Genetic analyses uncover pleiotropic compensatory roles for Drosophila Nucleobindin-1 in inositol trisphosphate-mediated intracellular calcium homeostasis

Genome ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-90
Author(s):  
Vidhya Balasubramanian ◽  
Bharath Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Behavioral Abnormalities ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes ◽  
Trisphosphate Receptor

Nucleobindin-1 is an EF-hand calcium-binding protein with a distinctive profile, predominantly localized to the Golgi in insect and wide-ranging vertebrate cell types, alike. Its putative involvements in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis have never been phenotypically characterized in any model organism. We have analyzed an adult-viable mutant that completely disrupts the G protein α-subunit binding and activating (GBA) motif of Drosophila Nucleobindin-1 (dmNUCB1). Such disruption does not manifest any obvious fitness-related, morphological/developmental, or behavioral abnormalities. A single copy of this mutation or the knockdown of dmnucb1 in restricted sets of cells variously rescues pleiotropic mutant phenotypes arising from impaired inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) activity (in turn depleting cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels across diverse tissue types). Additionally, altered dmNUCB1 expression or function considerably reverses lifespan and mobility improvements effected by IP3R mutants, in a Drosophila model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Homology modeling-based analyses further predict a high degree of conformational conservation in Drosophila, of biochemically validated structural determinants in the GBA motif that specify in vertebrates, the unconventional Ca2+-regulated interaction of NUCB1 with Gαi subunits. The broad implications of our findings are hypothetically discussed, regarding potential roles for NUCB1 in GBA-mediated, Golgi-associated Ca2+ signaling, in health and disease.

scholarly journals An efficient FLP-based toolkit for spatiotemporal control of gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia María Muñoz-Jiménez ◽  
Cristina Ayuso ◽  
Agnieszka Dobrzynska ◽  
Antonio Torres ◽  
Patricia de la Cruz Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Control Of Gene Expression ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Cell Ablation

AbstractSite-specific recombinases are potent tools to regulate gene expression. In particular, the Cre and FLP enzymes are widely used to either activate or inactivate genes in a precise spatiotemporal manner. Both recombinases work efficiently in the popular model organism Caenorhabditis elegans but their use in this nematode is still only sporadic. To increase the utility of the FLP system in C. elegans we have generated a series of single-copy transgenic strains that stably express an optimized version of FLP in specific tissues or by heat induction. We show that recombination efficiencies reach 100 percent in several cell types, such as muscles, intestine and serotonin producing neurons. Moreover, we demonstrate that most promoters drive recombination exclusively in the expected tissues. As examples of the potentials of the FLP lines we describe novel tools for induced cell ablation by expression of the PEEL-1 toxin and a versatile FLP-out cassette for generation of GFP-tagged conditional knockout alleles. Together with other recombinase-based reagents created by the C. elegans community this toolkit increases the possibilities for detailed analyses of specific biological processes at developmental stages inside intact animals.

scholarly journals Centrin2 regulates CP110 removal in primary cilium formation

2015 ◽  
Vol 208 (6) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna L. Prosser ◽  
Ciaran G. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Primary Cilia ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Serum Starvation ◽  
Basal Bodies ◽  
Cilium Formation ◽  
Cellular Quiescence ◽  
Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells

Primary cilia are antenna-like sensory microtubule structures that extend from basal bodies, plasma membrane–docked mother centrioles. Cellular quiescence potentiates ciliogenesis, but the regulation of basal body formation is not fully understood. We used reverse genetics to test the role of the small calcium-binding protein, centrin2, in ciliogenesis. Primary cilia arise in most cell types but have not been described in lymphocytes. We show here that serum starvation of transformed, cultured B and T cells caused primary ciliogenesis. Efficient ciliogenesis in chicken DT40 B lymphocytes required centrin2. We disrupted CETN2 in human retinal pigmented epithelial cells, and despite having intact centrioles, they were unable to make cilia upon serum starvation, showing abnormal localization of distal appendage proteins and failing to remove the ciliation inhibitor CP110. Knockdown of CP110 rescued ciliation in CETN2-deficient cells. Thus, centrin2 regulates primary ciliogenesis through controlling CP110 levels.

