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Godino-Gimeno A, Leal E, Chivite M, Tormos E, Rotllant J, Vallone D, Foulkes NS, Míguez JM, Cerdá-Reverter JM. Role of melanocortin system in the locomotor activity rhythms and melatonin secretion as revealed by agouti-signalling protein (asip1) overexpression in zebrafish. J Pineal Res 2024; 76:e12939. [PMID: 38241679 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12939] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Temporal signals such as light and temperature cycles profoundly modulate animal physiology and behaviour. Via endogenous timing mechanisms which are regulated by these signals, organisms can anticipate cyclic environmental changes and thereby enhance their fitness. The pineal gland in fish, through the secretion of melatonin, appears to play a critical role in the circadian system, most likely acting as an element of the circadian clock system. An important output of this circadian clock is the locomotor activity circadian rhythm which is adapted to the photoperiod and thus determines whether animals are diurnal or nocturnal. By using a genetically modified zebrafish strain known as Tg (Xla.Eef1a1:Cau.asip1)iim04, which expresses a higher level of the agouti signalling protein 1 (Asip1), an endogenous antagonist of the melanocortin system, we observed a complete disruption of locomotor activity patterns, which correlates with the ablation of the melatonin daily rhythm. Consistent with this, in vitro experiments also demonstrated that Asip1 inhibits melatonin secretion from the zebrafish pineal gland, most likely through the melanocortin receptors expressed in this gland. Asip1 overexpression also disrupted the expression of core clock genes, including per1a and clock1a, thus blunting circadian oscillation. Collectively, these results implicate the melanocortin system as playing an important role in modulating pineal physiology and, therefore, circadian organisation in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Godino-Gimeno
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Fish Neurobehaviour Lab, Castellon, Spain
| | - Esther Leal
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Fish Neurobehaviour Lab, Castellon, Spain
| | - Mauro Chivite
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Tormos
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Fish Neurobehaviour Lab, Castellon, Spain
| | - Josep Rotllant
- Department of Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, Spain
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Department of Physiological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Department of Physiological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Jesús M Míguez
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jose Miguel Cerdá-Reverter
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Fish Neurobehaviour Lab, Castellon, Spain
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Kishimoto M, Gornik SG, Foulkes NS, Guse A. Negative phototaxis in the photosymbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia as a potential strategy to protect symbionts from photodamage. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17857. [PMID: 37857737 PMCID: PMC10587101 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44583-9] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosymbiotic cnidarians generally seek bright environments so that their symbionts can be photosynthetically active. However, excess light may result in a breakdown of symbiosis due to the accumulation of photodamage in symbionts causing symbiont loss (bleaching). It is currently unknown if photosymbiotic cnidarians sense light only to regulate spawning time and to facilitate predation, or whether they also use their light-sensing capacities to protect their symbionts from photodamage. In this study, we examined how the sea anemone Aiptasia changes its behaviour when exposed to excess light. We reveal that Aiptasia polyps, when carrying symbionts, contract their bodies when exposed to high light intensities and subsequently migrate away in a direction perpendicular to the light source. Interestingly, this negative phototaxis was only evident under blue light and absent upon UV, green and red light exposure. Non-symbiotic Aiptasia did not exhibit this light response. Our study demonstrates that photosymbiotic Aiptasia polyps display negative phototactic behaviour in response to blue light, and that they also can perceive its direction, despite lacking specialized eye structures. We postulate that Aiptasia uses blue light, which penetrates seawater efficiently, as a general proxy for sunlight exposure to protect its symbionts from photodamage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Kishimoto
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Genomics, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Weyertal 115b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian G Gornik
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
| | - Annika Guse
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhadernerstr. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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3
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Geyer N, Kaminsky S, Confino S, Livne ZBM, Gothilf Y, Foulkes NS, Vallone D. Establishment of cell lines from individual zebrafish embryos. Lab Anim 2023; 57:518-528. [PMID: 36896487 DOI: 10.1177/00236772231157162] [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] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing use of fish as model species for research, cell cultures derived from caudal fin explants as well as pre-hatching stage embryos have provided powerful in vitro tools that can complement or serve as an ethically more acceptable alternative to live animal experiments. The widely-used protocols to establish these lines require, as a starting point, homogeneous pools of embryos or viable adult fish which are large enough for collecting sufficient fin tissue. This excludes the use of fish lines with adverse phenotypes or lines that exhibit mortality at early developmental stages and so can only be propagated as heterozygotes. Specifically, when no visually overt mutant phenotype is detectable for identifying homozygous mutants at early embryonic stages, it is then impossible to sort pools of embryos with the same genotypes to generate cell lines from the progeny of a heterozygote in-cross. Here, we describe a simple protocol to generate cell lines on a large scale starting from individual early embryos that can subsequently be genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. This protocol should help to establish fish cell culture models as a routine approach for the functional characterization of genetic changes in fish models such as the zebrafish. Furthermore, it should contribute to a reduction of experiments which are ethically discouraged to avoid pain and distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Geyer
- Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
| | - Sabrina Kaminsky
- Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shir Confino
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Zohar Ben-Moshe Livne
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
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Foulkes NS. Photobiology: Fish eggs go sunny side up. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R810-R812. [PMID: 37552947 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
The UV radiation in sunlight can damage organisms. A new study reveals that female zebrafish deposit a chemical sunscreen into their eggs to protect their developing embryos, a feat that has been lost in fish species whose embryos never experience sunlight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Campus North, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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5
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Wang Z, Li K, Xu Y, Song Z, Lan X, Pan C, Zhang S, Foulkes NS, Zhao H. Ferroptosis contributes to nickel-induced developmental neurotoxicity in zebrafish. Sci Total Environ 2023; 858:160078. [PMID: 36372175 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is a widely utilized heavy metal that can cause environmental pollution and health hazards. Its safety has attracted the attention of both the environmental ecology and public health fields. While the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the main targets of Ni, its neurotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, by taking advantage of the zebrafish model for live imaging, genetic analysis and neurobehavioral studies, we reveal that the neurotoxic effects induced by exposure to environmentally relevant levels of Ni are closely related to ferroptosis, a newly-described form of iron-mediated cell death. In vivo two-photon imaging, neurobehavioral analysis and transcriptome sequencing consistently demonstrate that early neurodevelopment, neuroimmune function and vasculogenesis in zebrafish larvae are significantly affected by environmental Ni exposure. Importantly, exposure to various concentrations of Ni activates the ferroptosis pathway, as demonstrated by physiological/biochemical tests, as well as the expression of ferroptosis markers. Furthermore, pharmacological intervention of ferroptosis via deferoxamine (DFO), a classical iron chelating agent, strongly implicates iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis in these Ni-induced neurotoxic effects. Thus, this study elucidates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Ni neurotoxicity, with implications for our understanding of the physiologically damaging effects of other environmental heavy metal pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Kemin Li
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Yanyi Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Zan Song
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Xianyong Lan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Chuanying Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shengxiang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Haiyu Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
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6
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Lucon-Xiccato T, Montalbano G, Frigato E, Loosli F, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C. Medaka as a model for seasonal plasticity: Photoperiod-mediated changes in behaviour, cognition, and hormones. Horm Behav 2022; 145:105244. [PMID: 35988451 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105244] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Teleosts display the highest level of brain plasticity of all vertebrates. Yet we still know little about how seasonality affects fish behaviour and the underlying cognitive mechanisms since the common neurobehavioral fish models are native to tropical environments where seasonal variation is absent or reduced. The medaka, Oryzias latipes, which inhabits temperate zone habitats, represents a promising model in this context given its large phenotypic changes associated with seasonality and the possibility to induce seasonal plasticity by only manipulating photoperiod. Here, we report the first extended investigation of seasonal plasticity in medaka behaviour and cognition, as well as the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. We compared medaka exposed to summer photoperiod (16 h light:8 h dark) with medaka exposed to winter photoperiod (8 h light:16 h dark), and detected substantial differences. Medaka were more active and less social in summer photoperiod conditions, two effects that emerged in the second half of an open-field and a sociability test, respectively, and might be at least in part related to habituation to the testing apparatus. Moreover, the cognitive phenotype was significantly affected: in the early response to a social stimulus, brain functional lateralisation shifted between the two hemispheres under the two photoperiod conditions, and inhibitory and discrimination learning performance were reduced in summer conditions. Finally, the expression of genes encoding key pituitary hormones, tshß and gh, and of the tshß regulatory transcription factor tef in the brain was increased in summer photoperiod conditions. This work reveals remarkable behavioural and cognitive phenotypic plasticity in response to photoperiod in medaka, and suggests a potential regulatory role for the same hormones involved in seasonal plasticity of other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giulia Montalbano
