Palikaras, Konstantinos et al. (2021) International Worm Meeting "Mitochondrial defects manifest an early pathogenic event undermining organismal fitness in a Tauopathy model"

Akbari, Mansour, Achanta, Kavya, Bohr, Vilhelm, Palikaras, Konstantinos

[International Worm Meeting, 2021]

Battling age-associated neurodegenerative pathologies and their pervasive societal impact, is a global enterprise. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia affecting elderly population and there is not any efficient therapeutic strategy until now. Age-dependent impairment of mitochondrial homeostasis is a common feature in evolutionary divergent organisms and is associated with neuronal loss and cognitive decline in AD. However, whether mitochondrial dysfunction is a culprit or bystander of AD pathology remain still elusive. Here, we utilized transgenic nematodes expressing the full length of wild type Tau (Tauwt-lo) in neuronal cells and monitored several aspects of mitochondrial morphology. Although Tauwt-lo expressing nematodes do not present Tau aggregates during larval stages, they display increased mitochondrial damaged and locomotion defects. Interestingly, calcium chelating agents restores mitochondrial activity and motility in Tauwt-lo expressing larvae suggesting that cytoplasmic calcium elevation mediates neuronal impairment. Our findings in their totality suggest that mitochondrial damage is an early pathogenic event of AD that is taking place before Tau aggregation undermining neuronal homeostasis and organismal fitness during aging.

Galindo-Malagn XA et al. (2022) Zootaxa "New species, synonymies and records in the genus Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from Colombia."

Moreira FFF, Morales I, Mondragn-F SP, Galindo-Malagn XA

[Zootaxa, 2022]

Rhagovelia medinae sp. nov., of the hambletoni group (angustipes complex), and R. utria sp. nov., of the hirtipes group (robusta complex), are described, illustrated, and compared with similar congeners. Based on the examination of type specimens, six new synonymies are proposed: R. elegans Uhler, 1894 = R. pediformis Padilla-Gil, 2010, syn. nov.; R. cauca Polhemus, 1997 = R. azulita Padilla-Gil, 2009, syn. nov., R. huila Padilla-Gil, 2009, syn. nov., R. oporapa Padilla-Gil, 2009, syn. nov, R. quilichaensis Padilla-Gil, 2011, syn. nov.; and R. gaigei, Drake Hussey, 1947 = R. victoria Padilla-Gil, 2012 syn. nov. The first record from Colombia is presented for R. trailii (White, 1879), and the distributions of the following species are extended in the country: R. cali Polhemus, 1997, R. castanea Gould, 1931, R. cauca Polhemus, 1997, R. gaigei Drake Hussey, 1957, R. elegans Uhler, 1894, R. femoralis Champion, 1898, R. malkini Polhemus, 1997, R. perija Polhemus, 1997, R. sinuata Gould, 1931, R. venezuelana Polhemus, 1997, R. williamsi Gould, 1931, and R. zeteki Drake, 1953.

Lu WX et al. (1990) J Biol Chem "Cloning, structure, and expression of the gene for a novel regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in Caenorhabditis elegans."

Bagchi S, Lu WX, Rubin CS, Gross RE

[J Biol Chem, 1990]

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) expresses the regulatory subunit (R) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase at a level similar to the levels determined for R subunits in mammalian tissues. Approximately 60% of the C. elegans cAMP-binding protein is tightly associated with particulate structures by noncovalent interactions. Ionic detergents or 7 M urea solubilize particulate R. Solubilized and cytosolic R subunits have apparent Mr values of 52,000 and pI values of 5.5. cDNA and genomic DNA encoding a unique C. elegans R subunit were cloned and sequenced. The derived amino acid sequence contains 375 residues; carboxyl-terminal residues 145-375 are 69% identical with mammalian RI. However, residues 44-145 are markedly divergent from the corresponding regions of all other R sequences. This region might provide sufficient structural diversity to adapt a single R subunit for multiple functional roles in C. elegans. Antibodies directed against two epitopes in the deduced amino acid sequence of C. elegans R avidly bound nematode cytosolic and particulate R subunits on Western blots and precipitated dissociated R subunits and R2C2 complexes from solution. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the tip of the head, which contains chemosensory and mechanosensory neurons, and the pharyngeal nerve ring were enriched in R. The R subunit concentration is low during early embryogenesis in C. elegans. A sharp increase (approximately 6-fold) in R content begins several hours before the nematodes hatch and peaks during the first larval stage. Developmental regulation of R expression occurs at translational and/or post-translational levels. The 8-kilobase pair C. elegans R gene is divided into 8 exons by introns ranging from 46 to 4300 base pairs. The 5'-flanking region has no TATA box and contains preferred and minor transcription start sites.

Winge P et al. (1994) Worm Breeder's Gazette "R-ras 1 and R-ras 2 (TC21) Homologs."

