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Tiberi A, Borgonovo G, Testa G, Pacifico P, Jacob A, Di Caprio M, Totaro V, Calvello M, Cattaneo A, Capsoni S. Reversal of neurological deficits by painless nerve growth factor in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. Brain 2024; 147:122-134. [PMID: 37633263 PMCID: PMC10766238 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad282] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disease, affecting 1 in over 10 000 females born worldwide, caused by de novo mutations in the X-chromosome-located methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) gene. Despite the great effort put forth by the scientific community, a therapy for this devastating disease is still needed. Here, we tested the therapeutic effects of a painless mutein of the nerve growth factor (NGF), called human NGF painless (hNGFp), via a non-invasive intranasal delivery in female MeCP2+/- mice. Of note, previous work had demonstrated a broad biodistribution of hNGFp in the mouse brain by the nasal delivery route. We report that (i) the long-term lifelong treatment of MeCP2+/- mice with hNGFp, starting at 2 months of age, increased the chance of survival while also greatly improving behavioural parameters. Furthermore, when we assessed the phenotypic changes brought forth by (ii) a short-term 1-month-long hNGFp-treatment, starting at 3 months of age (right after the initial presentation of symptoms), we observed the rescue of a well known neuronal target population of NGF, cholinergic neurons in the medial septum. Moreover, we reveal a deficit in microglial morphology in MeCP2+/- mice, completely reversed in treated animals. This effect on microglia is in line with reports showing microglia to be a TrkA-dependent non-neuronal target cell population of NGF in the brain. To understand the immunomodulatory activity of hNGFp, we analysed the cytokine profile after hNGFp treatment in MeCP2+/- mice, to discover that the treatment recovered the altered expression of key neuroimmune-communication molecules, such as fractalkine. The overall conclusion is that hNGFp delivered intranasally can ameliorate symptoms in the MeCP2+/- model of Rett syndrome, by exerting strong neuroprotection with a dual mechanism of action: directly on target neurons and indirectly via microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Tiberi
- Institute of Neuroscience, CNR, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Borgonovo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Testa
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Pacifico
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ajesh Jacob
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Valentino Totaro
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Russo L, Giacomelli C, Fortino M, Marzo T, Ferri G, Calvello M, Viegi A, Magrì A, Pratesi A, Pietropaolo A, Cardarelli F, Martini C, Rizzarelli E, Marchetti L, La Mendola D, Trincavelli ML. Neurotrophic Activity and Its Modulation by Zinc Ion of a Dimeric Peptide Mimicking the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor N-Terminal Region. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3453-3463. [PMID: 36346920 PMCID: PMC9732821 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00463] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin (NT) essential for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of BDNF signaling is implicated in different neurological disorders. The direct NT administration as therapeutics has revealed to be challenging. This has prompted the design of peptides mimicking different regions of the BDNF structure. Although loops 2 and 4 have been thoroughly investigated, less is known regarding the BDNF N-terminal region, which is involved in the selective recognition of the TrkB receptor. Herein, a dimeric form of the linear peptide encompassing the 1-12 residues of the BDNF N-terminal (d-bdnf) was synthesized. It demonstrated to act as an agonist promoting specific phosphorylation of TrkB and downstream ERK and AKT effectors. The ability to promote TrkB dimerization was investigated by advanced fluorescence microscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, finding activation modes shared with BDNF. Furthermore, d-bdnf was able to sustain neurite outgrowth and increase the expression of differentiation (NEFM, LAMC1) and polarization markers (MAP2, MAPT) demonstrating its neurotrophic activity. As TrkB activity is affected by zinc ions in the synaptic cleft, we first verified the ability of d-bdnf to coordinate zinc and then the effect of such complexation on its activity. The d-bdnf neurotrophic activity was reduced by zinc complexation, demonstrating the role of the latter in tuning the activity of the new peptido-mimetic. Taken together our data uncover the neurotrophic properties of a novel BDNF mimetic peptide and pave the way for future studies to understand the pharmacological basis of d-bdnf action and develop novel BDNF-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Russo
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | | | | | - Tiziano Marzo
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio
NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Magrì
- Istituto
di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università
di Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudia Martini
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Enrico Rizzarelli
- Istituto
di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Catania 95126, Italy,Università
degli Studi di Catania, Catania 95124, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy,
| | - Diego La Mendola
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy,
