1
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Krug J, Perner B, Albertz C, Mörl H, Hopfenmüller VL, Englert C. Generation of a transparent killifish line through multiplex CRISPR/Cas9mediated gene inactivation. eLife 2023; 12:81549. [PMID: 36820520 PMCID: PMC10010688 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Body pigmentation is a limitation for in vivo imaging and thus for the performance of longitudinal studies in biomedicine. A possibility to circumvent this obstacle is the employment of pigmentation mutants, which are used in fish species like zebrafish and medaka. To address the basis of aging, the short-lived African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri has recently been established as a model organism. Despite its short lifespan, N. furzeri shows typical signs of mammalian aging including telomere shortening, accumulation of senescent cells, and loss of regenerative capacity. Here, we report the generation of a transparent N. furzeri line by the simultaneous inactivation of three key loci responsible for pigmentation. We demonstrate that this stable line, named klara, can serve as a tool for different applications including behavioral experiments and the establishment of a senescence reporter by integration of a fluorophore into the cdkn1a (p21) locus and in vivo microscopy of the resulting line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Krug
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Carolin Albertz
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Hanna Mörl
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Vera L Hopfenmüller
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University JenaJenaGermany
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2
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Hopfenmüller VL, Perner B, Reuter H, Bates TJD, Große A, Englert C. The Wilms Tumor Gene wt1a Contributes to Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier Function in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:809962. [PMID: 35087838 PMCID: PMC8786916 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.809962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1 encodes a zinc finger transcription factor, which is highly conserved among vertebrates. It is a key regulator of urogenital development and homeostasis but also plays a role in other organs including the spleen and the heart. More recently additional functions for Wt1 in the mammalian central nervous system have been described. In contrast to mammals, bony fish possess two paralogous Wt1 genes, namely wt1a and wt1b. By performing detailed in situ hybridization analyses during zebrafish development, we discovered new expression domains for wt1a in the dorsal hindbrain, the caudal medulla and the spinal cord. Marker analysis identified wt1a expressing cells of the dorsal hindbrain as ependymal cells of the choroid plexus in the myelencephalic ventricle. The choroid plexus acts as a blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and thus is crucial for brain homeostasis. By employing wt1a mutant larvae and a dye accumulation assay with fluorescent tracers we demonstrate that Wt1a is required for proper choroid plexus formation and function. Thus, Wt1a contributes to the barrier properties of the choroid plexus in zebrafish, revealing an unexpected role for Wt1 in the zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Hanna Reuter
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas J D Bates
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Große
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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3
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Reuter H, Perner B, Wahl F, Rohde L, Koch P, Groth M, Buder K, Englert C. Aging Activates the Immune System and Alters the Regenerative Capacity in the Zebrafish Heart. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030345. [PMID: 35159152 PMCID: PMC8834511 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-associated organ failure and degenerative diseases have a major impact on human health. Cardiovascular dysfunction has an increasing prevalence with age and is one of the leading causes of death. In contrast to humans, zebrafish have extraordinary regeneration capacities of complex organs including the heart. In addition, zebrafish has recently become a model organism in research on aging. Here, we have compared the ventricular transcriptome as well as the regenerative capacity after cryoinjury of old and young zebrafish hearts. We identified the immune system as activated in old ventricles and found muscle organization to deteriorate upon aging. Our data show an accumulation of immune cells, mostly macrophages, in the old zebrafish ventricle. Those immune cells not only increased in numbers but also showed morphological and behavioral changes with age. Our data further suggest that the regenerative response to cardiac injury is generally impaired and much more variable in old fish. Collagen in the wound area was already significantly enriched in old fish at 7 days post injury. Taken together, these data indicate an ‘inflammaging’-like process in the zebrafish heart and suggest a change in regenerative response in the old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Reuter
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany; (H.R.); (B.P.); (F.W.); (L.R.)
| | - Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany; (H.R.); (B.P.); (F.W.); (L.R.)
