scholarly journals Specific miRNA-GPCR networks regulate Sox9a/Sox9b activities to promote gonadal renewal in zebrafish

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinlu Du ◽  
Huiping Guo ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Jiacheng Wu ◽  
Minyou Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Endocrine Function ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Regulatory Circuits ◽  
Primary Oocyte ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractFertility and endocrine function rely on a tightly regulated synchronicity within the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. FSH/cAMP/MAPK/ Sox9 axis signaling and its regulated specific miRNAs are thought to regulate vertebrate gonadal development and sex differentiation, and yet the regulatory networks are largely unknown. Here we construct small RNA and mRNA libraries from sexually matured ovary and testis of zebrafish to identify specific miRNA-target pairs. Integration of Targetscan prediction and in vivo induced gene expression highlight four specific miRNAs that conditionally target three G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) x-Sox9 signaling genes, and implicate two regulatory circuits of miR430a-Sox9a in the testis and miR218a-Sox9b in the ovary. Co-injected Sox9a-miR430a mixture increases the proportion of spermatogonia but degenerates primary oocyte, while Sox9b-miR218a mixture induces renewal of ovarian follicles. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass-spectrometry analyses further reveal that miR430a and Sox9a synergistically activate testicular PKC/Rock1 signals while miR218a and Sox9b constrict ovary PKC/PI3K/Rock1 signaling. These results clarify specific miRNAs-GPCR regulatory networks of Sox9a/Sox9b switch, and also provide mechanistic insight into gonadal rejuvenation and plasticity.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Spike triggers barrier dysfunction and vascular leak via integrins and TGF-β signaling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B Biering ◽  
Francielle Tramontini Gomes de Sousa ◽  
Laurentia V. Tjang ◽  
Felix Pahmeier ◽  
Richard Ruan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Vascular Leak ◽  
Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Signaling Axis ◽  
Insight Into

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of this pathology are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to trigger barrier dysfunction in vitro and vascular leak in vivo, independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-β signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-β signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Our findings suggest that S interactions with barrier cells are a contributing factor to COVID-19 disease severity and offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2 triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19 pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Histone H3K23-specific acetylation by MORF is coupled to H3K14 acylation

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Klein ◽  
Suk Min Jang ◽  
Catherine Lachance ◽  
Wenyi Mi ◽  
Jie Lyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modification ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Acetylation of histone H3K23 has emerged as an essential posttranslational modification associated with cancer and learning and memory impairment, yet our understanding of this epigenetic mark remains insufficient. Here, we identify the native MORF complex as a histone H3K23-specific acetyltransferase and elucidate its mechanism of action. The acetyltransferase function of the catalytic MORF subunit is positively regulated by the DPF domain of MORF (MORFDPF). The crystal structure of MORFDPF in complex with crotonylated H3K14 peptide provides mechanistic insight into selectivity of this epigenetic reader and its ability to recognize both histone and DNA. ChIP data reveal the role of MORFDPF in MORF-dependent H3K23 acetylation of target genes. Mass spectrometry, biochemical and genomic analyses show co-existence of the H3K23ac and H3K14ac modifications in vitro and co-occupancy of the MORF complex, H3K23ac, and H3K14ac at specific loci in vivo. Our findings suggest a model in which interaction of MORFDPF with acylated H3K14 promotes acetylation of H3K23 by the native MORF complex to activate transcription.

scholarly journals Phospholipase C-β1 Signaling Affects Reproductive Behavior, Ovulation, and Implantation

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (7) ◽  
pp. 3259-3266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panayiotis Filis ◽  
Tamsin Lannagan ◽  
Ashley Thomson ◽  
Alison A. Murray ◽  
Peter C. Kind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Phospholipase C ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Reproductive Processes ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Infertility can result from a wide range of defects, from behavioral, through germ cell development and maturation, to fertilization or embryo development. Many of the hormones regulating these processes signal via G protein-coupled receptors, which in turn activate a range of plasma membrane enzymes including phospholipase C (PLC)-β isoforms. Transgenic mice lacking functional Plc-β1 (Plc-β1 KO mice) have been noted to have severely impaired fertility, but there has been little study of the reproductive processes affected by lack of this enzyme. This study examined reproductive behavior, gonadal development, fertilization, and implantation in Plc-β1 KO mice. Male and female Plc-β1 KO mice exhibited impaired reproductive behavior. No other defect in reproduction was noted in males, raising the possibility that the reduced fertility of Plc-β1 KO males could be due solely to impaired behavior. In contrast, female Plc-β1 KO mice exhibited both behavioral and nonbehavioral defects. Plc-β1 KO females ovulated only in response to exogenous hormones, with a large proportion of in vivo embryos recovered on embryonic d 4.5 exhibiting abnormal morphology. In addition, uteri of pregnant Plc-β1 KO females exhibited an implantation defect, with poor embryo attachment and a failure to up-regulate cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA.