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Repetto M, Conforti F, Pirola S, Calvello M, Pala L, Bonanni B, Catania C, Curigliano G, De Pas T. Thymic carcinoma with Lynch syndrome or microsatellite instability, a rare entity responsive to immunotherapy. Eur J Cancer 2021; 153:162-167. [PMID: 34161910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Thymic carcinoma (TC) is a rare aggressive tumour occurring in adults characterised by one of the lowest tumor mutational burdens (TMB). Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a mutational signature, caused by defects in the DNA MisMatch Repair (MMR) system, that predicts benefit from immunotherapy and causes high TMB. Fragmentary and unstructured evidence of these conditions co-occurring are reported in literature. OBJECTIVE Review available data on the co-occurrence of these two conditions and determine its frequency in our institute case series. DESIGN We performed a systematic analysis of literature and a retrospective evaluation of all the cases of TET treated at our institution from 2000 to 2020, selecting patients with a medical history of multiple tumours to enhance a priori probability of identifying cases with underlying predisposition. RESULTS Literature yielded 3 cases of patients with MSI TC, for which MMR gene alteration was reported. None of them received immunotherapy. Of 366 patients with TETs treated in our institute, 32 had a medical history of multiple tumours and 25 of 32 (19 thymomas and 6 TCs) had available tissue for MMR analysis. One patient with TC showed a high TMB, and MSI due to MLH1 mutation and was treated in a phase II study with avelumab and axitinib combination obtaining a long-lasting partial response. MLH1 alterations are shared across MSI TC cases. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This analysis highlights the usefulness of MSI testing in patients with TC. The observation of cases of TC occurring in patients with Lynch syndrome and the unexpected homogeneity of gene alterations support further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Repetto
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - F Conforti
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma & Sarcoma, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - S Pirola
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - M Calvello
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - L Pala
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma & Sarcoma, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - B Bonanni
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - C Catania
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - G Curigliano
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - T De Pas
- Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma & Sarcoma, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Convertino D, Mishra N, Marchetti L, Calvello M, Viegi A, Cattaneo A, Fabbri F, Coletti C. Effect of Chemical Vapor Deposition WS 2 on Viability and Differentiation of SH-SY5Y Cells. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:592502. [PMID: 33192279 PMCID: PMC7662391 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.592502] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, transition metal dichalcogenides have been attracting an increasing interest in the biomedical field, thus implying the need of a deeper understanding of their impact on cell behavior. In this study we investigate tungsten disulfide (WS2) grown via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on a transparent substrate (sapphire) as a platform for neural-like cell culture. We culture SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells on WS2, using graphene, sapphire and standard culture well as controls. The quality, thickness and homogeneity of the materials is analyzed using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The cytocompatibility of CVD WS2 is investigated for the first time by cell viability and differentiation assessment on SH-SY5Y cells. We find that cells differentiated on WS2, displaying a viability and neurite length comparable with the controls. These findings shine light on the possibility of using WS2 as a cytocompatible material for interfacing neural cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Convertino
- National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | - Neeraj Mishra
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Filippo Fabbri
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
- NEST Istituto Nanoscienze—CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Camilla Coletti
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
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Amodeo R, Convertino D, Calvello M, Ceccarelli L, Bonsignore F, Ravelli C, Cattaneo A, Martini C, Luin S, Mitola S, Signore G, Marchetti L. Fluorolabeling of the PPTase-Related Chemical Tags: Comparative Study of Different Membrane Receptors and Different Fluorophores in the Labeling Reactions. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:195. [PMID: 32850976 PMCID: PMC7426934 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00195] [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: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The set-up of an advanced imaging experiment requires a careful selection of suitable labeling strategies and fluorophores for the tagging of the molecules of interest. Here we provide an experimental workflow to allow evaluation of fluorolabeling performance of the chemical tags target of phosphopantetheinyl transferase enzymes (PPTases), once inserted in the sequence of different proteins of interest. First, S6 peptide tag was fused to three different single-pass transmembrane proteins (the tyrosine receptor kinases TrkA and VEGFR2 and the tumor necrosis factor receptor p75NTR), providing evidence that all of them can be conveniently albeit differently labeled. Moreover, we chose the S6-tagged TrkA construct to test eight different organic fluorophores for the PPTase labeling of membrane receptors in living cells. We systematically compared their non-specific internalization when added to a S6-tag negative cell culture, the percentage of S6-TrkA expressing cells effectively labeled and the relative mean fluorescence intensity, their photostability upon conjugation, and ratio of specific (cellular) versus background (glass-adhered) signal. This allowed to identify which fluorophores are actually recommended for these labeling reactions. Finally, we compared the PPTase labeling of a purified, YBBR-tagged Nerve Growth Factor with two differently charged organic dyes. We detected some batch-to-batch variability in the labeling yield, regardless of the fluorophore used. However, upon purification of the fluorescent species and incubation with living primary DRG neurons, no significant difference could be appreciated in both internalization and axonal transport of the labeled neurotrophins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosy Amodeo
