Function and specificity of LIM domains in Drosophila nervous system and wing development

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (19) ◽  
pp. 3915-3923 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.D. O'Keefe ◽  
S. Thor ◽  
J.B. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Gene Selection ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Lim Domains

LIM domains are found in a variety of proteins, including cytoplasmic and nuclear LIM-only proteins, LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD) transcription factors and LIM-kinases. Although the ability of LIM domains to interact with other proteins has been clearly established in vitro and in cultured cells, their in vivo function is unknown. Here we use Drosophila to test the roles of the LIM domains of the LIM-HD family member Apterous (Ap) in wing and nervous system development. Using a rescuing assay of the ap mutant phenotype, we have found that the LIM domains are essential for Ap function. Furthermore, expression of LIM domains alone can act in a dominant-negative fashion to disrupt Ap function. The Ap LIM domains can be replaced by those of another family member to generate normal wing structure, but LIM domains are not interchangeable during axon pathfinding of the Ap neurons. This suggests that the Ap LIM domains mediate different protein interactions in different developmental processes, and that LIM domains can participate in conferring specificity of target gene selection.

scholarly journals Drosophila Stathmin: A Microtubule-destabilizing Factor Involved in Nervous System Formation

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 698-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie Ozon ◽  
Antoine Guichet ◽  
Olivier Gavet ◽  
Siegfried Roth ◽  
André Sobel
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
System Development ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Nervous Systems ◽  
Germ Cell Migration ◽  
Numerous Cell ◽  
First Time

Stathmin is a ubiquitous regulatory phosphoprotein, the generic element of a family of neural phosphoproteins in vertebrates that possess the capacity to bind tubulin and interfere with microtubule dynamics. Although stathmin and the other proteins of the family have been associated with numerous cell regulations, their biological roles remain elusive, as in particular inactivation of the stathmin gene in the mouse resulted in no clear deleterious phenotype. We identified stathmin phosphoproteins inDrosophila, encoded by a unique gene sharing the intron/exon structure of the vertebrate stathmin andstathmin family genes. They interfere with microtubule assembly in vitro, and in vivo when expressed in HeLa cells. Drosophila stathmin expression is regulated during embryogenesis: it is high in the migrating germ cells and in the central and peripheral nervous systems, a pattern resembling that of mammalian stathmin. Furthermore, RNA interference inactivation ofDrosophila stathmin expression resulted in germ cell migration arrest at stage 14. It also induced important anomalies in nervous system development, such as loss of commissures and longitudinal connectives in the ventral cord, or abnormal chordotonal neuron organization. In conclusion, a single Drosophilagene encodes phosphoproteins homologous to the entire vertebrate stathmin family. We demonstrate for the first time their direct involvement in major biological processes such as development of the reproductive and nervous systems.

scholarly journals The moonlighting protein c-Fos activates lipid synthesis in neurons, an activity that is critical for cellular differentiation and cortical development

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (26) ◽  
pp. 8808-8818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Rodríguez-Berdini ◽  
Gabriel Orlando Ferrero ◽  
Florentyna Bustos Plonka ◽  
Andrés Mauricio Cardozo Gizzi ◽  
César Germán Prucca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuronal Differentiation ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Cortical Development ◽  
Lipid Synthesis ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Fos Expression

Differentiation of neuronal cells is crucial for the development and function of the nervous system. This process involves high rates of membrane expansion, during which the synthesis of membrane lipids must be tightly regulated. In this work, using a variety of molecular and biochemical assays and approaches, including immunofluorescence microscopy and FRET analyses, we demonstrate that the proto-oncogene c-Fos (c-Fos) activates cytoplasmic lipid synthesis in the central nervous system and thereby supports neuronal differentiation. Specifically, in hippocampal primary cultures, blocking c-Fos expression or its activity impairs neuronal differentiation. When examining its subcellular localization, we found that c-Fos co-localizes with endoplasmic reticulum markers and strongly interacts with lipid-synthesizing enzymes, whose activities were markedly increased in vitro in the presence of recombinant c-Fos. Of note, the expression of c-Fos dominant-negative variants capable of blocking its lipid synthesis–activating activity impaired neuronal differentiation. Moreover, using an in utero electroporation model, we observed that neurons with blocked c-Fos expression or lacking its AP-1–independent activity fail to initiate cortical development. These results highlight the importance of c-Fos–mediated activation of lipid synthesis for proper nervous system development.