scholarly journals G protein-coupled estrogen receptor regulates heart rate by modulating thyroid hormone levels in zebrafish embryos

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon N Romano ◽  
Hailey E Edwards ◽  
Xiangqin Cui ◽  
Daniel A Gorelick
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Basal Heart Rate ◽  
Normal Heart Rate ◽  
G Protein Coupled

AbstractEstrogens act by binding to estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERα, ERβ), ligand-dependent transcription factors that play crucial roles in sex differentiation, tumor growth and cardiovascular physiology. Estrogens also activate the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), however the function of GPER in vivo is less well understood. Here we find that GPER is required for normal heart rate in zebrafish embryos. Acute exposure to estrogens increased heart rate in wildtype and in ERα and ERβ mutant embryos but not in GPER mutants. GPER mutant embryos exhibited reduced basal heart rate, while heart rate was normal in ERα and ERβ mutants. We detected gper transcript in discrete regions of the brain and pituitary but not in the heart, suggesting that GPER acts centrally to regulate heart rate. In the pituitary, we observed gper expression in cells that regulate levels of thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3), a hormone known to increase heart rate. GPER mutant embryos showed a mean 50% reduction in T3 levels compared to wildtype, while exposure to exogenous T3 rescued the reduced heart rate phenotype in GPER mutants. Our results demonstrate that estradiol plays a previously unappreciated role in the acute modulation of heart rate during zebrafish embryonic development and suggest that GPER regulates basal heart rate by altering total T3 levels.

scholarly journals Reconstruction of the global neural crest gene regulatory networkin vivo

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M Williams ◽  
Ivan Candido-Ferreira ◽  
Emmanouela Repapi ◽  
Daria Gavriouchkina ◽  
Upeka Senanayake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Transcriptome Profiling ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Regulatory Circuits ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Cell Transcriptome

AbstractPrecise control of developmental processes is encoded in the genome in the form of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Such multi-factorial systems are difficult to decode in vertebrates owing to their complex gene hierarchies and transient dynamic molecular interactions. Here we present a genome-widein vivoreconstruction of the GRN underlying development of neural crest (NC), an emblematic embryonic multipotent cell population. By coupling NC-specific epigenomic and single-cell transcriptome profiling with genome/epigenome engineeringin vivo, we identify multiple regulatory layers governing NC ontogeny, including NC-specific enhancers and super-enhancers, noveltrans-factors andcis-signatures. Assembling the NC regulome has allowed the comprehensive reverse engineering of the NC-GRN at unprecedented resolution. Furthermore, identification and dissection of divergent upstream combinatorial regulatory codes has afforded new insights into opposing gene circuits that define canonical and neural NC fates. Our integrated approach, allowing dissection of cell-type-specific regulatory circuitsin vivo, has broad implications for GRN discovery and investigation.

scholarly journals Synthetic 5’ UTRs can either up- or down-regulate expression upon RBP binding

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noa Katz ◽  
Roni Cohen ◽  
Oz Solomon ◽  
Beate Kaufmann ◽  
Orna Atar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Regulatory Modules ◽  
Regulatory Circuits ◽  
Rna Hairpins ◽  
Gene Regulatory ◽  
Gene Regulatory Circuits

SUMMARYThe construction of complex gene regulatory networks requires both inhibitory and up-regulatory modules. However, the vast majority of RNA-based regulatory “parts” are inhibitory. Using a synthetic biology approach combined with SHAPE-Seq, we explored the regulatory effect of RBP-RNA interactions in bacterial 5’-UTRs. By positioning a library of RNA hairpins upstream of a reporter gene and co-expressing them with the matching RBP, we observed a set of regulatory responses, including translational stimulation, translational repression, and cooperative behavior. Our combined approach revealed three distinct states in-vivo: in the absence of RBPs, the RNA molecules can be found either in a molten state that is amenable to translation, or a structured phase that inhibits translation. In the presence of RBPs, the RNA molecules are in a semi-structured phase with partial translational capacity. Our work provides new insight into RBP-based regulation and a blueprint for designing complete gene regulatory circuits at the post-transcriptional level.

scholarly journals Mycolactone toxin induces an inflammatory response by targeting the IL-1β pathway: Mechanistic insight into Buruli ulcer pathophysiology

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e1009107
Author(s):  
M. Foulon ◽  
M. Robbe-Saule ◽  
J. Manry ◽  
L. Esnault ◽  
Y. Boucaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Buruli Ulcer ◽  
Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Local Inflammatory Response ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Insight Into

Mycolactone, a lipid-like toxin, is the major virulence factor of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the etiological agent of Buruli ulcer. Its involvement in lesion development has been widely described in early stages of the disease, through its cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activities, but less is known about later stages. Here, we revisit the role of mycolactone in disease outcome and provide the first demonstration of the pro-inflammatory potential of this toxin. We found that the mycolactone-containing mycobacterial extracellular vesicles produced by M. ulcerans induced the production of IL-1β, a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, in a TLR2-dependent manner, targeting NLRP3/1 inflammasomes. We show our data to be relevant in a physiological context. The in vivo injection of these mycolactone-containing vesicles induced a strong local inflammatory response and tissue damage, which were prevented by corticosteroids. Finally, several soluble pro-inflammatory factors, including IL-1β, were detected in infected tissues from mice and Buruli ulcer patients. Our results revisit Buruli ulcer pathophysiology by providing new insight, thus paving the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies taking the pro-inflammatory potential of mycolactone into account.