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | - Domenica Convertino
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Ceccarelli
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy.,Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefano Luin
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,CNR-NANO, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Signore
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy.,Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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6
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Siano G, Caiazza MC, Varisco M, Calvello M, Quercioli V, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Modulation of Tau Subcellular Localization as a Tool to Investigate the Expression of Disease-related Genes. J Vis Exp 2019. [PMID: 31904014 DOI: 10.3791/59988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule binding protein expressed in neurons and its main known function is related to the maintenance of cytoskeletal stability. However, recent evidence indicated that Tau is present also in other subcellular compartments including the nucleus where it is implicated in DNA protection, in rRNA transcription, in the mobility of retrotransposons and in the structural organization of the nucleolus. We have recently demonstrated that nuclear Tau is involved in the expression of the VGluT1 gene, suggesting a molecular mechanism that could explain the pathological increase of glutamate release in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Until recently, the involvement of nuclear Tau in modulating the expression of target genes has been relatively uncertain and ambiguous due to technical limitations that prevented the exclusion of the contribution of cytoplasmic Tau or the effect of other downstream factors not related to nuclear Tau. To overcome this uncertainty, we developed a method to study the expression of target genes specifically modulated by the nuclear Tau protein. We employed a protocol that couples the use of localization signals and the subcellular fractionation, allowing the exclusion of the interference from the cytoplasmic Tau molecules. Most notably, the protocol is easy and is composed of classic and reliable methods that are broadly applicable to study the nuclear function of Tau in other cell types and cellular conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratory of Biology, BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore
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7
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Tolva G, Gandini S, Marabelli M, Calvello M, Guerrieri-Gonzaga A, Bertario L, Bonanni B. Response to Dominguez-Valentin M et al. 2019: Cancer risks by gene, age, and gender in 6350 carriers of pathogenic mismatch repair variants: findings from the Prospective Lynch Syndrome Database. Genet Med 2019; 22:811-812. [PMID: 31831884 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-019-0716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G Tolva
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
| | - S Gandini
- Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - M Marabelli
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - M Calvello
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - A Guerrieri-Gonzaga
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - L Bertario
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - B Bonanni
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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8
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Siano G, Caiazza MC, Ollà I, Varisco M, Madaro G, Quercioli V, Calvello M, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Identification of an ERK Inhibitor as a Therapeutic Drug Against Tau Aggregation in a New Cell-Based Assay. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:386. [PMID: 31496937 PMCID: PMC6712076 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of Tau aggregates is a common pathological feature of tauopathies and their accumulation directly correlates with cytotoxicity and neuronal degeneration. Great efforts have been made to understand Tau aggregation and to find therapeutics halting or reversing the process, however, progress has been slowed due to the lack of a suitable method for monitoring Tau aggregation. We developed a cell-based assay allowing to detect and quantify Tau aggregation in living cells. The system is based on the FRET biosensor CST able to monitor the molecular dynamic of Tau aggregation in different cellular conditions. We probed candidate compounds that could block Tau hyperphosphorylation. In particular, to foster the drug discovery process, we tested kinase inhibitors approved for the treatment of other diseases. We identified the ERK inhibitor PD-901 as a promising therapeutic molecule since it reduces and prevents Tau aggregation. This evidence establishes the CST cell-based aggregation assay as a reliable tool for drug discovery and suggests that PD-901 might be a promising compound to be tested for further preclinical studies on AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ivana Ollà
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Varisco
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Madaro
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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9
