1
|
de Almeida BP, Schaub C, Pagani M, Secchia S, Furlong EEM, Stark A. Targeted design of synthetic enhancers for selected tissues in the Drosophila embryo. Nature 2024; 626:207-211. [PMID: 38086418 PMCID: PMC10830412 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06905-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Enhancers control gene expression and have crucial roles in development and homeostasis1-3. However, the targeted de novo design of enhancers with tissue-specific activities has remained challenging. Here we combine deep learning and transfer learning to design tissue-specific enhancers for five tissues in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo: the central nervous system, epidermis, gut, muscle and brain. We first train convolutional neural networks using genome-wide single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) datasets and then fine-tune the convolutional neural networks with smaller-scale data from in vivo enhancer activity assays, yielding models with 13% to 76% positive predictive value according to cross-validation. We designed and experimentally assessed 40 synthetic enhancers (8 per tissue) in vivo, of which 31 (78%) were active and 27 (68%) functioned in the target tissue (100% for central nervous system and muscle). The strategy of combining genome-wide and small-scale functional datasets by transfer learning is generally applicable and should enable the design of tissue-, cell type- and cell state-specific enhancers in any system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo P de Almeida
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- InstaDeep, Paris, France
| | - Christoph Schaub
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michaela Pagani
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefano Secchia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eileen E M Furlong
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Stark
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
- Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bileckyj C, Blotz B, Cripps RM. Drosophila as a Model to Understand Second Heart Field Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:494. [PMID: 38132661 PMCID: PMC10744189 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10120494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic model system Drosophila has contributed fundamentally to our understanding of mammalian heart specification, development, and congenital heart disease. The relatively simple Drosophila heart is a linear muscular tube that is specified and develops in the embryo and persists throughout the life of the animal. It functions at all stages to circulate hemolymph within the open circulatory system of the body. During Drosophila metamorphosis, the cardiac tube is remodeled, and a new layer of muscle fibers spreads over the ventral surface of the heart to form the ventral longitudinal muscles. The formation of these fibers depends critically upon genes known to be necessary for mammalian second heart field (SHF) formation. Here, we review the prior contributions of the Drosophila system to the understanding of heart development and disease, discuss the importance of the SHF to mammalian heart development and disease, and then discuss how the ventral longitudinal adult cardiac muscles can serve as a novel model for understanding SHF development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard M. Cripps
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Neidviecky E, Deng H. Determination of Complex Formation between Drosophila Nrf2 and GATA4 Factors at Selective Chromatin Loci Demonstrates Transcription Coactivation. Cells 2023; 12:938. [PMID: 36980279 PMCID: PMC10047698 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060938] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nrf2 is the dominant cellular stress response factor that protects cells through transcriptional responses to xenobiotic and oxidative stimuli. Nrf2 malfunction is highly correlated with many human diseases, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully uncovered. GATA4 is a conserved GATA family transcription factor that is essential for cardiac and dorsal epidermal development. Here, we describe a novel interaction between Drosophila Nrf2 and GATA4 proteins, i.e., cap'n'collar C (CncC) and Pannier (Pnr), respectively. Using the bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay-a unique imaging tool for probing protein complexes in living cells-we detected CncC-Pnr complexes in the nuclei of Drosophila embryonic and salivary gland cells. Visualization of CncC-Pnr BiFC signals on the polytene chromosome revealed that CncC and Pnr tend to form complexes in euchromatic regions, with a preference for loci that are not highly occupied by CncC or Pnr alone. Most genes within these loci are activated by the CncC-Pnr BiFC, but not by individually expressed CncC or Pnr fusion proteins, indicating a novel mechanism whereby CncC and Pnr interact at specific genomic loci and coactivate genes at these loci. Finally, CncC-induced early lethality can be rescued by Pnr depletion, suggesting that CncC and Pnr function in the same genetic pathway during the early development of Drosophila. Taken together, these results elucidate a novel crosstalk between the Nrf2 xenobiotic/oxidative response factor and GATA factors in the transcriptional regulation of development. This study also demonstrates that the polytene chromosome BiFC assay is a valuable tool for mapping genes that are targeted by specific transcription factor complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Huai Deng
- Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN 55812, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tian R, Chen X, Wu M, Xu Q, Wang S, Zang L, Xiao D. The Molecular Properties and Roles of Pannier in Harmonia axyridis's Metamorphosis and Melanin Synthesis. Front Physiol 2022; 13:909258. [PMID: 35592031 PMCID: PMC9110671 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.909258] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The GATA transcription factor Pannier is identified as the major regulatory gene in color pattern formation in the Asian multi-colored ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis). however, the mechanisms of Pannier in regulating melanin synthesis and development in H. axyridis remain elusive. In this study, we identified and characterized Pannier in H. axyridis (HaPnr) and showed it to have two alternative spliced variants named HaPnr-α and HaPnr-β. Analyses of developmental stage expression patterns revealed that HaPnr, HaPnr-α and HaPnr-β were constitutively expressed throughout all developmental stages. To examine the role of HaPnr in H. axyridis development, RNA interference was performed in late larvae (the fourth instar) and early pupae (the first day of pupa stage). The transcript levels of HaPnr were effectively suppressed after the injection of double-stranded RNA of HaPnr (dsHaPnr). The fourth instar larvae injected with dsHaPnr reduced the pupation rates to only 61.50%, compared with 88.5% in the dsGFP-injected group. The un-pupated larvae gradually died after 1 week, and visually unaffected pupae emerged into abnormal adults with malformed hind wings and melanin absent from the cuticle. These abnormal adults gradually died 10 days after eclosion. However, when early pupae were injected with dsHaPnr, the normal eclosion rate was achieved at 88.41% on day 6 after the injection. In addition, these successful eclosion adults also showed an absence of melanin in the cuticle, but they could mate normally and have normal fecundity as compared with the control. We further demonstrated that the suppression of HaPnr-α or HaPnr-β individually did not affect the pupation and eclosion process. The suppression of HaPnr-α expression resulted in elytra melanin decreasing in both the conspicua and the succinea subgroup in H. axyridis. Even though the suppression of HaPnr-β expression only affected the melanin synthesis in the succinea subgroup, it significantly prolonged the time taken for melanin synthesis to occur in the conspicua subgroup in H. axyridis. These results indicate that HaPnr plays an essential role in insect development, especially during their metamorphosis, and also support our hypothesis that HaPnr could regulate melanin synthesis in H. axyridis under the combined action with its two splicing variants, HaPnr-α and HaPnr-β.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renbin Tian
- Jilin Engineering Research Center of Resource Insects Industrialization, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering of Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Mengmeng Wu
- Jilin Engineering Research Center of Resource Insects Industrialization, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingxuan Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Su Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liansheng Zang
- Jilin Engineering Research Center of Resource Insects Industrialization, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering of Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Da Xiao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Song M, Yuan X, Racioppi C, Leslie M, Stutt N, Aleksandrova A, Christiaen L, Wilson MD, Scott IC. GATA4/5/6 family transcription factors are conserved determinants of cardiac versus pharyngeal mesoderm fate. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabg0834. [PMID: 35275720 PMCID: PMC8916722 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
GATA4/5/6 transcription factors play essential, conserved roles in heart development. To understand how GATA4/5/6 modulates the mesoderm-to-cardiac fate transition, we labeled, isolated, and performed single-cell gene expression analysis on cells that express gata5 at precardiac time points spanning zebrafish gastrulation to somitogenesis. We found that most mesendoderm-derived lineages had dynamic gata5/6 expression. In the absence of Gata5/6, the population structure of mesendoderm-derived cells was substantially altered. In addition to the expected absence of cardiac mesoderm, we confirmed a concomitant expansion of cranial-pharyngeal mesoderm. Moreover, Gata5/6 loss led to extensive changes in chromatin accessibility near cardiac and pharyngeal genes. Functional analyses in zebrafish and the tunicate Ciona, which has a single GATA4/5/6 homolog, revealed that GATA4/5/6 acts upstream of tbx1 to exert essential and cell-autonomous roles in promoting cardiac and inhibiting pharyngeal mesoderm identity. Overall, cardiac and pharyngeal mesoderm fate choices are achieved through an evolutionarily conserved GATA4/5/6 regulatory network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Song
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xuefei Yuan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claudia Racioppi
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meaghan Leslie
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nathan Stutt
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anastasiia Aleksandrova
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lionel Christiaen
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Corresponding author. (M.D.W.); (I.C.S.)