scholarly journals Goα Regulates Volatile Anesthetic Action in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno van Swinderen ◽  
Laura B Metz ◽  
Laynie D Shebester ◽  
Jane E Mendel ◽  
Paul W Sternberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Novel Mutation ◽  
Volatile Anesthetic ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Missense Mutant ◽  
Anesthetic Action ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes

Abstract To identify genes controlling volatile anesthetic (VA) action, we have screened through existing Caenorhabditis elegans mutants and found that strains with a reduction in Go signaling are VA resistant. Loss-of-function mutants of the gene goa-1, which codes for the α-subunit of Go, have EC50s for the VA isoflurane of 1.7- to 2.4-fold that of wild type. Strains overexpressing egl-10, which codes for an RGS protein negatively regulating goa-1, are also isoflurane resistant. However, sensitivity to halothane, a structurally distinct VA, is differentially affected by Go pathway mutants. The RGS overexpressing strains, a goa-1 missense mutant found to carry a novel mutation near the GTP-binding domain, and eat-16(rf) mutants, which suppress goa-1(gf) mutations, are all halothane resistant; goa-1(null) mutants have wild-type sensitivities. Double mutant strains carrying mutations in both goa-1 and unc-64, which codes for a neuronal syntaxin previously found to regulate VA sensitivity, show that the syntaxin mutant phenotypes depend in part on goa-1 expression. Pharmacological assays using the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb suggest that VAs and GOA-1 similarly downregulate cholinergic neurotransmitter release in C. elegans. Thus, the mechanism of action of VAs in C. elegans is regulated by Goα, and presynaptic Goα-effectors are candidate VA molecular targets.

Cellular Moloney murine sarcoma (c-mos) sequences are hypermethylated and transcriptionally silent in normal and transformed rodent cells

1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-51
Author(s):  
S Gattoni ◽  
P Kirschmeier ◽  
I B Weinstein ◽  
J Escobedo ◽  
D Dina
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Blot Hybridization ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Transformed Cell Line ◽  
Murine Sarcoma Virus ◽  
Sarcoma Virus ◽  
Blotting Technique ◽  
Moloney Sarcoma Virus ◽  
Murine Sarcoma

Moloney murine sarcoma virus carries an oncogenic sequence (v-mos) which is homologous to a single copy gene (c-mos) present in the normal cells of several vertebrate species. Because of the possible significance of c-mos sequences in normal development and malignant transformation induced by physical or chemical agents, we have examined the state of integration, methylation, and transcriptional activity of c-mos sequences in a variety of normal rodent tissues, normal cell lines, or cell lines transformed by radiation or chemical carcinogens. DNA-DNA hybridization, utilizing the Southern blotting technique and a plasmid-derived DNA probe representing the v-mos sequence, gave no evidence for rearrangements of the c-mos sequence in the DNAs obtained from these diverse cell types. Parallel studies employing the restriction enzyme isoschizomers HpaII and MspI indicated that in all of these cell types the c-mos sequences were heavily methylated. In addition, analysis of cellular RNAs by blot hybridization with the v-mos probe failed to detect evidence of transcription of the c-mos sequences in any of these cell types. This was in contrast to a Moloney sarcoma virus-transformed cell line in which we found that the integrated v-mos sequence was both undermethylated and extensively transcribed. Thus, it would appear that c-mos sequences do not play a role in the transformation of rodent cells by chemical or physical agents, although the possible role of other endogenous onc sequences remains to be determined.

