measuring changes in the performance of repetitive rotarod trials while blinded to genotype. Automated meiotic mapping was used to implicate individual mutations in causation. In total, 32,726 mice bearing all the variant alleles were screened. This was complemented with the simultaneous testing of 1408 normal mice for reference. In total, 16.3% of autosomal genes were thus rendered detectably hypomorphic or nullified by mutations in homozygosity and motor tested in at least three mice. This approach allowed us to identify superperformance mutations in Rif1, Tk1, Fan1 and Mn1. These genes are primarily related, among other less well-characterized functions, to nucleic acid biology. We also associated distinct motor learning patterns with groups of functionally related genes. These functional sets included, preferentially, histone H3 methyltransferase activity for mice that learnt at an accelerated rate relative to the remaining mutant mice. The results allow for an estimation of the fraction of mutations that can modify a behaviour influential for evolution such as locomotion. They may also enable, once the loci are further validated and the mechanisms elucidated, the harnessing of the activity of the newly identified genes to enhance motor ability or to counterbalance disability or disease. KEY POINTS: We studied the effect of chemically induced random mutations on mouse motor performance. An array of mutations influenced the rate of motor learning. DNA regulation genes predominated among these mutant loci. Several mutations in unsuspected genes led to superperformance. Assuming little-biased mutagenicity, the results allow for an estimation of the probability for any spontaneous mutation to influence a behaviour such as motor learning and ultimate performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Jakkamsetti
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Ma
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gustavo Angulo
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - William Scudder
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for Genetics of Host Defense, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Juan M. Pascual
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development / Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Schaffrath R, Brinkmann U. Diphthamide - a conserved modification of eEF2 with clinical relevance. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:164-177. [PMID: 38097404 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Diphthamide, a complex modification on eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), assures reading-frame fidelity during translation. Diphthamide and enzymes for its synthesis are conserved in eukaryotes and archaea. Originally identified as target for diphtheria toxin (DT) in humans, its clinical relevance now proves to be broader than the link to pathogenic bacteria. Diphthamide synthesis enzymes (DPH1 and DPH3) are associated with cancer, and DPH gene mutations can cause diphthamide deficiency syndrome (DDS). Finally, new analyses provide evidence that diphthamide may restrict propagation of viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1, and that DPH enzymes are targeted by viruses for degradation to overcome this restriction. This review describes how diphthamide is synthesized and functions in translation, and covers its clinical relevance in human development, cancer, and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffael Schaffrath
- Institut für Biologie, Fachgebiet Mikrobiologie, Universität Kassel, Kassel, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Brinkmann
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Large Molecule Research, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Penzberg, Germany.
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Jakkamsetti V, Ma Q, Angulo G, Scudder W, Beutler B, Pascual JM. Genetic influences on motor learning and superperformance mutants revealed by random mutational survey of mouse locomotion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.28.546756. [PMID: 37425744 PMCID: PMC10327015 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Evolution depends upon genetic variations that influence physiology. As defined in a genetic screen, phenotypic performance may be enhanced or degraded by such mutations. We set out to detect mutations that influence motor function, including motor learning. Thus, we tested the motor effects of 36,444 non-synonymous coding/splicing mutations induced in the germline of C57BL/6J mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea by measuring changes in the performance of repetitive rotarod trials while blinded to genotype. Automated meiotic mapping was used to implicate individual mutations in causation. 32,726 mice bearing all the variant alleles were screened. This was complemented with the simultaneous testing of 1,408 normal mice for reference. 16.3% of autosomal genes were thus rendered detectably hypomorphic or nullified by mutations in homozygosity and motor tested in at least 3 mice. This approach allowed us to identify superperformance mutations in Rif1, Tk1, Fan1 and Mn1. These genes are primarily related, among other less well characterized functions, to nucleic acid biology. We also associated distinct motor learning patterns with groups of functionally related genes. These functional sets included preferentially histone H3 methyltransferase activity for mice that learnt at an accelerated rate relative to the rest of mutant mice. The results allow for an estimation of the fraction of mutations that can modify a behavior influential for evolution such as locomotion. They may also enable, once the loci are further validated and the mechanisms elucidated, the harnessing of the activity of the newly identified genes to enhance motor ability or to counterbalance disability or disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Jakkamsetti
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Qian Ma
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gustavo Angulo
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - William Scudder
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce Beutler
- Center for Genetics of Host Defense, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Juan M. Pascual
- Rare Brain Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development / Center for Human Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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van de Leemput J, Wen P, Han Z. Using Drosophila Nephrocytes to Understand the Formation and Maintenance of the Podocyte Slit Diaphragm. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:837828. [PMID: 35265622 PMCID: PMC8898902 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.837828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The podocyte slit diaphragm (SD) is an essential component of the glomerular filtration barrier and its disruption is a common cause of proteinuria and many types of kidney disease. Therefore, better understanding of the pathways and proteins that play key roles in SD formation and maintenance has been of great interest. Podocyte and SD biology have been mainly studied using mouse and other vertebrate models. However, vertebrates are limited by inherent properties and technically challenging in vivo access to the podocytes. Drosophila is a relatively new alternative model system but it has already made great strides. Past the initial obvious differences, mammalian podocytes and fly nephrocytes are remarkably similar at the genetic, molecular and functional levels. This review discusses SD formation and maintenance, and their dependence on cell polarity, the cytoskeleton, and endo- and exocytosis, as learned from studies in fly nephrocytes and mammalian podocytes. In addition, it reflects on the remaining gaps in our knowledge, the physiological implications for glomerular diseases and how we can leverage the advantages Drosophila has to offer to further our understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce van de Leemput
- Center for Precision Disease Modeling, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Pei Wen
- Center for Precision Disease Modeling, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zhe Han
- Center for Precision Disease Modeling, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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