| | - Ian C. Scott
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Corresponding author. (M.D.W.); (I.C.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shewale B, Dubois N. Of form and function: Early cardiac morphogenesis across classical and emerging model systems. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 118:107-118. [PMID: 33994301 PMCID: PMC8434962 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The heart is the earliest organ to develop during embryogenesis and is remarkable in its ability to function efficiently as it is being sculpted. Cardiac heart defects account for a high burden of childhood developmental disorders with many remaining poorly understood mechanistically. Decades of work across a multitude of model organisms has informed our understanding of early cardiac differentiation and morphogenesis and has simultaneously opened new and unanswered questions. Here we have synthesized current knowledge in the field and reviewed recent developments in the realm of imaging, bioengineering and genetic technology and ex vivo cardiac modeling that may be deployed to generate more holistic models of early cardiac morphogenesis, and by extension, new platforms to study congenital heart defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhavana Shewale
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Nicole Dubois
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lee M, Nguyen TMT, Kim K. In-depth study of lin-28 suggests selectively conserved let-7 independent mechanism in Drosophila. Gene 2019; 687:64-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
8
|
Scimone ML, Wurtzel O, Malecek K, Fincher CT, Oderberg IM, Kravarik KM, Reddien PW. foxF-1 Controls Specification of Non-body Wall Muscle and Phagocytic Cells in Planarians. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3787-3801.e6. [PMID: 30471994 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Planarians are flatworms capable of regenerating any missing body part in a process requiring stem cells and positional information. Muscle is a major source of planarian positional information and consists of several types of fibers with distinct regulatory roles in regeneration. The transcriptional regulatory programs used to specify different muscle fibers are poorly characterized. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we define the transcriptomes of planarian dorsal-ventral muscle (DVM), intestinal muscle (IM), and pharynx muscle. This analysis identifies foxF-1, which encodes a broadly conserved Fox-family transcription factor, as a master transcriptional regulator of all non-body wall muscle. The transcription factors encoded by nk4 and gata4/5/6-2 specify two different subsets of DVM, lateral and medial, respectively, whereas gata4/5/6-3 specifies IM. These muscle types all express planarian patterning genes. Both lateral and medial DVM are required for medial-lateral patterning in regeneration, whereas medial DVM and IM have a role in maintaining and regenerating intestine morphology. In addition to the role in muscle, foxF-1 is required for the specification of multiple cell types with transcriptome similarities, including high expression levels of cathepsin genes. These cells include pigment cells, glia, and several other cells with unknown function. cathepsin+ cells phagocytose E. coli, suggesting these are phagocytic cells. In conclusion, we describe a regulatory program for planarian muscle cell subsets and phagocytic cells, both driven by foxF-1. FoxF proteins specify different mesoderm-derived tissues in other organisms, suggesting that FoxF regulates formation of an ancient and broadly conserved subset of mesoderm derivatives in the Bilateria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Lucila Scimone
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Omri Wurtzel
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kathryn Malecek
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Christopher T Fincher
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Isaac M Oderberg
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kellie M Kravarik
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Peter W Reddien
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Schwarz B, Hollfelder D, Scharf K, Hartmann L, Reim I. Diversification of heart progenitor cells by EGF signaling and differential modulation of ETS protein activity. eLife 2018; 7:32847. [PMID: 29869981 PMCID: PMC6033539 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For coordinated circulation, vertebrate and invertebrate hearts require stereotyped arrangements of diverse cell populations. This study explores the process of cardiac cell diversification in the Drosophila heart, focusing on the two major cardioblast subpopulations: generic working myocardial cells and inflow valve-forming ostial cardioblasts. By screening a large collection of randomly induced mutants, we identified several genes involved in cardiac patterning. Further analysis revealed an unexpected, specific requirement of EGF signaling for the specification of generic cardioblasts and a subset of pericardial cells. We demonstrate that the Tbx20 ortholog Midline acts as a direct target of the EGFR effector Pointed to repress ostial fates. Furthermore, we identified Edl/Mae, an antagonist of the ETS factor Pointed, as a novel cardiac regulator crucial for ostial cardioblast specification. Combining these findings, we propose a regulatory model in which the balance between activation of Pointed and its inhibition by Edl controls cardioblast subtype-specific gene expression. Organs contain many different kinds of cells, each specialised to perform a particular role. The fruit fly heart, for example, has two types of muscle cells: generic heart muscle cells and ostial heart muscle cells. The generic cells contract to force blood around the body, whilst the ostial cells form openings that allow blood to enter the heart. Though both types of cells carry the same genetic information, each uses a different combination of active genes to perform their role. During development, the cells must decide whether to become generic or ostial. They obtain signals from other cells in and near the developing heart, and respond by turning genes on or off. The response uses proteins called transcription factors, which bind to regulatory portions of specific genes. The sequence of signals and transcription factors that control the fate of developing heart muscle cells was not known. So Schwarz et al. examined the process using a technique called a mutagenesis screen. This involved triggering random genetic mutations and looking for flies with defects in their heart muscle cells. Matching the defects to the mutations revealed genes responsible for heart development. Schwarz et al. found that for cells to develop into generic heart muscle cells, a signal called epidermal growth factor (EGF) switches on a transcription factor called Pointed in the cells. Pointed then turns on another transcription factor that switches off the genes for ostial cells. Conversely, ostial heart muscle cells develop when a protein called ‘ETS-domain lacking’ (Edl) interferes with Pointed, allowing the ostial genes to remain on. The balance between Pointed and Edl controls which type of heart cell each cell will become. Many cells in other tissues in fruit flies also produce the Pointed and Edl proteins and respond to EGF signals. This means that this system may help to decide the fate of cells in other organs. The EGF signaling system is also present in other animals, including humans. Future work could reveal whether the same molecular decision making happens in our own hearts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schwarz
- Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dominik Hollfelder
- Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Scharf
- Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leonie Hartmann
- Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ingolf Reim
- Department of Biology, Division of Developmental Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dissecting the Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Heart Disease: Lessons from the Drosophila Genetic Model. Vet Sci 2017; 4:vetsci4020024. [PMID: 29056683 PMCID: PMC5606597 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic scaffold within organs and tissues that enables cell morphogenesis and provides structural support. Changes in the composition and organisation of the cardiac ECM are required for normal development. Congenital and age-related cardiac diseases can arise from mis-regulation of structural ECM proteins (Collagen, Laminin) or their receptors (Integrin). Key regulators of ECM turnover include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). MMP expression is increased in mice, pigs, and dogs with cardiomyopathy. The complexity and longevity of vertebrate animals makes a short-lived, genetically tractable model organism, such as Drosophila melanogaster, an attractive candidate for study. We survey ECM macromolecules and their role in heart development and growth, which are conserved between Drosophila and vertebrates, with focus upon the consequences of altered expression or distribution. The Drosophila heart resembles that of vertebrates during early development, and is amenable to in vivo analysis. Experimental manipulation of gene function in a tissue- or temporally-regulated manner can reveal the function of adhesion or ECM genes in the heart. Perturbation of the function of ECM proteins, or of the MMPs that facilitate ECM remodelling, induces cardiomyopathies in Drosophila, including cardiodilation, arrhythmia, and cardia bifida, that provide mechanistic insight into cardiac disease in mammals.