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Frigato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Felix Loosli
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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7
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Lucon-Xiccato T, Loosli F, Conti F, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C. Comparison of anxiety-like and social behaviour in medaka and zebrafish. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10926. [PMID: 35764691 PMCID: PMC9239998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14978-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The medaka, Oryzias latipes, is rapidly growing in importance as a model in behavioural research. However, our knowledge of its behaviour is still incomplete. In this study, we analysed the performance of medaka in 3 tests for anxiety-like behaviour (open-field test, scototaxis test, and diving test) and in 3 sociability tests (shoaling test with live stimuli, octagonal mirror test, and a modified shoaling test with mirror stimulus). The behavioural response of medaka was qualitatively similar to that observed in other teleosts in the open-field test (thigmotaxis), and in 2 sociability tests, the shoaling test and in the octagonal mirror test (attraction towards the social stimulus). In the remaining tests, medaka did not show typical anxiety (i.e., avoidance of light environments and preference for swimming at the bottom of the aquarium) and social responses (attraction towards the social stimulus). As a reference, we compared the behaviour of the medaka to that of a teleost species with well-studied behaviour, the zebrafish, tested under the same conditions. This interspecies comparison indicates several quantitative and qualitative differences across all tests, providing further evidence that the medaka responds differently to the experimental settings compared to other fish models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Felix Loosli
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Francesca Conti
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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8
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Wang Z, Zhao H, Xu Y, Zhao J, Song Z, Bi Y, Li Y, Lan X, Pan C, Foulkes NS, Zhang S. Early-life lead exposure induces long-term toxicity in the central nervous system: From zebrafish larvae to juveniles and adults. Sci Total Environ 2022; 804:150185. [PMID: 34509844 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [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: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lead induced neurotoxicity has been extensively investigated. However, the potential connections between early-life lead exposure and the frequently observed aberrant neurobehavior in juveniles and adults remain unclear. In this study, zebrafish model was used to explore the immediate and long-term effects of early-life exposure to environmental levels of lead on the central nervous system, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the consequent abnormal neurobehavior. Lead exposed zebrafish larvae exhibited neurologic damage and defective neurobehavior. Consistent with clinical studies, despite being raised in lead-free conditions, the juvenile and adult fish experienced lead exposure earlier, presented ADHD-like symptoms, and the adult fish exhibited remarkably affected vitality and shoaling behavior. Their anxiety levels were elevated, whereas their social interaction, as well as learning and memory were strongly depressed. The expression profiles of key genes involved in neurodevelopment and neurotransmitter systems were significantly modulated, in similar patterns as in the larval stage. Notably, the density of neurons was decreased and varicosities in neuronal axons were frequently observed in the lead-exposed groups. It's tempting to speculate that the disruption of early neurodevelopment as well as the prolonged modulation of neuromorphic and neurotransmitter systems contribute to the lead-induced neurobehavioral disorders observed in juveniles and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Haiyu Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
| | - Yanyi Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Jianing Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zan Song
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Yi Bi
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xianyong Lan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Chuanying Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, No. 22 Xinong Road, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Shengxiang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
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9
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Ruggiero G, Ben-Moshe Livne Z, Wexler Y, Geyer N, Vallone D, Gothilf Y, Foulkes NS. Period 2: A Regulator of Multiple Tissue-Specific Circadian Functions. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:718387. [PMID: 34539343 PMCID: PMC8446368 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.718387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish represents a powerful model for exploring how light regulates the circadian clock due to the direct light sensitivity of its peripheral clocks, a property that is retained even in organ cultures as well as zebrafish-derived cell lines. Light-inducible expression of the per2 clock gene has been predicted to play a vital function in relaying light information to the core circadian clock mechanism in many organisms, including zebrafish. To directly test the contribution of per2 to circadian clock function in zebrafish, we have generated a loss-of-function per2 gene mutation. Our results reveal a tissue-specific role for the per2 gene in maintaining rhythmic expression of circadian clock genes, as well as clock-controlled genes, and an impact on the rhythmic behavior of intact zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, we demonstrate that disruption of the per2 gene impacts on the circadian regulation of the cell cycle in vivo. Based on these results, we hypothesize that in addition to serving as a central element of the light input pathway to the circadian clock, per2 acts as circadian regulator of tissue-specific physiological functions in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Ruggiero
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zohar Ben-Moshe Livne
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yair Wexler
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nathalie Geyer
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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López-Olmeda JF, Zhao H, Reischl M, Pylatiuk C, Lucon-Xiccato T, Loosli F, Foulkes NS. Long photoperiod impairs learning in male but not female medaka. iScience 2021; 24:102784. [PMID: 34308290 PMCID: PMC8283132 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102784] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Day length in conjunction with seasonal cycles affects many aspects of animal biology. We have studied photoperiod-dependent alterations of complex behavior in the teleost, medaka (Oryzias latipes), a photoperiodic breeder, in a learning paradigm whereby fish have to activate a sensor to obtain a food reward. Medaka were tested under a long (14:10 LD) and short (10:14 LD) photoperiod in three different groups: mixed-sex, all-males, and all-females. Under long photoperiod, medaka mixed-sex groups learned rapidly with a stable response. Unexpectedly, males-only groups showed a strong learning deficit, whereas females-only groups performed efficiently. In mixed-sex groups, female individuals drove group learning, whereas males apparently prioritized mating over feeding behavior resulting in strongly reduced learning performance. Under short photoperiod, where medaka do not mate, male performance improved to a level similar to that of females. Thus, photoperiod has sex-specific effects on the learning performance of a seasonal vertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Fernando López-Olmeda
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Haiyu Zhao
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No.222 South Tianshui Road, 730000 Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Markus Reischl
- Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Felix Loosli
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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11
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Abstract
Anthozoan corals are an ecologically important group of cnidarians, which power the productivity of reef ecosystems. They are sessile, inhabit shallow, tropical oceans and are highly dependent on sun- and moonlight to regulate sexual reproduction, phototaxis, and photosymbiosis. However, their exposure to high levels of sunlight also imposes an increased risk of UV-induced DNA damage. How have these challenging photic environments influenced photoreceptor evolution and function in these animals? To address this question, we initially screened the cnidarian photoreceptor repertoire for Anthozoa-specific signatures by a broad-scale evolutionary analysis. We compared transcriptomic data of more than 36 cnidarian species and revealed a more diverse photoreceptor repertoire in the anthozoan subphylum than in the subphylum Medusozoa. We classified the three principle opsin classes into distinct subtypes and showed that Anthozoa retained all three classes, which diversified into at least six subtypes. In contrast, in Medusozoa, only one class with a single subtype persists. Similarly, in Anthozoa, we documented three photolyase classes and two cryptochrome (CRY) classes, whereas CRYs are entirely absent in Medusozoa. Interestingly, we also identified one anthozoan CRY class, which exhibited unique tandem duplications of the core functional domains. We next explored the functionality of anthozoan photoreceptors in the model species Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia), which recapitulates key photo-behaviors of corals. We show that the diverse opsin genes are differentially expressed in important life stages common to reef-building corals and Aiptasia and that CRY expression is light regulated. We thereby provide important clues linking coral evolution with photoreceptor diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian G Gornik
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Benoit Morel
- Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandros Stamatakis
- Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Theoretical Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Annika Guse
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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12
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Kumpošt V, Vallone D, Gondi SB, Foulkes NS, Mikut R, Hilbert L. A stochastic oscillator model simulates the entrainment of vertebrate cellular clocks by light. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14497. [PMID: 34262086 PMCID: PMC8280200 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93913-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock is a cellular mechanism that synchronizes various biological processes with respect to the time of the day. While much progress has been made characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying this clock, it is less clear how external light cues influence the dynamics of the core clock mechanism and thereby entrain it with the light-dark cycle. Zebrafish-derived cell cultures possess clocks that are directly light-entrainable, thus providing an attractive laboratory model for circadian entrainment. Here, we have developed a stochastic oscillator model of the zebrafish circadian clock, which accounts for the core clock negative feedback loop, light input, and the proliferation of single-cell oscillator noise into population-level luminescence recordings. The model accurately predicts the entrainment dynamics observed in bioluminescent clock reporter assays upon exposure to a wide range of lighting conditions. Furthermore, we have applied the model to obtain refitted parameter sets for cell cultures exposed to a variety of pharmacological treatments and predict changes in single-cell oscillator parameters. Our work paves the way for model-based, large-scale screens for genetic or pharmacologically-induced modifications to the entrainment of circadian clock function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Kumpošt