- Core Facility Imaging, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Florian Wahl
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany; (H.R.); (B.P.); (F.W.); (L.R.)
| | - Luise Rohde
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany; (H.R.); (B.P.); (F.W.); (L.R.)
| | - Philipp Koch
- Core Facility Life Science Computing, 07735 Jena, Germany;
| | - Marco Groth
- Core Facility DNA Sequencing, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Katrin Buder
- Core Service Histology/Pathology/EM, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), 07745 Jena, Germany; (H.R.); (B.P.); (F.W.); (L.R.)
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-3641-656042
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Schnerwitzki D, Hayn C, Perner B, Englert C. Wt1 Positive dB4 Neurons in the Hindbrain Are Crucial for Respiration. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:529487. [PMID: 33328840 PMCID: PMC7734174 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.529487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Central pattern generator (CPG) networks coordinate the generation of rhythmic activity such as locomotion and respiration. Their development is driven by various transcription factors, one of which is the Wilms tumor protein (Wt1). It is present in dI6 neurons of the mouse spinal cord, and involved in the coordination of locomotion. Here we report about the presence of Wt1 in neurons of the caudoventral medulla oblongata and their impact on respiration. By employing immunohistofluorescence staining, we were able to characterize these Wt1 positive (+) cells as dB4 neurons. The temporal occurrence of Wt1 suggests a role for this transcription factor in the differentiation of dB4 neurons during embryonic and postnatal development. Conditional knockout of Wt1 in these cells caused an altered population size of V0 neurons already in the developing hindbrain, leading to a decline in the respiration rate in the adults. Thereby, we confirmed and extended the previously proposed similarity between dB4 neurons in the hindbrain and dI6 neurons of the spinal cord, in terms of development and function. Ablation of Wt1+ dB4 neurons resulted in the death of neonates due to the inability to initiate respiration, suggesting a vital role for Wt1+ dB4 neurons in breathing. These results expand the role of Wt1 in the CNS and show that, in addition to its function in differentiation of dI6 neurons, it also contributes to the development of dB4 neurons in the hindbrain that are critically involved in the regulation of respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Schnerwitzki
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hayn
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Marx-Blümel L, Marx C, Weise F, Frey J, Perner B, Schlingloff G, Lindig N, Hampl J, Sonnemann J, Brauer D, Voigt A, Singh S, Beck B, Jäger UM, Wang ZQ, Beck JF, Schober A. Biomimetic reconstruction of the hematopoietic stem cell niche for in vitro amplification of human hematopoietic stem cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234638. [PMID: 32569325 PMCID: PMC7307768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is successfully applied since the late 1950s; however, its efficacy still needs to be increased. A promising strategy is to transplant high numbers of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Therefore, an improved ex vivo culture system that supports proliferation and maintains HSC pluripotency would override possible limitations in cell numbers gained from donors. To model the natural HSC niche in vitro, we optimized the HSC medium composition with a panel of cytokines and valproic acid and used an artificial 3D bone marrow-like scaffold made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This 3D scaffold offered a suitable platform to amplify human HSCs in vitro and, simultaneously, to support their viability, multipotency and ability for self-renewal. Silicon oxide-covering of PDMS structures further improved amplification of CD34+ cells, although the conservation of naïve HSCs was better on non-covered 3D PDMS. Finally, we found that HSC cultivated on non-covered 3D PDMS generated most pluripotent colonies within colony forming unit assays. In conclusion, by combining biological and biotechnological approaches, we optimized in vitro HSCs culture conditions, resulting in improved amplification, multipotency maintenance and vitality of HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Marx-Blümel
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - C. Marx
- Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - F. Weise
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
| | - J. Frey
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - B. Perner
- Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - G. Schlingloff
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
| | - N. Lindig
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - J. Hampl
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
| | - J. Sonnemann
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - D. Brauer
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
| | - A. Voigt
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - S. Singh
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
| | - B. Beck
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ute-Maria Jäger
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Z. Q. Wang
- Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - J. F. Beck
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children’s Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - A. Schober
- Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Nano-Biosystem Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany
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6
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Tröger J, Hoischen C, Perner B, Monajembashi S, Barbotin A, Löschberger A, Eggeling C, Kessels MM, Qualmann B, Hemmerich P. Comparison of Multiscale Imaging Methods for Brain Research. Cells 2020; 9:E1377. [PMID: 32492970 PMCID: PMC7349602 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in neuroscience is how to study structural alterations in the brain. Even small changes in synaptic composition could have severe outcomes for body functions. Many neuropathological diseases are attributable to disorganization of particular synaptic proteins. Yet, to detect and comprehensively describe and evaluate such often rather subtle deviations from the normal physiological status in a detailed and quantitative manner is very challenging. Here, we have compared side-by-side several commercially available light microscopes for their suitability in visualizing synaptic components in larger parts of the brain at low resolution, at extended resolution as well as at super-resolution. Microscopic technologies included stereo, widefield, deconvolution, confocal, and super-resolution set-ups. We also analyzed the impact of adaptive optics, a motorized objective correction collar and CUDA graphics card technology on imaging quality and acquisition speed. Our observations evaluate a basic set of techniques, which allow for multi-color brain imaging from centimeter to nanometer scales. The comparative multi-modal strategy we established can be used as a guide for researchers to select the most appropriate light microscopy method in addressing specific questions in brain research, and we also give insights into recent developments such as optical aberration corrections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tröger
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Christian Hoischen
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; (C.H.); (B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Birgit Perner
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; (C.H.); (B.P.); (S.M.)