Collapse
|
11
|
Werner K, Donow C, Pandur P. Chip/Ldb1 interacts with Tailup/islet1 to regulate cardiac gene expression inDrosophila. Genesis 2017; 55. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Werner
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Biologie; Albert-Einstein-Allee 11; 89081 Ulm Germany
| | - Cornelia Donow
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Biologie; Albert-Einstein-Allee 11; 89081 Ulm Germany
| | - Petra Pandur
- Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Biologie; Albert-Einstein-Allee 11; 89081 Ulm Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
|
13
|
Bloomekatz J, Galvez-Santisteban M, Chi NC. Myocardial plasticity: cardiac development, regeneration and disease. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 40:120-130. [PMID: 27498024 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The adult mammalian heart is unable to recover from myocardial cell loss due to cardiac ischemia and infarction because terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes proliferate at a low rate. However, cardiomyocytes in other vertebrate animal models such as zebrafish, axolotls, newts and mammalian mouse neonates are capable of de-differentiating in order to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and subsequent cardiac regeneration after injury. Although de-differentiation may occur in adult mammalian cardiomyocytes, it is typically associated with diseased hearts and pathologic remodeling rather than repair and regeneration. Here, we review recent studies of cardiac development, regeneration and disease that highlight how changes in myocardial identity (plasticity) is regulated and impacts adaptive and maladaptive cardiac responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Bloomekatz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Manuel Galvez-Santisteban
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Neil C Chi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Trujillo GV, Nodal DH, Lovato CV, Hendren JD, Helander LA, Lovato TL, Bodmer R, Cripps RM. The canonical Wingless signaling pathway is required but not sufficient for inflow tract formation in the Drosophila melanogaster heart. Dev Biol 2016; 413:16-25. [PMID: 26983369 PMCID: PMC4834244 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The inflow tracts of the embryonic Drosophila cardiac tube, termed ostia, arise in its posterior three segments from cardiac cells that co-express the homeotic transcription factor Abdominal-A (abdA), the orphan nuclear receptor Seven-up (Svp), and the signaling molecule Wingless (Wg). To define the roles of these factors in inflow tract development, we assessed their function in inflow tract formation. We demonstrate, using several criteria, that abdA, svp, and wg are each critical for normal inflow tract formation. We further show that Wg acts in an autocrine manner to impact ostia fate, and that it mediates this effect at least partially through the canonical Wg signaling pathway. By contrast, neither wg expression nor Wg signaling are sufficient for inflow tract formation when expressed in anterior Svp cells that do not normally form inflow tracts in the embryo. Instead, ectopic abd-A expression throughout the cardiac tube is required for the formation of ectopic inflow tracts, indicating that autocrine Wg signaling must be supplemented by additional Hox-dependent factors to effect inflow tract formation. Taken together, these studies define important cellular and molecular events that contribute to cardiac inflow tract development in Drosophila. Given the broad conservation of the cardiac regulatory network through evolution, our studies provide insight into mechanisms of cardiac development in higher animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gloriana V Trujillo
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, Development and Aging Program, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dalea H Nodal
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Candice V Lovato
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Jill D Hendren
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Lynda A Helander
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - TyAnna L Lovato
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Rolf Bodmer
- Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, Development and Aging Program, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Richard M Cripps
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cardiac Regenerative Therapy: Optimization of Cell Differentiation Strategy. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2015:524756. [PMID: 26339251 PMCID: PMC4539177 DOI: 10.1155/2015/524756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
With the high mortality rate, coronary heart disease (CHD) has currently become a major life-threatening disease. The main pathological change of myocardial infarction (MI) is the induction of myocardial necrosis in infarction area which finally causes heart failure. Conventional treatments cannot regenerate the functional cell efficiently. Recent researches suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to differentiate into multiple lineages, including cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro and in vivo, and they have been used for the treatment of MI to repair the injured myocardium and improve cardiac function. In this review, we will focus on the recent progress on MSCs derived cardiomyocytes for cardiac regeneration after MI.
Collapse
|
16
|
Passamaneck YJ, Hejnol A, Martindale MQ. Mesodermal gene expression during the embryonic and larval development of the articulate brachiopod Terebratalia transversa. EvoDevo 2015; 6:10. [PMID: 25897375 PMCID: PMC4404124 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-015-0004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brachiopods undergo radial cleavage, which is distinct from the stereotyped development of closely related spiralian taxa. The mesoderm has been inferred to derive from the archenteron walls following gastrulation, and the primary mesoderm derivative in the larva is a complex musculature. To investigate the specification and differentiation of the mesoderm in the articulate brachiopod Terebratalia transversa, we have identified orthologs of genes involved in mesoderm development in other taxa and investigated their spatial and temporal expression during the embryonic and larval development of T. transversa. Results Orthologs of 17 developmental regulatory genes with roles in the development of the mesoderm in other bilaterian animals were found to be expressed in the developing mesoderm of T. transversa. Five genes, Tt.twist, Tt.GATA456, Tt.dachshund, Tt.mPrx, and Tt.NK1, were found to have expression throughout the archenteron wall at the radial gastrula stage, shortly after the initiation of gastrulation. Three additional genes, Tt.Pax1/9, Tt.MyoD, and Tt.Six1/2, showed expression at this stage in only a portion of the archenteron wall. Tt.eya, Tt.FoxC, Tt.FoxF, Tt.Mox, Tt.paraxis, Tt.Limpet, and Tt.Mef2 all showed initial mesodermal expression during later gastrula or early larval stages. At the late larval stage, Tt.dachshund, Tt.Limpet, and Tt.Mef2 showed expression in nearly all mesoderm cells, while all other genes were localized to specific regions of the mesoderm. Tt.FoxD and Tt.noggin both showed expression in the ventral mesoderm at the larval stages, with gastrula expression patterns in the archenteron roof and blastopore lip, respectively. Conclusions Expression analyses support conserved roles for developmental regulators in the specification and differentiation of the mesoderm during the development of T. transversa. Expression of multiple mesodermal factors in the archenteron wall during gastrulation supports previous morphological observations that this region gives rise to larval mesoderm. Localized expression domains during gastrulation and larval development evidence early regionalization of the mesoderm and provide a basis for hypotheses regarding the molecular regulation underlying the complex system of musculature observed in the larva. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13227-015-0004-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yale J Passamaneck
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, PBRC, University of Hawaii, 41 Ahui Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 USA ; The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080 USA
| | - Andreas Hejnol
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate, 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080 USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Many of the major discoveries in the fields of genetics and developmental biology have been made using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. With regard to heart development, the conserved network of core cardiac transcription factors that underlies cardiogenesis has been studied in great detail in the fly, and the importance of several signaling pathways that regulate heart morphogenesis, such as Slit/Robo, was first shown in the fly model. Recent technological advances have led to a large increase in the genomic data available from patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). This has highlighted a number of candidate genes and gene networks that are potentially involved in CHD. To validate genes and genetic interactions among candidate CHD-causing alleles and to better understand heart formation in general are major tasks. The specific limitations of the various cardiac model systems currently employed (mammalian and fish models) provide a niche for the fly model, despite its evolutionary distance to vertebrates and humans. Here, we review recent advances made using the Drosophila embryo that identify factors relevant for heart formation. These underline how this model organism still is invaluable for a better understanding of CHD.
Collapse
|
18
|
Erceg J, Saunders TE, Girardot C, Devos DP, Hufnagel L, Furlong EEM. Subtle changes in motif positioning cause tissue-specific effects on robustness of an enhancer's activity. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004060. [PMID: 24391522 PMCID: PMC3879207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the specific contribution of individual motifs within cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) is crucial to understanding how gene expression is regulated and how this process is affected by sequence variation. But despite vast improvements in the ability to identify where transcription factors (TFs) bind throughout the genome, we are limited in our ability to relate information on motif occupancy to function from sequence alone. Here, we engineered 63 synthetic CRMs to systematically assess the relationship between variation in the content and spacing of motifs within CRMs to CRM activity during development using Drosophila transgenic embryos. In over half the cases, very simple elements containing only one or two types of TF binding motifs were capable of driving specific spatio-temporal patterns during development. Different motif organizations provide different degrees of robustness to enhancer activity, ranging from binary on-off responses to more subtle effects including embryo-to-embryo and within-embryo variation. By quantifying the effects of subtle changes in motif organization, we were able to model biophysical rules that explain CRM behavior and may contribute to the spatial positioning of CRM activity in vivo. For the same enhancer, the effects of small differences in motif positions varied in developmentally related tissues, suggesting that gene expression may be more susceptible to sequence variation in one tissue compared to another. This result has important implications for human eQTL studies in which many associated mutations are found in cis-regulatory regions, though the mechanism for how they affect tissue-specific gene expression is often not understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Erceg
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timothy E. Saunders
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charles Girardot
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Damien P. Devos
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lars Hufnagel
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eileen E. M. Furlong
- Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
The Iroquois complex is required in the dorsal mesoderm to ensure normal heart development in Drosophila. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76498. [PMID: 24086746 PMCID: PMC3781054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila heart development is an invaluable system to study the orchestrated action of numerous factors that govern cardiogenesis. Cardiac progenitors arise within specific dorsal mesodermal regions that are under the influence of temporally coordinated actions of multiple signaling pathways. The Drosophila Iroquois complex (Iro-C) consists of the three homeobox transcription factors araucan (ara), caupolican (caup) and mirror (mirr). The Iro-C has been shown to be involved in tissue patterning leading to the differentiation of specific structures, such as the lateral notum and dorsal head structures and in establishing the dorsal-ventral border of the eye. A function for Iro-C in cardiogenesis has not been investigated yet. Our data demonstrate that loss of the whole Iro complex, as well as loss of either ara/caup or mirr only, affect heart development in Drosophila. Furthermore, the data indicate that the GATA factor Pannier requires the presence of Iro-C to function in cardiogenesis. Furthermore, a detailed expression pattern analysis of the members of the Iro-C revealed the presence of a possibly novel subpopulation of Even-skipped expressing pericardial cells and seven pairs of heart-associated cells that have not been described before. Taken together, this work introduces Iro-C as a new set of transcription factors that are required for normal development of the heart. As the members of the Iro-C may function, at least partly, as competence factors in the dorsal mesoderm, our results are fundamental for future studies aiming to decipher the regulatory interactions between factors that determine different cell fates in the dorsal mesoderm.
