scholarly journals Acute fluoxetine differently affects aggressive display in zebrafish phenotypes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hellen Pereira Barbosa ◽  
Monica Gomes Lima ◽  
Caio Maximino
Keyword(s):  
Model Organism ◽  
Behavioral Neuroscience ◽  
Biological Psychiatry ◽  
Aggressive Display ◽  
Display Duration ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Aggression Test ◽  
Aggressive Motivation

AbstractZebrafish have been introduced as a model organism in behavioral neuroscience and biological psychiatry, increasing the breadth of findings using fish to study the neurobiology of aggression. Phenotypic differences between leopard and longfin zebrafish were exploited in order to elucidate the role of phasic serotonin in aggressive displays on this species. The present study revealed differences in aggressive display between leopard and longfin zebrafish, and a discrepant effect of acute fluoxetine in both populations. In mirror-induced aggression, leopard animals showed higher display latencies than longfin, as well as lower display duration and frequency (Experiment 1). Moreover, 2.5 mg/kg fluoxetine decreased the duration and frequency of display in longfin, but not leopard; and 5 mg/kg fluoxetine increased display frequency in leopard, but not longfin (Experiment 2). It is suggested that zebrafish from the longfin phenotype show more aggressive motivation and readiness in the mirror-induced aggression test that leopard, and that acute fluoxetine increases aggression in leopard and decreased it in longfin zebrafish.

scholarly journals GC-TOF/MS-based metabolomics analysis to investigate the changes driven by N-Acetylcysteine in the plant-pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Cristina Picchi ◽  
Mariana de Souza e Silva ◽  
Luiz Leonardo Saldanha ◽  
Henrique Ferreira ◽  
Marco Aurélio Takita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Plant Pathogen ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Citrus Canker ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Xanthomonas Citri ◽  
Canker Disease ◽  
Potential Use

AbstractN-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant, anti-adhesive, and antimicrobial compound. Even though there is much information regarding the role of NAC as an antioxidant and anti-adhesive agent, little is known about its antimicrobial activity. In order to assess its mode of action in bacterial cells, we investigated the metabolic responses triggered by NAC at neutral pH. As a model organism, we chose the Gram-negative plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri), the causal agent of citrus canker disease, due to the potential use of NAC as a sustainable molecule against phytopathogens dissemination in citrus cultivated areas. In presence of NAC, cell proliferation was affected after 4 h, but damages to the cell membrane were observed only after 24 h. Targeted metabolite profiling analysis using GC–MS/TOF unravelled that NAC seems to be metabolized by the cells affecting cysteine metabolism. Intriguingly, glutamine, a marker for nitrogen status, was not detected among the cells treated with NAC. The absence of glutamine was followed by a decrease in the levels of the majority of the proteinogenic amino acids, suggesting that the reduced availability of amino acids affect protein synthesis and consequently cell proliferation.

scholarly journals A novel calcium-concentrating compartment drives biofilm formation and persistent infections

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alona Keren-Paz ◽  
Malena Cohen-Cymberknoh ◽  
Dror Kolodkin-Gal ◽  
Iris Karunker ◽  
Simon Dersch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Calcium Uptake ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Mineral Layer ◽  
Cellular Compartment ◽  
Persistent Infections ◽  
Cellular Metal

AbstractBacterial biofilms produce a robust internal mineral layer, composed of calcite, which strengthens the colony and protects the residing bacteria from antibiotics. In this work, we provide evidence that the assembly of a functional mineralized macro-structure begins with mineral precipitation within a defined cellular compartment in a differentiated subpopulation of cells. Transcriptomic analysis of a model organism, Bacillus subtilis, revealed that calcium was essential for activation of the biofilm state, and highlighted the role of cellular metal homeostasis and carbon metabolism in biomineralization. The molecular mechanisms promoting calcite formation were conserved in pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, resulting in formation of calcite crystals tightly associated with bacterial cells in sputum samples collected from cystic fibrosis patients. Biomineralization inhibitors targeting calcium uptake and carbonate accumulation significantly reduced the damage inflicted by P. aeruginosa biofilms to lung tissues. Therefore, better understanding of the conserved molecular mechanisms promoting biofilm calcification can path the way to the development of novel classes of antibiotics to combat otherwise untreatable biofilm infections.

scholarly journals LuxS-dependent AI-2 production is not involved in global regulation of natural product biosynthesis inPhotorhabdusandXenorhabdus

