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Nanes Sarfati D, Xue Y, Song ES, Byrne A, Le D, Darmanis S, Quake SR, Burlacot A, Sikes J, Wang B. Coordinated wound responses in a regenerative animal-algal holobiont. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4032. [PMID: 38740753 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48366-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal regeneration involves coordinated responses across cell types throughout the animal body. In endosymbiotic animals, whether and how symbionts react to host injury and how cellular responses are integrated across species remain unexplored. Here, we study the acoel Convolutriloba longifissura, which hosts symbiotic Tetraselmis sp. green algae and can regenerate entire bodies from tissue fragments. We show that animal injury causes a decline in the photosynthetic efficiency of the symbiotic algae, alongside two distinct, sequential waves of transcriptional responses in acoel and algal cells. The initial algal response is characterized by the upregulation of a cohort of photosynthesis-related genes, though photosynthesis is not necessary for regeneration. A conserved animal transcription factor, runt, is induced after injury and required for acoel regeneration. Knockdown of Cl-runt dampens transcriptional responses in both species and further reduces algal photosynthetic efficiency post-injury. Our results suggest that the holobiont functions as an integrated unit of biological organization by coordinating molecular networks across species through the runt-dependent animal regeneration program.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eun Sun Song
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Daniel Le
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Stephen R Quake
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Burlacot
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James Sikes
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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2
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Li X, Weth O, Haimann M, Möscheid MF, Huber TS, Grevelding CG. Rhodopsin orphan GPCR20 interacts with neuropeptides and directs growth, sexual differentiation, and egg production in female Schistosoma mansoni. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0219323. [PMID: 38047698 PMCID: PMC10783048 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02193-23] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Schistosomes cause schistosomiasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases as defined by the WHO. For decades, the treatment of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, praziquantel. Due to its wide use, there is justified fear of resistance against this drug, and a vaccine is not available. Besides its biological relevance in signal transduction processes, the class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is also well suited for drug design. Against this background, we characterized one GPCR of Schistosoma mansoni, SmGPCR20, at the molecular and functional level. We identified two potential neuropeptides (NPPs) as ligands, SmNPP26 and SmNPP40, and unraveled their roles, in combination with SmGPCR20, in neuronal processes controlling egg production, oogenesis, and growth of S. mansoni females. Since eggs are closely associated with the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis, our results contribute to the understanding of processes leading to egg production in schistosomes, which is under the control of pairing in this exceptional parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuesong Li
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver Weth
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Haimann
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Max F. Möscheid
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Theresa S. Huber
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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3
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Poveda C, Chen YL, Strych U. Generation and Characterization of In Vitro Transcribed mRNA. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2786:147-165. [PMID: 38814393 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3770-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Here we describe the in vitro preparation of mRNA from DNA templates, including setting up the transcription reaction, mRNA capping, and mRNA labeling. We then describe methods used for mRNA characterization, including UV and fluorescence spectrophotometry, as well as gel electrophoresis. Moreover, characterization of the in vitro transcribed RNA using the Bioanalyzer instrument is described, allowing a higher resolution analysis of the target molecules. For the in vitro testing of the mRNA molecules, we include protocols for the transfection of various primary cell cultures and the confirmation of translation by intracellular staining and western blotting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Poveda
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yi-Lin Chen
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA.
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Issigonis M, Browder KL, Chen R, Collins JJ, Newmark PA. A niche-derived non-ribosomal peptide triggers planarian sexual development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570471. [PMID: 38106172 PMCID: PMC10723454 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Germ cells are regulated by local microenvironments (niches), which secrete instructive cues. Conserved developmental signaling molecules act as niche-derived regulatory factors, yet other types of niche signals remain to be identified. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of sexual planarians revealed niche cells expressing a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (nrps). Inhibiting nrps led to loss of female reproductive organs and testis hyperplasia. Mass spectrometry detected the dipeptide β-alanyl-tryptamine (BATT), which is associated with reproductive system development and requires nrps and a monoamine-transmitter-synthetic enzyme (AADC) for its production. Exogenous BATT rescued the reproductive defects after nrps or aadc inhibition, restoring fertility. Thus, a non-ribosomal, monoamine-derived peptide provided by niche cells acts as a critical signal to trigger planarian reproductive development. These findings reveal an unexpected function for monoamines in niche-germ cell signaling. Furthermore, given the recently reported role for BATT as a male-derived factor required for reproductive maturation of female schistosomes, these results have important implications for the evolution of parasitic flatworms and suggest a potential role for non-ribosomal peptides as signaling molecules in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Issigonis
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
| | - Katherine L. Browder
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX 75390
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Phillip A. Newmark
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53715
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5
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Gaetano AJ, King RS. A simplified and rapid in situ hybridization protocol for planarians. Biotechniques 2023; 75:231-239. [PMID: 37851365 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2023-0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-mount in situ hybridization is a critical technique for analyzing gene expression in planarians. While robust in situ protocols have been developed, these protocols are laborious, making them challenging to incorporate in an academic setting, reducing throughput and increasing time to results. Here, the authors systematically tested modifications to all phases of the protocol with the goal of eliminating steps and reducing time without impacting quality. This modified protocol allows for whole-mount colorimetric in situ hybridization and multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization to be completed in two days with a significant reduction in steps and hands-on processing time.
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Cadena-Caballero CE, Munive-Argüelles N, Vera-Cala LM, Barrios-Hernandez C, Duarte-Bernal RO, Ayus-Ortiz VL, Pardo-Díaz LA, Agudelo-Rodríguez M, Bautista-Rozo LX, Jimenez-Gutierrez LR, Martinez-Perez F. APGW/AKH Precursor from Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and the DNA Loss Model Explain Evolutionary Trends of the Neuropeptide LWamide, APGWamide, RPCH, AKH, ACP, CRZ, and GnRH Families. J Mol Evol 2023; 91:882-896. [PMID: 38102415 PMCID: PMC10730642 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10146-9] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In the year 2002, DNA loss model (DNA-LM) postulated that neuropeptide genes to emerged through codons loss via the repair of damaged DNA from ancestral gene namely Neuropeptide Precursor Predictive (NPP), which organization correspond two or more neuropeptides precursors evolutive related. The DNA-LM was elaborated according to amino acids homology among LWamide, APGWamide, red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH), adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) and in silico APGW/RPCH NPPAPGW/AKH NPP were proposed. With the above principle, it was proposed the evolution of corazonin (CRZ), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), AKH, and AKH/CRZ (ACP), but any NPP never was considered. However, the evolutive relation via DNA-LM among these neuropeptides precursors not has been established yet. Therefore, the transcriptomes from crabs Callinectes toxotes and Callinectes arcuatus were used to characterized ACP and partial CRZ precursors, respectively. BLAST alignment with APGW/RPCH NPP and APGW/AKH NPP allow identified similar NPP in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and other invertebrates. Moreover, three bioinformatics algorithms and manual verification were used to purify 13,778 sequences, generating a database with 719 neuropeptide precursors. Phylogenetic trees with the DNA-LM parameters showed that some ACP, CRZ, AKH2 and two NPP share nodes with GnRH from vertebrates and some of this neuropeptide had nodes in invertebrates. Whereas the phylogenetic tree with standard parameters do not showed previous node pattern. Robinson-Foulds metric corroborates the differences among phylogenetic trees. Homology relationship showed four putative orthogroups; AKH4, CRZ, and protostomes GnRH had individual group. This is the first demonstration of NPP in species and would explain the evolution neuropeptide families by the DNA-LM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian E Cadena-Caballero
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Nestor Munive-Argüelles
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lina M Vera-Cala
- Grupo de Investigación en Demografía, Salud Pública y Sistemas de Salud (GUINDESS), Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Carlos Barrios-Hernandez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Ruben O Duarte-Bernal
- Biomedical Imaging, Vision and Learning Laboratory (BIVL2ab), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Viviana L Ayus-Ortiz
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Luis A Pardo-Díaz
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Mayra Agudelo-Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Lola X Bautista-Rozo
- Biomedical Imaging, Vision and Learning Laboratory (BIVL2ab), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Laura R Jimenez-Gutierrez
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, 82000, Mazatlán, México
- Cátedra-CONAHCyT, Consejo Nacional de Humanidades Ciencias y Tecnología, 03940, CDMX, México
| | - Francisco Martinez-Perez
- Grupo de Investigación Computo Avanzado y a Gran Escala (CAGE), Escuela de Ingeniería de Sistemas e Informática, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
- Laboratorio de Genómica Celular Aplicada (LGCA), Grupo de Microbiología y Genética, Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 680002, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
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Chandra B, Voas MG, Davies EL, Roberts-Galbraith RH. Ets-1 transcription factor regulates glial cell regeneration and function in planarians. Development 2023; 150:dev201666. [PMID: 37665145 PMCID: PMC10508700 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201666] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Glia play multifaceted roles in nervous systems in response to injury. Depending on the species, extent of injury and glial cell type in question, glia can help or hinder the regeneration of neurons. Studying glia in the context of successful regeneration could reveal features of pro-regenerative glia that could be exploited for new human therapies. Planarian flatworms completely regenerate their nervous systems after injury - including glia - and thus provide a strong model system for exploring glia in the context of regeneration. Here, we report that planarian glia regenerate after neurons, and that neurons are required for correct glial numbers and localization during regeneration. We also identify the planarian transcription factor-encoding gene ets-1 as a key regulator of glial cell maintenance and regeneration. Using ets-1 (RNAi) to perturb glia, we show that glial loss is associated with altered neuronal gene expression, impeded animal movement and impaired nervous system architecture - particularly within the neuropil. Importantly, our work reveals the inter-relationships of glia and neurons in the context of robust neural regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidushi Chandra
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Matthew G. Voas
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Erin L. Davies
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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8