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany ,grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | | | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Mikut
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Lennart Hilbert
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany ,grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Zoological Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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13
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Schalm G, Bruns K, Drachenberg N, Geyer N, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C, Gerlach G. Finding Nemo's clock reveals switch from nocturnal to diurnal activity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6801. [PMID: 33762724 PMCID: PMC7990958 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86244-9] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Timing mechanisms play a key role in the biology of coral reef fish. Typically, fish larvae leave their reef after hatching, stay for a period in the open ocean before returning to the reef for settlement. During this dispersal, larvae use a time-compensated sun compass for orientation. However, the timing of settlement and how coral reef fish keep track of time via endogenous timing mechanisms is poorly understood. Here, we have studied the behavioural and genetic basis of diel rhythms in the clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris. We document a behavioural shift from nocturnal larvae to diurnal adults, while juveniles show an intermediate pattern of activity which potentially indicates flexibility in the timing of settlement on a host anemone. qRTPCR analysis of six core circadian clock genes (bmal1, clocka, cry1b, per1b, per2, per3) reveals rhythmic gene expression patterns that are comparable in larvae and juveniles, and so do not reflect the corresponding activity changes. By establishing an embryonic cell line, we demonstrate that clown anemonefish possess an endogenous clock with similar properties to that of the zebrafish circadian clock. Furthermore, our study provides a first basis to study the multi-layered interaction of clocks from fish, anemones and their zooxanthellae endosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Schalm
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Kristina Bruns
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Nina Drachenberg
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Geyer
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems (IBCS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Gerlach
- Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Ammerländer Heerstr. 231, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
- Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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14
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Ceinos RM, Chivite M, López-Patiño MA, Naderi F, Soengas JL, Foulkes NS, Míguez JM. Differential circadian and light-driven rhythmicity of clock gene expression and behaviour in the turbot, Scophthalmus maximus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219153. [PMID: 31276539 PMCID: PMC6611576 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In fish, the circadian clock represents a key regulator of many aspects of biology and is controlled by combinations of abiotic and biotic factors. These environmental factors are frequently manipulated in fish farms as part of strategies designed to maximize productivity. The flatfish turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, represents one of the most important species within the aquaculture sector in Asia and Europe. Despite the strategic importance of this species, the function and regulation of the turbot circadian system remains poorly understood. Here, we have characterized the core circadian clock genes, clock1, per1, per2 and cry1 in turbot and have studied their daily expression in various tissues under a range of lighting conditions and feeding regimes. We have also explored the influence of light and feeding time on locomotor activity. Rhythmic expression of the four core clock genes was observed in all tissues studied under light dark (LD) cycle conditions. Rhythmicity of clock gene expression persisted upon transfer to artificial free running, constant conditions confirming their endogenous circadian clock control. Furthermore, turbot showed daily cycles of locomotor activity and food anticipatory activity (FAA) under LD and scheduled-feeding, with the activity phase as well as FAA coinciding with and being dependent upon exposure to light. Thus, while FAA was absent under constant dark (DD) conditions, it was still detected in constant light (LL). In contrast, general locomotor activity was arrhythmic in both constant darkness and constant light, pointing to a major contribution of light, in concert with the circadian clock, in timing locomotor activity in this species. Our data represents an important contribution to our understanding of the circadian timing system in the turbot and thereby the optimization of rearing protocols and the improvement of the well-being of turbot within fish farming environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M. Ceinos
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Mauro Chivite
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
| | - Marcos A. López-Patiño
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
| | - Fatemeh Naderi
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
| | - José L. Soengas
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Jesús M. Míguez
- Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Departamento de Bioloxía Funcional e Ciencias da Saúde, Facultade de Bioloxía and Centro de Investigación Mariña, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
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15
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Guarino AM, Mauro GD, Ruggiero G, Geyer N, Delicato A, Foulkes NS, Vallone D, Calabrò V. YB-1 recruitment to stress granules in zebrafish cells reveals a differential adaptive response to stress. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9059. [PMID: 31227764 PMCID: PMC6588705 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The survival of cells exposed to adverse environmental conditions entails various alterations in cellular function including major changes in the transcriptome as well as a radical reprogramming of protein translation. While in mammals this process has been extensively studied, stress responses in non-mammalian vertebrates remain poorly understood. One of the key cellular responses to many different types of stressors is the transient generation of structures called stress granules (SGs). These represent cytoplasmic foci where untranslated mRNAs are sorted or processed for re-initiation, degradation, or packaging into mRNPs. Here, using the evolutionarily conserved Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) and G3BP1 as markers, we have studied the formation of stress granules in zebrafish (D. rerio) in response to different environmental stressors. We show that following heat shock, zebrafish cells, like mammalian cells, form stress granules which contain both YB-1 and G3BP1 proteins. Moreover, zfYB-1 knockdown compromises cell viability, as well as recruitment of G3BP1 into SGs, under heat shock conditions highlighting the essential role played by YB-1 in SG assembly and cell survival. However, zebrafish PAC2 cells do not assemble YB-1-positive stress granules upon oxidative stress induced by arsenite, copper or hydrogen peroxide treatment. This contrasts with the situation in human cells where SG formation is robustly induced by exposure to oxidative stressors. Thus, our findings point to fundamental differences in the mechanisms whereby mammalian and zebrafish cells respond to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Maria Guarino
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Monte Sant'Angelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, Naples, 80126, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Mauro
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,University of Ferrara, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ruggiero
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nathalie Geyer
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Antonella Delicato
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Monte Sant'Angelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, Naples, 80126, Italy
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
| | - Viola Calabrò
- University of Naples Federico II, Department of Biology, Monte Sant'Angelo Campus, Via Cinthia 4, Naples, 80126, Italy.
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16
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Zhao H, Di Mauro G, Lungu-Mitea S, Negrini P, Guarino AM, Frigato E, Braunbeck T, Ma H, Lamparter T, Vallone D, Bertolucci C, Foulkes NS. Modulation of DNA Repair Systems in Blind Cavefish during Evolution in Constant Darkness. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3229-3243.e4. [PMID: 30318355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
How the environment shapes the function and evolution of DNA repair systems is poorly understood. In a comparative study using zebrafish and the Somalian blind cavefish, Phreatichthys andruzzii, we reveal that during evolution for millions of years in continuous darkness, photoreactivation DNA repair function has been lost in P. andruzzii. We demonstrate that this loss results in part from loss-of-function mutations in pivotal DNA-repair genes. Specifically, C-terminal truncations in P. andruzzii DASH and 6-4 photolyase render these proteins predominantly cytoplasmic, with consequent loss in their functionality. In addition, we reveal a general absence of light-, UV-, and ROS-induced expression of P. andruzzii DNA-repair genes. This results from a loss of function of the D-box enhancer element, which coordinates and enhances DNA repair in response to sunlight. Our results point to P. andruzzii being the only species described, apart from placental mammals, that lacks the highly evolutionary conserved photoreactivation function. We predict that in the DNA repair systems of P. andruzzii, we may be witnessing the first stages in a process that previously occurred in the ancestors of placental mammals during the Mesozoic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyu Zhao
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Di Mauro
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sebastian Lungu-Mitea
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pietro Negrini
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Andrea Maria Guarino
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II," 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Frigato
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Thomas Braunbeck
- Aquatic Ecology and Toxicology, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hongju Ma
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
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17