Oligodendrocyte precursor (O-2A progenitor cell) migration; a model system for the study of cell migration in the developing central nervous system

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 119 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 219-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Kiernan ◽  
Charles ffrench-Constant
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Progenitor Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Developing Nervous System

Cell migration plays an important role in the development of complex multicellular organisms. The molecular mechanisms that regulate this migration arc therefore of great interest. Unfortunately, however, analysis of cell migration in vertebrates is hampered by the inaccessability of the cells and the difficulty of manipulating their environment within the embryo. This review focusses on one particular migratory cell population, the oligodendrocyte p1ecursor cell or O-2A progenitor cell, that gives rise to the myelin-forming oligodendrocytes within the CNS. These cells mi grate extensively during normal development. They can be purified and grown in large numbers in cell culture, so allowing the use of reductionist approaches using cell and molecular biology techniques. Moreover, cultured cells will migrate within the CNS following transplantation. As a result, the migration of these cells in vivo can be analysed following manipulation in vitro. Taken together, we believe that the different properties of these cells makes them excellent candidates for studies addressing the control of cell migration in the developing nervous system.

scholarly journals Delayed Development of Nervous System in Mice Homozygous for Disrupted Microtubule-associated Protein 1B (MAP1B) Gene

1997 ◽  
Vol 137 (7) ◽  
pp. 1615-1626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Takei ◽  
Satoru Kondo ◽  
Akihiro Harada ◽  
Satomi Inomata ◽  
Tetsuo Noda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Gene Targeting ◽  
Time Course ◽  
System Development ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Neuronal Morphogenesis ◽  
Associated Proteins

Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B), one of the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), is a major component of the neuronal cytoskeleton. It is expressed at high levels in immature neurons during growth of their axons, which indicates that it plays a crucial role in neuronal morphogenesis and neurite extension. To better define the role of MAP1B in vivo, we have used gene targeting to disrupt the murine MAP1B gene. Heterozygotes of our MAP1B disruption exhibit no overt abnormalities in their development and behavior, while homozygotes showed a slightly decreased brain weight and delayed nervous system development. Our data indicate that while MAP1B is not essential for survival, it is essential for normal time course development of the murine nervous system. These conclusions are very different from those of a previous MAP1B gene–targeting study (Edelmann, W., M. Zervas, P. Costello, L. Roback, I. Fischer, A. Hammarback, N. Cowan, P. Davis, B. Wainer, and R. Kucherlapati. 1996. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93: 1270–1275). In this previous effort, homozygotes died before reaching 8-d embryos, while heterozygotes showed severely abnormal phenotypes in their nervous systems. Because the gene targeting event in these mice produced a gene encoding a 571–amino acid truncated product of MAP1B, it seems likely that the phenotypes seen arise from the truncated MAP1B product acting in a dominant-negative fashion, rather than a loss of MAP1B function.

scholarly journals Zyxin and cCRP: two interactive LIM domain proteins associated with the cytoskeleton.

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1573-1587 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Sadler ◽  
A W Crawford ◽  
J W Michelsen ◽  
M C Beckerle
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathway ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Lim Domains

Interaction with extracellular matrix can trigger a variety of responses by cells including changes in specific gene expression and cell differentiation. The mechanism by which cell surface events are coupled to the transcriptional machinery is not understood, however, proteins localized at sites of cell-substratum contact are likely to function as signal transducers. We have recently purified and characterized a low abundance adhesion plaque protein called zyxin (Crawford, A. W., and M. C. Beckerle. 1991. J. Biol. Chem. 266:5847-5853; Crawford, A. W., J. W. Michelsen, and M. C. Beckerle. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 116:1381-1393). We have now isolated and sequenced zyxin cDNA and we report here that zyxin exhibits an unusual proline-rich NH2-terminus followed by three tandemly arrayed LIM domains. LIM domains have previously been identified in proteins that play important roles in transcriptional regulation and cellular differentiation. LIM domains have been proposed to coordinate metal ions and we have demonstrated by atomic absorption spectroscopy that purified zyxin binds zinc, a result consistent with the idea that zyxin has zinc fingers. In addition, we have discovered that zyxin interacts in vitro with a 23-kD protein that also exhibits LIM domains. Microsequence analysis has revealed that the 23-kD protein (or cCRP) is the chicken homologue of the human cysteine-rich protein (hCRP). By double-label indirect immunofluorescence, we found that zyxin and cCRP are extensively colocalized in chicken embryo fibroblasts, consistent with the idea that they interact in vivo. We conclude that LIM domains are zinc-binding sequences that may be involved in protein-protein interactions. The demonstration that two cytoskeletal proteins, zyxin and cCRP, share a sequence motif with proteins important for transcriptional regulation raises the possibility that zyxin and cCRP are components of a signal transduction pathway that mediates adhesion-stimulated changes in gene expression.