Control of secretion in anterior pituitary cells--linking ion channels, messengers and exocytosis

1988 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-316
Author(s):  
W. T. Mason ◽  
S. R. Rawlings ◽  
P. Cobbett ◽  
S. K. Sikdar ◽  
R. Zorec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Anterior Pituitary ◽  
Hormone Secretion ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Pituitary Cell ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Calcium Activity ◽  
Anterior Pituitary Cells ◽  
Voltage Dependent

Normal anterior pituitary cells, in their diversity and heterogeneity, provide a rich source of models for secretory function. However, until recently they have largely been neglected in favour of neoplastic, clonal tumour cell lines of pituitary origin, which have enabled a number of studies on supposedly homogeneous cell types. Because many of these lines appear to lack key peptide and neurotransmitter receptors, as well as being degranulated with accompanying abnormal levels of secretion, we have developed a range of normal primary anterior pituitary cell cultures using dispersion and enrichment techniques. By studying lactotrophs, somatotrophs and gonadotrophs we have revealed a number of possible transduction mechanisms by which receptors for hypothalamic peptides and neurotransmitters may control secretion. In particular, the transduction events controlling secretion from pituitary cells may differ fundamentally from those found in other cell types. Patch-clamp recordings in these various pituitary cell preparations have revealed substantial populations of voltage-dependent Na+, Ca2+ and K+ channels which may support action potentials in these cells. Although activation of these channels may gate Ca2+ entry to the cells under some conditions, our evidence taken with that of other laboratories suggests that peptide-receptor interactions leading to hormone secretion occur independently of significant membrane depolarization. Rather, secretion of hormone and rises in intracellular calcium measured with new probes for intracellular calcium activity, can occur in response to hypothalamic peptide activation in the absence of substantial changes in membrane potential. These changes in intracellular calcium activity almost certainly depend on both intracellular and extracellular calcium sources. In addition, strong evidence of a role for multiple intracellular receptors and modulators in the secretory event suggests we should consider the plasma membrane channels important for regulation of hormone secretion to be predominantly agonist-activated, rather than of the more conventional voltage-dependent type. Likewise, evidence from new methods for recording single ion channels suggests the existence of intracellular sites for channel modulation, implying they too may play an important role in secretory regulation. We shall consider new data and new technology which we hope will provide key answers to the many intriguing questions surrounding the control of pituitary hormone secretion. We shall highlight our work with recordings of single ion channels activated by peptides, and recent experiments using imaging of intracellular ionized free calcium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The structural mechanics of cell division in Trypanosoma brucei

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Vaughan ◽  
Keith Gull
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Structural Mechanics ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mammalian Host

Undoubtedly, there are fundamental processes driving the structural mechanics of cell division in eukaryotic organisms that have been conserved throughout evolution and are being revealed by studies on organisms such as yeast and mammalian cells. Precision of structural mechanics of cytokinesis is however probably no better illustrated than in the protozoa. A dramatic example of this is the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, a unicellular flagellated parasite that causes a devastating disease (African sleeping sickness) across Sub-Saharan Africa in both man and animals. As trypanosomes migrate between and within a mammalian host and the tsetse vector, there are periods of cell proliferation and cell differentiation involving at least five morphologically distinct cell types. Much of the existing cytoskeleton remains intact during these processes, necessitating a very precise temporal and spatial duplication and segregation of the many single-copy organelles. This structural precision is aiding progress in understanding these processes as we apply the excellent reverse genetics and post-genomic technologies available in this system. Here we outline our current understanding of some of the structural aspects of cell division in this fascinating organism.

scholarly journals Conformational epitopes at cadherin calcium-binding sites and p120-catenin phosphorylation regulate cell adhesion

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2092-2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliya I. Petrova ◽  
MarthaJoy M. Spano ◽  
Barry M. Gumbiner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
P120 Catenin ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Conformational Epitopes ◽  
Calcium Binding Sites ◽  
E Cadherin