Collapse
|
20
|
Genome-wide screens for in vivo Tinman binding sites identify cardiac enhancers with diverse functional architectures. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003195. [PMID: 23326246 PMCID: PMC3542182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The NK homeodomain factor Tinman is a crucial regulator of early mesoderm patterning and, together with the GATA factor Pannier and the Dorsocross T-box factors, serves as one of the key cardiogenic factors during specification and differentiation of heart cells. Although the basic framework of regulatory interactions driving heart development has been worked out, only about a dozen genes involved in heart development have been designated as direct Tinman target genes to date, and detailed information about the functional architectures of their cardiac enhancers is lacking. We have used immunoprecipitation of chromatin (ChIP) from embryos at two different stages of early cardiogenesis to obtain a global overview of the sequences bound by Tinman in vivo and their linked genes. Our data from the analysis of ∼50 sequences with high Tinman occupancy show that the majority of such sequences act as enhancers in various mesodermal tissues in which Tinman is active. All of the dorsal mesodermal and cardiac enhancers, but not some of the others, require tinman function. The cardiac enhancers feature diverse arrangements of binding motifs for Tinman, Pannier, and Dorsocross. By employing these cardiac and non-cardiac enhancers in machine learning approaches, we identify a novel motif, termed CEE, as a classifier for cardiac enhancers. In vivo assays for the requirement of the binding motifs of Tinman, Pannier, and Dorsocross, as well as the CEE motifs in a set of cardiac enhancers, show that the Tinman sites are essential in all but one of the tested enhancers; although on occasion they can be functionally redundant with Dorsocross sites. The enhancers differ widely with respect to their requirement for Pannier, Dorsocross, and CEE sites, which we ascribe to their different position in the regulatory circuitry, their distinct temporal and spatial activities during cardiogenesis, and functional redundancies among different factor binding sites. The Drosophila homeodomain protein Tinman was the first transcription factor found to control the development and differentiation of the heart in any species. In spite of that, our knowledge of the number, identities, and mode of regulation of the downstream target genes of Tinman that are necessary to exert its cardiogenic functions is still very incomplete. To address these issues, we have performed a genome-wide analysis of DNA regions associated with Tinman-binding in embryos and the genes linked to them. The combined data from our in-depth in vivo assays of sequence elements with high Tinman occupancy allow the following general conclusions: (1) The majority of such sequences are active as regulatory elements (called enhancers) in mesodermal tissues that include Tinman-expressing cells. (2) The enhancers active in the heart progenitor cells and the heart generally are dependent on tinman gene activity, whereas those active in non-cardiac mesoderm are often bound neutrally by Tinman. (3) Tinman binding motifs in most cases are essential for cardiac enhancer activity, but in some cases they can be functionally-redundant with those of other cardiogenic factors. (4) Tinman-occupied cardiac enhancers are enriched for a newly discovered binding motif for an unknown factor that is functional in vivo.
Collapse
|
21
|
Hamad EA, Zhu W, Chan TO, Myers V, Gao E, Li X, Zhang J, Song J, Zhang XQ, Cheung JY, Koch W, Feldman AM. Cardioprotection of controlled and cardiac-specific over-expression of A(2A)-adenosine receptor in the pressure overload. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39919. [PMID: 22792196 PMCID: PMC3391213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine binds to three G protein-coupled receptors (R) located on the cardiomyocyte (A(1)-R, A(2A)-R and A(3)-R) and provides cardiac protection during both ischemic and load-induced stress. While the role of adenosine receptor-subtypes has been well defined in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion, far less is known regarding their roles in protecting the heart during other forms of cardiac stress. Because of its ability to increase cardiac contractility and heart rate, we hypothesized that enhanced signaling through A(2A)-R would protect the heart during the stress of transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Using a cardiac-specific and inducible promoter, we selectively over-expressed A(2A)-R in FVB mice. Echocardiograms were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 8, 12, 14 weeks and hearts were harvested at 14 weeks, when WT mice developed a significant decrease in cardiac function, an increase in end systolic and diastolic dimensions, a higher heart weight to body weight ratio (HW/BW), and marked fibrosis when compared with sham-operated WT. More importantly, these changes were significantly attenuated by over expression of the A(2A)-R. Furthermore, WT mice also demonstrated marked increases in the hypertrophic genes β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)--changes that are mediated by activation of the transcription factor GATA-4. Levels of the mRNAs encoding β-MHC, ANP, and GATA-4 were significantly lower in myocardium from A(2A)-R TG mice after TAC when compared with WT and sham-operated controls. In addition, three inflammatory factors genes encoding cysteine dioxygenase, complement component 3, and serine peptidase inhibitor, member 3N, were enhanced in WT TAC mice, but their expression was suppressed in A(2A)-R TG mice. A(2A)-R over-expression is protective against pressure-induced heart failure secondary to TAC. These cardioprotective effects are associated with attenuation of GATA-4 expression and inflammatory factors. The A(2A)-R may provide a novel new target for pharmacologic therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eman A. Hamad
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, The Center for Translational Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Weizhong Zhu
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Tung O. Chan
- Department of Medicine, The Center for Translational Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Valerie Myers
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Erhe Gao
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Medicine, The Center for Translational Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, The Center for Translational Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jianliang Song
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xue-Qian Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joseph Y. Cheung
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Walter Koch
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Arthur M. Feldman
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
microRNAs in cardiovascular development. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2012; 52:949-57. [PMID: 22300733 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2012.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Heart development requires precise temporal-spatial regulation of gene expression, in which the highly conserved modulation networks of transcription factors accurately control the signaling pathways required for normal cardiovascular development. Even slight perturbation of such programming during cardiogenesis can cause congenital heart defects and late neonatal or adult heart disease. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of "small" non-coding RNAs, have recently drawn a lot of attention for their "big" impact on cardiovascular development and diseases. miRNAs negatively regulate the expression of their target genes in most biological organisms through post-transcriptional processes. Here, we review the roles of miRNAs in cardiovascular development and function, looking inside the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs act as "fine tuners" and/or "safeguards" to maintain the homeostasis of cardiovascular system. We also propose new directions for therapeutic potential of these tiny molecules.