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Fan Y, Chai C, Li P, Zou X, Ferrell JE, Wang B. Ultrafast distant wound response is essential for whole-body regeneration. Cell 2023; 186:3606-3618.e16. [PMID: 37480850 PMCID: PMC10957142 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Injury induces systemic responses, but their functions remain elusive. Mechanisms that can rapidly synchronize wound responses through long distances are also mostly unknown. Using planarian flatworms capable of whole-body regeneration, we report that injury induces extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) activity waves to travel at a speed 10-100 times faster than those in other multicellular tissues. This ultrafast propagation requires longitudinal body-wall muscles, elongated cells forming dense parallel tracks running the length of the organism. The morphological properties of muscles allow them to act as superhighways for propagating and disseminating wound signals. Inhibiting Erk propagation prevents tissues distant to the wound from responding and blocks regeneration, which can be rescued by a second injury to distal tissues shortly after the first injury. Our findings provide a mechanism for long-range signal propagation in large, complex tissues to coordinate responses across cell types and highlight the function of feedback between spatially separated tissues during whole-body regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Fan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chew Chai
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xinzhi Zou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James E Ferrell
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Fan Y, Chai C, Li P, Zou X, Ferrell JE, Wang B. Ultrafast and long-range coordination of wound responses is essential for whole-body regeneration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.15.532844. [PMID: 36993633 PMCID: PMC10055111 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.532844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Injury induces systemic, global responses whose functions remain elusive. In addition, mechanisms that rapidly synchronize wound responses through long distances across the organismal scale are mostly unknown. Using planarians, which have extreme regenerative ability, we report that injury induces Erk activity to travel in a wave-like manner at an unexpected speed (∼1 mm/h), 10-100 times faster than those measured in other multicellular tissues. This ultrafast signal propagation requires longitudinal body-wall muscles, elongated cells forming dense parallel tracks running the length of the organism. Combining experiments and computational models, we show that the morphological properties of muscles allow them to minimize the number of slow intercellular signaling steps and act as bidirectional superhighways for propagating wound signals and instructing responses in other cell types. Inhibiting Erk propagation prevents cells distant to the wound from responding and blocks regeneration, which can be rescued by a second injury to distal tissues within a narrow time window after the first injury. These results suggest that rapid responses in uninjured tissues far from wounds are essential for regeneration. Our findings provide a mechanism for long-range signal propagation in large and complex tissues to coordinate cellular responses across diverse cell types, and highlights the function of feedback between spatially separated tissues during whole-body regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Fan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chew Chai
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xinzhi Zou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James E. Ferrell
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Beutler M, Harnischfeger J, Weber MHW, Hahnel SR, Quack T, Blohm A, Ueberall ME, Timm T, Lochnit G, Rennar GA, Gallinger TL, Houhou H, Rahlfs S, Falcone FH, Becker K, Schlitzer M, Haeberlein S, Czermak P, Salzig D, Grevelding CG. Identification and characterisation of the tegument-expressed aldehyde dehydrogenase SmALDH_312 of Schistosoma mansoni, a target of disulfiram. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251:115179. [PMID: 36948075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma and affects approximately 200 million people worldwide. Since Praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug for schistosomiasis, alternatives are needed. By a biochemical approach, we identified a tegumentally expressed aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of S. mansoni, SmALDH_312. Molecular analyses of adult parasites showed Smaldh_312 transcripts in both genders and different tissues. Physiological and cell-biological experiments exhibited detrimental effects of the drug disulfiram (DSF), a known ALDH inhibitor, on larval and adult schistosomes in vitro. DSF also reduced stem-cell proliferation and caused severe tegument damage in treated worms. In silico-modelling of SmALDH_312 and docking analyses predicted DSF binding, which we finally confirmed by enzyme assays with recombinant SmALDH_312. Furthermore, we identified compounds of the Medicine for Malaria Venture (MMV) pathogen box inhibiting SmALDH_312 activity. Our findings represent a promising starting point for further development towards new drugs for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Beutler
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Julie Harnischfeger
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael H W Weber
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Steffen R Hahnel
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Quack
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Ariane Blohm
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Monique E Ueberall
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Timm
- Protein Analytics, Institute of Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Günter Lochnit
- Protein Analytics, Institute of Biochemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Georg A Rennar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany, Germany
| | - Tom L Gallinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany, Germany
| | - Hicham Houhou
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Stefan Rahlfs
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University, Germany
| | - Franco H Falcone
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Katja Becker
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University, Germany
| | - Martin Schlitzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany, Germany
| | - Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
| | - Peter Czermak
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Denise Salzig
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
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11
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Wang S, Sun Y, Liu X, Guo Y, Huang Y, Zhang S, Tian Q. Meis1 Controls the Differentiation of Eye Progenitor Cells and the Formation of Posterior Poles during Planarian Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043505. [PMID: 36834910 PMCID: PMC9961902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
As a member of TALE family, Meis1 has been proven to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation during cell fate commitment; however, the mechanism is still not fully understood. The planarian, which has an abundance of stem cells (neoblasts) responsible for regenerating any organ after injury, is an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of tissue identity determination. Here, we characterized a planarian homolog of Meis1 from the planarian Dugesia japonica. Importantly, we found that knockdown of DjMeis1 inhibits the differentiation of neoblasts into eye progenitor cells and results in an eyeless phenotype with normal central nervous system. Furthermore, we observed that DjMeis1 is required for the activation of Wnt signaling pathway by promoting the Djwnt1 expression during posterior regeneration. The silencing of DjMeis1 suppresses the expression of Djwnt1 and results in the inability to reconstruct posterior poles. In general, our findings indicated that DjMeis1 acts as a trigger for the activation of eye and tail regeneration by regulating the differentiation of eye progenitor cells and the formation of posterior poles, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaocong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yujia Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaomai Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yajun Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yongding Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Shoutao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Longhu Laboratory of Advanced Immunology, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Correspondence: (S.Z.); (Q.T.)
| | - Qingnan Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Correspondence: (S.Z.); (Q.T.)
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12
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Medlock-Lanier T, Clay KB, Roberts-Galbraith RH. Planarian LDB and SSDP proteins scaffold transcriptional complexes for regeneration and patterning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.07.527523. [PMID: 36798167 PMCID: PMC9934679 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.07.527523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Sequence-specific transcription factors often function as components of large regulatory complexes. LIM-domain binding protein (LDB) and single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSDP) function as core scaffolds of transcriptional complexes in animals and plants. Little is known about potential partners and functions for LDB/SSDP complexes in the context of tissue regeneration. In this work, we find that planarian LDB1 and SSDP2 promote tissue regeneration, with a particular function in mediolateral polarity reestablishment. We find that LDB1 and SSDP2 interact with one another and with characterized planarian LIM-HD proteins Arrowhead, Islet1, and Lhx1/5-1. SSDP2 and LDB1 also function with islet1 in polarity reestablishment and with lhx1/5-1 in serotonergic neuron maturation. Finally, we show new roles for LDB1 and SSDP2 in regulating gene expression in the planarian intestine and parenchyma; these functions may be LIM-HD-independent. Together, our work provides insight into LDB/SSDP complexes in a highly regenerative organism. Further, our work provides a strong starting point for identifying and characterizing potential binding partners of LDB1 and SSDP2 and for exploring roles for these proteins in diverse aspects of planarian physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kendall B Clay
- Neuroscience Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Guo Y, Sun Y, Ma M, Huang Y, Zhang S, Tian Q. Djsnon, a downstream gene of Djfoxk1, is required for the regeneration of the planarian central nervous system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 643:8-15. [PMID: 36584589 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.12.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Regulators of adult neurogenesis are crucial targets for neuronal repair. Freshwater planarians are ideal model systems for studying neuronal regeneration as they can regenerate their entire central nervous system (CNS) using pluripotent adult stem cells. Here, we identified Djfoxk1 in planarian Dugesia japonica to be required for planarian CNS regeneration. Knockdown of Djfoxk1 inhibits the regeneration of the cephalic ganglia, resulting in the failure of eye regeneration. By RNAi screening of Djfoxk1 downstream genes, we identified Djsnon as another regulator of planarian neuronal regeneration. Inhibition of Djsnon with RNA interference (RNAi) results in similar phenotypes caused by Djfoxk1 RNAi without affecting cell proliferation and wound healing. Our findings show that Djsnon as a downstream gene of Djfoxk1 regulates the regeneration of the planarian CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Guo
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yujia Sun
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Mengwen Ma
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yongding Huang
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shoutao Zhang
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Longhu Laboratory of Advanced Immunology, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Qingnan Tian
- School of LifeSciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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14
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Djck1α Is Required for Proper Regeneration and Maintenance of the Medial Tissues in Planarians. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030473. [PMID: 36766815 PMCID: PMC9913719 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
CK1α (Casein kinase 1α) is a member of the casein kinase 1(CK1) family that is involved in diverse cellular processes, but its functions remain unclear in stem cell development. Freshwater planarians are capable of whole-body regeneration, making it a classic model for the study of regeneration, tissue homeostasis, and polarity in vivo. To investigate the roles of CK1α in regeneration and homeostasis progress, we characterize a homolog of CK1α from planarian Dugesia japonica. We find that Djck1α, which shows an enriched expression pattern in the nascent tissues, is widely expressed especially in the medial regions of planarians. Knockdown of CK1α by RNAi presents a thicker body due to dorsal hyperplasia, along with defects in the medial tissues including nerve proliferation, missing epidermis, intestine disturbance, and hyper-proliferation during the progression of regeneration and homeostasis. Moreover, we find that the ck1α RNAi animals exhibit expansion of the midline marker slit. The eye deficiency induced by slit RNAi can be rescued by ck1α and slit double RNAi. These results suggest that ck1α is required for the medial tissue regeneration and maintenance in planarian Dugesia japonica by regulating the expression of slit, which helps to further investigate the regulation of planarian mediolateral axis.