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Shamci Monajembashi
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; (C.H.); (B.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Aurélien Barbotin
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX13PJ, UK;
| | - Anna Löschberger
- Advanced Development Light Microscopy, Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Christian Eggeling
- MRC Human Immunology Unit & Wolfson Imaging Center Oxford, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX39DS, UK;
- Dep. Biophysical Imaging, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, and Institute for Applied Optics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael M. Kessels
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Britta Qualmann
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Nonnenplan 2-4, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Peter Hemmerich
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; (C.H.); (B.P.); (S.M.)
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Große A, Perner B, Naumann U, Englert C. Zebrafish Wtx is a negative regulator of Wnt signaling but is dispensable for embryonic development and organ homeostasis. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:866-881. [PMID: 31290212 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The X-chromosomally linked gene WTX is a human disease gene and a member of the AMER family. Mutations in WTX are found in Wilms tumor, a form of pediatric kidney cancer and in patients suffering from OSCS (Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis), a sclerosing bone disorder. Functional data suggest WTX to be an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Deletion of Wtx in mouse leads to perinatal death, impeding the analysis of its physiological role. RESULTS To gain insights into the function of Wtx in development and homeostasis we have used zebrafish as a model and performed both knockdown and knockout studies using morpholinos and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), respectively. Wtx knockdown led to increased Wnt activity and embryonic dorsalization. Also, wtx mutants showed a transient upregulation of Wnt target genes in the context of caudal fin regeneration. Surprisingly, however, wtx as well as wtx/amer2/amer3 triple mutants developed normally, were fertile and did not show any anomalies in organ maintenance. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that members of the zebrafish wtx/amer gene family, while sharing a partially overlapping expression pattern do not compensate for each other. This observation demonstrates a remarkable robustness during development and regeneration in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Große
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Uta Naumann
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Kindermann B, Valkova C, Krämer A, Perner B, Engelmann C, Behrendt L, Kritsch D, Jungnickel B, Kehlenbach RH, Oswald F, Englert C, Kaether C. The nuclear pore proteins Nup88/214 and T-cell acute lymphatic leukemia-associated NUP214 fusion proteins regulate Notch signaling. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:11741-11750. [PMID: 31186352 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Notch receptor is a key mediator of developmental programs and cell-fate decisions. Imbalanced Notch signaling leads to developmental disorders and cancer. To fully characterize the Notch signaling pathway and exploit it in novel therapeutic interventions, a comprehensive view on the regulation and requirements of Notch signaling is needed. Notch is regulated at different levels, ranging from ligand binding, stability to endocytosis. Using an array of different techniques, including reporter gene assays, immunocytochemistry, and ChIP-qPCR we show here, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, regulation of Notch signaling at the level of the nuclear pore. We found that the nuclear pore protein Nup214 (nucleoporin 214) and its interaction partner Nup88 negatively regulate Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo in zebrafish. In mammalian cells, loss of Nup88/214 inhibited nuclear export of recombination signal-binding protein for immunoglobulin κJ region (RBP-J), the DNA-binding component of the Notch pathway. This inhibition increased binding of RBP-J to its cognate promoter regions, resulting in increased downstream Notch signaling. Interestingly, we also found that NUP214 fusion proteins, causative for certain cases of T-cell acute lymphatic leukemia, potentially contribute to tumorigenesis via a Notch-dependent mechanism. In summary, the nuclear pore components Nup88/214 suppress Notch signaling in vitro, and in zebrafish, nuclear RBP-J levels are rate-limiting factors for Notch signaling in mammalian cells, and regulation of nucleocytoplasmic transport of RBP-J may contribute to fine-tuning Notch activity in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Kindermann
