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Felline A, Schiroli D, Comitato A, Marigo V, Fanelli F. Structure network-based landscape of rhodopsin misfolding by mutations and algorithmic prediction of small chaperone action. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:6020-6038. [PMID: 34849206 PMCID: PMC8605067 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Failure of a protein to achieve its functional structural state and normal cellular location contributes to the etiology and pathology of heritable human conformational diseases. The autosomal dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) is an incurable blindness largely linked to mutations of the membrane protein rod opsin. While the mechanisms underlying the noxious effects of the mutated protein are not completely understood, a common feature is the functional protein conformational loss. Here, the wild type and 39 adRP rod opsin mutants were subjected to mechanical unfolding simulations coupled to the graph theory-based protein structure network analysis. A robust computational model was inferred and in vitro validated in its ability to predict endoplasmic reticulum retention of adRP mutants, a feature linked to the mutation-caused misfolding. The structure-based approach could also infer the structural determinants of small chaperone action on misfolded protein mutants with therapeutic implications. The approach is exportable to conformational diseases linked to missense mutations in any membrane protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Felline
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Davide Schiroli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Antonella Comitato
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Valeria Marigo
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy.,Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Italy
| | - Francesca Fanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy.,Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, Italy
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Guadagni V, Cerri C, Piano I, Novelli E, Gargini C, Fiorentini C, Caleo M, Strettoi E. The bacterial toxin CNF1 as a tool to induce retinal degeneration reminiscent of retinitis pigmentosa. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35919. [PMID: 27775019 PMCID: PMC5075935 DOI: 10.1038/srep35919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of inherited pathologies characterized by progressive photoreceptor degeneration. In rodent models of RP, expression of defective genes and retinal degeneration usually manifest during the first weeks of postnatal life, making it difficult to distinguish consequences of primary genetic defects from abnormalities in retinal development. Moreover, mouse eyes are small and not always adequate to test pharmacological and surgical treatments. An inducible paradigm of retinal degeneration potentially extensible to large animals is therefore desirable. Starting from the serendipitous observation that intraocular injections of a Rho GTPase activator, the bacterial toxin Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1), lead to retinal degeneration, we implemented an inducible model recapitulating most of the key features of Retinitis Pigmentosa. The model also unmasks an intrinsic vulnerability of photoreceptors to the mechanism of CNF1 action, indicating still unexplored molecular pathways potentially leading to the death of these cells in inherited forms of retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Guadagni
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerri
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy.,Accademia dei Lincei, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Ilaria Piano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Elena Novelli
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Claudia Gargini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Enrica Strettoi
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, 56124, Italy
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Campbell LJ, Willoughby JJ, Jensen AM. Two types of Tet-On transgenic lines for doxycycline-inducible gene expression in zebrafish rod photoreceptors and a gateway-based tet-on toolkit. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51270. [PMID: 23251476 PMCID: PMC3520995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to control transgene expression within specific tissues is an important tool for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of development, physiology, and disease. We developed a Tet-On system for spatial and temporal control of transgene expression in zebrafish rod photoreceptors. We generated two transgenic lines using the Xenopus rhodopsin promoter to drive the reverse tetracycline-controlled transcriptional transactivator (rtTA), one with self-reporting GFP activity and one with an epitope tagged rtTA. The self-reporting line includes a tetracycline response element (TRE)-driven GFP and, in the presence of doxycycline, expresses GFP in larval and adult rods. A time-course of doxycycline treatment demonstrates that maximal induction of GFP expression, as determined by the number of GFP-positive rods, is reached within approximately 24 hours of drug treatment. The epitope-tagged transgenic line eliminates the need for the self-reporting GFP activity by expressing a FLAG-tagged rtTA protein. Both lines demonstrate strong induction of TRE-driven transgenes from plasmids microinjected into one-cell embryos. These results show that spatial and temporal control of transgene expression can be achieved in rod photoreceptors. Additionally, system components are constructed in Gateway compatible vectors for the rapid cloning of doxycycline-inducible transgenes and use in other areas of zebrafish research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah J. Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John J. Willoughby
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Abbie M. Jensen