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Fontana L, Bedeschi MF, Maitz S, Cereda A, Faré C, Motta S, Seresini A, D'Ursi P, Orro A, Pecile V, Calvello M, Selicorni A, Lalatta F, Milani D, Sirchia SM, Miozzo M, Tabano S. Characterization of multi-locus imprinting disturbances and underlying genetic defects in patients with chromosome 11p15.5 related imprinting disorders. Epigenetics 2018; 13:897-909. [PMID: 30221575 PMCID: PMC6284780 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2018.1514230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of multilocus imprinting disturbances (MLID) appears fundamental to uncover molecular pathways underlying imprinting disorders (IDs) and to complete clinical diagnosis of patients. However, MLID genetic associated mechanisms remain largely unknown. To characterize MLID in Beckwith-Wiedemann (BWS) and Silver-Russell (SRS) syndromes, we profiled by MassARRAY the methylation of 12 imprinted differentially methylated regions (iDMRs) in 21 BWS and 7 SRS patients with chromosome 11p15.5 epimutations. MLID was identified in 50% of BWS and 29% of SRS patients as a maternal hypomethylation syndrome. By next-generation sequencing, we searched for putative MLID-causative mutations in genes involved in methylation establishment/maintenance and found two novel missense mutations possibly causative of MLID: one in NLRP2, affecting ADP binding and protein activity, and one in ZFP42, likely leading to loss of DNA binding specificity. Both variants were paternally inherited. In silico protein modelling allowed to define the functional effect of these mutations. We found that MLID is very frequent in BWS/SRS. In addition, since MLID-BWS patients in our cohort show a peculiar pattern of BWS-associated clinical signs, MLID test could be important for a comprehensive clinical assessment. Finally, we highlighted the possible involvement of ZFP42 variants in MLID development and confirmed NLRP2 as causative locus in BWS-MLID.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fontana
- a Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - M F Bedeschi
- b Clinical Genetics Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - S Maitz
- c Clinical Pediatric, Genetics Unit , MBBM Foundation, San Gerardo Monza , Monza , Italy
| | - A Cereda
- d Medical Genetics Unit , Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital , Bergamo , Italy
| | - C Faré
- e Division of Pathology , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - S Motta
- e Division of Pathology , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - A Seresini
- f Medical Genetics Laboratory , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy.,g Fondazione Grigioni per il Morbo di Parkinson , Milano , Italy
| | - P D'Ursi
- h Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council , Institute for Biomedical Technologies , Segrate , Italy
| | - A Orro
- h Department of Biomedical Sciences National Research Council , Institute for Biomedical Technologies , Segrate , Italy
| | - V Pecile
- i Medical Genetics Division , Institute for maternal and child health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo , Trieste , Italy
| | - M Calvello
- e Division of Pathology , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy.,j Division of Cancer Prevention and Genetics, IEO , European Institute of Oncology IRCCS , Milano , Italy
| | - A Selicorni
- k UOC Pediatria , ASST Lariana , Como , Italy
| | - F Lalatta
- b Clinical Genetics Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - D Milani
- l Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - S M Sirchia
- m Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - M Miozzo
- a Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.,e Division of Pathology , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy
| | - S Tabano
- a Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
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10
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Terrigno M, Bertacchi M, Pandolfini L, Baumgart M, Calvello M, Cellerino A, Studer M, Cremisi F. The microRNA miR-21 Is a Mediator of FGF8 Action on Cortical COUP-TFI Translation. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:756-769. [PMID: 30174317 PMCID: PMC6135738 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The morphogen FGF8 plays a pivotal role in neocortical area patterning through its inhibitory effect on COUP-TFI/Nr2f1 anterior expression, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. We established an in vitro model of mouse embryonic stem cell corticogenesis in which COUP-TFI protein expression is inhibited by the activation of FGF8 in a time window corresponding to cortical area patterning. Interestingly, overexpression of the COUP-TFI 3'UTR reduces the inhibitory effect of FGF8 on COUP-TFI translation. FGF8 induces the expression of few miRNAs targeting COUP-TFI 3'UTR in silico. We found that the functional inhibition of miR-21 can effectively counteract the inhibitory effect of FGF8 in vitro and regulate COUP-TFI protein levels in vivo. Accordingly, miR-21 expression is complementary to COUP-TFI expression during corticogenesis. These data support a translational control of COUP-TFI gradient expression by FGF8 via miR-21 and contribute to our understanding of how regionalized expression is established during neocortical area mapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Terrigno
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | | | - Luca Pandolfini
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Mario Baumgart
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Alessandro Cellerino
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7, Pisa 56126, Italy; Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Michèle Studer
- Université Côte d'Azur (UCA), CNRS, Inserm, iBV, 06108 Nice, France
| | - Federico Cremisi
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7, Pisa 56126, Italy; Istituto di Biofisica CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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11
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Capsoni S, Malerba F, Carucci NM, Rizzi C, Criscuolo C, Origlia N, Calvello M, Viegi A, Meli G, Cattaneo A. The chemokine CXCL12 mediates the anti-amyloidogenic action of painless human nerve growth factor. Brain 2017; 140:201-217. [PMID: 28031222 PMCID: PMC5379860 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor is a therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease. Due to its pain-inducing activity, in current clinical trials nerve growth factor is delivered locally into the brain by neurosurgery, but data on the efficacy of local nerve growth factor delivery in decreasing amyloid-β deposition are not available. To reduce the nerve growth factor pain-inducing side effects, thus avoiding the need for local brain injection, we developed human painless nerve growth factor (hNGFp), inspired by the human genetic disease hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type V. hNGFp has identical neurotrophic potency as wild-type