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christina Valkova
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Krämer
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Engelmann
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Laura Behrendt
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Daniel Kritsch
- Institut für Biochemie und Biophysik, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Berit Jungnickel
- Institut für Biochemie und Biophysik, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ralph H Kehlenbach
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franz Oswald
- Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Abteilung für Innere Medizin I, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany.,Institut für Biochemie und Biophysik, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaether
- Leibniz Institut für Alternsforschung-Fritz Lipmann Institut, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Perner B, Bates TJD, Naumann U, Englert C. Function and Regulation of the Wilms' Tumor Suppressor 1 (WT1) Gene in Fish. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1467:119-28. [PMID: 27417964 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-4023-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene Wt1 is highly conserved among vertebrates. In contrast to mammals, most fish species possess two wt1 paralogs that have been named wt1a and wt1b. Concerning wt1 in fish, most work so far has been done using zebrafish, focusing on the embryonic kidney, the pronephros. In this chapter we will describe the structure and development of the pronephros as well as the role that the wt1 genes play in the embryonic zebrafish kidney. We also discuss Wt1 target genes and describe the potential function of the Wt1 proteins in the adult kidney. Finally we will summarize data on the role of Wt1 outside of the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas J D Bates
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Uta Naumann
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany. .,Friedrich Schiller University, Fürstengraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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Abstract
Immunohistochemistry is one of the most powerful tools for direct visualization of distribution and localization of gene products. The presented protocol provides an opportunity to determine the localization patterns of Wt1 in zebrafish via antibody staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute for Age-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745, Jena, Germany. .,Friedrich Schiller University, Fürstengraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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11
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Perner B, Schnerwitzki D, Graf M, Englert C. Analysis of Zebrafish Kidney Development with Time-lapse Imaging Using a Dissecting Microscope Equipped for Optical Sectioning. J Vis Exp 2016:e53921. [PMID: 27078207 PMCID: PMC4841363 DOI: 10.3791/53921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to understand organogenesis, the spatial and temporal alterations that occur during development of tissues need to be recorded. The method described here allows time-lapse analysis of normal and impaired kidney development in zebrafish embryos by using a fluorescence dissecting microscope equipped for structured illumination and z-stack acquisition. To visualize nephrogenesis, transgenic zebrafish (Tg(wt1b:GFP)) with fluorescently labeled kidney structures were used. Renal defects were triggered by injection of an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide against the Wilms tumor gene wt1a, a factor known to be crucial for kidney development. The advantage of the experimental setup is the combination of a zoom microscope with simple strategies for re-adjusting movements in x, y or z direction without additional equipment. To circumvent focal drift that is induced by temperature variations and mechanical vibrations, an autofocus strategy was applied instead of utilizing a usually required environmental chamber. In order to re-adjust the positional changes due to a xy-drift, imaging chambers with imprinted relocation grids were employed. In comparison to more complex setups for time-lapse recording with optical sectioning such as confocal laser scanning or light sheet microscopes, a zoom microscope is easy to handle. Besides, it offers dissecting microscope-specific benefits such as high depth of field and an extended working distance. The method to study organogenesis presented here can also be used with fluorescence stereo microscopes not capable of optical sectioning. Although limited for high-throughput, this technique offers an alternative to more complex equipment that is normally used for time-lapse recording of developing tissues and organ dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