Gobel V, Friend S, Winge P, Fleming JT

[Worm Breeder's Gazette, 1994]

R-ras I and R-ras 2 (TC21) homologs Per Winge*, Vercna Gobel*+, Stephen Friend*, and John Fleming*+. MGH Cancer Center and +DepL of Pediatrics, Boston, MA. Human r-ras 1 and r-ras 2 (TC21) belong to the closer relatives (>50% amino acid identity) of ras in the ras superfamily of GDP/GTP-binding proteins. They are the first members to exhibit transforming potential when mutated at some which render ras oncogenic and make it insensitive to GAP action (Graham & Der, 1994). These recent findings have led to current investigations of their role-in human cancer. Furthermore, r-ras 1 -- by immunoprecipitation and in the yeast-2-hybrid-system -- was shown to interact with bc1-2, the human homolog to ced-9 (Fernandez-Sarabia & Bischoff, 1993) and has thus been implicated as a possible effector of apoptosis. There is evidence that the r-ras proteins participate in some but not all aspects of the ras signal transduction pathway involving upstream tyrosinc kinases and downstream serine/threonine kinases. It has not yet been elucidated in the mammalian system (1) what alternative pathway the r-ras proteins may be utilizing and (2) what functional relevance is represented by the in vitro interaction of r-ras 1 and bc1-2. We are trying to address these questions in C elegans and have cloned the homologs of r-ras I and r-ras 2 using a degeneratc PCR approach. We have screened c-DNA and genomic libraries and obtamed and sequenced full length c-DNA and genomic clones of r-ras 1 and a full length c-DNA clone of r- ras 2. The genomic sequence of r-ras 2 was recently made available by the genome sequencing project. The amino acid comparison shows high homologyrldentity to thc human proteins for r-ras 1 and r-ras 2 (TC21). R-ras 1 was localizcd to chromosome II ncar lin-29, and r-ras 2 maps close to embS on chromosome m. To obtain r-ras germline deletions, we have screened a TCl insertion library which we constructed using the mutator strain MT 3126 (protocols kindly proYided by Jocl Rothman, Susan Mango and Ed Maryon), and have isolated transposon insertions in r-ras 1. We are currently in the proccss of sib sclection to purify the strains. To get some first appreciation of a functional role of r-ras towards apoptosis versus growth stimulating propertics, we have also started to inject a r-ras 1 hcat shock promotor expression construct to generatc strains in which r-ras can be overexpressed Ihis additional approach has been choscn since redundancy may be expected in thc ras related protcin familics and thus thc knockout of one of the proteins may not give clear results. We will screen the overexpressing strains for (1) apoptosis and (2) muv phcnotype. In collaboration with Bob Horvitz's laboratory r-ras GST fusion proteins will be generated to test the in vitro interacion with ccd-9. Finally, we are constructing r-ras 1 and r-ras 2 promotor expression vectors with GFP/betaGAL to define the expression patterns of both genes.

Wang B et al. (2021) Nat Commun "Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 produces R-bodies, extendable protein polymers with roles in host colonization and virulence."

Jo J, Wang B, Price-Whelan A, Brown LM, Sieben C, Vasquez-Rifo A, Lin YC, McDonald ST, Dietrich LEP

[Nat Commun, 2021]

R-bodies are long, extendable protein polymers formed in the cytoplasm of some bacteria; they are best known for their role in killing of paramecia by bacterial endosymbionts. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, an opportunistic pathogen of diverse hosts, contains genes (referred to as the reb cluster) with potential to confer production of R-bodies and that have been implicated in virulence. Here, we show that products of the PA14 reb cluster associate with R-bodies and control stochastic expression of R-body structural genes.PA14 expresses reb genes during colonization of plant and nematode hosts, and R-body production is required for full virulence in nematodes. Analyses of nematode ribosome content and immune response indicate that P. aeruginosa R-bodies act via a mechanism involving ribosome cleavage and translational inhibition. Our observations provide insight into the biology of R-body production and its consequences during P. aeruginosa infection.

Buyannemekh K et al. (2024) Dev Biol "Left/right asymmetrically expressed ephrin and Flamingo proteins regulate lateralized axon growth in C. elegans."

Buyannemekh K, Bertrand V, Villoutreix P

[Dev Biol, 2024]

While the nervous system of bilaterian animals is mainly left-right (L-R) symmetric at the anatomical level, some molecular and functional L-R asymmetries exist. However, the extent of these molecular asymmetries and their functional consequences remain poorly characterized. C. elegans allows to study L-R asymmetries in the nervous system with single-neuron resolution. We have previously shown that a neural bHLH transcription factor, HLH-16/Olig, is L-R asymmetrically expressed in the AIY neuron lineage and regulates AIY axon projections in a L-R asymmetric manner. Here, by combining a candidate approach and single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis, we identify the ephrin protein EFN-2 and the Flamingo protein FMI-1 as downstream targets of HLH-16 that are L-R asymmetrically expressed in the AIY lineage. We show that EFN-2 and FMI-1 collaborate in the L-R asymmetric regulation of axonal growth. EFN-2 may act via a non-canonical receptor of the L1CAM family, SAX-7. Our study reveals novel molecular L-R asymmetries in the C. elegans nervous system and their functional consequences.