scholarly journals The loop region of the helix-loop-helix protein Id1 is critical for its dominant negative activity.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7874-7880 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Pesce ◽  
R Benezra
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Loop Region ◽  
Dominant Negative Activity

Id1, a helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein which lacks a DNA binding domain, has been shown to negatively regulate other members of the HLH family by direct protein-protein interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report the results of site-directed mutagenesis experiments aimed at defining the regions of Id1 which are important for its activity. We have found that the HLH domain of Id1 is necessary and nearly sufficient for its activity. In addition, we show that two amino acid residues at the amino terminus of the Id1 loop are critical for its activity, perhaps by specifying the correct dimerization partners. In this regard, replacing the first four amino acids of the loops of the basic HLH proteins E12 and E47 with the corresponding amino acids of Id1 confers Id1 dimerization specificity. These studies point to the loop region as an important structural and functional element of the Id subfamily of HLH proteins.

scholarly journals AAV-mediated inhibition of ULK1 promotes axonal regeneration in the central nervous system in vitro and in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius Toledo Ribas ◽  
Björn Friedhelm Vahsen ◽  
Lars Tatenhorst ◽  
Veronica Estrada ◽  
Vivian Dambeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Axonal Regeneration ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Nerve Lesion ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Central Nervous System

AbstractAxonal damage is an early step in traumatic and neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Damaged axons are not able to regenerate sufficiently in the adult mammalian CNS, leading to permanent neurological deficits. Recently, we showed that inhibition of the autophagic protein ULK1 promotes neuroprotection in different models of neurodegeneration. Moreover, we demonstrated previously that axonal protection improves regeneration of lesioned axons. However, whether axonal protection mediated by ULK1 inhibition could also improve axonal regeneration is unknown. Here, we used an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to express a dominant-negative form of ULK1 (AAV.ULK1.DN) and investigated its effects on axonal regeneration in the CNS. We show that AAV.ULK1.DN fosters axonal regeneration and enhances neurite outgrowth in vitro. In addition, AAV.ULK1.DN increases neuronal survival and enhances axonal regeneration after optic nerve lesion, and promotes long-term axonal protection after spinal cord injury (SCI) in vivo. Interestingly, AAV.ULK1.DN also increases serotonergic and dopaminergic axon sprouting after SCI. Mechanistically, AAV.ULK1.DN leads to increased ERK1 activation and reduced expression of RhoA and ROCK2. Our findings outline ULK1 as a key regulator of axonal degeneration and regeneration, and define ULK1 as a promising target to promote neuroprotection and regeneration in the CNS.

scholarly journals TDP-43 in central nervous system development and function: clues to TDP-43-associated neurodegeneration

2012 ◽  
Vol 393 (7) ◽  
pp. 589-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantelle F. Sephton ◽  
Basar Cenik ◽  
Bercin Kutluk Cenik ◽  
Joachim Herz ◽  
Gang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
System Development ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Rna Targets ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract From the earliest stages of embryogenesis and throughout life, transcriptional regulation is carefully orchestrated in order to generate, shape, and reshape the central nervous system (CNS). TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is identified as a regulator of essential transcriptional events in the CNS. Evidence for its importance comes from the identification of TDP-43 protein aggregates and genetic mutations in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Efforts are being made to learn more about the biological function of TDP-43 and gain a better understanding of its role in neurodegeneration. TDP-43 RNA targets and protein interactions have now been identified, and in vivo evidence shows that TDP-43 is essential in CNS development and function. This review will highlight aspects of these findings.

The loop region of the helix-loop-helix protein Id1 is critical for its dominant negative activity

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7874-7880
Author(s):  
S Pesce ◽  
R Benezra
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Loop Region ◽  
Dominant Negative Activity

Id1, a helix-loop-helix (HLH) protein which lacks a DNA binding domain, has been shown to negatively regulate other members of the HLH family by direct protein-protein interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we report the results of site-directed mutagenesis experiments aimed at defining the regions of Id1 which are important for its activity. We have found that the HLH domain of Id1 is necessary and nearly sufficient for its activity. In addition, we show that two amino acid residues at the amino terminus of the Id1 loop are critical for its activity, perhaps by specifying the correct dimerization partners. In this regard, replacing the first four amino acids of the loops of the basic HLH proteins E12 and E47 with the corresponding amino acids of Id1 confers Id1 dimerization specificity. These studies point to the loop region as an important structural and functional element of the Id subfamily of HLH proteins.

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