| | - Danny Schnerwitzki
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)
| | - Michael Graf
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI); Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI); Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena;
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Dong L, Pietsch S, Tan Z, Perner B, Sierig R, Kruspe D, Groth M, Witzgall R, Gröne HJ, Platzer M, Englert C. Integration of Cistromic and Transcriptomic Analyses Identifies Nphs2, Mafb, and Magi2 as Wilms' Tumor 1 Target Genes in Podocyte Differentiation and Maintenance. J Am Soc Nephrol 2015; 26:2118-28. [PMID: 25556170 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2014080819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene 1 (WT1) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor. Mutation of WT1 in humans leads to Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney tumor, or other kidney diseases, such as Denys-Drash and Frasier syndromes. We showed previously that inactivation of WT1 in podocytes of adult mice results in proteinuria, foot process effacement, and glomerulosclerosis. However, the WT1-dependent transcriptional network regulating podocyte development and maintenance in vivo remains unknown. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing with glomeruli from wild-type mice. Additionally, we performed a cDNA microarray screen on an inducible podocyte-specific WT1 knockout mouse model. By integration of cistromic and transcriptomic analyses, we identified the WT1 targetome in mature podocytes. To further analyze the function and targets of WT1 in podocyte maturation, we used an Nphs2-Cre model, in which WT1 is deleted during podocyte differentiation. These mice display anuria and kidney hemorrhage and die within 24 hours after birth. To address the evolutionary conservation of WT1 targets, we performed functional assays using zebrafish as a model and identified Nphs2, Mafb, and Magi2 as novel WT1 target genes required for podocyte development. Our data also show that both Mafb and Magi2 are required for normal development of the embryonic zebrafish kidney. Collectively, our work provides insights into the transcriptional networks controlled by WT1 and identifies novel WT1 target genes that mediate the function of WT1 in podocyte differentiation and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marco Groth
- Genome Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hermann-Josef Gröne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Matthias Platzer
- Genome Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
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Schnerwitzki D, Perner B, Hoppe B, Pietsch S, Mehringer R, Hänel F, Englert C. Alternative splicing of Wilms tumor suppressor 1 (Wt1) exon 4 results in protein isoforms with different functions. Dev Biol 2014; 393:24-32. [PMID: 25014653 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Wilms tumor suppressor gene Wt1 encodes a zinc finger transcription factor that is essential for development of multiple organs including kidneys, gonads, spleen and heart. In mammals Wt1 comprises 10 exons with two characteristic splicing events: inclusion or skipping of exon 5 and alternative usage of two splice donor sites between exons 9 and 10. Most fish including zebrafish and medaka possess two wt1 paralogs, wt1a and wt1b, both lacking exon 5. Here we have characterized wt1 in guppy, platyfish and the short-lived African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. All fish except zebrafish show alternative splicing of exon 4 of wt1a but not of wt1b with the wt1a(-exon 4) isoform being the predominant splice variant. With regard to function, Wt1a(+exon 4) showed less dimerization but stimulated transcription more effectively than the Wt1a(-exon 4) isoform. A specific knockdown of wt1a exon 4 in zebrafish was associated with anomalies in kidney development demonstrating a physiological function for Wt1a exon 4. Interestingly, alternative splicing of exon 4 seems to be an early evolutionary event as it is observed in the single wt1 gene of the sturgeon, a species that has not gone through teleost-specific genome duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Schnerwitzki
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Beate Hoppe
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Pietsch
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Rebecca Mehringer
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Frank Hänel