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15
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Bray SR, Wyss LS, Chai C, Lozada ME, Wang B. Adaptive robustness through incoherent signaling mechanisms in a regenerative brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.523817. [PMID: 36711454 PMCID: PMC9882340 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.523817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal behavior emerges from collective dynamics of interconnected neurons, making it vulnerable to connectome damage. Paradoxically, many organisms maintain significant behavioral output after large-scale neural injury. Molecular underpinnings of this extreme robustness remain largely unknown. Here, we develop a quantitative behavioral analysis pipeline to measure previously uncharacterized long-lasting latent memory states in planarian flatworms during whole-brain regeneration. By combining >20,000 animal trials with neural population dynamic modeling, we show that long-range volumetric peptidergic signals allow the planarian to rapidly reestablish latent states and restore coarse behavior after large structural perturbations to the nervous system, while small-molecule neuromodulators gradually refine the precision. The different time and length scales of neuropeptide and small-molecule transmission generate incoherent patterns of neural activity which competitively regulate behavior and memory. Controlling behavior through opposing communication mechanisms creates a more robust system than either alone and may serve as a generic approach to construct robust neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R. Bray
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Livia S. Wyss
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chew Chai
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Maria E. Lozada
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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16
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Planarians to schistosomes: an overview of flatworm cell-types and regulators. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e7. [PMID: 36644809 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x22000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease that afflicts over 200 million people globally. Schistosomes, the aetiological agent of schistosomiasis, are parasitic flatworms that propagate between molluscan and mammalian hosts. Inside the mammalian host, schistosomes rapidly grow over 100-fold in size and develop into a sexually mature male or female that thrives in the bloodstream for several decades. Recent work has identified schistosome stem cells as the source that drives parasite transmission, reproduction and longevity. Moreover, studies have begun to uncover molecular programmes deployed by stem cells that are essential for tissue development and maintenance, parasite survival and immune evasion. Such programmes are reminiscent of neoblast-driven development and regeneration of planarians, the free-living flatworm relative of schistosomes. Over the last few decades, research in planarians has employed modern functional genomic tools that significantly enhanced our understanding of stem cell-driven animal development and regeneration. In this review, we take a broad stroke overview of major flatworm organ systems at the cellular and molecular levels. We summarize recent advances on genetic regulators that play critical roles in differentiation and maintenance of flatworm cell types. Finally, we provide perspectives on how investigation of basic parasite biology is critical to discovering new approaches to battle schistosomiasis.
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17
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Sex-inducing effects toward planarians widely present among parasitic flatworms. iScience 2022; 26:105776. [PMID: 36594009 PMCID: PMC9804148 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Various parasitic flatworms infect vertebrates for sexual reproduction, often causing devastating diseases in their hosts. Consequently, flatworms are of great socioeconomic and biomedical importance. Although the cessation of parasitic flatworm sexual reproduction is a major target of anti-parasitic drug design, little is known regarding bioactive compounds controlling flatworm sexual maturation. Using the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis, we observed that sex-inducing substances found in planarians are also widespread in parasitic flatworms, such as monogeneans and flukes (but not in tapeworms). Reverse-phase HPLC analysis revealed the sex-inducing substance(s) eluting around the tryptophan retention time in the fluke Calicophoron calicophorum, consistent with previous studies on the planarian Bipalium nobile, suggesting that the substance(s) is likely conserved among flatworms. Moreover, six of the 18 ovary-inducing substances identified via transcriptome and metabolome analyses are involved in purine metabolism. Our findings provide a basis for understanding and modifying the life cycles of various parasitic flatworms.
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18
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Robb E, McCammick EM, Wells D, McVeigh P, Gardiner E, Armstrong R, McCusker P, Mousley A, Clarke N, Marks NJ, Maule AG. Transcriptomic analysis supports a role for the nervous system in regulating growth and development of Fasciola hepatica juveniles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010854. [PMCID: PMC9639813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola spp. liver flukes have significant impacts in veterinary and human medicine. The absence of a vaccine and increasing anthelmintic resistance threaten sustainable control and underscore the need for novel flukicides. Functional genomic approaches underpinned by in vitro culture of juvenile Fasciola hepatica facilitate control target validation in the most pathogenic life stage. Comparative transcriptomics of in vitro and in vivo maintained 21 day old F. hepatica finds that 86% of genes are expressed at similar levels across maintenance treatments suggesting commonality in core biological functioning within these juveniles. Phenotypic comparisons revealed higher cell proliferation and growth rates in the in vivo juveniles compared to their in vitro counterparts. These phenotypic differences were consistent with the upregulation of neoblast-like stem cell and cell-cycle associated genes in in vivo maintained worms. The more rapid growth/development of in vivo juveniles was further evidenced by a switch in cathepsin protease expression profiles, dominated by cathepsin B in in vitro juveniles and by cathepsin L in in vivo juveniles. Coincident with more rapid growth/development was the marked downregulation of both classical and peptidergic neuronal signalling components in in vivo maintained juveniles, supporting a role for the nervous system in regulating liver fluke growth and development. Differences in the miRNA complements of in vivo and in vitro juveniles identified 31 differentially expressed miRNAs, including fhe-let-7a-5p, fhe-mir-124-3p and miRNAs predicted to target Wnt-signalling, which supports a key role for miRNAs in driving the growth/developmental differences in the in vitro and in vivo maintained juvenile liver fluke. Widespread differences in the expression of neuronal genes in juvenile fluke grown in vitro and in vivo expose significant interplay between neuronal signalling and the rate of growth/development, encouraging consideration of neuronal targets in efforts to dysregulate growth/development for parasite control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Robb
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
| | - Erin M. McCammick
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
| | - Duncan Wells
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McVeigh
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Erica Gardiner
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Armstrong
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McCusker
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Mousley
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan Clarke
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki J. Marks
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron G. Maule
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
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19
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Hall RN, Weill U, Drees L, Leal-Ortiz S, Li H, Khariton M, Chai C, Xue Y, Rosental B, Quake SR, Sánchez Alvarado A, Melosh NA, Fire AZ, Rink JC, Wang B. Heterologous reporter expression in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea through somatic mRNA transfection. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100298. [PMID: 36313809 PMCID: PMC9606109 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Planarians have long been studied for their regenerative abilities. Moving forward, tools for ectopic expression of non-native proteins will be of substantial value. Using a luminescent reporter to overcome the strong autofluorescence of planarian tissues, we demonstrate heterologous protein expression in planarian cells and live animals. Our approach is based on the introduction of mRNA through several nanotechnological and chemical transfection methods. We improve reporter expression by altering untranslated region (UTR) sequences and codon bias, facilitating the measurement of expression kinetics in both isolated cells and whole planarians using luminescence imaging. We also examine protein expression as a function of variations in the UTRs of delivered mRNA, demonstrating a framework to investigate gene regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Together, these advances expand the toolbox for the mechanistic analysis of planarian biology and establish a foundation for the development and expansion of transgenic techniques in this unique model system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uri Weill
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Leonard Drees
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Sergio Leal-Ortiz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hongquan Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Margarita Khariton
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chew Chai
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Benyamin Rosental
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Stephen R. Quake
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Melosh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew Z. Fire
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jochen C. Rink
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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20
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Wendt GR, Shiroor DA, Adler CE, Collins JJ. Convergent evolution of a genotoxic stress response in a parasite-specific p53 homolog. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205201119. [PMID: 36067283 PMCID: PMC9478680 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205201119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
P53 is a widely studied tumor suppressor that plays important roles in cell-cycle regulation, cell death, and DNA damage repair. P53 is found throughout metazoans, even in invertebrates that do not develop malignancies. The prevailing theory for why these invertebrates possess a tumor suppressor is that P53 originally evolved to protect the germline of early metazoans from genotoxic stress such as ultraviolet radiation. This theory is largely based upon functional data from only three invertebrates, omitting important groups of animals including flatworms. Previous studies in the freshwater planarian flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea suggested that flatworm P53 plays an important role in stem cell maintenance and skin production, but these studies did not directly test for any tumor suppressor functions. To better understand the function of P53 homologs across diverse flatworms, we examined the function of two different P53 homologs in the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. The first P53 homolog (p53-1) is orthologous to S. mediterranea P53(Smed-p53) and human TP53 and regulates flatworm stem cell maintenance and skin production. The second P53 homolog (p53-2) is a parasite-specific paralog that is conserved across parasitic flatworms and is required for the normal response to genotoxic stress in S. mansoni. We then found that Smed-p53 does not seem to play any role in the planarian response to genotoxic stress. The existence of this parasite-specific paralog that bears a tumor suppressor-like function in parasitic flatworms implies that the ability to respond to genotoxic stress in parasitic flatworms may have arisen from convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R. Wendt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Divya A. Shiroor