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Sloin HE, Ruggiero G, Rubinstein A, Smadja Storz S, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. Interactions between the circadian clock and TGF-β signaling pathway in zebrafish. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199777. [PMID: 29940038 PMCID: PMC6016920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background TGF-β signaling is a cellular pathway that functions in most cells and has been shown to play a role in multiple processes, such as the immune response, cell differentiation and proliferation. Recent evidence suggests a possible interaction between TGF-β signaling and the molecular circadian oscillator. The current study aims to characterize this interaction in the zebrafish at the molecular and behavioral levels, taking advantage of the early development of a functional circadian clock and the availability of light-entrainable clock-containing cell lines. Results Smad3a, a TGF-β signaling-related gene, exhibited a circadian expression pattern throughout the brain of zebrafish larvae. Both pharmacological inhibition and indirect activation of TGF-β signaling in zebrafish Pac-2 cells caused a concentration dependent disruption of rhythmic promoter activity of the core clock gene Per1b. Inhibition of TGF-β signaling in intact zebrafish larvae caused a phase delay in the rhythmic expression of Per1b mRNA. TGF-β inhibition also reversibly disrupted, phase delayed and increased the period of circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae. Conclusions The current research provides evidence for an interaction between the TGF-β signaling pathway and the circadian clock system at the molecular and behavioral levels, and points to the importance of TGF-β signaling for normal circadian clock function. Future examination of this interaction should contribute to a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms and its influence on a variety of cellular processes including the cell cycle, with possible implications for cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadas E. Sloin
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gennaro Ruggiero
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Amir Rubinstein
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sima Smadja Storz
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail:
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18
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Dekens MPS, Foulkes NS, Tessmar-Raible K. Instrument design and protocol for the study of light controlled processes in aquatic organisms, and its application to examine the effect of infrared light on zebrafish. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172038. [PMID: 28212399 PMCID: PMC5315407 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of reliable data strongly depends on experimental design. When studying the effects of light on processes such as behaviour and physiology it is crucial to maintain all environmental conditions constant apart from the one under study. Furthermore, the precise values of the environmental factors applied during the experiment should be known. Although seemingly obvious, these conditions are often not met when the effects of light are being studied. Here, we document and discuss the wavelengths and light intensities of natural and artificial light sources. We present standardised experimental protocols together with building plans of a custom made instrument designed to accurately control light and temperature for experiments using fresh water or marine species. Infrared light is commonly used for recording behaviour and in electrophysiological experiments although the properties of fish photoreceptors potentially allow detection into the far red. As an example of our experimental procedure we have applied our protocol and instrument to specifically test the impact of infrared light (840 nm) on the zebrafish circadian clock, which controls many aspects of behaviour, physiology and metabolism. We demonstrate that infrared light does not influence the zebrafish circadian clock. Our results help to provide a solid framework for the future study of light dependent processes in aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus P. S. Dekens
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristin Tessmar-Raible
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Research Platform “Rhythms of Life”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Ben-Moshe Livne Z, Alon S, Vallone D, Bayleyen Y, Tovin A, Shainer I, Nisembaum LG, Aviram I, Smadja-Storz S, Fuentes M, Falcón J, Eisenberg E, Klein DC, Burgess HA, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. Genetically Blocking the Zebrafish Pineal Clock Affects Circadian Behavior. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006445. [PMID: 27870848 PMCID: PMC5147766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The master circadian clock in fish has been considered to reside in the pineal gland. This dogma is challenged, however, by the finding that most zebrafish tissues contain molecular clocks that are directly reset by light. To further examine the role of the pineal gland oscillator in the zebrafish circadian system, we generated a transgenic line in which the molecular clock is selectively blocked in the melatonin-producing cells of the pineal gland by a dominant-negative strategy. As a result, clock-controlled rhythms of melatonin production in the adult pineal gland were disrupted. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed that the circadian expression pattern of the majority of clock-controlled genes in the adult pineal gland is abolished. Importantly, circadian rhythms of behavior in zebrafish larvae were affected: rhythms of place preference under constant darkness were eliminated, and rhythms of locomotor activity under constant dark and constant dim light conditions were markedly attenuated. On the other hand, global peripheral molecular oscillators, as measured in whole larvae, were unaffected in this model. In conclusion, characterization of this novel transgenic model provides evidence that the molecular clock in the melatonin-producing cells of the pineal gland plays a key role, possibly as part of a multiple pacemaker system, in modulating circadian rhythms of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Ben-Moshe Livne
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Shahar Alon
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Yared Bayleyen
- Unit on Behavioral Neurogenetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Adi Tovin
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Inbal Shainer
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Laura G. Nisembaum
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Idit Aviram
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Sima Smadja-Storz
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Michael Fuentes
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Jack Falcón
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Eli Eisenberg
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - David C. Klein
- Section on Neuroendocrinology and Office of the Scientific Directory, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harold A. Burgess
- Unit on Behavioral Neurogenetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Foulkes NS, Whitmore D, Vallone D, Bertolucci C. Studying the Evolution of the Vertebrate Circadian Clock: The Power of Fish as Comparative Models. Adv Genet 2016; 95:1-30. [PMID: 27503352 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The utility of any model species cannot be judged solely in terms of the tools and approaches it provides for genetic analysis. A fundamental consideration is also how its biology has been shaped by the environment and the ecological niche which it occupies. By comparing different species occupying very different habitats we can learn how molecular and cellular mechanisms change during evolution in order to optimally adapt to their environment. Such knowledge is as important as understanding how these mechanisms work. This is illustrated by the use of fish models for studying the function and evolution of the circadian clock. In this review we outline our current understanding of how fish clocks sense and respond to light and explain how this differs fundamentally from the situation with mammalian clocks. In addition, we present results from comparative studies involving two species of blind cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus and Phreatichthys andruzzii. This work reveals the consequences of evolution in perpetual darkness for the circadian clock and its regulation by light as well as for other mechanisms such as DNA repair, sleep, and metabolism which directly or indirectly are affected by regular exposure to sunlight. Major differences in the cave habitats inhabited by these two cavefish species have a clear impact on shaping the molecular and cellular adaptations to life in complete darkness.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; Centre for Organismal Studies, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - D Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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Stemmer M, Schuhmacher LN, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C, Wittbrodt J. Cavefish eye loss in response to an early block in retinal differentiation progression. Development 2015; 142:743-752. [PMID: 25617433 DOI: 10.1242/dev.114629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The troglomorphic phenotype shared by diverse cave-dwelling animals is regarded as a classical example of convergent evolution. One unresolved question is whether the characteristic eye loss in diverse cave species is based on interference with the same genetic program. Phreatichthys andruzzii, a Somalian cavefish, has evolved under constant conditions in complete darkness and shows severe troglomorphic characteristics, such as complete loss of eyes, pigments and scales. During early embryonic development, a complete eye is formed but is subsequently lost. In Astyanax mexicanus, another blind cavefish, eye loss has been attributed to interference during eye field patterning. To address whether similar pathways have been targeted by evolution independently, we investigated the retinal development of P. andruzzii, studying the expression of marker genes involved in eye patterning, morphogenesis, differentiation and maintenance. In contrast to Astyanax, patterning of the eye field and evagination of the optic vesicles proceeds without obvious deviation. However, the subsequent differentiation of retinal cell types is arrested during generation of the first-born cell type, retinal ganglion cells, which also fail to project correctly to the optic tectum. Eye degeneration in both species is driven by progressive apoptosis. However, it is retinal apoptosis in Phreatichthys that progresses in a wave-like manner and eliminates progenitor cells that fail to differentiate, in contrast to Astyanax, where lens apoptosis appears to serve as a driving force. Thus, evolution has targeted late retinal differentiation events, indicating that there are several ways to discontinue the development and maintenance of an eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Stemmer
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Joachim Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Cuesta IH, Lahiri K, Lopez-Olmeda JF, Loosli F, Foulkes NS, Vallone D. Differential maturation of rhythmic clock gene expression during early development in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Chronobiol Int 2014; 31:468-78. [PMID: 24456338 DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2013.856316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
One key challenge for the field of chronobiology is to identify how circadian clock function emerges during early embryonic development. Teleosts such as the zebrafish are ideal models for studying circadian clock ontogeny since the entire process of development occurs ex utero in an optically transparent chorion. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) represents another powerful fish model for exploring early clock function with, like the zebrafish, many tools available for detailed genetic analysis. However, to date there have been no reports documenting circadian clock gene expression during medaka development. Here we have characterized the expression of key clock genes in various developmental stages and in adult tissues of medaka. As previously reported for other fish, light dark cycles are required for the emergence of clock gene expression rhythms in this species. While rhythmic expression of per and cry genes is detected very early during development and seems to be light driven, rhythmic clock and bmal expression appears much later around hatching time. Furthermore, the maturation of clock function seems to correlate with the appearance of rhythmic expression of these positive elements of the clock feedback loop. By accelerating development through elevated temperatures or by artificially removing the chorion, we show an earlier onset of rhythmicity in clock and bmal expression. Thus, differential maturation of key elements of the medaka clock mechanism depends on the developmental stage and the presence of the chorion.