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University, Fürstengraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Schüler S, Hauptmann J, Perner B, Kessels MM, Englert C, Qualmann B. Ciliated sensory hair cell formation and function require the F-BAR protein syndapin I and the WH2 domain-based actin nucleator Cobl. J Cell Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.138917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Schüler S, Hauptmann J, Perner B, Kessels MM, Englert C, Qualmann B. Ciliated sensory hair cell formation and function require the F-BAR protein syndapin I and the WH2 domain-based actin nucleator Cobl. J Cell Sci 2012. [PMID: 23203810 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.111674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During development, general body plan information must be translated into distinct morphologies of individual cells. Shaping cells is thought to involve cortical cytoskeletal components and Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs167 (BAR) superfamily proteins. We therefore conducted comprehensive side-by-side loss-of-function studies of zebrafish orthologs of the F-BAR protein syndapin I and the actin nucleator Cobl. Zebrafish syndapin I associates with Cobl. The loss-of-function phenotypes of these proteins were remarkably similar and suggested a common function. Both cobl- and syndapin I-morphant fish showed severe swimming and balance-keeping defects, reflecting an impaired organization and function of the lateral line organ. Their lateral line organs lacked several neuromasts and showed an impaired functionality of the sensory hair cells within the neuromasts. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that sensory hair cells of both cobl- and syndapin I-morphant animals showed defects in the formation of both microtubule-dependent kinocilia and F-actin-rich stereocilia. Consistent with the kinocilia defects in sensory hair cells, body length was shortened and the development of body laterality, a process depending on motile cilia, was also impaired. Interestingly, Cobl and syndapin I both localized to the base of forming cilia. Rescue experiments demonstrated that proper formation of ciliated sensory hair cell rosettes relied on Cobl's syndapin I-binding Cobl homology domain, the actin-nucleating C-terminus of Cobl and the membrane curvature-inducing F-BAR domain of syndapin I. Our data thus suggest that the formation of distinct types of ciliary structures relies on membrane topology-modulating mechanisms that are based on F-BAR domain functions and on complex formation of syndapin I with the actin nucleator Cobl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Schüler
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Jena University Hospital/Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Bollig F, Perner B, Besenbeck B, Köthe S, Ebert C, Taudien S, Englert C. A highly conserved retinoic acid responsive element controls wt1a expression in the zebrafish pronephros. Development 2009; 136:2883-92. [PMID: 19666820 DOI: 10.1242/dev.031773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene Wt1 encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays an essential role in organ development, most notably of the kidney. Despite its importance for organogenesis, knowledge of the regulation of Wt1 expression is scarce. Here, we have used transgenesis in zebrafish harboring two wt1 genes, wt1a and wt1b, in order to define regulatory elements that drive wt1 expression in the kidney. Stable transgenic lines with approximately 30 kb of the upstream genomic regions of wt1a or wt1b almost exactly recapitulated endogenous expression of the wt1 paralogs. In the case of wt1b, we have identified an enhancer that is located in the far upstream region that is necessary and sufficient for reporter gene expression in the pronephric glomeruli. Regarding wt1a, we could also identify an enhancer that is located approximately 4 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site that is required for expression in the intermediate mesoderm. Interestingly, this intermediate mesoderm enhancer is highly conserved between fish and mammals, is bound by members of the retinoic acid receptor family of transcription factors in gel shift experiments and mediates responsiveness to retinoic acid both in vivo and in cell culture. To our knowledge, this is the first functional demonstration of defined regulatory elements controlling Wt1 expression in vivo. The identification of kidney-specific enhancer elements will help us to better understand the integration of extracellular signals into intracellular networks in nephrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Bollig
- Molecular Genetics Group, Leibniz Institute for Age Research-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, Jena, Germany.