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Carolyn E. Adler
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235
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21
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Fogarty CE, Suwansa-ard S, Phan P, McManus DP, Duke MG, Wyeth RC, Cummins SF, Wang T. Identification of Putative Neuropeptides That Alter the Behaviour of Schistosoma mansoni Cercariae. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091344. [PMID: 36138823 PMCID: PMC9495596 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating the infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni, one of the main etiological agents of human schistosomiasis, requires an improved understanding of the behavioural mechanisms of cercariae, the non-feeding mammalian infective stage. This study investigated the presence and effect of cercariae-derived putative neuropeptides on cercarial behaviour when applied externally. Cercariae were peptidomically analysed and 11 neuropeptide precursor proteins, all of which were specific to the Schistosoma genus and most of which highly expressed in the cercarial stage, were identified in cercariae for the first time. Protein–protein interaction analysis predicted the interaction of various neuropeptide precursors (e.g., Sm-npp-30, Sm-npp-33, Sm-npp-35) with cercarial structural proteins (e.g., myosin heavy chain and titin). In total, nine putative neuropeptides, selected based on their high hydrophobicity and small size (~1 kilodalton), were tested on cercariae (3 mg/mL) in acute exposure (1 min) and prolonged exposure (360 min) behavioural bioassays. The peptides AAYMDLPW-NH2, NRKIDQSFYSYY-NH2, FLLALPSP-OH, and NYLWDTRL-NH2 stimulated acute increases in cercarial spinning, stopping, and directional change during active states. However, only NRKIDQSFYSYY-NH2 caused the same behavioural changes at a lower concentration (0.1 mg/mL). After prolonged exposure, AAYMDLPW-NH2 and NYLWDTRL-NH2 caused increasing passive behaviour and NRKIDQSFYSYY-NH2 caused increasing body-first and head-pulling movements. These findings characterise behaviour-altering novel putative neuropeptides, which may inform future biocontrol innovations to prevent human schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor E. Fogarty
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Saowaros Suwansa-ard
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Phong Phan
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Mary G. Duke
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Russell C. Wyeth
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Scott F. Cummins
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Tianfang Wang
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
- Correspondence:
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22
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Wolff A, Wagner C, Wolf J, Lobo D. In situ probe and inhibitory RNA synthesis using streamlined gene cloning with Gibson assembly. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101458. [PMID: 35733605 PMCID: PMC9207569 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of single-stranded riboprobes or double-stranded RNAs for in situ hybridization and gene knockdowns often use vectors that require time-consuming plasmid restriction digests and inefficient gel purifications. Here, we present a faster protocol for the simultaneous plasmid restriction digestion and Gibson assembly of vectors for the synthesis of both riboprobes and double-stranded RNAs for in situ and RNA interference experiments, respectively. We illustrate the protocol with planaria in situ and RNAi assays, but it is applicable to any organism. Simultaneous digestion and assembly of stable vectors with Gibson assembly Synthesis of sense and antisense riboprobes and inhibitory RNA from same plasmid Protocol illustrated with planaria but applicable to any organism
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Wolff
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
| | - Cynthia Wagner
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Julia Wolf
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Daniel Lobo
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
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23
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Wyss LS, Bray SR, Wang B. Cellular diversity and developmental hierarchy in the planarian nervous system. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 76:101960. [PMID: 35878572 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Our ability to dissect cell type diversity, development, and plasticity in the nervous system has been transformed by the recent surge of massive sequencing studies at the single-cell level. A large body of this work has focused primarily on organisms with nervous systems established early in development. Using planarian flatworms in which neurons are constantly respecified, replenished, and regenerated, we analyze several existing single-cell transcriptomic datasets and observe features in neuron identity, differentiation, maturation, and function that may provide the planarian nervous system with high levels of adaptability required to respond to various cues including injury. This analysis allows us to place many prior observations made by functional characterizations in a general framework and provide additional hypothesis and predictions to test in future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia S Wyss
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Samuel R Bray
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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24
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A Krüppel-like factor is required for development and regeneration of germline and yolk cells from somatic stem cells in planarians. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001472. [PMID: 35839223 PMCID: PMC9286257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually reproducing animals segregate their germline from their soma. In addition to gamete-producing gonads, planarian and parasitic flatworm reproduction relies on yolk cell–generating accessory reproductive organs (vitellaria) supporting development of yolkless oocytes. Despite the importance of vitellaria for flatworm reproduction (and parasite transmission), little is known about this unique evolutionary innovation. Here, we examine reproductive system development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, in which pluripotent stem cells generate both somatic and germ cell lineages. We show that a homolog of the pluripotency factor Klf4 is expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs), presumptive germline stem cells (GSCs), and yolk cell progenitors. Knockdown of this klf4-like (klf4l) gene results in animals that fail to specify or maintain germ cells; surprisingly, they also fail to maintain yolk cells. We find that yolk cells display germ cell–like attributes and that vitellaria are structurally analogous to gonads. In addition to identifying a new proliferative cell population in planarians (yolk cell progenitors) and defining its niche, our work provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that flatworm germ cells and yolk cells share a common evolutionary origin.
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25
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Anapindi KDB, Romanova EV, Checco JW, Sweedler JV. Mass Spectrometry Approaches Empowering Neuropeptide Discovery and Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:662-679. [PMID: 35710134 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of insulin in the early 1900s ushered in the era of research related to peptides acting as hormones and neuromodulators, among other regulatory roles. These essential gene products are found in all organisms, from the most primitive to the most evolved, and carry important biologic information that coordinates complex physiology and behavior; their misregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases. The evolutionary origins of at least 30 neuropeptide signaling systems have been traced to the common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes. With the use of relevant animal models and modern technologies, we can gain mechanistic insight into orthologous and paralogous endogenous peptides and translate that knowledge into medically relevant insights and new treatments. Groundbreaking advances in medicine and basic science influence how signaling peptides are defined today. The precise mechanistic pathways for over 100 endogenous peptides in mammals are now known and have laid the foundation for multiple drug development pipelines. Peptide biologics have become valuable drugs due to their unique specificity and biologic activity, lack of toxic metabolites, and minimal undesirable interactions. This review outlines modern technologies that enable neuropeptide discovery and characterization, and highlights lessons from nature made possible by neuropeptide research in relevant animal models that is being adopted by the pharmaceutical industry. We conclude with a brief overview of approaches/strategies for effective development of peptides as drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuropeptides, an important class of cell-cell signaling molecules, are involved in maintaining a range of physiological functions. Since the discovery of insulin's activity, over 100 bioactive peptides and peptide analogs have been used as therapeutics. Because these are complex molecules not easily predicted from a genome and their activity can change with subtle chemical modifications, mass spectrometry (MS) has significantly empowered peptide discovery and characterization. This review highlights contributions of MS-based research towards the development of therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna D B Anapindi
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - James W Checco
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
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Preza M, Van Bael S, Temmerman L, Guarnaschelli I, Castillo E, Koziol U. Global analysis of neuropeptides in cestodes identifies Attachin, a SIFamide homolog, as a stimulant of parasite motility and attachment. J Neurochem 2022; 162:467-482. [PMID: 35689626 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Many anthelmintics target the neuromuscular system, in particular by interfering with signaling mediated by classical neurotransmitters. Although peptidergic signaling has been proposed as a novel target for anthelmintics, current knowledge of the neuropeptide complement of many helminth groups is still limited, especially for parasitic flatworms (cestodes, trematodes, and monogeneans). In this work, we have characterized the neuropeptide complement of the model cestode Hymenolepis microstoma. Peptidomic characterization of adults of H. microstoma validated many of the neuropeptide precursor (npp) genes previously predicted in silico, and identified novel neuropeptides that are conserved in parasitic flatworms. Most neuropeptides from parasitic flatworms lack significant similarity to those from other animals, confirming the uniqueness of their peptidergic signaling. Analysis of gene expression of ten npp genes by in situ hybridization confirmed that all of them are expressed in the nervous system and identified cryptic features, including the first evidence of dorsoventral asymmetry, as well as a new population of peripheral peptidergic cells that appears to be conserved in the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. Finally, we characterized in greater detail Attachin, an SIFamide homolog. Although its expression is largely restricted to the longitudinal nerve cords and cerebral commissure in H. microstoma, it shows widespread localization in the larval nervous system of Echinococcus multilocularis and Mesocestoides corti. Exogenous addition of a peptide corresponding to the highly conserved C-terminus of Attachin stimulated motility and attachment of M. corti larvae. Altogether, this work provides a robust experimental foothold for the characterization of peptidergic signaling in parasitic flatworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Preza
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sven Van Bael
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inés Guarnaschelli
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Estela Castillo