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Ben-Moshe Z, Alon S, Mracek P, Faigenbloom L, Tovin A, Vatine GD, Eisenberg E, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. The light-induced transcriptome of the zebrafish pineal gland reveals complex regulation of the circadian clockwork by light. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:3750-67. [PMID: 24423866 PMCID: PMC3973289 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Light constitutes a primary signal whereby endogenous circadian clocks are synchronized ('entrained') with the day/night cycle. The molecular mechanisms underlying this vital process are known to require gene activation, yet are incompletely understood. Here, the light-induced transcriptome in the zebrafish central clock organ, the pineal gland, was characterized by messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing (mRNA-seq) and microarray analyses, resulting in the identification of multiple light-induced mRNAs. Interestingly, a considerable portion of the molecular clock (14 genes) is light-induced in the pineal gland. Four of these genes, encoding the transcription factors dec1, reverbb1, e4bp4-5 and e4bp4-6, differentially affected clock- and light-regulated promoter activation, suggesting that light-input is conveyed to the core clock machinery via diverse mechanisms. Moreover, we show that dec1, as well as the core clock gene per2, is essential for light-entrainment of rhythmic locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae. Additionally, we used microRNA (miRNA) sequencing (miR-seq) and identified pineal-enhanced and light-induced miRNAs. One such miRNA, miR-183, is shown to downregulate e4bp4-6 mRNA through a 3'UTR target site, and importantly, to regulate the rhythmic mRNA levels of aanat2, the key enzyme in melatonin synthesis. Together, this genome-wide approach and functional characterization of light-induced factors indicate a multi-level regulation of the circadian clockwork by light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Ben-Moshe
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Neurobiology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany and Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
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Mracek P, Pagano C, Fröhlich N, Idda ML, Cuesta IH, Lopez-Olmeda JF, Sánchez-Vázquez FJ, Vallone D, Foulkes NS. ERK Signaling Regulates Light-Induced Gene Expression via D-Box Enhancers in a Differential, Wavelength-Dependent Manner. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67858. [PMID: 23840779 PMCID: PMC3694018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The day-night and seasonal cycles are dominated by regular changes in the intensity as well as spectral composition of sunlight. In aquatic environments the spectrum of sunlight is also strongly affected by the depth and quality of water. During evolution, organisms have adopted various key strategies in order to adapt to these changes, including the development of clocks and photoreceptor mechanisms. These mechanisms enable the detection and anticipation of regular changes in lighting conditions and thereby direct an appropriate physiological response. In teleosts, a growing body of evidence points to most cell types possessing complex photoreceptive systems. However, our understanding of precisely how these systems are regulated and in turn dictate changes in gene expression remains incomplete. In this manuscript we attempt to unravel this complexity by comparing the effects of two specific wavelengths of light upon signal transduction and gene expression regulatory mechanisms in zebrafish cells. We reveal a significant difference in the kinetics of light-induced gene expression upon blue and red light exposure. Importantly, both red and blue light-induced gene expression relies upon D-box enhancer promoter elements. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches we demonstrate that the ERK/MAPK pathway acts as a negative regulator of blue but not red light activated transcription. Thus, we reveal that D-box-driven gene expression is regulated via ERK/MAPK signaling in a strongly wavelength-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mracek
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Cristina Pagano
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Nadine Fröhlich
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - M. Laura Idda
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Ines H. Cuesta
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | | | - F. Javier Sánchez-Vázquez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
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Cavodeassi F, Del Bene F, Fürthauer M, Grabher C, Herzog W, Lehtonen S, Linker C, Mercader N, Mikut R, Norton W, Strähle U, Tiso N, Foulkes NS. Report of the Second European Zebrafish Principal Investigator Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany, March 21-24, 2012. Zebrafish 2013; 10:119-23. [PMID: 23530760 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2012.0829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The second European Zebrafish Principal Investigator (PI) Meeting was held in March, 2012, in Karlsruhe, Germany. It brought together PIs from all over Europe who work with fish models such as zebrafish and medaka to discuss their latest results, as well as to resolve strategic issues faced by this research community. Scientific discussion ranged from the development of new technologies for working with fish models to progress in various fields of research such as injury and repair, disease models, and cell polarity and dynamics. This meeting also marked the establishment of the European Zebrafish Resource Centre (EZRC) at Karlsruhe that in the future will serve as an important focus and community resource for zebrafish- and medaka-based research.
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Elbaz I, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y, Appelbaum L. Circadian clocks, rhythmic synaptic plasticity and the sleep-wake cycle in zebrafish. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:9. [PMID: 23378829 PMCID: PMC3561628 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock and homeostatic processes are fundamental mechanisms that regulate sleep. Surprisingly, despite decades of research, we still do not know why we sleep. Intriguing hypotheses suggest that sleep regulates synaptic plasticity and consequently has a beneficial role in learning and memory. However, direct evidence is still limited and the molecular regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. The zebrafish provides a powerful vertebrate model system that enables simple genetic manipulation, imaging of neuronal circuits and synapses in living animals, and the monitoring of behavioral performance during day and night. Thus, the zebrafish has become an attractive model to study circadian and homeostatic processes that regulate sleep. Zebrafish clock- and sleep-related genes have been cloned, neuronal circuits that exhibit circadian rhythms of activity and synaptic plasticity have been studied, and rhythmic behavioral outputs have been characterized. Integration of this data could lead to a better understanding of sleep regulation. Here, we review the progress of circadian clock and sleep studies in zebrafish with special emphasis on the genetic and neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate rhythms of melatonin secretion, structural synaptic plasticity, locomotor activity and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idan Elbaz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University Ramat-Gan, Israel
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Smadja Storz S, Tovin A, Mracek P, Alon S, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. Casein kinase 1δ activity: a key element in the zebrafish circadian timing system. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54189. [PMID: 23349822 PMCID: PMC3549995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [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: 10/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have become a popular model for studies of the circadian timing mechanism. Taking advantage of its rapid development of a functional circadian clock and the availability of light-entrainable clock-containing cell lines, much knowledge has been gained about the circadian clock system in this species. However, the post-translational modifications of clock proteins, and in particular the phosphorylation of PER proteins by Casein kinase I delta and epsilon (CK1δ and CK1ε), have so far not been examined in the zebrafish. Using pharmacological inhibitors for CK1δ and CK1ε, a pan-CK1δ/ε inhibitor PF-670462, and a CK1ε -selective inhibitor PF-4800567, we show that CK1δ activity is crucial for the functioning of the circadian timing mechanism of zebrafish, while CK1ε plays a minor role. The CK1δ/ε inhibitor disrupted circadian rhythms of promoter activity in the circadian clock-containing zebrafish cell line, PAC-2, while the CK1ε inhibitor had no effect. Zebrafish larvae that were exposed to the CK1δ/ε inhibitor showed no rhythms of locomotor activity while the CK1ε inhibitor had only a minor effect on locomotor activity. Moreover, the addition of the CK1δ/ε inhibitor disrupted rhythms of aanat2 mRNA expression in the pineal gland. The pineal gland is considered to act as a central clock organ in fish, delivering a rhythmic hormonal signal, melatonin, which is regulated by AANAT2 enzymatic activity. Therefore, CK1δ plays a key role in the circadian timing system of the zebrafish. Furthermore, the effect of CK1δ inhibition on rhythmic locomotor activity may reflect its effect on the function of the central clock in the pineal gland as well as its regulation of peripheral clocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Smadja Storz
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Tovin A, Alon S, Ben-Moshe Z, Mracek P, Vatine G, Foulkes NS, Jacob-Hirsch J, Rechavi G, Toyama R, Coon SL, Klein DC, Eisenberg E, Gothilf Y. Systematic identification of rhythmic genes reveals camk1gb as a new element in the circadian clockwork. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1003116. [PMID: 23284293 PMCID: PMC3527293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of biochemical, physiological, and molecular processes are known to have daily rhythms driven by an endogenous circadian clock. While extensive research has greatly improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that constitute the circadian clock, the links between this clock and dependent processes have remained elusive. To address this gap in our knowledge, we have used RNA sequencing (RNA–seq) and DNA microarrays to systematically identify clock-controlled genes in the zebrafish pineal gland. In addition to a comprehensive view of the expression pattern of known clock components within this master clock tissue, this approach has revealed novel potential elements of the circadian timing system. We have implicated one rhythmically expressed gene, camk1gb, in connecting the clock with downstream physiology of the pineal gland. Remarkably, knockdown of camk1gb disrupts locomotor activity in the whole larva, even though it is predominantly expressed within the pineal gland. Therefore, it appears that camk1gb plays a role in linking the pineal master clock with the periphery. The circadian clock is a molecular pacemaker that drives rhythmic expression of genes with a ∼24-hour period. As a result, many physiological processes have daily rhythms. Many of the conserved elements that constitute the circadian clock are known, but the links between the clock and dependent processes have remained elusive. With its amenability to genetic manipulations and a variety of genetic tools, the zebrafish has become an attractive vertebrate model for the quest to identify and characterize novel clock components. Here, we take advantage of another attraction of the zebrafish, the fact that its pineal gland is the site of a central clock which directly receives light input and autonomously generates circadian rhythms that affect the physiology of the whole organism. We show that the systematic design and analysis of genome-wide experiments based on the zebrafish pineal gland can lead to the discovery of new clock elements. We have characterized one novel element, camk1gb, and show that this gene, predominantly expressed within the pineal gland and driven by the circadian clock, links circadian clock timing with locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Tovin
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shahar Alon
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zohar Ben-Moshe
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Philipp Mracek
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Gad Vatine