human nerve growth factor, but a 10-fold lower pain sensitizing activity. In this study we first mimicked, in the 5xFAD mouse model, the intraparenchymal delivery of hNGFp used in clinical trials and found it to be ineffective in decreasing amyloid-β plaque load. On the contrary, the same dose of hNGFp delivered intranasally, which was widely biodistributed in the brain and did not induce pain, showed a potent anti-amyloidogenic action and rescued synaptic plasticity and memory deficits. We found that hNGFp acts on glial cells, modulating inflammatory proteins such as the soluble TNFα receptor II and the chemokine CXCL12. We further established that the rescuing effect by hNGFp is mediated by CXCL12, as pharmacological inhibition of CXCL12 receptor CXCR4 occludes most of hNGFp effects. These findings have significant therapeutic implications: (i) we established that a widespread exposure of the brain is required for nerve growth factor to fully exert its neuroprotective actions; and (ii) we have identified a new anti-neurodegenerative pathway as a broad target for new therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capsoni
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Rizzi
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Criscuolo
- 2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy.,4 Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Nicola Origlia
- 2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Viegi
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Meli
- 3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy .,3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
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12
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Di Matteo P, Calvello M, Luin S, Marchetti L, Cattaneo A. An Optimized Procedure for the Site-Directed Labeling of NGF and proNGF for Imaging Purposes. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:4. [PMID: 28210618 PMCID: PMC5288393 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins are growth factors of fundamental importance for the development, survival and maintenance of different neuronal and non-neuronal populations. Over the years, the use of labeled neurotrophins has helped in the study of their biological functions, leading to a better understanding of the processes that regulate their transport, traffic, and signaling. However, the diverse and heterogeneous neurotrophin labeling strategies adopted so far have often led to poorly reproducible protocols and sometimes conflicting conclusions. Here we present a robust, reliable, and fast method to obtain homogeneous preparations of fluorescent proNGF and NGF with 1:1 labeling stoichiometry. This strategy is well suited for several applications, ranging from advanced imaging techniques such as single particle tracking, to analyses that require large amounts of neurotrophins such as in vivo monitoring of protein biodistribution. As a proof of the quality of the labeled NGF and proNGF preparations, we provide a quantitative analysis of their colocalization with proteins involved in the signaling endosome function and sorting. This new analysis allowed demonstrating that proNGF localizes at a sub-population of endosomes not completely overlapped to the one hosting NGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Di Matteo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Luin
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze - CNR Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNRPisa, Italy; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaPisa, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR Pisa, Italy
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13
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Pavese G, Lettino A, Calvello M, Esposito F, Fiore S. Aerosol composition and properties variation at the ground and over the column under different air masses advection in South Italy. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:6546-6562. [PMID: 26635222 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5860-1] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol composition and properties variation under the advection of different air masses were investigated, as case studies, by contemporary measurements over the atmospheric column and at the ground in a semi-rural site in South Italy. The absence of local strong sources in this area allowed to characterize background aerosol and to compare particle mixing effects under various atmospheric circulation conditions. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ǻngström parameters from radiometric measurements allowed the detection and identification of polluted, dust, and volcanic atmospheric conditions. AODs were the input for a suitable model to evaluate the columnar aerosol composition, according to six main atmospheric components (water-soluble, soot, sea salt accumulation, sea salt coarse, mineral dus,t and biological). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of particulate sampled with a 13-stage impactor at the ground showed not only fingerprints typical of the different air masses but also the effects of transport and aging on atmospheric particles, suggesting processes that changed their chemical and optical properties. Background columnar aerosol was characterized by 72% of water-soluble and soot, in agreement with ground-based findings that highlighted 60% of contribution from anthropogenic carbonate particles and soot. In general, a good agreement between ground-based and columnar results was observed. Under the advection of trans-boundary air masses, water-soluble and soot were always present in columnar aerosol, whereas, in variable percentages, sea salt and mineral particles characterized both dust and volcanic conditions. At the ground, sulfates characterized the amorphous matrix produced in finer stages by the evaporation of solutions of organic and inorganic aerosols. Sulfates were also one of the key players involved in heterogeneous chemical reactions, producing complex secondary aerosol, as such clay-sulfate internally mixed particle externally mixed with soot chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Pavese
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA), C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy.