- Laboratorio de Biología Parasitaria, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Guo L, Bloom JS, Dols-Serrate D, Boocock J, Ben-David E, Schubert OT, Kozuma K, Ho K, Warda E, Chui C, Wei Y, Leighton D, Lemus Vergara T, Riutort M, Sánchez Alvarado A, Kruglyak L. Island-specific evolution of a sex-primed autosome in a sexual planarian. Nature 2022; 606:329-334. [PMID: 35650439 PMCID: PMC9177419 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04757-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The sexual strain of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, indigenous to Tunisia and several Mediterranean islands, is a hermaphrodite1,2. Here we isolate individual chromosomes and use sequencing, Hi-C3,4 and linkage mapping to assemble a chromosome-scale genome reference. The linkage map reveals an extremely low rate of recombination on chromosome 1. We confirm suppression of recombination on chromosome 1 by genotyping individual sperm cells and oocytes. We show that previously identified genomic regions that maintain heterozygosity even after prolonged inbreeding make up essentially all of chromosome 1. Genome sequencing of individuals isolated in the wild indicates that this phenomenon has evolved specifically in populations from Sardinia and Corsica. We find that most known master regulators5-13 of the reproductive system are located on chromosome 1. We used RNA interference14,15 to knock down a gene with haplotype-biased expression, which led to the formation of a more pronounced female mating organ. On the basis of these observations, we propose that chromosome 1 is a sex-primed autosome primed for evolution into a sex chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhua Guo
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
| | - Joshua S Bloom
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Dols-Serrate
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - James Boocock
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Eyal Ben-David
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Olga T Schubert
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Kaiya Kozuma
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katarina Ho
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Warda
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Clarice Chui
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yubao Wei
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Daniel Leighton
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Tzitziki Lemus Vergara
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Leonid Kruglyak
- Department of Human Genetics and Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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28
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Yoon S, Kim MA, Lee JS, Sohn YC. Functional analysis of LFRFamide signaling in Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267039. [PMID: 35511902 PMCID: PMC9071130 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The invertebrate LFRFamide (LFRFa) and short neuropeptide F (sNPF), consisting of 6 to 10 amino acids, are orthologs for bilaterian NPF/Y, which consist of 36 to 40 amino acids. Recently, a molluscan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for NPF was characterized in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). To address the functional evolutionary route of the invertebrate LFRFa and NPF signaling system, in this study, we identified cDNAs encoding LFRFa precursors and the sNPF receptor (Hdh-sNPFR) in Pacific abalone. Four LFRFa mature peptides with 6 or 7 amino acids were predicted: GSLFRFa, GGLFRFa, GTLFRFa, and GSTLFRFa. Hdh-sNPFR was identified as a classical rhodopsin-like GPCR and classified into a molluscan sNPFR group. In HEK293 cells, Hdh-sNPFR was mainly localized in the cell membranes and internalized in the cytoplasm following treatment with LFRFa peptides. Reporter assays demonstrated that LFRFa peptides inhibit forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in Hdh-sNPFR-expressing HEK293 cells. LFRFa precursor and Hdh-sNPFR transcripts were more strongly expressed in the cerebral and pleural-pedal ganglia of Pacific abalone than in the peripheral tissues such as the ovary, gills, intestine, and hepatopancreas. The levels of LFRFa transcripts in the ovary, intestine, and hepatopancreas were significantly higher in mature female abalone than in immature females. Injection of LFRFa induced the egg release and spawning behavior of mature abalone, but suppressed food intake. These results suggest that LFRFa peptides are endogenous ligands for Hdh-sNPFR involved in food intake and reproduction through a Gαi-protein dependent signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungwoo Yoon
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Ae Kim
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Sick Lee
- Department of Aqualife Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Chang Sohn
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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29
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Sarkar SR, Dubey VK, Jahagirdar A, Lakshmanan V, Haroon MM, Sowndarya S, Sowdhamini R, Palakodeti D. DDX24 is required for muscle fiber organization and the suppression of wound-induced Wnt activity necessary for pole re-establishment during planarian regeneration. Dev Biol 2022; 488:11-29. [PMID: 35523320 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Planarians have a remarkable ability to undergo whole-body regeneration. Successful regeneration outcome is determined by processes like polarity establishment at the wound site, which is followed by pole (organizer) specification. Interestingly, these determinants are almost exclusively expressed by muscles in these animals. However, the molecular toolkit that enables the functional versatility of planarian muscles remains poorly understood. Here we report that SMED_DDX24, a D-E-A-D Box RNA helicase, is necessary for planarian survival and regeneration. We found that DDX24 is enriched in muscles and its knockdown disrupts muscle fiber organization. This leads to defective pole specification, which in turn results in misregulation of many positional control genes specifically during regeneration. ddx24 RNAi also upregulates wound-induced Wnt signalling. Suppressing this ectopic Wnt activity rescues the knockdown phenotype by enabling better anterior pole regeneration. To summarize, our work highlights the role of an RNA helicase in muscle fiber organization, and modulating amputation-induced wnt levels, both of which seem critical for pole re-organization, thereby regulating whole-body regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souradeep R Sarkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bengaluru, 560065, India; Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Vinay Kumar Dubey
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Anusha Jahagirdar
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Vairavan Lakshmanan
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Mohamed Mohamed Haroon
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India; SASTRA University, Thanjavur, 613401, India
| | - Sai Sowndarya
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Ramanathan Sowdhamini
- National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Dasaradhi Palakodeti
- Integrative Chemical Biology (ICB), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru, 560065, India.
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30
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Chen R, Wang J, Gradinaru I, Vu HS, Geboers S, Naidoo J, Ready JM, Williams NS, DeBerardinis RJ, Ross EM, Collins JJ. A male-derived nonribosomal peptide pheromone controls female schistosome development. Cell 2022; 185:1506-1520.e17. [PMID: 35385687 PMCID: PMC9058237 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomes cause morbidity and death throughout the developing world due to the massive numbers of eggs female worms deposit into the blood of their host. Studies dating back to the 1920s show that female schistosomes rely on constant physical contact with a male worm both to become and remain sexually mature; however, the molecular details governing this process remain elusive. Here, we uncover a nonribosomal peptide synthetase that is induced in male worms upon pairing with a female and find that it is essential for the ability of male worms to stimulate female development. We demonstrate that this enzyme generates β-alanyl-tryptamine that is released by paired male worms. Furthermore, synthetic β-alanyl-tryptamine can replace male worms to stimulate female sexual development and egg laying. These data reveal that peptide-based pheromone signaling controls female schistosome sexual maturation, suggesting avenues for therapeutic intervention and uncovering a role for nonribosomal peptides as metazoan signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jipeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Irina Gradinaru
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hieu S Vu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sophie Geboers
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jacinth Naidoo
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joseph M Ready
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Noelle S Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elliott M Ross
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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31
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Bonar NA, Gittin DI, Petersen CP. Src acts with WNT/FGFRL signaling to pattern the planarian anteroposterior axis. Development 2022; 149:274880. [PMID: 35297964 PMCID: PMC8995084 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Tissue identity determination is crucial for regeneration, and the planarian anteroposterior (AP) axis uses positional control genes expressed from body wall muscle to determine body regionalization. Canonical Wnt signaling establishes anterior versus posterior pole identities through notum and wnt1 signaling, and two Wnt/FGFRL signaling pathways control head and trunk domains, but their downstream signaling mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we identify a planarian Src homolog that restricts head and trunk identities to anterior positions. src-1(RNAi) animals formed enlarged brains and ectopic eyes and also duplicated trunk tissue, similar to a combination of Wnt/FGFRL RNAi phenotypes. src-1 was required for establishing territories of positional control gene expression in Schmidtea mediterranea, indicating that it acts at an upstream step in patterning the AP axis. Double RNAi experiments and eye regeneration assays suggest src-1 can act in parallel to at least some Wnt and FGFRL factors. Co-inhibition of src-1 with other posterior-promoting factors led to dramatic patterning changes and a reprogramming of Wnt/FGFRLs into controlling new positional outputs. These results identify src-1 as a factor that promotes robustness of the AP positional system that instructs appropriate regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolle A Bonar
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - David I Gittin
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Christian P Petersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Robert Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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Rozario T, Collins JJ, Newmark PA. The good, the bad, and the ugly: From planarians to parasites. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:345-373. [PMID: 35337455 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Platyhelminthes can perhaps rightly be described as a phylum of the good, the bad, and the ugly: remarkable free-living worms that colonize land, river, and sea, which are often rife with color and can display extraordinary regenerative ability; parasitic worms like schistosomes that cause devastating disease and suffering; and monstrous tapeworms that are the stuff of nightmares. In this chapter, we will explore how our research expanded beyond free-living planarians to their gruesome parasitic cousins. We start with Schistosoma mansoni, which is not a new model; however, approaching these parasites from a developmental perspective required a reinvention that may hold generalizable lessons to basic biologists interested in pivoting to disease models. We then turn to our (re)establishment of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta, a once-favorite model that had been largely forgotten by the molecular biology revolution. Here we tell our stories in three, first-person narratives in order to convey personal views of our experiences. Welcome to the dark side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rozario
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
| | - Phillip A Newmark
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Morgridge Institute for Research, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.