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje K. Heinrich ◽  
Merle Hirschmann ◽  
Nick Neubacher ◽  
Helge B. Bode
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory System ◽  
Regulatory Rna ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Global Regulators ◽  
Autoinducer 2 ◽  
Small Regulatory Rna ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Different Strains

The Gram-negative bacteriaPhotorhabdusandXenorhabdusare known to produce a variety of different natural products (NP). These compounds play different roles since the bacteria live in symbiosis with nematodes and are pathogenic to insect larvae in the soil. Thus, a fine tuned regulatory system controlling NP biosynthesis is indispensable. Global regulators such as Hfq, Lrp, LeuO and HexA have been shown to influence NP production ofPhotorhabdusandXenorhabdus. Additionally, photopyrones as quorum sensing (QS) signals were demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of NP production inPhotorhabdus.In this study, we investigated the role of another possible QS signal, autoinducer-2 (AI-2), in regulation of NP production. The AI-2 synthase (LuxS) is widely distributed within the bacterial kingdom and has a dual role as a part of the activated methyl cycle pathway, as well as being responsible for AI-2 precursor production. We deletedluxSin three different entomopathogenic bacteria and compared NP levels in the mutant strains to the wild type (WT) but observed no difference to the WT strains. Furthermore, the absence of the small regulatory RNAmicA, which is encoded directly upstream ofluxS, did not influence NP levels. Phenotypic differences between theP. luminescens luxSdeletion mutant and an earlier describedluxSdeficient strain ofP. luminescenssuggested that two phenotypically different strains have evolved in different laboratories.

scholarly journals Deciphering the microRNA transcriptome of skeletal muscle during porcine development

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miaomiao Mai ◽  
Long Jin ◽  
Shilin Tian ◽  
Rui Liu ◽  
Wenyao Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Development ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Muscle Disease ◽  
Porcine Muscle ◽  
Development Stages ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Series Expression ◽  
Pig Muscle ◽  
Short Time

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in many important biological processes, such as growth and development in mammals. Various studies of porcine muscle development have mainly focused on identifying miRNAs that are important for fetal and adult muscle development; however, little is known about the role of miRNAs in middle-aged muscle development. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of miRNA transcriptomes across five porcine muscle development stages, including one prenatal and four postnatal stages. We identified 404 known porcine miRNAs, 118 novel miRNAs, and 101 miRNAs that are conserved in other mammals. A set of universally abundant miRNAs was found across the distinct muscle development stages. This set of miRNAs may play important housekeeping roles that are involved in myogenesis. A short time-series expression miner analysis indicated significant variations in miRNA expression across distinct muscle development stages. We also found enhanced differentiation- and morphogenesis-related miRNA levels in the embryonic stage; conversely, apoptosis-related miRNA levels increased relatively later in muscle development. These results provide integral insight into miRNA function throughout pig muscle development stages. Our findings will promote further development of the pig as a model organism for human age-related muscle disease research.

scholarly journals Review: The Role of Wnt/β-Catenin Signalling in Neural Crest Development in Zebrafish

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Sutton ◽  
Robert N. Kelsh ◽  
Steffen Scholpp
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Pigment Cell ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Neural Plate ◽  
The Body ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Pigment Cells ◽  
Neural Plate Border

The neural crest (NC) is a multipotent cell population in vertebrate embryos with extraordinary migratory capacity. The NC is crucial for vertebrate development and forms a myriad of cell derivatives throughout the body, including pigment cells, neuronal cells of the peripheral nervous system, cardiomyocytes and skeletogenic cells in craniofacial tissue. NC induction occurs at the end of gastrulation when the multipotent population of NC progenitors emerges in the ectodermal germ layer in the neural plate border region. In the process of NC fate specification, fate-specific markers are expressed in multipotent progenitors, which subsequently adopt a specific fate. Thus, NC cells delaminate from the neural plate border and migrate extensively throughout the embryo until they differentiate into various cell derivatives. Multiple signalling pathways regulate the processes of NC induction and specification. This review explores the ongoing role of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway during NC development, focusing on research undertaken in the Teleost model organism, zebrafish (Danio rerio). We discuss the function of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in inducing the NC within the neural plate border and the specification of melanocytes from the NC. The current understanding of NC development suggests a continual role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in activating and maintaining the gene regulatory network during NC induction and pigment cell specification. We relate this to emerging models and hypotheses on NC fate restriction. Finally, we highlight the ongoing challenges facing NC research, current gaps in knowledge, and this field’s potential future directions.

scholarly journals Identity Verification from Photographs in Travel Documents: The Role of Display Duration and Orientation on Performance