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Perner B, Englert C, Bollig F. The Wilms tumor genes wt1a and wt1b control different steps during formation of the zebrafish pronephros. Dev Biol 2007; 309:87-96. [PMID: 17651719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2007] [Revised: 06/13/2007] [Accepted: 06/28/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The Wilms tumor protein WT1 is an essential factor for kidney development. In humans, mutations in WT1 lead to Wilms tumor, a pediatric kidney cancer as well as to developmental anomalies concerning the urogenital tract. Inactivation of Wt1 in mice causes multiple organ defects most notably agenesis of the kidneys. In zebrafish, two paralogous wt1 genes exist, wt1a and wt1b. The wt1 genes are expressed in a similar and overlapping but not identical pattern. Here, we have examined the role of both wt1 genes in early kidney development employing a transgenic line with pronephros specific GFP expression and morpholino knockdown experiments. Inactivation of wt1a led to failure of glomerular differentiation and morphogenesis resulting in a rapidly expanding general body edema. In contrast, knockdown of wt1b was compatible with early glomerular development. After 48 h, however, wt1b morphant embryos developed cysts in the region of the glomeruli and tubules and subsequent pericardial edema at 4 days post-fertilization. Thus, our data suggest different functions for wt1a and wt1b in zebrafish nephrogenesis. While wt1a has a more fundamental and early role in pronephros development and is essential for the formation of glomerular structures, wt1b functions at later stages of nephrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Perner
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Bollig F, Mehringer R, Perner B, Hartung C, Schäfer M, Schartl M, Volff JN, Winkler C, Englert C. Identification and comparative expression analysis of a second wt1 gene in zebrafish. Dev Dyn 2006; 235:554-61. [PMID: 16292775 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene wt1 encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays an important role in the development of the mammalian genitourinary system. Mutations in WT1 in humans lead to anomalies of kidney and gonad development and cause Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney cancer. The inactivation of both wt1 alleles in mice gives rise to multiple organ defects, among them agenesis of kidney, spleen, and gonads. In zebrafish, an ortholog of wt1 has been described that is expressed in the pronephric field and is later restricted to the podocytes. Here, we report the existence of a second wt1 gene in zebrafish, which we have named wt1b (we named the initial gene wt1a). The overall sequence identity of the two Wt1 proteins is 70% and 92% between the zinc-finger regions, respectively. In contrast to wt1a, wt1b is expressed from the earliest stages of development onward, albeit at low levels. Both wt1a and wt1b are expressed in the intermediate mesoderm, with wt1b being restricted to a smaller area lying at the caudal end of the wt1a expression domain. In adult fish, high expression levels for both genes can be found in gonads, kidney, heart, spleen, and muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Bollig
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research-Fritz Lipmann Institute e.V. (FLI), Jena, Germany
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Abstract
Light microscopy has proven to be one of the most versatile analytical tools in cell biology and cytogenetics. The growing spectrum of scientific knowledge demands a continuous improvement of the optical resolution of the instruments. In far-field light microscopy, the attainable resolution is dictated by the limit of diffraction, which, in practice, is about 250 nm for high-numerical-aperture objective lenses. Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) was the first technique that has overcome this limit up to about one order of magnitude. Typically, the resolution range below 100 nm is accessed for biological applications. Using appropriately designed scanning probes allows for obtaining an extremely small near-field light excitation volume (some tens of nanometers in diameter). Because of the reduction of background illumination, high contrast imaging becomes feasible for light transmission and fluorescence microscopy. The height of the scanning probe is controlled by atomic force interactions between the specimen surface and the probe tip. The control signal can be used for the production of a topographic (nonoptical) image that can be acquired simultaneously. In this chapter, the principle of NSOM is described with respect to biological applications. A brief overview of some requirements in biology and applications described in the literature are given. Practical advice is focused on instruments with aperture-type illumination probes. Preparation protocols focussing on NSOM of cell surfaces and chromosomes are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hausmann
- Kirchoff Institute of Physics, University of Heidelberg, Germany
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Hausmann M, Liebe B, Perner B, Jerratsch M, Greulich KO, Scherthan H. Imaging of human meiotic chromosomes by scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). Micron 2004; 34:441-7. [PMID: 14680931 DOI: 10.1016/s0968-4328(03)00021-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2003] [Revised: 04/04/2003] [Accepted: 04/09/2003] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Centromeres and telomeres are key structures of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes. Especially telomeres develop particular structural properties at meiosis. Here, we investigated the feasibility of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) for light-microscopic imaging of meiotic telomeres in the sub-hundred nanometer resolution regime. SNOM was applied to visualise the synaptonemal complex (SC) and telomere proteins (TRF1, TRF2) after differential immuno-fluorescent labelling. We tested and compared two different preparation protocols for their applicability in a SNOM setting using micro-fabricated silicon nitride aperture tips. Protocol I consisted of differential labelling of meiotic chromosome cores (SC) by SCP3 immuno-fluorescence and telomeres by TRF1 or TRF2 immuno-fluorescence, while protocol II combined absorption labelling with alkaline phosphatase substrates of cores with fluorescent labelling of telomeres. The results obtained indicate that protocol I reveals a better visualisation of structural (topographic) details than protocol II. By means of SNOM, meiotic chromosome cores could be visualised at a resolution overtopping that of far-field light microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hausmann
- Department of Single Cell and Single Molecule Techniques, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, P.O. Box 100813, D-07708 Jena, Germany.