Role of LPXRFamide peptide in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in fish

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 853-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Shahjahan ◽  
Hironori Ando
Keyword(s):  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Fish Reproduction ◽  
Lower Vertebrates ◽  
Hypothalamic Control ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Made In

AbstractThe decapeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the primary factor responsible for the hypothalamic control of gonadotropin (GTH) secretion. This review focuses on a family of neuropeptides, LPXRFamide (LPXRFa) peptides, which have been implicated in the regulation of GTH secretion. LPXRFa acts on the pituitary via a G protein-coupled receptor, LPXRFa-R, to enhance gonadal development and maintenance by increasing gonadotropin release and synthesis. Because LPXRFa exists and functions in several fish species, LPXRFa is considered to be a key neurohormone in fish reproduction control. The precursors to LPXRFamide peptides encoded plural LPXRFamide peptides and were highly divergent in vertebrates, particularly in lower vertebrates. Tissue distribution analyses indicated that LPXRFamide peptides were highly concentrated in the hypothalamus and other brainstem regions. In view of the localization and expression of LPXRFamide peptides in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system, LPXRFamide peptide in fish increase GTH release in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the advances made in our understanding of the biosynthesis, mode of action and functional significance of LPXRFa, a newly discovered key neurohormone.

scholarly journals The ACE2/Apelin Signaling, MicroRNAs, and Hypertension

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai-Jiang Chen ◽  
Ran Xu ◽  
Hui-Min Yu ◽  
Qing Chang ◽  
Jiu-Chang Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Significant Homology ◽  
G Protein Coupled ◽  
Insight Into

The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a pivotal role in the development of hypertension. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which primarily metabolises angiotensin (Ang) II to generate the beneficial heptapeptide Ang-(1-7), serves as a negative regulator of the RAAS. Apelin is a second catalytic substrate for ACE2 and functions as an inotropic and cardiovascular protective peptide. The physiological effects of Apelin are exerted through binding to its receptor APJ, a seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor that shares significant homology with the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R). The deregulation of microRNAs, a class of short and small noncoding RNAs, has been shown to involve cardiovascular remodeling and pathogenesis of hypertension via the activation of the Ang II/AT1R pathway. MicroRNAs are linked with modulation of the ACE2/Apelin signaling, which exhibits beneficial effects in the cardiovascular system and hypertension. The ACE2-coupled crosstalk among the RAAS, the Apelin system, and microRNAs provides an important mechanistic insight into hypertension. This paper focuses on what is known about the ACE2/Apelin signaling and its biological roles, paying particular attention to interactions and crosstalk among the ACE2/Apelin signaling, microRNAs, and hypertension, aiming to facilitate the exploitation of new therapeutic medicine to control hypertension.

scholarly journals Advances in Reproductive Endocrinology and Neuroendocrine Research Using Catfish Models

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2807
Author(s):  
Balasubramanian Senthilkumaran ◽  
Sonika Kar
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Hypoxia Tolerance ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
New Information ◽  
Insight Into

Catfishes, belonging to the order siluriformes, represent one of the largest groups of freshwater fishes with more than 4000 species and almost 12% teleostean population. Due to their worldwide distribution and diversity, catfishes are interesting models for ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Incidentally, catfish emerged as an excellent animal model for aquaculture research because of economic importance, availability, disease resistance, adaptability to artificial spawning, handling, culture, high fecundity, hatchability, hypoxia tolerance and their ability to acclimate to laboratory conditions. Reproductive system in catfish is orchestrated by complex network of nervous, endocrine system and environmental factors during gonadal growth as well as recrudescence. Lot of new information on the molecular mechanism of gonadal development have been obtained over several decades which are evident from significant number of scientific publications pertaining to reproductive biology and neuroendocrine research in catfish. This review aims to synthesize key findings and compile highly relevant aspects on how catfish can offer insight into fundamental mechanisms of all the areas of reproduction and its neuroendocrine regulation, from gametogenesis to spawning including seasonal reproductive cycle. In addition, the state-of-knowledge surrounding gonadal development and neuroendocrine control of gonadal sex differentiation in catfish are comprehensively summarized in comparison with other fish models.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document