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Khan UW, Newmark PA. Somatic regulation of female germ cell regeneration and development in planarians. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110525. [PMID: 35294875 PMCID: PMC8994625 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Female germ cells develop into oocytes, with the capacity for totipotency. In most animals, these remarkable cells are specified during development and cannot be regenerated. By contrast, planarians, known for their regenerative prowess, can regenerate germ cells. To uncover mechanisms required for female germ cell development and regeneration, we generated gonad-specific transcriptomes and identified genes whose expression defines progressive stages of female germ cell development. Strikingly, early female germ cells share molecular signatures with the pluripotent stem cells driving planarian regeneration. We observe spatial heterogeneity within somatic ovarian cells and find that a regionally enriched foxL homolog is required for oocyte differentiation, but not specification, suggestive of functionally distinct somatic compartments. Unexpectedly, a neurotransmitter-biosynthetic enzyme, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), is also expressed in somatic gonadal cells, and plays opposing roles in female and male germ cell development. Thus, somatic gonadal cells deploy conserved factors to regulate germ cell development and regeneration in planarians. Unlike most animals, planarians can regenerate germ cells. Here, Khan and Newmark characterize gene expression in the planarian ovary, identifying genes expressed at progressive stages of female germ cell development and in somatic ovarian cells. Functional characterization revealed somatically expressed genes required for specification or differentiation of female germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umair W Khan
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Phillip A Newmark
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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34
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Coronel-Córdoba P, Molina MD, Cardona G, Fraguas S, Pascual-Carreras E, Saló E, Cebrià F, Adell T. FoxK1 is Required for Ectodermal Cell Differentiation During Planarian Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:808045. [PMID: 35273960 PMCID: PMC8901602 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.808045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box (Fox) genes belong to the “winged helix” transcription factor superfamily. The function of some Fox genes is well known, such as the role of foxO in controlling metabolism and longevity and foxA in controlling differentiation of endodermal tissues. However, the role of some Fox factors is not yet well characterized. Such is the case of FoxK genes, which are mainly studied in mammals and have been implicated in diverse processes including cell proliferation, tissue differentiation and carcinogenesis. Planarians are free-living flatworms, whose importance in biomedical research lies in their regeneration capacity. Planarians possess a wide population of pluripotent adult stem cells, called neoblasts, which allow them to regenerate any body part after injury. In a recent study, we identified three foxK paralogs in the genome of Schmidtea mediterranea. In this study, we demonstrate that foxK1 inhibition prevents regeneration of the ectodermal tissues, including the nervous system and the epidermis. These results correlate with foxK1 expression in neoblasts and in neural progenitors. Although the triggering of wound genes expression, polarity reestablishment and proliferation was not affected after foxK1 silencing, the apoptotic response was decreased. Altogether, these results suggest that foxK1 would be required for differentiation and maintenance of ectodermal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Coronel-Córdoba
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Dolores Molina
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Cardona
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susanna Fraguas
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eudald Pascual-Carreras
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emili Saló
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Cebrià
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Adell
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
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Bar Yaacov D. Functional analysis of ADARs in planarians supports a bilaterian ancestral role in suppressing double-stranded RNA-response. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010250. [PMID: 35041722 PMCID: PMC8797187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
ADARs (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA) are known for their adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing activity, and most recently, for their role in preventing aberrant dsRNA-response by activation of dsRNA sensors (i.e., RIG-I-like receptor homologs). However, it is still unclear whether suppressing spurious dsRNA-response represents the ancestral role of ADARs in bilaterians. As a first step to address this question, we identified ADAR1 and ADAR2 homologs in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, which is evolutionarily distant from canonical lab models (e.g., flies and nematodes). Our results indicate that knockdown of either planarian adar1 or adar2 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in upregulation of dsRNA-response genes, including three planarian rig-I-like receptor (prlr) homologs. Furthermore, independent knockdown of adar1 and adar2 reduced the number of infected cells with a dsRNA virus, suggesting they suppress a bona fide anti-viral dsRNA-response activity. Knockdown of adar1 also resulted in lesion formation and animal lethality, thus attesting to its essentiality. Simultaneous knockdown of adar1 and prlr1 rescued adar1(RNAi)-dependent animal lethality and rescued the dsRNA-response, suggesting that it contributes to the deleterious effect of adar1 knockdown. Finally, we found that ADAR2, but not ADAR1, mediates mRNA editing in planarians, suggesting at least in part non-redundant activities for planarians ADARs. Our results underline the essential role of ADARs in suppressing activation of harmful dsRNA-response in planarians, thus supporting it as their ancestral role in bilaterians. Our work also set the stage to study further and better understand the regulatory mechanisms governing anti-viral dsRNA-responses from an evolutionary standpoint using planarians as a model. Today, more than ever, it is crucial to gain a deep understating of our anti-viral defenses. One of the ways to accomplish it is to study the principles governing anti-viral responses across various organisms. ADARs are a group of proteins that act on RNA molecules and alter their sequence compared to the genes that encode them (a process termed RNA editing). In recent years, ADARs have been shown to suppress abnormal anti-viral responses triggered by self-components of the cell (RNA encoded by the cell). Here, we show that the involvement of ADARs in anti-viral response regulation is conserved in planarians (free-living flatworms). We identified two ADAR proteins in planarians and showed that eliminating one (ADAR1) results in animal death and that an anti-viral response commenced in the absence of either ADAR1 or ADAR2. We further identified one of the proteins (PRLR1) that participate in initiating this anti-viral response in planarians, which its mammalian homolog (MDA5) serves a similar role. Thus, our work suggests that ADARs involvement in suppressing aberrant anti-viral response is an ancient evolutionary invention and is likely shared across multicellular organisms with bilateral symmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Bar Yaacov
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Schistosoma mansoni α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (SmNAGAL) regulates coordinated parasite movement and egg production. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009828. [PMID: 35025955 PMCID: PMC8791529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
α-galactosidase (α-GAL) and α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (α-NAGAL) are two glycosyl hydrolases responsible for maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating glycan substrates on proteins and lipids. Mutations in the human genes encoding either enzyme lead to neurological and neuromuscular impairments seen in both Fabry- and Schindler/Kanzaki- diseases. Here, we investigate whether the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, also contains functionally important α-GAL and α-NAGAL proteins. As infection, parasite maturation and host interactions are all governed by carefully-regulated glycosylation processes, inhibiting S. mansoni's α-GAL and α-NAGAL activities could lead to the development of novel chemotherapeutics. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of putative α-GAL/α-NAGAL protein types showed Smp_089290 to be the only S. mansoni protein to contain the functional amino acid residues necessary for α-GAL/α-NAGAL substrate cleavage. Both α-GAL and α-NAGAL enzymatic activities were higher in females compared to males (p<0.05; α-NAGAL > α-GAL), which was consistent with smp_089290's female biased expression. Spatial localisation of smp_089290 revealed accumulation in parenchymal cells, neuronal cells, and the vitellaria and mature vitellocytes of the adult schistosome. siRNA-mediated knockdown (>90%) of smp_089290 in adult worms significantly inhibited α-NAGAL activity when compared to control worms (siLuc treated males, p<0.01; siLuc treated females, p<0.05). No significant reductions in α-GAL activities were observed in the same extracts. Despite this, decreases in α-NAGAL activities correlated with a significant inhibition in adult worm motility as well as in egg production. Programmed CRISPR/Cas9 editing of smp_089290 in adult worms confirmed the egg reduction phenotype. Based on these results, Smp_089290 was determined to act predominantly as an α-NAGAL (hereafter termed SmNAGAL) in schistosome parasites where it participates in coordinating movement and oviposition processes. Further characterisation of SmNAGAL and other functionally important glycosyl hydrolases may lead to the development of a novel anthelmintic class of compounds.
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Abstract
Over the past several decades, planarians have emerged as a powerful model system with which to study the cellular and molecular basis of whole-body regeneration. The best studied planarians belong to freshwater flatworm species that maintain their remarkable regenerative capacity partly through the deployment of a population of adult pluripotent stem cells. Assessment of gene function in planarian regeneration has primarily been achieved through RNA interference (RNAi), either through the feeding or injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi treatment of planarians has several advantages, including ease of use, which allows for medium-throughput screens of hundreds of genes over the course of a single project. Here, I present methods for dsRNA synthesis and RNAi feeding, as well as strategies for follow-up assessment of both structural and functional regeneration of organ systems of planarians, with a special emphasis on neural regeneration.