Collapse
|
23
|
Xu P, Johnson TL, Stoller-Conrad JR, Schulz RA. Spire, an actin nucleation factor, regulates cell division during Drosophila heart development. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30565. [PMID: 22276214 PMCID: PMC3262839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila dorsal vessel is a beneficial model system for studying the regulation of early heart development. Spire (Spir), an actin-nucleation factor, regulates actin dynamics in many developmental processes, such as cell shape determination, intracellular transport, and locomotion. Through protein expression pattern analysis, we demonstrate that the absence of spir function affects cell division in Myocyte enhancer factor 2-, Tinman (Tin)-, Even-skipped- and Seven up (Svp)-positive heart cells. In addition, genetic interaction analysis shows that spir functionally interacts with Dorsocross, tin, and pannier to properly specify the cardiac fate. Furthermore, through visualization of double heterozygous embryos, we determines that spir cooperates with CycA for heart cell specification and division. Finally, when comparing the spir mutant phenotype with that of a CycA mutant, the results suggest that most Svp-positive progenitors in spir mutant embryos cannot undergo full cell division at cell cycle 15, and that Tin-positive progenitors are arrested at cell cycle 16 as double-nucleated cells. We conclude that Spir plays a crucial role in controlling dorsal vessel formation and has a function in cell division during heart tube morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Amodio V, Tevy MF, Traina C, Ghosh TK, Capovilla M. Transactivation in Drosophila of human enhancers by human transcription factors involved in congenital heart diseases. Dev Dyn 2011; 241:190-9. [PMID: 21990232 PMCID: PMC3326377 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human transcription factors (TFs) GATA4, NKX2.5 and TBX5 form part of the core network necessary to build a human heart and are involved in Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs). The human natriuretic peptide precursor A (NPPA) and α-myosin heavy chain 6 (MYH6) genes are downstream effectors involved in cardiogenesis that have been demonstrated to be in vitro targets of such TFs. RESULTS To study the interactions between these human TFs and their target enhancers in vivo, we overexpressed them in the whole Drosophila cardiac tube using the UAS/GAL4 system. We observed that all three TFs up-regulate their natural target enhancers in Drosophila and cause developmental defects when overexpressed in eyes and wings. CONCLUSIONS A strong potential of the present model might be the development of combinatorial and mutational assays to study the interactions between human TFs and their natural target promoters, which are not easily undertaken in tissue culture cells because of the variability in transfection efficiency, especially when multiple constructs are used. Thus, this novel system could be used to determine in vivo the genetic nature of the human mutant forms of these TFs, setting up a powerful tool to unravel the molecular genetic mechanisms that lead to CHDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Amodio
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
JAK/STAT and the GATA factor Pannier control hemocyte maturation and differentiation in Drosophila. Dev Biol 2011; 352:308-16. [PMID: 21295568 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Revised: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The lymph gland is the major site of hematopoiesis in Drosophila. During late larval stages three types of hemocytes are produced, plasmatocytes, crystal cells, and lamellocytes, and their differentiation is tightly controlled by conserved factors and signaling pathways. JAK/STAT is one of these pathways which have essential roles in vertebrate and fly hematopoiesis. We show that Stat has opposing cell-autonomous and non-autonomous functions in hemocyte differentiation. Using a clonal approach we established that loss of Stat in a set of prohemocytes in the cortical zone induces plasmatocyte maturation in adjacent hemocytes. Hemocytes lacking Stat fail to differentiate into plasmatocytes, indicating that Stat positively and cell-autonomously controls plasmatocyte differentiation. We also identified the GATA factor pannier (pnr) as a downstream target of Stat. By analyzing the phenotypes resulting from clonal loss and over-expression of pnr in lymph glands, we find that Pnr is positively regulated by Stat and specifically required for the differentiation of plasmatocytes. Stat and Pnr represent two essential factors controlling blood cell maturation in the developing lymph gland and exert their functions both in a cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous manner.
Collapse
|
26
|
Piazza N, Wessells RJ. Drosophila models of cardiac disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 100:155-210. [PMID: 21377627 PMCID: PMC3551295 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-384878-9.00005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a useful model for cardiac diseases, both developmental abnormalities and adult functional impairment. Using the tools of both classical and molecular genetics, the study of the developing fly heart has been instrumental in identifying the major signaling events of cardiac field formation, cardiomyocyte specification, and the formation of the functioning heart tube. The larval stage of fly cardiac development has become an important model system for testing isolated preparations of living hearts for the effects of biological and pharmacological compounds on cardiac activity. Meanwhile, the recent development of effective techniques to study adult cardiac performance in the fly has opened new uses for the Drosophila model system. The fly system is now being used to study long-term alterations in adult performance caused by factors such as diet, exercise, and normal aging. The fly is a unique and valuable system for the study of such complex, long-term interactions, as it is the only invertebrate genetic model system with a working heart developmentally homologous to the vertebrate heart. Thus, the fly model combines the advantages of invertebrate genetics (such as large populations, facile molecular genetic techniques, and short lifespan) with physiological measurement techniques that allow meaningful comparisons with data from vertebrate model systems. As such, the fly model is well situated to make important contributions to the understanding of complicated interactions between environmental factors and genetics in the long-term regulation of cardiac performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Piazza
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ryu JR, Najand N, Brook WJ. Tinman is a direct activator of midline in the drosophila dorsal vessel. Dev Dyn 2010; 240:86-95. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
28
|
Lam VK, Tokusumi T, Cerabona D, Schulz RA. Specific cell ablation in Drosophila using the toxic viral protein M2(H37A). Fly (Austin) 2010; 4:338-43. [PMID: 20798602 DOI: 10.4161/fly.4.4.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of toxic viral proteins for the purpose of eliminating distinct populations of cells, while leaving the rest of an organism unaffected, is a valuable method for analyzing development. Using the Gal4-UAS system, we employed the M2(H37A) toxic ion channel of the influenza-A virus to selectively ablate the Drosophila eye-antennal imaginal discs, hemocytes, dorsal vessel and nervous tissue, and comparatively monitored the effects of expressing the apoptosis-promoting protein Reaper in identical cell populations. In this report, we demonstrate the effectiveness of M2(H37A)-mediated ablation as a new means to selectively eliminate cells of interest during Drosophila development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria K Lam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Fromental-Ramain C, Taquet N, Ramain P. Transcriptional interactions between the pannier isoforms and the cofactor U-shaped during neural development in Drosophila. Mech Dev 2010; 127:442-57. [PMID: 20709169 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2010.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2009] [Revised: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The pannier (pnr) gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes two isoforms that belong to the family of GATA transcription factors. The isoforms share an expression domain in the wing discs where they exhibit distinct functions during regulation of the proneural achaete/scute (ac/sc) genes. We previously identified two regions in the pnr locus that drive reporter expression in transgenic lines in patterns that recapitulate the essential features of expression of the two isoforms. Here, we identify promoter regions driving isoform expression, showing that pnr-α regulatory sequences are close to the transcription start site while pnr-β expression requires functional interactions between proximal and distal regulatory elements. We find that the promoter domains necessary for reporter expression also mediate autoregulation of Pnr-β and repression of pnr-α by Pnr-β. The cofactor U-shaped (Ush), which is known to down-regulate the function of Pnr during thorax patterning postranscriptionally, in addition represses pnr-β required for ac/sc activation. Moreover, Ush negatively regulates its own expression, while the pnr isoforms positively regulate ush. Our study uncovers complex transcriptional interactions between the pnr isoforms and the cofactor Ush that may be important for regulation of proneural expression and thorax patterning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Fromental-Ramain
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Kamp A, Peterson MA, Svenson KL, Bjork BC, Hentges KE, Rajapaksha TW, Moran J, Justice MJ, Seidman JG, Seidman CE, Moskowitz IP, Beier DR. Genome-wide identification of mouse congenital heart disease loci. Hum Mol Genet 2010; 19:3105-13. [PMID: 20511334 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Empirical evidence supporting a genetic basis for the etiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) is limited and few disease-causing mutations have been identified. To identify novel CHD genes, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify mutant mouse lines with heritable CHD. Lines with recessive N-ethyl-N-nitrsourea-induced CHD-causing mutations were identified using a three-generation backcross. A hierarchical screening protocol was used to test the hypothesis that the fetal-to-neonatal circulatory transition unmasks the specific structural heart defects observed in CHD. Mice with heart defects were efficiently ascertained by selecting for pups exhibiting perinatal lethality and characterizing their cardiac pathology. A marked increase of perinatal lethality was observed in the mutagen-treated cohort compared with an untreated backcross population. Cardiac pathology on perinatal lethals revealed cardiovascular defects in 79 pups from 47 of 321 mutagenized lines. All identified structural abnormalities were analogous to previously described forms of human CHD. Furthermore, the phenotypic recurrence and variance patterns across all lines were similar to human CHD prevalence and recurrence patterns. We mapped the locus responsible for heritable atrioventricular septal defects in six lines (avc1-6). Our screen demonstrated that 'sporadic' CHD may have major genetic component and established a practical, efficient approach for identifying CHD candidate genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kamp
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Antonella Cecchetto, Alessandra Rampazzo, Annalisa Angelini,. From molecular mechanisms of cardiac development to genetic substrate of congenital heart diseases. Future Cardiol 2010; 6:373-93. [DOI: 10.2217/fca.10.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease is one of the most important chapters in medicine because its incidence is increasing and nowadays it is close to 1.2%. Most congenital heart disorders are the result of defects during embryogenesis, which implies that they are due to alterations in genes involved in cardiac development. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in cardiac development in order to clarify the genetic basis of congenital heart disease.