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Jasmine Jacob-Hirsch
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gideon Rechavi
- Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Reiko Toyama
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Coon
- Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David C. Klein
- Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Eli Eisenberg
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (YG); (EE)
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (YG); (EE)
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Mracek P, Santoriello C, Idda ML, Pagano C, Ben-Moshe Z, Gothilf Y, Vallone D, Foulkes NS. Regulation of per and cry genes reveals a central role for the D-box enhancer in light-dependent gene expression. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51278. [PMID: 23236462 PMCID: PMC3516543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Light serves as a key environmental signal for synchronizing the circadian clock with the day night cycle. The zebrafish represents an attractive model for exploring how light influences the vertebrate clock mechanism. Direct illumination of most fish tissues and cell lines induces expression of a broad range of genes including DNA repair, stress response and key clock genes. We have previously identified D- and E-box elements within the promoter of the zebrafish per2 gene that together direct light-induced gene expression. However, is the combined regulation by E- and D-boxes a general feature for all light-induced gene expression? We have tackled this question by examining the regulation of additional light-inducible genes. Our results demonstrate that with the exception of per2, all other genes tested are not induced by light upon blocking of de novo protein synthesis. We reveal that a single D-box serves as the principal light responsive element within the cry1a promoter. Furthermore, upon inhibition of protein synthesis D-box mediated gene expression is abolished while the E-box confers light driven activation as observed in the per2 gene. Given the existence of different photoreceptors in fish cells, our results implicate the D-box enhancer as a general convergence point for light driven signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Mracek
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristina Santoriello
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - M. Laura Idda
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristina Pagano
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Zohar Ben-Moshe
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yoav Gothilf
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
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30
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Tarttelin EE, Frigato E, Bellingham J, Di Rosa V, Berti R, Foulkes NS, Lucas RJ, Bertolucci C. Encephalic photoreception and phototactic response in the troglobiont Somalian blind cavefish Phreatichthys andruzzii. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 215:2898-903. [PMID: 22837464 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.071084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many physiological and behavioural responses to changes in environmental lighting conditions are mediated by extraocular photoreceptors. Here we investigate encephalic photoreception in Phreatichthys andruzzii, a typical cave-dwelling fish showing an extreme phenotype with complete anophthalmy and a reduction in size of associated brain structures. We firstly identified two P. andruzzii photopigments, orthologues of rod opsin and exo-rod opsin. In vitro, both opsins serve as light-absorbing photopigments with λ(max) around 500 nm when reconstituted with an A(1) chromophore. When corrected for the summed absorption from the skin and skull, the spectral sensitivity profiles shifted to longer wavelengths (rod opsin: 521 nm; exo-rod opsin: 520 nm). We next explored the involvement of both opsins in the negative phototaxis reported for this species. A comparison of the spectral sensitivity of the photophobic response with the putative A(2) absorbance spectra corrected for skin/skull absorbance indicates that the A(2) versions of either or both of these pigments could explain the observed behavioural spectral sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Tarttelin
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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Idda ML, Kage E, Lopez-Olmeda JF, Mracek P, Foulkes NS, Vallone D. Circadian timing of injury-induced cell proliferation in zebrafish. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34203. [PMID: 22479565 PMCID: PMC3315524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In certain vertebrates such as the zebrafish, most tissues and organs including the heart and central nervous system possess the remarkable ability to regenerate following severe injury. Both spatial and temporal control of cell proliferation and differentiation is essential for the successful repair and re-growth of damaged tissues. Here, using the regenerating adult zebrafish caudal fin as a model, we have demonstrated an involvement of the circadian clock in timing cell proliferation following injury. Using a BrdU incorporation assay with a short labeling period, we reveal high amplitude daily rhythms in S-phase in the epidermal cell layer of the fin under normal conditions. Peak numbers of S-phase cells occur at the end of the light period while lowest levels are observed at the end of the dark period. Remarkably, immediately following amputation the basal level of epidermal cell proliferation increases significantly with kinetics, depending upon the time of day when the amputation is performed. In sharp contrast, we failed to detect circadian rhythms of S-phase in the highly proliferative mesenchymal cells of the blastema. Subsequently, during the entire period of outgrowth of the new fin, elevated, cycling levels of epidermal cell proliferation persist. Thus, our results point to a preferential role for the circadian clock in the timing of epidermal cell proliferation in response to injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- * E-mail: (NSF); (DV)
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33
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Cavallari N, Frigato E, Vallone D, Fröhlich N, Lopez-Olmeda JF, Foà A, Berti R, Sánchez-Vázquez FJ, Bertolucci C, Foulkes NS. A blind circadian clock in cavefish reveals that opsins mediate peripheral clock photoreception. PLoS Biol 2011; 9:e1001142. [PMID: 21909239 PMCID: PMC3167789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [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: 05/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolution during millions of years in perpetual darkness leads to mutations in non-visual opsin genes (Melanopsin and TMT opsin) and an aberrant, blind circadian clock in cavefish. The circadian clock is synchronized with the day-night cycle primarily by light. Fish represent fascinating models for deciphering the light input pathway to the vertebrate clock since fish cell clocks are regulated by direct light exposure. Here we have performed a comparative, functional analysis of the circadian clock involving the zebrafish that is normally exposed to the day-night cycle and a cavefish species that has evolved in perpetual darkness. Our results reveal that the cavefish retains a food-entrainable clock that oscillates with an infradian period. Importantly, however, this clock is not regulated by light. This comparative study pinpoints the two extra-retinal photoreceptors Melanopsin (Opn4m2) and TMT-opsin as essential upstream elements of the peripheral clock light input pathway. The circadian clock is a physiological timing mechanism that allows organisms to anticipate and adapt to the day-night cycle. Since it ticks with a period that is not precisely 24 h, it is vital that it is reset on a daily basis by signals such as light to ensure that it remains synchronized with the day-night cycle. The molecular mechanisms whereby light regulates the clock remain incompletely understood. Here we have studied a cavefish that has evolved for millions of years in the perpetual darkness of subterranean caves in Somalia. Like many other cave animals, these fish display striking adaptations to their extreme environment, including complete eye degeneration. We show that despite evolving in a constant environment, this blind cavefish still retains a circadian clock. However, this clock ticks with an extremely long period (nearly 47 h), and importantly it does not respond to light. We reveal that eye loss does not account for this “blind” clock. Specifically, mutations of two widely expressed non-visual opsin photoreceptors (Melanopsin and TMT opsin) are responsible for the blind clock phenotype in the cavefish. Our work illustrates the great utility of cavefish for studying the evolution and regulation of the circadian clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cavallari
- Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Elena Frigato
- Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Nadine Fröhlich
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
| | - Jose Fernando Lopez-Olmeda
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Augusto Foà
- Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Berti
- Department of Evolutionary Biology “Leo Pardi,” University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | | | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein, Germany
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Vatine G, Vallone D, Gothilf Y, Foulkes NS. It's time to swim! Zebrafish and the circadian clock. FEBS Lett 2011; 585:1485-94. [PMID: 21486566 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Revised: 04/03/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish represents a fascinating model for studying key aspects of the vertebrate circadian timing system. Easy access to early embryonic development has made this species ideal for investigating how the clock is first established during embryogenesis. In particular, the molecular basis for the functional development of the zebrafish pineal gland has received much attention. In addition to this dedicated clock and photoreceptor organ, and unlike the situation in mammals, the clocks in zebrafish peripheral tissues and even cell lines are entrainable by direct exposure to light thus providing unique insight into the function and evolution of the light input pathway. Finally, the small size, low maintenance costs and high fecundity of this fish together with the availability of genetic tools make this an attractive model for forward genetic analysis of the circadian clock. Here, we review the work that has established the zebrafish as a valuable clock model organism and highlight the key questions that will shape the future direction of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gad Vatine
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences 52900, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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35
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Ben-Moshe Z, Vatine G, Alon S, Tovin A, Mracek P, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. Multiple PAR and E4BP4 bZIP transcription factors in zebrafish: diverse spatial and temporal expression patterns. Chronobiol Int 2011; 27:1509-31. [PMID: 20854132 DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2010.510229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms of physiology and behavior are generated by an autonomous circadian oscillator that is synchronized daily with the environment, mainly by light input. The PAR subfamily of transcriptional activators and the related E4BP4 repressor belonging to the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family are clock-controlled genes that are suggested to mediate downstream circadian clock processes and to feedback onto the core oscillator. Here, the authors report the characterization of these genes in the zebrafish, an increasingly important model in the field of chronobiology. Five novel PAR and six novel e4bp4 zebrafish homolog genes were identified using bioinformatic tools and their coding sequences were cloned. Based on their evolutionary relationships, these genes were annotated as ztef2, zhlf1 and zhlf2, zdbp1 and zdbp2, and ze4bp4-1 to -6. The spatial and temporal mRNA expression pattern of each of these factors was characterized in zebrafish embryos in the context of a functional circadian clock and regulation by light. Nine of the factors exhibited augmented and rhythmic expression in the pineal gland, a central clock organ in zebrafish. Moreover, these genes were found to be regulated, to variable extents, by the circadian clock and/or by light. Differential expression patterns of multiple paralogs in zebrafish suggest multiple roles for these factors within the vertebrate circadian clock. This study, in the genetically accessible zebrafish model, lays the foundation for further research regarding the involvement and specific roles of PAR and E4BP4 transcription factors in the vertebrate circadian clock mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Ben-Moshe
- Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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36
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Dickmeis T, Foulkes NS. Glucocorticoids and circadian clock control of cell proliferation: at the interface between three dynamic systems. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 331:11-22. [PMID: 20833224 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2010] [Revised: 09/01/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The circadian clock, an endogenous timekeeper that regulates daily rhythms of physiology, also influences the dynamic release of glucocorticoids. The release of glucocorticoids is characteristically pulsatile and is further modulated in a circadian fashion. A circadian pacemaker in the brain regulates daily rhythms of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system activity that both influence glucocorticoid release from the adrenal gland. This systemic regulation interacts with rhythms in the adrenal gland itself that are driven by its own circadian clock. One function of glucocorticoids is the regulation of cell proliferation. Depending on the tissue, this can involve both negative and positive regulation of a variety of processes, including cell differentiation and cell death. Cell proliferation is also under circadian control, and recent evidence suggests that this regulation may involve glucocorticoid signalling. Here, we review the dynamic processes participating in the interplay between the circadian clock, glucocorticoids and cell proliferation, and we discuss the potential implications for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dickmeis
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Campus Nord, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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37
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Abstract
Birds are equipped with a complex circadian pacemaking system that regulates the rhythmicity of physiology and behavior. As with all organisms, transcriptional and translational feedback loops of clock genes represent the basic molecular mechanism of rhythm generation in birds. To investigate avian clock gene expression, partial cDNA sequences of six mammalian clock gene homologs (Bmal1, Clock, Per2, Per3, Cry1, and Cry2) and a novel avian cryptochrome gene (Cry4) were cloned from the house sparrow, a model system in circadian research. Expression patterns were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and RNase protection assays using total RNA extracted from adult male house sparrow brains. With the exception of Cry4, pronounced rhythmic mRNA expression of all the clock genes analyzed was encountered, with mRNA levels varying considerably between the various genes. Although some basic features of the molecular circadian feedback loop appear to be similar between mammals and birds, the precise phase relationships of the clock gene mRNA rhythms relative to each other and to the light zeitgeber differ significantly between the house sparrow and mammals. Our results point to the existence of differences in the organization of avian and mammalian circadian clock mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Helfer
- Biological Rhythms Research Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK
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38
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Abstract
The zebrafish has rapidly become established as one of the most valuable vertebrate models for studying circadian clock function. A major initial attraction was its utility in large-scale genetic screens. It subsequently emerged that most zebrafish cells possess circadian clocks that can be entrained directly by exposure to temperature or light dark cycles, a property shared by several zebrafish cell lines. This is not the case for mammals, where the retina is the primary source of light input to the clock. Furthermore, mammalian cell culture clocks can only be entrained by acute culture treatments such as serum shocks. Thus, the zebrafish is proving invaluable to study light and temperature input to the vertebrate clock. In addition, the accessibility of its early developmental stages has placed the zebrafish at the forefront of studies aimed at understanding how the circadian clock is established during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vallone
- Max-Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
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39
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Dickmeis T, Lahiri K, Nica G, Vallone D, Santoriello C, Neumann CJ, Hammerschmidt M, Foulkes NS. Glucocorticoids play a key role in circadian cell cycle rhythms. PLoS Biol 2007; 5:e78. [PMID: 17373855 PMCID: PMC1828142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 05/19/2006] [Accepted: 01/16/2007] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Clock output pathways play a pivotal role by relaying timing information from the circadian clock to a diversity of physiological systems. Both cell-autonomous and systemic mechanisms have been implicated as clock outputs; however, the relative importance and interplay between these mechanisms are poorly understood. The cell cycle represents a highly conserved regulatory target of the circadian timing system. Previously, we have demonstrated that in zebrafish, the circadian clock has the capacity to generate daily rhythms of S phase by a cell-autonomous mechanism in vitro. Here, by studying a panel of zebrafish mutants, we reveal that the pituitary–adrenal axis also plays an essential role in establishing these rhythms in the whole animal. Mutants with a reduction or a complete absence of corticotrope pituitary cells show attenuated cell-proliferation rhythms, whereas expression of circadian clock genes is not affected. We show that the corticotrope deficiency is associated with reduced cortisol levels, implicating glucocorticoids as a component of a systemic signaling pathway required for circadian cell cycle rhythmicity. Strikingly, high-amplitude rhythms can be rescued by exposing mutant larvae to a tonic concentration of a glucocorticoid agonist. Our work suggests that cell-autonomous clock mechanisms are not sufficient to establish circadian cell cycle rhythms at the whole-animal level. Instead, they act in concert with a systemic signaling environment of which glucocorticoids are an essential part. To guarantee normal growth and to avoid tumor formation, the timing of cell division must be under strict control. Remarkably, cells, from bacteria to man, often divide only at certain times of day, suggesting the influence of internal biological clocks. A central pacemaker structure in the brain controls diurnal rhythms of behavior and hormone release. However, biological clocks are also encountered in almost every cell type (so-called “peripheral” clocks), in which they regulate daily changes in cell biology, including cell division. Very little is known to date about how the two clock systems interact. Here, by examining zebrafish strains with defects in hormone production, we find that peripheral clocks require the steroid hormone cortisol to generate daily rhythms of cell proliferation. Interestingly, the daily changes in cortisol levels observed in normal zebrafish are not required to achieve this control; treating the cortisol-deficient strains with constant levels of a drug that mimics the effects of cortisol restores normal cell-division rhythms. Thus, it appears that internal cell timers cooperate with hormonal signals to regulate the timing of cell division. To establish circadian cell cycle rhythms, cell-autonomous clock mechanisms act in concert with a systemic signaling environment of which glucocorticoids are an essential part.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dickmeis
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kajori Lahiri
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Nica
- Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Carl J Neumann
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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40
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Abstract
Cell lines derived from zebrafish embryos show great potential as cell culture tools to study the regulation and function of the vertebrate circadian clock. They exhibit directly light-entrainable rhythms of clock gene expression that can be established by simply exposing cultures to light-dark cycles. Mammalian cell lines require treatments with serum or activators of signaling pathways to initiate transient, rapidly dampening clock rhythms. Furthermore, zebrafish cells grow at room temperature, are viable for long periods at confluence, and do not require a CO2-enriched atmosphere, greatly simplifying culture conditions. Here we describe detailed methods for establishing zebrafish cell cultures as well as optimizing transient and stable transfections. These protocols have been successfully used to introduce luciferase reporter constructs into the cells and thereby monitor clock gene expression in vivo. The bioluminescence assay described here lends itself particularly well to high-throughput analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vallone
- Department of Genetics, Max-Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
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41
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Zilberman-Peled B, Appelbaum L, Vallone D, Foulkes NS, Anava S, Anzulovich A, Coon SL, Klein DC, Falcón J, Ron B, Gothilf Y. Transcriptional regulation of arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase-2 gene in the pineal gland of the gilthead seabream. J Neuroendocrinol 2007; 19:46-53. [PMID: 17184485 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01501.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase; AANAT) is considered the key enzyme in the generation of circulating melatonin rhythms; the rate of melatonin production is determined by AANAT activity. In all the examined species, AANAT activity is regulated at the post-translational level and, to a variable degree, also at the transcriptional level. Here, the transcriptional regulation of pineal aanat (aanat2) of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) was investigated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction quantification of aanat2 mRNA levels in the pineal gland collected throughout the 24-h cycle revealed a rhythmic expression pattern. In cultured pineal glands, the amplitude was reduced, but the daily rhythmic expression pattern was maintained under constant illumination, indicating a circadian clock-controlled regulation of seabream aanat2. DNA constructs were prepared in which green fluorescent protein was driven by the aanat2 promoters of seabream and Northern pike. In vivo transient expression analyses in zebrafish embryos indicated that these promoters contain the necessary elements to drive enhanced expression in the pineal gland. In the light-entrainable clock-containing PAC-2 zebrafish cell line, a stably transfected seabream aanat2 promoter-luciferase DNA construct exhibited a clock-controlled circadian rhythm of luciferase activity, characteristic for an E-box-driven expression. In NIH-3T3 cells, the seabream aanat2 promoter was activated by a synergistic action of BMAL/CLOCK and orthodenticle homeobox 5 (OTX5). Promoter sequence analyses revealed the presence of the photoreceptor conserved element and an extended E-box (i.e. the binding sites for BMAL/CLOCK and OTX5 that have been previously associated with pineal-specific and rhythmic gene expression). These results suggest that seabream aanat2 is a clock-controlled gene that is regulated by conserved mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Zilberman-Peled
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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42