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Inoue T, Agata K. Quantification of planarian behaviors. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 64:16-37. [PMID: 34866186 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Research on individual behaviors can help to reveal the processes and mechanisms that mediate an animal's habits and interactions with the environment. Importantly, individual behaviors arise as outcomes of genetic programs, morphogenesis, physiological processes, and neural functions; thus, behavioral analyses can be used to detect disorders in these processes. Planarians belong to an early branching bilateral group of organisms that possess a simple central nervous system. Furthermore, planarians display various behavioral responses to the environment via their nervous system. Planarians also have remarkable regenerative abilities, including whole-brain regeneration. Therefore, the combination of planarians' phylogenetic position, behavioral properties, regenerative ability, and genetic accessibility provides a unique opportunity to understand the basic mechanisms underlying the anatomical properties of neural morphogenesis and the dynamic physiological processes and neural function. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for conducting simple behavioral analyses in planarians with the aim of helping to introduce researchers to the utility of performing behavioral analyses in planarians. Since the conditions of planarians impact experimental results and reproducibility, this protocol begins with a method for maintaining planarians. Next, we introduce the behavioral tests as well as the methods for quantifying them using minimal and cost-effective equipment and materials. Finally, we present a unique RNAi technique that enables conditional silencing of neural activity in the brain of planarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Inoue
- Division of Adaptation Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Kiyokazu Agata
- National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
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Romero AA, Cobb SA, Collins JNR, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ, Collins JJ. The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010140. [PMID: 34910770 PMCID: PMC8673669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes infect over 200 million of the world's poorest people, but unfortunately treatment relies on a single drug. Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate diverse processes in metazoans, yet few have been functionally characterized in schistosomes. During a systematic analysis of nuclear receptor function, we found that an FTZ-F1-like receptor was essential for parasite survival. Using a combination of transcriptional profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), we discovered that the micro-exon gene meg-8.3 is a transcriptional target of SmFTZ-F1. We found that both Smftz-f1 and meg-8.3 are required for esophageal gland maintenance as well as integrity of the worm's head. Together, these studies define a new role for micro-exon gene function in the parasite and suggest that factors associated with the esophageal gland could represent viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aracely A. Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sarah A. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Julie N. R. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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Reddien PW. Principles of regeneration revealed by the planarian eye. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 73:19-25. [PMID: 34134046 PMCID: PMC11064094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One approach to elucidating the principles of regeneration is to investigate mechanisms that regenerate a target organ. Planarian eyes are discrete, visible structures that are dispensable for viability, making them powerful for studying the logic of regeneration. Fate specification in eye regeneration occurs in stem cells (neoblasts), generating eye progenitors. Eye progenitor production is not responsive to the presence or absence of the eye, with regeneration explained by constant progenitor production in the appropriate positional environment. Eye progenitors display coarse spatial specification. A combination of eye-extrinsic cues and self-organization with differentiated eye cells dictate where migratory eye progenitors target. Finally, guidepost-like cells influence regenerating axons to facilitate the restoration of eye circuitry. These findings from the eye as a case study present a model that explains how regeneration can occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter W Reddien
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Transcription Factors Active in the Anterior Blastema of Schmidtea mediterranea. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121782. [PMID: 34944426 PMCID: PMC8698962 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Regeneration, the restoration of body parts after injury, is quite widespread in the animal kingdom. Species from virtually all Phyla possess regenerative abilities. Human beings, however, are poor regenerators. Yet, the progress of knowledge and technology in the fields of bioengineering, stem cells, and regenerative biology have fostered major advancements in regenerative medical treatments, which aim to regenerate tissues and organs and restore function. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into any cell type of the body; however, the structural and cellular complexity of the human tissues, together with the inability of our adult body to control pluripotency, require a better mechanistic understanding. Planarians, with their capacity to regenerate lost body parts thanks to the presence of adult pluripotent stem cells could help providing such an understanding. In this paper, we used a top-down approach to shortlist blastema transcription factors (TFs) active during anterior regeneration. We found 44 TFs—31 of which are novel in planarian—that are expressed in the regenerating blastema. We analyzed the function of half of them and found that they play a role in the regeneration of anterior structures, like the anterior organizer, the positional instruction muscle cells, the brain, the photoreceptor, the intestine. Our findings revealed a glimpse of the complexity of the transcriptional network governing anterior regeneration in planarians, confirming that this animal model is the perfect playground to study in vivo how pluripotency copes with adulthood.
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Sasidharan V, Sánchez Alvarado A. The Diverse Manifestations of Regeneration and Why We Need to Study Them. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2021; 14:a040931. [PMID: 34750171 PMCID: PMC9438785 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a040931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
For hundreds of years, the question of why some organisms can regenerate missing body parts while others cannot has remained poorly understood. This has been due in great part to the inability to genetically, molecularly, and cellularly dissect this problem for most of the history of the field. It has only been in the past 20-30 years that important mechanistic advances have been made in methodologies that introduce loss and gain of gene function in animals that can regenerate. However, we still have a very incomplete understanding of how broadly regenerative abilities may be dispersed across species and whether or not such properties share a common evolutionary origin, which may have emerged independently or both. Understanding regeneration, therefore, will require rigorously practiced fundamental, curiosity-driven, discovery research. Expanding the number of research organisms used to study regeneration allows us to uncover aspects of this problem we may not yet know exist and simultaneously increases our chances of solving this long-standing problem of biology.
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Vieira MM, Pereira Dornelas AS, Carlos TD, Pallini A, Gravato C, Pereira DH, Sarmento RA, Cavallini GS. When treatment increases the contaminant's ecotoxicity: A study of the Fenton process in the degradation of methylene blue. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 283:131117. [PMID: 34134044 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of dyes can generate harmful by-products, thereby requiring the need to evaluate the toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study aims to evaluate the chronic ecotoxicity of methylene blue dye degraded by the Fenton process using the non-target planarian Girardia tigrina as a sensitive bioindicator of environmental contamination. The bioassays evaluated the lethality of several concentrations of the untreated and degraded dye methylene blue (MB), as well as, their sub-lethal effects on locomotion, feeding, regeneration, and reproduction. In both acute and chronic tests, the degraded dye had a stronger toxic effect when compared to the untreated dye. This negative effect after treatment was mainly associated with the presence of residual hydrogen peroxide and iron (and consequently the hydroxyl radical formed). We conclude that the utilization of the Fenton process using less oxidizing agents should be considered as important alternatives for the protection of aquatic ecosystems, without compromising the efficient removal of MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayane Marques Vieira
- Curso de Química Ambiental, Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 77.402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil.
| | | | - Thayrine Dias Carlos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Química, Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 77.402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil.
| | - Angelo Pallini
- Departamento de Entomologia - Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Faculdade de Ciências & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Douglas Henrique Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Química, Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 77.402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil.
| | - Renato Almeida Sarmento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Produção Vegetal e Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazônia Legal - Bionorte, Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 77.402-970, Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil.