| | - A Lettino
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA), C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy
| | - M Calvello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA), C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy
| | - F Esposito
- Università della Basilicata-Scuola di Ingegneria, C.da Macchia Romana, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - S Fiore
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale (CNR-IMAA), C.da S. Loja, 85050, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy
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14
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Nadai TD, Marchetti L, Rienzo CD, Calvello M, Signore G, Matteo PD, Gobbo F, Turturro S, Meucci S, Viegi A, Beltram F, Luin S, Cattaneo A. Corrigendum: Precursor and mature NGF live tracking: one versus many at a time in the axons. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23308. [PMID: 27027850 PMCID: PMC4813346 DOI: 10.1038/srep23308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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15
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De Nadai T, Marchetti L, Di Rienzo C, Calvello M, Signore G, Di Matteo P, Gobbo F, Turturro S, Meucci S, Viegi A, Beltram F, Luin S, Cattaneo A. Precursor and mature NGF live tracking: one versus many at a time in the axons. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20272. [PMID: 26829890 PMCID: PMC4735336 DOI: 10.1038/srep20272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The classical view of nerve growth factor (NGF) action in the nervous system is linked to its retrograde axonal transport. However, almost nothing is known on the trafficking properties of its unprocessed precursor proNGF, characterized by different and generally opposite biological functions with respect to its mature counterpart. Here we developed a strategy to fluorolabel both purified precursor and mature neurotrophins (NTs) with a controlled stoichiometry and insertion site. Using a single particle tracking approach, we characterized the axonal transport of proNGF versus mature NGF in living dorsal root ganglion neurons grown in compartmentalized microfluidic devices. We demonstrate that proNGF is retrogradely transported as NGF, but with a lower flux and a different distribution of numbers of neurotrophins per vesicle. Moreover, exploiting a dual-color labelling technique, we analysed the transport of both NT forms when simultaneously administered to the axon tips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa De Nadai
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy.,NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carmine Di Rienzo
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Signore
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Di Matteo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Gobbo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Sandro Meucci
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Viegi
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Beltram
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Luin
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
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16
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Marchetti L, De Nadai T, Bonsignore F, Calvello M, Signore G, Viegi A, Beltram F, Luin S, Cattaneo A. Site-specific labeling of neurotrophins and their receptors via short and versatile peptide tags. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113708. [PMID: 25426999 PMCID: PMC4245215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a toolbox for the study of molecular interactions occurring between NGF and its receptors. By means of a suitable insertional mutagenesis method we show the insertion of an 8 amino acid tag (A4) into the sequence of NGF and of 12 amino acid tags (A1 and S6) into the sequence of TrkA and P75NTR NGF-receptors. These tags are shortened versions of the acyl and peptidyl carrier proteins; they are here covalently conjugated to the biotin-substituted arm of a coenzyme A (coA) substrate by phosphopantetheinyl transferase enzymes (PPTases). We demonstrate site-specific biotinylation of the purified recombinant tagged neurotrophin, in both the immature proNGF and mature NGF forms. The resulting tagged NGF is fully functional: it can signal and promote PC12 cells differentiation similarly to recombinant wild-type NGF. Furthermore, we show that the insertion of A1 and S6 tags into human TrkA and P75NTR sequences leads to the site-specific biotinylation of these receptors at the cell surface of living cells. Crucially, the two tags are labeled selectively by two different PPTases: this is exploited to reach orthogonal fluorolabeling of the two receptors co-expressed at low density in living cells. We describe the protocols to obtain the enzymatic, site-specific biotinylation of neurotrophins and their receptors as an alternative to their chemical, nonspecific biotinylation. The present strategy has three main advantages: i) it yields precise control of stoichiometry and site of biotin conjugation; ii) the tags used can be functionalized with virtually any small probe that can be carried by coA substrates, besides (and in addition to) biotin; iii) above all it makes possible to image and track interacting molecules at the single-molecule level in living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Marchetti
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR, Pisa, Italy
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Teresa De Nadai
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fulvio Bonsignore