We investigated changes in cadherin structure at the cell surface that regulate its adhesive activity. Colo 205 cells are nonadhesive cells with a full but inactive complement of E-cadherin–catenin complexes at the cell surface, but they can be triggered to adhere and form monolayers. We were able to distinguish the inactive and active states of E-cadherin at the cell surface by using a special set of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Another set of mAbs binds E-cadherin and strongly activates adhesion. In other epithelial cell types these activating mAbs inhibit growth factor–induced down-regulation of adhesion and epithelial morphogenesis, indicating that these phenomena are also controlled by E-cadherin activity at the cell surface. Both types of mAbs recognize conformational epitopes at different interfaces between extracellular cadherin repeat domains (ECs), especially near calcium-binding sites. Activation also induces p120-catenin dephosphorylation, as well as changes in the cadherin cytoplasmic domain. Moreover, phospho-site mutations indicate that dephosphorylation of specific Ser/Thr residues in the N-terminal domain of p120-catenin mediate adhesion activation. Thus physiological regulation of the adhesive state of E-cadherin involves physical and/or conformational changes in the EC interface regions of the ectodomain at the cell surface that are mediated by catenin-associated changes across the membrane.

scholarly journals A toolbox of Stable Integration Vectors (SIV) in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Vještica ◽  
Magdalena Marek ◽  
Pedro N’kosi ◽  
Laura Merlini ◽  
Gaowen Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Stable Integration ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fluorescent Tags

AbstractSchizosaccharomyces pombe is a widely used model organism that resembles higher eukaryotes in many aspects of cell physiology. Its popularity as an experimental system partially stems from the ease of genetic manipulations, where the innate homology-targeted repair is exploited to precisely edit the genome. While vectors to incorporate exogenous sequences into the chromosomes are available, most are poorly characterized. Here we show that commonly used fission yeast vectors, which upon integration produce repetitive genomic regions, yield unstable genomic loci. We overcome this problem by designing a new series of Stable Integration Vectors (SIV) that target four different prototrophy genes. SIV produce non-repetitive, stable genomic loci and integrate predominantly as single copy. Additionally, we develop a set of complementary auxotrophic alleles that preclude false-positive integration events. We expand the vector series to include antibiotic resistance markers, promoters, fluorescent tags and terminators, and build a highly modular toolbox to introduce heterologous sequences. Finally, as proof of concept, we generate a large set of ready-to-use, fluorescent probes to mark organelles and cellular processes with a wide range of applications in fission yeast research.

scholarly journals Alzheimer’s disease-relevant tau modifications selectively impact neurodegeneration and mitophagy in a novel C. elegans single-copy transgenic model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjib Guha ◽  
Sarah Fischer ◽  
Gail VW Johnson ◽  
Keith Nehrke
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Mitochondrial Stress ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Touch Receptor Neurons ◽  
New Perspective

ABSTRACTBackgroundA defining pathological hallmark of the progressive neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the accumulation of misfolded tau with abnormal post-translational modifications (PTMs). These include phosphorylation at Threonine 231 (T231) and acetylation at Lysine 274 (K274) and at Lysine 281 (K281). Although tau is recognized to play a central role in pathogenesis of AD, the precise mechanisms by which these abnormal PTMs contribute to the neural toxicity of tau is unclear.MethodsHuman 0N4R tau (wild type) was expressed in touch receptor neurons of the genetic model organism C. elegans through single-copy gene insertion. Defined mutations were then introduced into the single-copy tau transgene through CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. These mutations included T231E and T231A, to mimic phosphorylation and phospho-ablation of a commonly observed pathological epitope, respectively, and K274/281Q, to mimic disease-associated lysine acetylation. Stereotypical touch response assays were used to assess behavioral defects in the transgenic strains as a function of age, and genetically-encoded fluorescent biosensors were used to measure the morphological dynamics and turnover of touch neuron mitochondria.ResultsUnlike existing tau overexpression models, C. elegans single-copy expression of tau did not elicit overt pathological phenotypes at baseline. However, strains expressing disease associated PTM-mimetics (T231E and K274/281Q) exhibited reduced touch sensation and morphological abnormalities that increased with age. In addition, the PTM-mimetic mutants lacked the ability to engage mitophagy in response to mitochondrial stress.ConclusionsLimiting the expression of tau results in a genetic model where pathological modifications and age result in evolving phenotypes, which may more closely resemble the normal progression of AD. The finding that disease-associated PTMs suppress compensatory responses to mitochondrial stress provides a new perspective into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document