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah D. Chiller-Glaus ◽  
Adrian Schwaninger ◽  
Franziska Hofer
Keyword(s):  
Display Duration ◽  
Identity Verification

scholarly journals Seeking a Role for Translational Control by Alternative Polyadenylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1885
Author(s):  
Rachael E. Turner ◽  
Traude H. Beilharz
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Alternative Polyadenylation ◽  
Ribosome Profiling ◽  
Translation Efficiency ◽  
Mrna Isoforms ◽  
Cleavage And Polyadenylation ◽  
Made In

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) represents an important mechanism for regulating isoform-specific translation efficiency, stability, and localisation. Though some progress has been made in understanding its consequences in metazoans, the role of APA in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae remains a relative mystery because, despite abundant studies on the translational state of mRNA, none differentiate mRNA isoforms’ alternative 3′-end. This review discusses the implications of alternative polyadenylation in S. cerevisiae using other organisms to draw inferences. Given the foundational role that research in this yeast has played in the discovery of the mechanisms of cleavage and polyadenylation and in the drivers of APA, it is surprising that such an inference is required. However, because advances in ribosome profiling are insensitive to APA, how it impacts translation is still unclear. To bridge the gap between widespread observed APA and the discovery of any functional consequence, we also provide a review of the experimental techniques used to uncover the functional importance of 3′ UTR isoforms on translation.

scholarly journals “What You Need, Baby, I Got It”: Transposable Elements as Suppliers of Cis-Operating Sequences in Drosophila

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Moschetti ◽  
Antonio Palazzo ◽  
Patrizio Lorusso ◽  
Luigi Viggiano ◽  
René Massimiliano Marsano
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Transcriptional Pattern ◽  
Constitutive Components ◽  
Host Genes

Transposable elements (TEs) are constitutive components of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. The role of TEs in the evolution of genes and genomes has been widely assessed over the past years in a variety of model and non-model organisms. Drosophila is undoubtedly among the most powerful model organisms used for the purpose of studying the role of transposons and their effects on the stability and evolution of genes and genomes. Besides their most intuitive role as insertional mutagens, TEs can modify the transcriptional pattern of host genes by juxtaposing new cis-regulatory sequences. A key element of TE biology is that they carry transcriptional control elements that fine-tune the transcription of their own genes, but that can also perturb the transcriptional activity of neighboring host genes. From this perspective, the transposition-mediated modulation of gene expression is an important issue for the short-term adaptation of physiological functions to the environmental changes, and for long-term evolutionary changes. Here, we review the current literature concerning the regulatory and structural elements operating in cis provided by TEs in Drosophila. Furthermore, we highlight that, besides their influence on both TEs and host genes expression, they can affect the chromatin structure and epigenetic status as well as both the chromosome’s structure and stability. It emerges that Drosophila is a good model organism to study the effect of TE-linked regulatory sequences, and it could help future studies on TE–host interactions in any complex eukaryotic genome.

scholarly journals Prefoldins contribute to maintaining the levels of the spliceosome LSM2–8 complex through Hsp90 in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 6280-6293 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Esteve-Bruna ◽  
Cristian Carrasco-López ◽  
Noel Blanco-Touriñán ◽  
Javier Iserte ◽  
Julián Calleja-Cabrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Transcriptional Regulators ◽  
Hsp90 Inhibitor ◽  
Mrna Splicing ◽  
Core Complex ◽  
Functional Specificity ◽  
U6 Snrna ◽  
Splicing Patterns

Abstract Although originally identified as the components of the complex aiding the cytosolic chaperonin CCT in the folding of actins and tubulins in the cytosol, prefoldins (PFDs) are emerging as novel regulators influencing gene expression in the nucleus. Work conducted mainly in yeast and animals showed that PFDs act as transcriptional regulators and participate in the nuclear proteostasis. To investigate new functions of PFDs, we performed a co-expression analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Results revealed co-expression between PFD and the Sm-like (LSM) genes, which encode the LSM2–8 spliceosome core complex, in this model organism. Here, we show that PFDs interact with and are required to maintain adequate levels of the LSM2–8 complex. Our data indicate that levels of the LSM8 protein, which defines and confers the functional specificity of the complex, are reduced in pfd mutants and in response to the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin. We provide biochemical evidence showing that LSM8 is a client of Hsp90 and that PFD4 mediates the interaction between both proteins. Consistent with our results and with the role of the LSM2–8 complex in splicing through the stabilization of the U6 snRNA, pfd mutants showed reduced levels of this snRNA and altered pre-mRNA splicing patterns.

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