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Winkler R, Perner B, Rapp A, Durm M, Cremer C, Greulich KO, Hausmann M. Labelling quality and chromosome morphology after low temperature FISH analysed by scanning far-field and near-field optical microscopy. J Microsc 2003; 209:23-33. [PMID: 12535181 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2818.2003.01101.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A non-enzymatic, low temperature fluorescence in situ hybridization (LTFISH) procedure was applied to metaphase spreads and interphase cell nuclei. In this context 'low temperature' means that the denaturation procedure of the chromosomal target DNA usually applied by heat treatment and chaotropic agents such as formamide was completely omitted so that the complete hybridization reaction took place at 37 degrees C. For LTFISH, the DNA probe had to be single-stranded, which was achieved by means of separate thermal denaturation of the DNA probe only. The DNA probe pUC1.77 was used for all LTFISH experiments. The labelling quality (number of binding sites, relative background intensity, relative intensity of major and minor binding sites) was analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). An optimum in specificity and signal quality was obtained for 15 h hybridization time. For this hybridization condition of LTFISH, the chromosomal morphology was analysed by scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The results were compared with the morphology of chromosomes after (a) labelling of all centromeres using the same chemical treatment in the FISH procedure but with the application of target denaturation, and (b) labelling of all centromeres using a standard FISH protocol including thermal denaturation of the DNA probe and the chromosomal target. Depending on the FISH-procedure applied, SNOM images show substantial differences in the chromosome morphology. After LTFISH the chromosome morphology appeared to be much better preserved than after standard FISH. In contrast, the application of the LTFISH chemical treatment accompanied by heat denaturation had a very destructive influence on chromosomal morphology. The results indicate that, at least for certain DNA probes, specific chromosome labelling can be obtained without the usually applied heat and chemical denaturation of the DNA target, resulting in an apparently well preserved chromatin morphology as visualized by SNOM. LTFISH may be therefore a useful labelling technique whenever the chromosomal morphology had to be preserved after specific labelling of DNA regions. Binding mechanisms of single-stranded DNA probes to double-stranded DNA targets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Winkler
- Single Cell and Single Molecule Techniques, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology e.V., PO Box 100813, D-07708 Jena, Germany
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Perner B, Hausmann M, Wollweber L, Rapp A, Monajembashi S, Greulich KO. Scanning near-field optical microscopy of cell surfaces after structure conserving air drying. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1117/12.410639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Günther T, Perner B, Gramss G. Activities of phenol oxidizing enzymes of ectomycorrhizal fungi in axenic culture and in symbiosis with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). J Basic Microbiol 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-4028(199807)38:3<197::aid-jobm197>3.0.co;2-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Kvapil J, Perner B, Kvapil J, Kubelka J, Hamal K, Košelja M. Spectral and laser properties of YAP:Nd grown in reducing atmosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1986. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01597414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kvapil J, Kubelka J, Kvapil J, Perner B. Temperature distribution in growing semi-transparent crystals (III). Conical liquid/solid interface. Cryst Res Technol 1983. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.2170180523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Kvapil J, Perner B, Kvapil J, Mánek B, Kubelka J, Blažek K, Austrata R, Schauer P, Vitamvás Z. Spectral Properties of Oxide Crystals Free of Iron Ions. Cryst Res Technol 1982. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.2170170715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Kvapil J, Perner B, Kubelka J, Kvapil J. The role of iron ions in laser ruby. Krist Techn 1981. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.19810161012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Kvapil J, Vitamvás Z, Perner B, Kvapil J, Mánek B, Adametz O, Kubelka J. Influence of dopants and preparation method on the thermoluminescence properties of corundum crystals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1980. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.19800150720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Kvapil J, Kubelka J, Kvapil J, Perner B. Temperature distribution in growing semi-transparent crystals (II). Comparison of theory with experiments. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1978. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.19780131116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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