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandro Viegi
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Beltram
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR, Pisa, Italy
- IIT@NEST, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Luin
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail: (SL); (AC)
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- BioSNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto di Neuroscienze - CNR, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail: (SL); (AC)
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17
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Moncini S, Bedeschi MF, Castronovo P, Crippa M, Calvello M, Garghentino RR, Scuvera G, Finelli P, Venturin M. ATRX mutation in two adult brothers with non-specific moderate intellectual disability identified by exome sequencing. Meta Gene 2013; 1:102-8. [PMID: 25606380 PMCID: PMC4205036 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2013.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In this report, we describe two adult brothers affected by moderate non-specific intellectual disability (ID). They showed minor facial anomalies, not clearly ascribable to any specific syndromic patterns, microcephaly, brachydactyly and broad toes. Both brothers presented seizures. Karyotype, subtelomeric and FMR1 analysis were normal in both cases. We performed array-CGH analysis that revealed no copy-number variations potentially associated with ID. Subsequent exome sequence analysis allowed the identification of the ATRX c.109C>T (p.R37X) mutation in both the affected brothers. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of the mutation in the brothers and showed that the mother is a healthy carrier. Mutations in the ATRX gene cause the X-linked alpha thalassemia/mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome (MIM #301040), a severe clinical condition usually associated with profound ID, facial dysmorphism and alpha thalassemia. However, the syndrome is clinically heterogeneous and some mutations, including the c.109C>T, are associated with a broad phenotypic spectrum, with patients displaying a less severe phenotype with only mild-moderate ID. In the case presented here, exome sequencing provided an effective strategy to achieve the molecular diagnosis of ATR-X syndrome, which otherwise would have been difficult to consider due to the mild non-specific phenotype and the absence of a family history with typical severe cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Moncini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M F Bedeschi
- UOD Genetica Medica, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - P Castronovo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M Crippa
- Laboratorio di Citogenetica Medica e Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Cusano Milanino (MI), Italy
| | - M Calvello
- UOD Genetica Medica, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - R R Garghentino
- IRCCS "E Medea", Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Centro di Riabilitazione "La nostra Famiglia" Sesto San Giovanni, Italy
| | - G Scuvera
- UOD Genetica Medica, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - P Finelli
- Laboratorio di Citogenetica Medica e Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Cusano Milanino (MI), Italy
| | - M Venturin
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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18
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Marchetti L, Comelli L, D'Innocenzo B, Puzzi L, Luin S, Arosio D, Calvello M, Mendoza-Maldonado R, Peverali F, Trovato F, Riva S, Biamonti G, Abdurashidova G, Beltram F, Falaschi A. Homeotic proteins participate in the function of human-DNA replication origins. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:8105-19. [PMID: 20693533 PMCID: PMC3001063 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 07/16/2010] [Accepted: 07/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence points to homeotic proteins as actors in the crosstalk between development and DNA replication. The present work demonstrates that HOXC13, previously identified as a new member of human DNA replicative complexes, is a stable component of early replicating chromatin in living cells: it displays a slow nuclear dynamics due to its anchoring to the DNA minor groove via the arginine-5 residue of the homeodomain. HOXC13 binds in vivo to the lamin B2 origin in a cell-cycle-dependent manner consistent with origin function; the interaction maps with nucleotide precision within the replicative complex. HOXC13 displays in vitro affinity for other replicative complex proteins; it interacts also in vivo with the same proteins in a cell-cycle-dependent fashion. Chromatin-structure modifying treatments, disturbing origin function, reduce also HOXC13-origin interaction. The described interactions are not restricted to a single origin nor to a single homeotic protein (also HOXC10 binds the lamin B2 origin in vivo). Thus, HOX complexes probably contribute in a general, structure-dependent manner, to origin identification and assembly of replicative complexes thereon, in presence of specific chromatin configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Marchetti
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Laboratorio di Biologia Molecolare, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
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19
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Abstract
