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LaCoursiere CM, Ullmann JFP, Koh HY, Turner L, Baker CM, Robens B, Shao W, Rotenberg A, McGraw CM, Poduri A. Zebrafish models of candidate human epilepsy-associated genes provide evidence of hyperexcitability. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.07.579190. [PMID: 38370728 PMCID: PMC10871320 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.07.579190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Hundreds of novel candidate human epilepsy-associated genes have been identified thanks to advancements in next-generation sequencing and large genome-wide association studies, but establishing genetic etiology requires functional validation. We generated a list of >2200 candidate epilepsy-associated genes, of which 81 were determined suitable for the generation of loss-of-function zebrafish models via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Of those 81 crispants, 48 were successfully established as stable mutant lines and assessed for seizure-like swim patterns in a primary F2 screen. Evidence of seizure-like behavior was present in 5 (arfgef1, kcnd2, kcnv1, ubr5, wnt8b) of the 48 mutant lines assessed. Further characterization of those 5 lines provided evidence for epileptiform activity via electrophysiology in kcnd2 and wnt8b mutants. Additionally, arfgef1 and wnt8b mutants showed a decrease in the number of inhibitory interneurons in the optic tectum of larval animals. Furthermore, RNAseq revealed convergent transcriptional abnormalities between mutant lines, consistent with their developmental defects and hyperexcitable phenotypes. These zebrafish models provide strongest experimental evidence supporting the role of ARFGEF1, KCND2, and WNT8B in human epilepsy and further demonstrate the utility of this model system for evaluating candidate human epilepsy genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mark LaCoursiere
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hyun Yong Koh
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura Turner
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cristina M Baker
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Barbara Robens
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanqing Shao
- Research Computing, Department of Information Technology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher M McGraw
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annapurna Poduri
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Abstract
Electronic databases provide effective and efficient management of zebrafish colony operations, but commercially available options are expensive. In this study we have developed a free zebrafish management repository alternative using free Google applications. Husbandry information is logged into a Google Sheets-based catalog through Google Form (GF) entries. Form autopopulation can be streamlined by barcodes, which can be generated and deciphered through free smartphone applications. The repository is capable of calculating pertinent husbandry dates from GF input and sending e-mail reminders to users for specified tasks. A Google application-based repository allows for a free simple zebrafish husbandry management solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mark LaCoursiere
- 1 Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center , Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeremy F P Ullmann
- 1 Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center , Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Annapurna Poduri
- 1 Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center , Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts
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