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Le YZ, Zheng W, Rao PC, Zheng L, Anderson RE, Esumi N, Zack DJ, Zhu M. Inducible expression of cre recombinase in the retinal pigmented epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2008; 49:1248-53. [PMID: 18326755 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.07-1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) expresses many genes that play important roles in the support and maintenance of photoreceptors. The present study was conducted to develop a system amenable to the dissection of the temporal function of these genes, specifically within RPE cells. Transgenic mice were generated and characterized in which the expression of Cre recombinase could be specifically induced within the RPE. METHODS Transgenic mice carrying the human vitelliform macular dystrophy-2 (VMD2) promoter (P(VMD2))-directed reverse tetracycline-dependent transactivator (rtTA) and the tetracycline-responsive element (TRE)-directed cre were generated. Inducible Cre expression was achieved by feeding doxycycline to these mice and was characterized by using a Cre-activatable lacZ reporter mouse strain (R26R). RESULTS A beta-galactosidase assay of rtTA/Cre-R26R mice demonstrated that the basal level of Cre expression without doxycycline induction was negligible. Addition of doxycycline led to induction of RPE-specific Cre expression/function at least from embryonic day 9 to postnatal day 60. The highest induction occurred at approximately postnatal day 4. As measured by ERG and histology, retinal function and morphology were normal in 10-month-old rtTA/Cre mice that were treated with doxycycline at weaning age. CONCLUSIONS Transgenic mice were generated that express Cre recombinase in the RPE in an inducible fashion. These mice will be useful for studies of the RPE-specific role of genes that are expressed in the RPE as well as other cells, particularly for avoiding embryonic lethality and dissecting the function of genes that play dual roles in development and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Zheng Le
- Department of Medicine and Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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Dalke C, Graw J. Mouse mutants as models for congenital retinal disorders. Exp Eye Res 2005; 81:503-12. [PMID: 16026784 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2005.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2005] [Revised: 05/14/2005] [Accepted: 06/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Animal models provide a valuable tool for investigating the genetic basis and the pathophysiology of human diseases, and to evaluate therapeutic treatments. To study congenital retinal disorders, mouse mutants have become the most important model organism. Here we review some mouse models, which are related to hereditary disorders (mostly congenital) including retinitis pigmentosa, Leber's congenital amaurosis, macular disorders and optic atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Dalke
- GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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Lebherz C, Auricchio A, Maguire AM, Rivera VM, Tang W, Grant RL, Clackson T, Bennett J, Wilson JM. Long-term inducible gene expression in the eye via adeno-associated virus gene transfer in nonhuman primates. Hum Gene Ther 2005; 16:178-86. [PMID: 15761258 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2005.16.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral gene therapy has shown promise for the treatment of inherited and degenerative diseases in a variety of animal models. Some of the most dramatic results have been obtained in the field of ocular gene therapy, where efficacy has been tremendous in inherited and acquired retinal disorders. For the promise of this approach to be realized it will be necessary to create vectors capable of pharmacologic or physiologic regulation of the transgene. We describe in this paper a dimerizer-inducible viral expression system that is able to reproducibly drive expression of the reporter gene erythropoietin in the eyes of nonhuman primates over a period of 2.5 years. The expression profiles were characterized by minimal basal expression in the absence of inducer and dose-responsive maximal expression in the presence of inducer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Lebherz
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Gafni Y, Pelled G, Zilberman Y, Turgeman G, Apparailly F, Yotvat H, Galun E, Gazit Z, Jorgensen C, Gazit D. Gene therapy platform for bone regeneration using an exogenously regulated, AAV-2-based gene expression system. Mol Ther 2004; 9:587-95. [PMID: 15093189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2003.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2002] [Accepted: 12/17/2003] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral delivery of the therapeutic gene bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a promising approach for bone regeneration. The human parvovirus adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 2 is considered one of the most encouraging viral vector systems because of its high transduction rates and biosafety ratings. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 is a highly potent osteoinductive protein, which induces bone formation in vivo and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. The exogenous regulation of BMP-2 expression in bone-regenerating sites is required to control BMP-2 protein secretion, thus promoting safe and controlled bone formation and regeneration. We have therefore constructed a dual-construct vector for the recombinant AAV (rAAV)-based recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) gene delivery system, which is regulated by the tetracycline-sensitive promoter (TetON). Each vector was encapsidated separately, yielding two recombinant viruses. We evaluated the efficiency of rAAV-hBMP-2 to induce bone formation in ectopic and orthotopic sites. Doxycycline (Dox), an analogue of tetracycline, was orally administered to mice via their drinking water to induce rhBMP-2 expression. Bone formation was measured using quantitative imaging-microcomputerized tomography and cooled charge-coupled device imaging-to detect osteogenic activity at the cellular level, detecting osteocalcin expression. The rAAV-hBMP-2-treated mice that were given Dox demonstrated bone formation in both in vivo models compared to none in mice prevented from receiving Dox. Thus, the Tet-regulated rAAV-hBMP-2 vector is an effective means of induction and regulation of bone regeneration and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yossi Gafni
- Skeletal Biotechnology Laboratory, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem, P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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Makino CL, Wen XH, Lem J. Piecing together the timetable for visual transduction with transgenic animals. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2003; 13:404-12. [PMID: 12965286 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-4388(03)00091-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mice bearing null or functional mutations are being used to define the roles of specific elements in phototransduction and also to time the molecular interactions. Genetic manipulation of the collision frequency between rhodopsin and transducin molecules identified this parameter as rate-limiting for the photoresponse onset. Genetic interference with rhodopsin phosphorylation and arrestin binding, transducin shut-off and calcium feedback has revealed their respective roles in shaping the response waveform. The timetable for all of these molecular events determines the amplitude, kinetics and reproducibility of the photoresponse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint L Makino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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