Collapse
|
32
|
Reim I, Frasch M. Genetic and genomic dissection of cardiogenesis in the Drosophila model. Pediatr Cardiol 2010; 31:325-34. [PMID: 20033682 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-009-9612-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2009] [Accepted: 12/07/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The linear heart tube of the fruit fly Drosophila has served as a very valuable model for studying the regulation of early heart development. In the past, regulatory genes of Drosophila cardiogenesis have been identified largely through candidate approaches. The vast genetic toolkit available in this organism has made it possible to determine their functions and build regulatory networks of transcription factors and signaling inputs that control heart development. In this review, we summarize the major findings from this study and present current approaches aiming to identify additional players in the specification, morphogenesis, and differentiation of the heart by forward genetic screens. We also discuss various genomic and bioinformatic approaches that are currently being developed to extend the known transcriptional networks more globally which, in combination with the genetic approaches, will provide a comprehensive picture of the regulatory circuits during cardiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingolf Reim
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lu YM, Shioda N, Yamamoto Y, Han F, Fukunaga K. Transcriptional upregulation of calcineurin Abeta by endothelin-1 is partially mediated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIdelta3 in rat cardiomyocytes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2010; 1799:429-41. [PMID: 20215061 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2010.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2009] [Revised: 01/27/2010] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and calcineurin (CaN) are positive regulators of cardiac hypertrophy, but the nature of cross-talk between CaMKII and CaN signaling pathways in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes remains unclear. Here we documented that CaMKIIdelta3 activation enhances transcription of the CaN gene through activation of the CaN-Abeta subunit (CnAbeta) promoter in rat cultured cardiomyocytes. Co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that MEF2 forms a complex with GATA4 following transfection of an active CaMKIIdelta3 (T278D) mutant in neonatal cardiomyocytes. Inversely, transfection of a dominant negative CaMKIIdelta3 mutant failed to promote a MEF2-GATA4 complex. Consistent with these observations, immunocytochemistry indicated nuclear co-localization of MEF2 with GATA4 after hypertrophic agonist stimulation or CaMKIIdelta3 (T278D) transfection. These data demonstrate that CaMKII can enhance CnAbeta promoter activity by enhancing MEF2-GATA4 synergy, suggesting a novel mechanism for CaMKII-mediated hypertrophic signaling, which contributes to induction and development of the hypertrophic response through CaN activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Mei Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University, Aramaki-Aoba Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
GATA4 mutations in Chinese patients with congenital cardiac septal defects. Pediatr Cardiol 2010; 31:85-9. [PMID: 19915893 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-009-9576-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2009] [Accepted: 10/23/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The object of the study was to elucidate the mutations of the GATA4 gene in Han ancestry patients with congenital cardiac septal defects. Fifty Han ancestry patients with sporadic and familial cardiac septal defects and 200 normal subjects of the same ethnical background were studied. A total of six exons and the intron-exon boundaries of GATA4 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were purified and directly sequenced with an ABI PRISM 3730 Automatic DNA sequencer. Two novel heterozygous mutations were discovered in the GATA4 gene in five children with cardiac septal defects (10%, 5/50), His28Tyr in exon 2 and His436Tyr in exon 7, respectively, which were neither found in the control population nor reported in the SNP database at the website http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP. In addition, we did not identify any mutations in GATA4 in three familial atrial septal defects and two familial ventricular septal defects. Our finding suggests that the mutations in the transcription factor GATA4 might be related to congenital cardiac septal defects in Han ancestry patients.
Collapse
|
35
|
Tokusumi T, Sorrentino RP, Russell M, Ferrarese R, Govind S, Schulz RA. Characterization of a lamellocyte transcriptional enhancer located within the misshapen gene of Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6429. [PMID: 19641625 PMCID: PMC2713827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 07/01/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila has emerged as an excellent model system in which to study cellular and genetic aspects of hematopoiesis. Under normal developmental conditions and in wild-type genetic backgrounds, Drosophila possesses two types of blood cells, crystal cells and plasmatocytes. Upon infestation by a parasitic wasp or in certain altered genetic backgrounds, a third hemocyte class called the lamellocyte becomes apparent. Herein we describe the characterization of a novel transcriptional regulatory module, a lamellocyte-active enhancer of the misshapen gene. This transcriptional control sequence appears to be inactive in all cell types of the wild-type larva, including crystal cells and plasmatocytes. However, in lamellocytes induced by wasp infestation or by particular genetic conditions, the enhancer is activated and it directs reporter GFP or DsRed expression exclusively in lamellocytes. The lamellocyte control region was delimited to a 140-bp intronic sequence that contains an essential DNA recognition element for the AP-1 transcription factor. Additionally, mutation of the kayak gene encoding the dFos subunit of AP-1 led to a strong suppression of lamellocyte production in tumorous larvae. As misshapen encodes a protein kinase within the Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway that functions to form an active AP-1 complex, the lamellocyte-active enhancer likely serves as a transcriptional target within a genetic auto-regulatory circuit that promotes the production of lamellocytes in immune-challenged or genetically- compromised animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Tokusumi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Richard Paul Sorrentino
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Mark Russell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Roberto Ferrarese
- Department of Biology, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shubha Govind
- Department of Biology, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Schulz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Qian L, Bodmer R. Partial loss of GATA factor Pannier impairs adult heart function in Drosophila. Hum Mol Genet 2009; 18:3153-63. [PMID: 19494035 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddp254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The GATA transcription factor encoded by pannier (pnr) is a critical regulator of heart progenitor formation in Drosophila. Mutations in GATA4, the mammalian homolog of pnr, have also been implicated in causing human cardiac disease in a haploinsufficient manner. Mouse models of Gata4 loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies underscored the importance of Gata4 in regulating cardiac progenitor cells specification and differentiation. However, it is not known whether pnr/Gata4 is directly involved in establishing and maintaining adult heart physiology because of the lethality associated with defective heart function and redundancy among various GATA factors in vertebrates. Here, we took advantage of the Drosophila heart model to examine the function of pnr in adult heart physiology. We found that pnr heterozygous mutants result in defective cardiac performance in response to electrical pacing of the heart as well as in elevated arrhythmias. Adult-specific disruption of pnr function using a dominant-negative form pnrEnR revealed a cardiac autonomous requirement of pnr in regulating heart physiology. Moreover, we identified Tbx20/neuromancer (nmr) as a potential downstream mediator of pnr in regulating cardiac performance and rhythm regularity, based on the observation that overexpression of nmr genes, but not of tinman, partially rescues the adult defects in pnr mutants. We conclude that pnr is not only essential for early cardiac progenitor formation, along with tinman and T-box factors, but also plays an important role in establishing and/or maintaining proper heart function, which is partially through another key regulator Tbx20/nmr.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Qian
- NASCR Center, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Navet S, Bassaglia Y, Baratte S, Martin M, Bonnaud L. Somatic muscle development in Sepia officinalis (cephalopoda - mollusca): a new role for NK4. Dev Dyn 2008; 237:1944-51. [PMID: 18570246 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cephalopods are emerging as new developmental models. These lophotrochozoans exhibit numerous morphological peculiarities among molluscs, not only regarding their nervous system but also regarding their circulatory system, which is closed and includes three hearts. However, the molecular control of cardiac myogenesis in lophotrochozoans is largely unknown. In other groups, cardiac development depends on numerous different genes, among them NK4 seems to have a well-conserved function throughout evolution. In this study, we assessed the expression pattern of SoNK4, the Sepia officinalis NK4 homologue, during Sepia officinalis development by whole-mount in situ hybridization. SoNK4 expression begins before morphogenesis, is not restricted to prospective cardiac muscles but above all concerns mesodermal structures potentially rich in muscles such as arms and mantle. These results suggest an important role of SoNK4 in locomotory (somatic) muscles development of Sepia officinalis, and thus a new role for NK4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Navet
- Département Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Laboratoire Biologie des Organismes Marins et Ecosystèmes, CNRS UMR5178 - MNHN USM 0401, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bryantsev AL, Cripps RM. Cardiac gene regulatory networks in Drosophila. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2008; 1789:343-53. [PMID: 18849017 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2008.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2008] [Revised: 08/09/2008] [Accepted: 09/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila system has proven a powerful tool to help unlock the regulatory processes that occur during specification and differentiation of the embryonic heart. In this review, we focus upon a temporal analysis of the molecular events that result in heart formation in Drosophila, with a particular emphasis upon how genomic and other cutting-edge approaches are being brought to bear upon the subject. We anticipate that systems-level approaches will contribute greatly to our comprehension of heart development and disease in the animal kingdom.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anton L Bryantsev