Pohl C (2011) Commun Integr Biol "Left-right patterning in the C. elegans embryo: Unique mechanisms and common principles."

Pohl C

[Commun Integr Biol, 2011]

The development of bilateral symmetry during the evolution of species probably 600 million years ago brought about several important innovations: It fostered efficient locomotion, streamlining and favored the development of a central nervous system through cephalization. However, to increase their functional capacities, many organisms exhibit chirality by breaking their superficial left-right (l-r) symmetry, which manifests in the lateralization of the nervous system or the l-r asymmetry of internal organs. In most bilateria, the mechanisms that maintain consistent l-r asymmetry throughout development are poorly understood. This review highlights insights into mechanisms that couple early embryonic l-r symmetry breaking to subsequent l-r patterning in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. A recently identified strategy for l-r patterning in the early C. elegans embryo is discussed, the spatial separation of midline and anteroposterior axis, which relies on a rotational cellular rearrangement and non-canonical Wnt signaling. Evidence for a general relevance of rotational/torsional rearrangements during organismal l-r patterning and for non-canonical Wnt signaling/planar cell polarity as a common signaling mechanism to maintain l-r asymmetry is presented.

Semnani RT et al. (2010) J Immunol "Expanded numbers of circulating myeloid dendritic cells in patent human filarial infection reflect lower CCR1 expression."

Traore SF, Sanogo D, Coulibaly SY, Semnani RT, Konate S, Soumaoro L, Diallo AA, Klion A, Dembele B, Mahanty S, Nutman TB, Coulibaly ME, Seriba Doumbia S, Mahapatra L, Metenou S, Dolo H

[J Immunol, 2010]

APC dysfunction has been postulated to mediate some of the parasite-specific T cell unresponsiveness seen in patent filarial infection. We have shown that live microfilariae of Brugia malayi induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. This study addresses whether apoptosis observed in vitro extends to patent filarial infections in humans and is reflected in the number of circulating myeloid DCs (mDCs; CD11c(-)CD123(lo)) in peripheral blood of infected microfilaremic individuals. Utilizing flow cytometry to identify DC subpopulations (mDCs and plasmacytoid DCs [pDCs]) based on expression of CD11c and CD123, we found a significant increase in numbers of circulating mDCs (CD11c(+)CD123(lo)) in filaria-infected individuals compared with uninfected controls from the same filaria-endemic region of Mali. Total numbers of pDCs, monocytes, and lymphocytes did not differ between the two groups. To investigate potential causes of differences in mDC numbers between the two groups, we assessed chemokine receptor expression on mDCs. Our data indicate that filaria-infected individuals had a lower percentage of circulating CCR1(+) mDCs and a higher percentage of circulating CCR5(+) mDCs and pDCs. Finally, live microfilariae of B. malayi were able to downregulate cell-surface expression of CCR1 on monocyte-derived DCs and diminish their calcium flux in response to stimulation by a CCR1 ligand. These findings suggest that microfilaria are capable of altering mDC migration through downregulation of expression of some chemokine receptors and their signaling functions. These observations have major implications for regulation of immune responses to these long-lived parasites.

Vinci CR et al. (2007) J Biol Chem "Recognition of age-damaged (R,S)-adenosyl-L-methionine by two methyltransferases in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae."

Vinci CR, Clarke SG

[J Biol Chem, 2007]

The biological methyl donor, S adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), can exist in two diastereoisomeric states with respect to its sulfonium ion. The "S" configuration, (S,S)AdoMet, is the only form that is produced enzymatically as well as the only form used in almost all biological methylation reactions. Under physiological conditions, however, the sulfonium ion can spontaneously racemize to the "R" form, producing (R,S)AdoMet. As of yet, (R,S)AdoMet has no known physiological function and may inhibit cellular reactions. In this study, two enzymes have been found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are capable of recognizing (R,S)AdoMet and using it to methylate homocysteine to form methionine. These enzymes are the products of the SAM4 and MHT1 genes, previously identified as homocysteine methyltransferases dependent upon AdoMet and S-methylmethionine respectively. We find here that Sam4 recognizes both (S,S) and (R,S)AdoMet, but its activity is much higher with the R,S form. Mht1 reacts with only the R,S form of AdoMet while no activity is seen with the S,S form. R,S-specific homocysteine methyltransferase activity is also shown here to occur in extracts of Arabidopsis thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans, but has not been detected in several tissue extracts of Mus musculus. Such activity may function to prevent the accumulation of (R,S)AdoMet in these organisms.

Skourti-Stathaki K et al. (2013) Mol Cell "Histone 3 s10 phosphorylation: "caught in the R loop!"."

Skourti-Stathaki K, Proudfoot NJ

[Mol Cell, 2013]

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Castellano-Pozo etal. (2013) describe a connection between R loop structures and histone 3 S10 phosphorylation (H3S10P), a mark of chromatin compaction. Their results constitute asignificant advance in our understanding of the role of R loops in genomic instability.