Our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms that mediate chemoreception in insects has been greatly improved after the discovery of olfactory and taste receptor proteins. However, the presence of soluble polypeptides in high concentration around the dendrites of sensory neurons still poses unanswered questions. More than 2 decades after their discovery and despite the wealth of structural information available, the physiological function of odorant-binding proteins is not well understood. More recently, members of a second family of soluble polypeptides, the chemosensory proteins, were also discovered in the lymph of chemosensilla. Here we review the structural properties of both classes of soluble proteins, their affinity to small ligands, and their expression in the different parts of the insect body and subcellular localisation. Finally, we discuss current ideas and models of the role of such proteins in insect chemoreception.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Chemoreceptor Cells/chemistry
- Chemoreceptor Cells/physiology
- Consensus Sequence
- Dendrites/physiology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Insect Proteins/chemistry
- Insect Proteins/genetics
- Insect Proteins/physiology
- Insecta/physiology
- Ligands
- Male
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Molecular Structure
- Multigene Family
- Neurons, Afferent/physiology
- Odorants
- Organ Specificity
- Pheromones/physiology
- Phylogeny
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation
- Receptors, Odorant/chemistry
- Receptors, Odorant/genetics
- Receptors, Odorant/physiology
- Receptors, Pheromone/chemistry
- Receptors, Pheromone/genetics
- Receptors, Pheromone/physiology
- Sense Organs/physiology
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Smell/physiology
- Solubility
- Species Specificity
- Structure-Activity Relationship
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Affiliation(s)
- P Pelosi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, University of Pisa (Italy), Agrarie via S. Michele, 4, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
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20
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Calvello M, Brandazza A, Navarrini A, Dani FR, Turillazzi S, Felicioli A, Pelosi P. Expression of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in some Hymenoptera. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 35:297-307. [PMID: 15763466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2004] [Revised: 12/23/2004] [Accepted: 01/03/2005] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The expression of chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in individuals of different castes and ages have been monitored in three species of social hymenopterans, Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), Vespa crabro (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae), using PCR with specific primers and polyclonal antibodies. In the paper wasp P. dominulus, OBP is equally expressed in antennae, wings and legs of all castes and ages, while CSP is often specifically present in antennae and in some cases also in legs. In the vespine species V. crabro CSP is antennal specific, while OBP is also expressed in legs and wings. The three CSPs and the five OBPs of A. mellifera show a complex pattern of expression, where both classes of proteins include members specifically expressed in antennae and others present in other parts of the body. These data indicate that at least in some hymenopteran species CSPs are specifically expressed in antennae and could perform roles in chemosensory perception so far assigned only to OBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Calvello
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, University of Pisa, Via S. Michele, 4, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Pelosi
- University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy and China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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22
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Calvello M, Guerra N, Brandazza A, D'Ambrosio C, Scaloni A, Dani FR, Turillazzi S, Pelosi P. Soluble proteins of chemical communication in the social wasp Polistes dominulus. Cell Mol Life Sci 2003; 60:1933-43. [PMID: 14523553 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-003-3186-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Members of the odorant-binding protein (OBP) and chemosensory protein (CSP) families were identified and characterised in the sensory tissues of the social wasp Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Unlike most insects so far investigated, OBPs were detected in antennae, legs and wings, while CSPs appeared to be preferentially expressed in the antennae. The OBP is very different from the homologous proteins of other Hymenopteran species, with around 20% of identical residues, while the CSP appears to be much better conserved. Both OBP and CSP, not showing other post-translational modifications apart from disulphide bridges, were expressed with high yields in a bacterial system. Cysteine pairing in the recombinant and native proteins follows the classical arrangements described for other members of these classes of proteins. OBPs isolated from the wings were found to be associated with a number of long-chain aliphatic amides and other small organic molecules. Binding of these ligands and other related compounds was measured for both recombinant OBP and CSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Calvello
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie, via S. Michele 4, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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