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Rembold M, Lahiri K, Foulkes NS, Wittbrodt J. Transgenesis in fish: efficient selection of transgenic fish by co-injection with a fluorescent reporter construct. Nat Protoc 2006; 1:1133-9. [PMID: 17406394 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2006.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Small fish are a popular laboratory model for studying gene expression and function by transgenesis. If, however, the transgenes are not readily detectable by visual inspection, a large number of embryos must be injected, raised and screened to identify positive founder fish. Here, we describe a strategy to efficiently generate and preselect transgenic lines harbouring any transgene of interest. Co-injection of a selectable reporter construct (e.g., GFP), together with the transgene of interest on a separate plasmid using the I-SceI meganuclease approach, results in co-distribution of the two plasmids. The quality of GFP expression within the F0 generation therefore reflects the quality of injection and allows efficient and reliable selection of founder fish that are also positive for the second transgene of interest. In our experience, a large fraction (up to 50%) of GFP-positive fish will also be transgenic for the second transgene, thus providing a rapid (within 3-4 months) and efficient way to establish transgenic lines for any gene of interest in medaka and zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Rembold
- Developmental Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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43
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Vallone D, Frigato E, Vernesi C, Foà A, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C. Hypothermia modulates circadian clock gene expression in lizard peripheral tissues. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2006; 292:R160-6. [PMID: 16809482 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00370.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms whereby the circadian clock responds to temperature changes are poorly understood. The ruin lizard Podarcis sicula has historically proven to be a valuable vertebrate model for exploring the influence of temperature on circadian physiology. It is an ectotherm that naturally experiences an impressive range of temperatures during the course of the year. However, no tools have been available to dissect the molecular basis of the clock in this organism. Here, we report the cloning of three lizard clock gene homologs (Period2, Cryptochrome1, and Clock) that have a close phylogenetic relationship with avian clock genes. These genes are expressed in many tissues and show a rhythmic expression profile at 29 degrees C in light-dark and constant darkness lighting conditions, with phases comparable to their mammalian and avian counterparts. Interestingly, we show that at low temperatures (6 degrees C), cycling clock gene expression is attenuated in peripheral clocks with a characteristic increase in basal expression levels. We speculate that this represents a conserved vertebrate clock gene response to low temperatures. Furthermore, these results bring new insight into the issue of whether circadian clock function is compatible with hypothermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vallone
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
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Frigato E, Vallone D, Bertolucci C, Foulkes NS. Isolation and characterization of melanopsin and pinopsin expression within photoreceptive sites of reptiles. Naturwissenschaften 2006; 93:379-85. [PMID: 16688437 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-006-0119-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 11/07/2005] [Accepted: 04/09/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-mammalian vertebrates have multiple extraocular photoreceptors, mainly localised in the pineal complex and the brain, to mediate irradiance detection. In this study, we report the full-length cDNA cloning of ruin lizard melanopsin and pinopsin. The high level of identity with opsins in both the transmembrane regions, where the chromophore binding site is located, and the intracellular loops, where the G-proteins interact, suggests that both melanopsin and pinopsin should be able to generate a stable photopigment, capable of triggering a transduction cascade mediated by G-proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both opsins are located on the expected branches of the corresponding sequences of ortholog proteins. Subsequently, using RT-PCR and RPA analysis, we verified the expression of ruin lizard melanopsin and pinopsin in directly photosensitive organs, such as the lateral eye, brain, pineal gland and parietal eye. Melanopsin expression was detected in the lateral eye and all major regions of the brain. However, different from the situation in Xenopus and chicken, melanopsin is not expressed in the ruin lizard pineal. Pinopsin mRNA expression was only detected in the pineal complex. As a result of their phylogenetic position and ecology, reptiles provide the circadian field with some of the most interesting models for understanding the evolution of the vertebrate circadian timing system and its response to light. This characterization of melanopsin and pinopsin expression in the ruin lizard will be important for future studies aimed at understanding the molecular basis of circadian light detection in reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Frigato
- Dipartimento di Biologia and Centro di Neuroscienze, Università di Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44100, Ferrara, Italia
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45
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Appelbaum L, Vallone D, Anzulovich A, Ziv L, Tom M, Foulkes NS, Gothilf Y. Zebrafish arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase genes - targets for regulation of the circadian clock. J Mol Endocrinol 2006; 36:337-47. [PMID: 16595704 DOI: 10.1677/jme.1.01893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Daily rhythms of melatonin production are controlled by changes in the activity of arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT). Zebrafish possess two aanats, aanat1 and aanat2; the former is expressed only in the retina and the latter is expressed in both the retina and the pineal gland. Here, their differential expression and regulation were studied using transcript quantification and transient and stable in vivo and in vitro transfection assays. In the pineal gland, the aanat2 promoter exhibited circadian clock-controlled activity, as indicated by circadian rhythms of Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mRNA in AANAT2:EGFP transgenic fish. In vivo transient expression analyses of the aanat2 promoter indicated that E-box and photoreceptor conserved elements (PCE) are required for expression in the pineal gland. In the retina, the expression of both genes was characterized by a robust circadian rhythm of their transcript levels. In constant darkness, the rhythmic expression of retinal aanat2 persisted while the aanat1 rhythm disappeared; indicating that the former is controlled by a circadian clock and the latter is also light driven. In the light-entrainable clock-containing PAC-2 zebrafish cell line, both stably transfected aanat1 and aanat2 promoters exhibited a clock-controlled circadian rhythm, characteristic for an E-box-driven expression. Transient co-transfection experiments in NIH-3T3 cells revealed that the two, E-box- and PCE-containing, promoters are driven by the synergistic action of BMAL/CLOCK and orthehodenticle homeobox 5. This study has revealed a shared mechanism for the regulation of two related genes, yet describes their differential phases and photic responses which may be driven by other gene-specific regulatory mechanisms and tissue-specific transcription factor profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Appelbaum
- Department of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Isreal
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46
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Abstract
The contribution of timing cues from the environment to the coordination of early developmental processes is poorly understood. The day-night cycle represents one of the most important, regular environmental changes that animals are exposed to. A key adaptation that allows animals to anticipate daily environmental changes is the circadian clock. In this review, we aim to address when a light-regulated circadian clock first emerges during development and what its functions are at this early stage. In particular, do circadian clocks regulate early developmental processes? We will focus on results obtained with Drosophila and vertebrates, where both circadian clock and developmental control mechanisms have been intensively studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vallone
- Independent Research Group, Max Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
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47
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Lahiri K, Vallone D, Gondi SB, Santoriello C, Dickmeis T, Foulkes NS. Temperature regulates transcription in the zebrafish circadian clock. PLoS Biol 2005; 3:e351. [PMID: 16176122 PMCID: PMC1233578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [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: 03/24/2005] [Accepted: 08/12/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been well-documented that temperature influences key aspects of the circadian clock. Temperature cycles entrain the clock, while the period length of the circadian cycle is adjusted so that it remains relatively constant over a wide range of temperatures (temperature compensation). In vertebrates, the molecular basis of these properties is poorly understood. Here, using the zebrafish as an ectothermic model, we demonstrate first that in the absence of light, exposure of embryos and primary cell lines to temperature cycles entrains circadian rhythms of clock gene expression. Temperature steps drive changes in the basal expression of certain clock genes in a gene-specific manner, a mechanism potentially contributing to entrainment. In the case of the per4 gene, while E-box promoter elements mediate circadian clock regulation, they do not direct the temperature-driven changes in transcription. Second, by studying E-box-regulated transcription as a reporter of the core clock mechanism, we reveal that the zebrafish clock is temperature-compensated. In addition, temperature strongly influences the amplitude of circadian transcriptional rhythms during and following entrainment by light–dark cycles, a property that could confer temperature compensation. Finally, we show temperature-dependent changes in the expression levels, phosphorylation, and function of the clock protein, CLK. This suggests a mechanism that could account for changes in the amplitude of the E-box-directed rhythm. Together, our results imply that several key transcriptional regulatory elements at the core of the zebrafish clock respond to temperature. Reveals the molecular basis by which temperature cycles entrain circadian rhythms of clock gene expression in zebrafish
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajori Lahiri
- 1Max-Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Vallone
- 1Max-Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Dickmeis
- 1Max-Planck Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany
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Abstract
In most organisms, light plays a key role in the synchronization of the circadian timing system with the environmental day-night cycle. Light pulses that phase-shift the circadian clock also induce the expression of period (per) genes in vertebrates. Here, we report the cloning of a zebrafish per gene, zfper4, which is remarkable in being repressed by light. We have developed an in vivo luciferase reporter assay for this gene in cells that contain a light-entrainable clock. High-definition bioluminescence traces have enabled us to accurately measure phase-shifting of the clock by light. We have also exploited this model to study how four E-box elements in the zfper4 promoter regulate expression. Mutagenesis reveals that the integrity of these four E-boxes is crucial for maintaining low basal expression together with robust rhythmicity and repression by light. Importantly, in the context of a minimal heterologous promoter, the E-box elements also direct a robust circadian rhythm of expression that is significantly phase-advanced compared with the original zfper4 promoter and lacks the light-repression property. Thus, these results reveal flexibility in the phase and light responsiveness of E-box-directed rhythmic expression, depending on the promoter context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vallone
- Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Spemannstrasse 35-39, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Tamai TK, Vardhanabhuti V, Foulkes NS, Whitmore D. Early embryonic light detection improves survival. Curr Biol 2004; 14:R104-5. [PMID: 14986634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T Katherine Tamai
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK
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