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Heart development exhibits some striking similarities between vertebrates and arthropods, for example in both cases the heart develops as a linear tube from mesodermal cells. Furthermore, the underlying molecular pathways exhibit a significant number of similarities between vertebrates and the fruit fly Drosophila, suggesting a common origin of heart development in the last common ancestor of flies and vertebrates. However, there is hardly any molecular data from other animals. Here we show that many of the key genes are also active in heart development in the spider Cupiennius salei. Spiders belong to the chelicerates and are distantly related to insects with respect to the other arthropods. The tinman/Nkx2.5 ortholog is the first gene to be specifically expressed in the presumptive spider heart, like in flies and vertebrates. We also show that tinman is expressed in a similar way in the beetle Tribolium castaneum. Taken together this demonstrates that tinman has a conserved role in the specification of the arthropod heart. In addition, we analyzed the expression of other heart genes (decapentaplegic, Wnt5, H15, even-skipped, and Mef2 ) in Cupiennius. The expression of these genes suggests that the genetic pathway of heart development may be largely conserved among arthropods. However, a major difference is seen in the earlier expression of the even-skipped gene in the developing spider heart compared with Drosophila, implying that the role of even-skipped in heart formation might have changed during arthropod evolution. The most striking finding, however, is that in addition to the dorsal tissue of the fourth walking leg segment and the opisthosomal segments, we discovered tinman-expressing cells that arise from a position dorsal to the cephalic lobe and that contribute to the anterior dorsal vessel. In contrast to the posterior heart tissue, these cells do not express the other heart genes. The spider heart thus is composed of two distinct populations of cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Janssen
- Institute for Genetics, Evolutionary Genetics, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Myocyte enhancer factor 2 and chorion factor 2 collaborate in activation of the myogenic program in Drosophila. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 28:1616-29. [PMID: 18160709 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01169-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of myogenesis requires the coordinated activation of many structural genes whose products are required for myofibril assembly, function, and regulation. Although numerous reports have documented the importance of the myogenic regulator myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) in muscle differentiation, the interaction of MEF2 with cofactors is critical to the realization of muscle fate. We identify here a genomic region required for full MEF2-mediated activation of actin gene expression in Drosophila, and we identify the zinc finger transcriptional regulator chorion factor 2 (CF2) as a factor functioning alongside MEF2 via this region. Furthermore, although both MEF2 and CF2 can individually activate actin gene expression, we demonstrate that these two factors collaborate in regulating the Actin57B target gene in vitro and in vivo. More globally, MEF2 and CF2 synergistically activate the enhancers of a number of muscle-specific genes, and loss of CF2 function in vivo results in reductions in the levels of several muscle structural gene transcripts. These findings validate a general importance of CF2 alongside MEF2 as a critical regulator of the myogenic program, identify a new regulator functioning with MEF2 to control cell fate, and provide insight into the network of regulatory events that shape the developing musculature.
Collapse
|
41
|
Fromental-Ramain C, Vanolst L, Delaporte C, Ramain P. pannier encodes two structurally related isoforms that are differentially expressed during Drosophila development and display distinct functions during thorax patterning. Mech Dev 2007; 125:43-57. [PMID: 18042352 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2007.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2007] [Revised: 09/28/2007] [Accepted: 10/11/2007] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the pannier (pnr) gene of Drosophila encodes a GATA transcription factor which is involved in various biological processes, including heart development, dorsal closure during embryogenesis as well as neurogenesis and regulation of wingless (wg) expression during imaginal development. We demonstrate here that pnr encodes two highly related isoforms that share functional domains but are differentially expressed during development. Moreover, we describe two genomic regions of the pnr locus that drive expression of a reporter in transgenic flies in patterns that recapitulate essential features of the expression of the isoforms, suggesting that these regions encompass crucial regulatory elements. These elements contain, in particular, sequences mediating regulation of expression by Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling, during both embryogenesis and imaginal development. Analysis of pnr alleles reveals that the isoforms differentially regulate expression of both wg and proneural achaete/scute (as/sc) targets during imaginal development. Pnr function has been demonstrated to be necessary both for activation of wg and, together with U-shaped (Ush), for its repression in the dorsal-most region of the presumptive notum. Expression of the isoforms define distinct longitudinal domains and, in this regard, we importantly show that the dual function of pnr during regulation of wg is achieved by one isoform repressing expression of the morphogen in the dorsal-most region of the disc while the other laterally promotes activation of the notal wg expression. Our study provides novel insights into pnr function during Drosophila development and extends our knowledge of the roles of prepattern factors during thorax patterning.
Collapse
|
42
|
The Friend of GATA protein U-shaped functions as a hematopoietic tumor suppressor in Drosophila. Dev Biol 2007; 311:311-23. [PMID: 17936744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2007] [Revised: 07/20/2007] [Accepted: 08/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila has emerged as an important model system to discover and analyze genes controlling hematopoiesis. One regulatory network known to control hemocyte differentiation is the Janus kinase (JAK)/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) signal-transduction pathway. A constitutive activation mutation of the Janus kinase Hopscotch (hopscotch(Tumorous-lethal); hop(Tum-l)) results in a leukemia-like over-proliferation of hemocytes and copious differentiation of lamellocytes during larval stages. Here we show that the Friend of GATA (FOG) protein U-shaped (Ush) is expressed in circulating and lymph gland hemocytes, where it plays a critical role in controlling blood cell proliferation and differentiation. Our findings demonstrate that a reduction in ush function results in hematopoietic phenotypes strikingly similar to those observed in hop(Tum-l) animals. These include lymph gland hypertrophy, increased circulating hemocyte concentration, and abundant production of lamellocytes. Forced expression of N-terminal truncated versions of Ush likewise leads to larvae with severe hematopoietic anomalies. In contrast, expression of wild-type Ush results in a strong suppression of hop(Tum-l) phenotypes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that U-shaped acts to control larval hemocyte proliferation and suppress lamellocyte differentiation, likely regulating hematopoietic events downstream of Hop kinase activity. Such functions appear to be facilitated through Ush interaction with the hematopoietic GATA factor Serpent (Srp).
Collapse
|
43
|
Gajewski KM, Sorrentino RP, Lee JH, Zhang Q, Russell M, Schulz RA. Identification of a crystal cell-specific enhancer of the black cells prophenoloxidase gene in Drosophila. Genesis 2007; 45:200-7. [PMID: 17417793 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila, Black cells (Bc) encodes a Prophenoloxidase and is expressed late in the maturation of crystal cells, which are blood cells involved in wound healing and immune encapsulation. Enhancer analysis of Bc revealed a 1,025-bp upstream sequence that regulates gene expression in a crystal cell exclusive pattern. Expression of this fragment is altered by mutations in the GATA family serpent (srp) and RUNX family lozenge (lz) genes; Srp and Lz are required for crystal cell specification. Deletional analysis uncovered a 330-bp crystal cell-specific sequence, which contains two GATA and three Lz binding sites. Mutational analysis revealed that both GATA sites are necessary, but not sufficient for crystal cell expression. However, one of the Lz sites is essential for crystal cell expression. Thus, Srp and Lz do not just specify the crystal cell lineage, but also regulate the later differentiation of these cells. Additionally, we now have a sensitive tool for marking crystal cells in live animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Gajewski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Tokusumi T, Russell M, Gajewski K, Fossett N, Schulz RA. U-shaped protein domains required for repression of cardiac gene expression in Drosophila. Differentiation 2007; 75:166-74. [PMID: 17316386 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-0436.2006.00120.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