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Raz AA, Wurtzel O, Reddien PW. Planarian stem cells specify fate yet retain potency during the cell cycle. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:1307-1322.e5. [PMID: 33882291 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Planarian whole-body regeneration is enabled by stem cells called neoblasts. At least some neoblasts are individually pluripotent. Neoblasts are also heterogeneous, with subpopulations of specialized neoblasts having different specified fates. Fate specification in neoblasts is regulated by fate-specific transcription factor (FSTF) expression. Here, we find that FSTF expression is common in neoblast S/G2/M cell-cycle phases but less common in G1. We find that specialized neoblasts can divide to produce progeny with asymmetric cell fates, suggesting that they could retain pluripotency. Furthermore, no known neoblast class was present in all neoblast colonies, suggesting that pluripotency is not the exclusive property of any known class. We tested this possibility with single-cell transplantations, which indicate that at least some specialized neoblasts are likely clonogenic. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model for neoblast pluripotency in which neoblasts can undergo specialization during the cell cycle without loss of potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie A Raz
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Omri Wurtzel
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Peter W Reddien
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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Thiangtrongjit T, Simanon N, Adisakwattana P, Limpanont Y, Chusongsang P, Chusongsang Y, Reamtong O. Identification of Low Molecular Weight Proteins and Peptides from Schistosoma mekongi Worm, Egg and Infected Mouse Sera. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11040559. [PMID: 33920436 PMCID: PMC8070599 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma mekongi is found in the lower Mekong river region and causes schistosomiasis. Low sensitivity of diagnosis and development of drug resistance are problems to eliminate this disease. To develop novel therapies and diagnostics for S. mekongi, the basic molecular biology of this pathogen needs to be explored. Bioactive peptides have been reported in several worms and play important roles in biological functions. Limited information is available on the S. mekongi peptidome. Therefore, this study aimed to identify S. mekongi peptides using in silico transcriptome mining and mass spectrometry approaches. Schistosoma peptide components were identified in adult worms, eggs, and infected mouse sera. Thirteen neuropeptide families were identified using in silico predictions from in-house transcriptomic databases of adult S. mekongi worms. Using mass spectrometry approaches, 118 peptides (from 54 precursor proteins) and 194 peptides (from 86 precursor proteins) were identified from adult worms and eggs, respectively. Importantly, eight unique peptides of the S. mekongi ubiquitin thioesterase, trabid, were identified in infected mouse sera 14, 28, and 56 days after infection. This protein may be a potential target for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The S. mekongi peptide profiles determined in this study could be used for further drug and diagnostic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Nattapon Simanon
- National Omics Center (NOC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand;
| | - Poom Adisakwattana
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Yanin Limpanont
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (Y.L.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Phiraphol Chusongsang
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (Y.L.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yupa Chusongsang
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (Y.L.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Onrapak Reamtong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-(0)-2306-9138; Fax: +66-(0)-2306-9139
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García-Castro H, Kenny NJ, Iglesias M, Álvarez-Campos P, Mason V, Elek A, Schönauer A, Sleight VA, Neiro J, Aboobaker A, Permanyer J, Irimia M, Sebé-Pedrós A, Solana J. ACME dissociation: a versatile cell fixation-dissociation method for single-cell transcriptomics. Genome Biol 2021; 22:89. [PMID: 33827654 PMCID: PMC8028764 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02302-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell sequencing technologies are revolutionizing biology, but they are limited by the need to dissociate live samples. Here, we present ACME (ACetic-MEthanol), a dissociation approach for single-cell transcriptomics that simultaneously fixes cells. ACME-dissociated cells have high RNA integrity, can be cryopreserved multiple times, and are sortable and permeable. As a proof of principle, we provide single-cell transcriptomic data of different species, using both droplet-based and combinatorial barcoding single-cell methods. ACME uses affordable reagents, can be done in most laboratories and even in the field, and thus will accelerate our knowledge of cell types across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena García-Castro
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Nathan J. Kenny
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Iglesias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Álvarez-Campos
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM) & Departamento de Biología (Zoología), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vincent Mason
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Schönauer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jakke Neiro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jon Permanyer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Solana
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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Davidian D, Ziman B, Escobar AL, Oviedo NJ. Direct Current Electric Stimulation Alters the Frequency and the Distribution of Mitotic Cells in Planarians. Bioelectricity 2021; 3:77-91. [PMID: 34476379 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2020.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The use of direct current electric stimulation (DCS) is an effective strategy to treat disease and enhance body functionality. Thus, treatment with DCS is an attractive biomedical alternative, but the molecular underpinnings remain mostly unknown. The lack of experimental models to dissect the effects of DCS from molecular to organismal levels is an important caveat. Here, we introduce the planarian flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea as a tractable organism for in vivo studies of DCS. We developed an experimental method that facilitates the application of direct current electrical stimulation to the whole planarian body (pDCS). Materials and Methods: Planarian immobilization was achieved by combining treatment with anesthesia, agar embedding, and low temperature via a dedicated thermoelectric cooling unit. Electric currents for pDCS were delivered using pulled glass microelectrodes. The electric potential was supplied through a constant voltage power supply. pDCS was administered up to six hours, and behavioral and molecular effects were measured by using video recordings, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression analysis. Results: The behavioral immobilization effects are reversible, and pDCS resulted in a redistribution of mitotic cells along the mediolateral axis of the planarian body. The pDCS effects were dependent on the polarity of the electric field, which led to either increase in reductions in mitotic densities associated with the time of pDCS. The changes in mitotic cells were consistent with apparent redistribution in gene expression of the stem cell marker smedwi-1. Conclusion: The immobilization technique presented in this work facilitates studies aimed at dissecting the effects of exogenous electric stimulation in the adult body. Treatment with DCS can be administered for varying times, and the consequences evaluated at different levels, including animal behavior, cellular and transcriptional changes. Indeed, treatment with pDCS can alter cellular and transcriptional parameters depending on the polarity of the electric field and duration of the exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Davidian
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and University of California Merced, Merced, California, USA
| | - Benjamin Ziman
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and University of California Merced, Merced, California, USA
| | - Ariel L Escobar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Merced, Merced, California, USA
| | - Néstor J Oviedo
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and University of California Merced, Merced, California, USA
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Stelman CR, Smith BM, Chandra B, Roberts-Galbraith RH. CBP/p300 homologs CBP2 and CBP3 play distinct roles in planarian stem cell function. Dev Biol 2021; 473:130-143. [PMID: 33607113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin modifications function as critical regulators of gene expression and cellular identity, especially in the regulation and maintenance of the pluripotent state. However, many studies of chromatin modification in stem cells-and pluripotent stem cells in particular-are performed in mammalian stem cell culture, an in vitro condition mimicking a very transient state during mammalian development. Thus, new models for studying pluripotent stem cells in vivo could be helpful for understanding the roles of chromatin modification, for confirming prior in vitro studies, and for exploring evolution of the pluripotent state. The freshwater flatworm, Schmidtea mediterranea, is an excellent model for studying adult pluripotent stem cells, particularly in the context of robust, whole-body regeneration. To identify chromatin modifying and remodeling enzymes critical for planarian regeneration and stem cell maintenance, we took a candidate approach and screened planarian homologs of 25 genes known to regulate chromatin biology in other organisms. Through our study, we identified six genes with novel functions in planarian homeostasis, regeneration, and behavior. Of the list of genes characterized, we identified five planarian homologs of the mammalian CREB-Binding Protein (CBP) and p300 family of histone acetyltransferases, representing an expansion of this family in planarians. We find that two planarian CBP family members are required for planarian survival, with knockdown of Smed-CBP2 and Smed-CBP3 causing distinct defects in stem cell maintenance or function. Loss of CBP2 causes a quick, dramatic loss of stem cells, while knockdown of CBP3 affects stem cells more narrowly, influencing differentiation of several cell types that include neuronal subtypes and cells of the eye. Further, we find that Smed-CBP1 is required for planarian fissioning behavior. We propose that the division of labor among a diversified CBP family in planarians presents an opportunity to dissect specific functions of a broadly important histone acetyltransferase family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara R Stelman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Britessia M Smith
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Bidushi Chandra
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Rachel H Roberts-Galbraith
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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Simão FCP, Gravato C, Machado AL, Soares AMVM, Pestana JLT. Effects of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene on the reproduction and newborn morphology and behavior of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 264:128448. [PMID: 33032223 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants of aquatic ecosystems. Because they are persistent, there is great potential for chronic toxicity to aquatic species, and the evaluation of reproductive effects is fundamental. In this context, planarians are interesting experimental animals, since they can be sensitive to environmental pollutants, and a wide range of reproductive-related endpoints can be assessed. In this work we evaluated fecundity (number of cocoons), fertility (number of newborns), newborn anomalies, adult weight, regenerative abilities and PAH-residues in tissues of the freshwater planarian Girardia tigrina, exposed to either pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). Pyrene reduced planarian fecundity and fertility at 18.75 μg L-1 and 75.00 μg L-1, while B[a]P reduced planarian fecundity at the 37.50 μg L-1 treatment, which was accompanied by a 33.7% reduction in fertility. Cocoons were kept in clean media and newborns were evaluated for behavioral and morphological anomalies. Many of the newborns resulting from the B[a]P experiment revealed behavioral anomalies, such as spasms and uncoordinated movements. These behavioral anomalies were observed in 12.9% and 38.2% of newborns resulting from the exposure of adult planarians to 9.38 μg L-1 and 37.50 μg L-1 of B[a]P, respectively. This study is the first report on the effects of PAHs in freshwater planarians' sexual reproduction and a decreased reproductive output was evidenced. Moreover, the exposure of adults to B[a]P lead to defects in newborns, raising concern on the possible long-term consequences of these compounds for natural planarian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima C P Simão
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Gravato
- Faculdade de Ciências & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Machado
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Amadeu M V M Soares
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João L T Pestana
- CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Li P, Nanes Sarfati D, Xue Y, Yu X, Tarashansky AJ, Quake SR, Wang B. Single-cell analysis of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate. Nat Commun 2021; 12:485. [PMID: 33473133 PMCID: PMC7817839 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20794-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. These parasites have high fecundity and their eggs are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its biomedical significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms that regulate its development are only now being understood. In particular, it is unknown what balances the fate of germline stem cells (GSCs) in producing daughter stem cells through mitotic divisions versus gametes through meiosis. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on juvenile schistosomes and capture GSCs during de novo gonadal development. We identify a genetic program that controls the proliferation and differentiation of GSCs. This program centers around onecut, a homeobox transcription factor, and boule, an mRNA binding protein. Their expressions are mutually dependent in the schistosome male germline, and knocking down either of them causes over-proliferation of GSCs and blocks germ cell differentiation. We further show that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved in the planarian, schistosome's free-living evolutionary cousin, but the function of onecut has changed during evolution to support GSC maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Stephen R Quake
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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