U-shaped is a zinc finger protein that functions predominantly as a negative transcriptional regulator of cell fate determination during Drosophila development. In the early stages of dorsal vessel formation, the protein acts to control cardioblast specification, working as a negative attenuator of the cardiogenic GATA factor Pannier. Pannier and the homeodomain protein Tinman normally work together to specify heart cells and activate cardioblast gene expression. One target of this positive regulation is a heart enhancer of the D-mef2 gene and U-shaped has been shown to antagonize enhancer activation by Pannier and Tinman. We have mapped protein domains of U-shaped required for its repression of cardioblast gene expression. Such studies showed GATA factor interacting zinc fingers of U-shaped are required for enhancer repression, as well as three small motifs that are likely needed for co-factor binding and/or protein modification. These analyses have also allowed for the definition of a 253 amino acid interval of U-shaped that is essential for its nuclear localization. Together, these findings provide molecular insights into the function of U-shaped as a negative regulator of heart development in Drosophila.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Tokusumi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Program in Genes & Development, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Tao Y, Wang J, Tokusumi T, Gajewski K, Schulz RA. Requirement of the LIM homeodomain transcription factor tailup for normal heart and hematopoietic organ formation in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 27:3962-9. [PMID: 17371844 PMCID: PMC1900034 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00093-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dorsal vessel morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster serves as a superb system with which to study the cellular and genetic bases of heart tube formation. We used a cardioblast-expressed Toll-GFP transgene to screen for additional genes involved in heart development and identified tailup as a locus essential for normal dorsal vessel formation. tailup, related to vertebrate islet1, encodes a LIM homeodomain transcription factor expressed in all cardioblasts and pericardial cells of the heart tube as well as in associated lymph gland hematopoietic organs and alary muscles that attach the dorsal vessel to the epidermis. A transcriptional enhancer regulating expression in these four cell types was identified and used as a tailup-GFP transgene with additional markers to characterize dorsal vessel defects resulting from gene mutations. Two reproducible phenotypes were observed in mutant embryos: hypoplastic heart tubes with misaligned cardioblasts and the absence of most lymph gland and pericardial cells. Conversely, a significant expansion of the lymph glands and abnormal morphology of the heart were observed when tailup was overexpressed in the mesoderm. Tailup was shown to bind to two DNA recognition sequences in the dorsal vessel enhancer of the Hand basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor gene, with one site proven to be essential for the lymph gland, pericardial cell, and Svp/Doc cardioblast expression of Hand. Together, these results establish Tailup as being a critical new transcription factor in dorsal vessel morphogenesis and lymph gland formation and place this regulator directly upstream of Hand in these developmental processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Unit 1000, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Garg A, Srivastava A, Davis MM, O'Keefe SL, Chow L, Bell JB. Antagonizing scalloped with a novel vestigial construct reveals an important role for scalloped in Drosophila melanogaster leg, eye and optic lobe development. Genetics 2007; 175:659-69. [PMID: 17110491 PMCID: PMC1800616 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.063966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2006] [Accepted: 11/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Scalloped (SD), a TEA/ATTS-domain-containing protein, is required for the proper development of Drosophila melanogaster. Despite being expressed in a variety of tissues, most of the work on SD has been restricted to understanding its role and function in patterning the adult wing. To gain a better understanding of its role in development, we generated sd(47M) flip-in mitotic clones. The mitotic clones had developmental defects in the leg and eye. Further, by removing the VG domains involved in activation, we created a reagent (VGDeltaACT) that disrupts the ability of SD to form a functional transcription factor complex and produced similar phenotypes to the flip-in mitotic clones. The VGDeltaACT construct also disrupted adult CNS development. Expression of the VGDeltaACT construct in the wing alters the cellular localization of VG and produces a mutant phenotype, indicating that the construct is able to antagonize the normal function of the SD/VG complex. Expression of the protein:protein interaction portion of SD is also able to elicit similar phenotypes, suggesting that SD interacts with other cofactors in the leg, eye, and adult CNS. Furthermore, antagonizing SD in larval tissues results in cell death, indicating that SD may also have a role in cell survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Garg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Abstract
The Drosophila heart, also called the dorsal vessel, is an organ for hemolymph circulation that resembles the vertebrate heart at its transient linear tube stage. Dorsal vessel morphogenesis shares several similarities with early events of vertebrate heart development and has proven to be an insightful system for the study of cardiogenesis due to its relatively simple structure and the productive use of Drosophila genetic approaches. In this review, we summarize published findings on Drosophila heart development in terms of the regulators and genetic pathways required for cardiac cell specification and differentiation, and organ formation and function. Emerging genome-based strategies should further facilitate the use of Drosophila as an advantageous system in which to identify previously unknown genes and regulatory networks essential for normal cardiac development and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Lavallée G, Andelfinger G, Nadeau M, Lefebvre C, Nemer G, Horb ME, Nemer M. The Kruppel-like transcription factor KLF13 is a novel regulator of heart development. EMBO J 2006; 25:5201-13. [PMID: 17053787 PMCID: PMC1630408 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2006] [Accepted: 09/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, congenital heart defects occur in 1-2% of live birth, but the molecular mechanisms and causative genes remain unidentified in the majority of cases. We have uncovered a novel transcription pathway important for heart morphogenesis. We report that KLF13, a member of the Krüppel-like family of zinc-finger proteins, is expressed predominantly in the heart, binds evolutionarily conserved regulatory elements on cardiac promoters and activates cardiac transcription. KLF13 is conserved across species and knockdown of KLF13 in Xenopus embryos leads to atrial septal defects and hypotrabeculation similar to those observed in humans or mice with hypomorphic GATA-4 alleles. Physical and functional interaction with GATA-4, a dosage-sensitive cardiac regulator, provides a mechanistic explanation for KLF13 action in the heart. The data demonstrate that KLF13 is an important component of the transcription network required for heart development and suggest that KLF13 is a GATA-4 modifier; by analogy to other GATA-4 collaborators, mutations in KLF13 may be causative for congenital human heart disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Lavallée
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gregor Andelfinger
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Nadeau
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chantal Lefebvre
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Georges Nemer
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marko E Horb
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Cardiac Growth and Differentiation Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110, avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1R7. Tel.: +1 514 987 5680; Fax: +1 514 987 5575; E-mail:
| | - Mona Nemer
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Cardiac Growth and Differentiation Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110, avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1R7. Tel.: +1 514 987 5680; Fax: +1 514 987 5575; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Hosoya-Ohmura S, Mochizuki N, Suzuki M, Ohneda O, Ohneda K, Yamamoto M. GATA-4 Incompletely Substitutes for GATA-1 in Promoting Both Primitive and Definitive Erythropoiesis in Vivo. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:32820-30. [PMID: 16945928 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m605735200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate GATA transcription factors have been classified into two subgroups; GATA-1, GATA-2, and GATA-3 are expressed in hematopoietic cells, whereas GATA-4, GATA-5, and GATA-6 are expressed in mesoendoderm-derived tissues. We previously discovered that expression of GATA-2 or GATA-3 under the transcriptional control for the Gata1 gene eliminates lethal anemia in Gata1 germ line mutant mice (Gata1.05/Y). Here, we show that the GATA-4 expression by the same regulatory cassette prolongs the life span of Gata1.05/Y embryos from embryonic day 12.5 to 15.5 but fails to abrogate its embryonic lethality. Gata1.05/Y mice bearing the GATA-4 transgene showed impaired maturation of both primitive and definitive erythroid cells and defective erythroid cell expansion in fetal liver. Moreover, the incidence of apoptosis was observed prominently in primitive erythroid cells. In contrast, a GATA-4-GATA-1 chimeric protein prepared by linking the N-terminal region of GATA-4 to the C-terminal region of GATA-1 significantly promoted the differentiation and survival of primitive erythroid cells, although this protein is still insufficient for rescuing Gata1.05/Y embryos from lethal anemia. These data thus show a functional incompatibility between hematopoietic and endodermal GATA factors in vivo and provide evidence indicating specific roles of the C-terminal region of GATA-1 in primitive erythropoiesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sakie Hosoya-Ohmura
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Albrecht S, Wang S, Holz A, Bergter A, Paululat A. The ADAM metalloprotease Kuzbanian is crucial for proper heart formation in Drosophila melanogaster. Mech Dev 2006; 123:372-87. [PMID: 16713197 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2006.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2006] [Revised: 03/07/2006] [Accepted: 03/09/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We have screened a collection of EMS mutagenized fly lines in order to identify genes involved in cardiogenesis. In the present work, we have studied a group of alleles exhibiting a hypertrophic heart. Our analysis revealed that the ADAM protein (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease) Kuzbanian, which is the functional homologue of the vertebrate ADAM10, is crucial for proper heart formation. ADAMs are a family of transmembrane proteins that play a critical role during the proteolytic conversion (shedding) of membrane bound proteins to soluble forms. Enzymes harboring a sheddase function recently became candidates for causing several congenital diseases, like distinct forms of the Alzheimer disease. ADAMs play also a pivotal role during heart formation and vascularisation in vertebrates, therefore mutations in ADAM genes potentially could cause congenital heart defects in humans. In Drosophila, the zygotic loss of an active form of the Kuzbanian protein results in a dramatic excess of cardiomyocytes, accompanied by a loss of pericardial cells. Our data presented herein suggest that Kuzbanian acts during lateral inhibition within the cardiac primordium. Furthermore we discuss a second function of Kuzbanian in heart cell morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Albrecht
- Universität Osnabrück, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, Zoologie, Barbarastrasse 11, D-49069 Osnabrück, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|