scholarly journals Ronin overexpression induces cerebellar degeneration in a mouse model of ataxia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Zwaka ◽  
Marta Skowronska ◽  
Ronald Richman ◽  
Marion Dejosez
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Cerebellar Degeneration ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxias ◽  
Binding Motifs ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Severe Ataxia ◽  
Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

ABSTRACT Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous inherited neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive ataxia and cerebellar degeneration. Here, we used a mouse model to test a possible connection between SCA and Ronin (Thap11), a polyglutamine-containing transcriptional regulator encoded in a region of human chromosome 16q22.1 that has been genetically linked to SCA type 4. We report that transgenic expression of Ronin in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells leads to detrimental loss of these cells and the development of severe ataxia as early as 10 weeks after birth. Mechanistically, we find that several SCA-causing genes harbor Ronin DNA-binding motifs and are transcriptionally deregulated in transgenic animals. In addition, ectopic expression of Ronin in embryonic stem cells significantly increases the protein level of Ataxin-1, the protein encoded by Atxn1, alterations of which cause SCA type 1. This increase is also seen in the cerebellum of transgenic animals, although the latter was not statistically significant. Hence, our data provide evidence for a link between Ronin and SCAs, and suggest that Ronin may be involved in the development of other neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals SCA4 locus-associated gene Ronin (Thap11) increases Ataxin-1 protein levels and induces cerebellar degeneration in a mouse model of ataxia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Zwaka ◽  
Ronald Richman ◽  
Marion Dejosez
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Purkinje Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Cerebellar Degeneration ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxias ◽  
Causative Gene ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
The One ◽  
Cerebellar Purkinje Cells

ABSTRACTSpinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous inherited neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive ataxia and cerebellar degeneration. Here, we tested if Ronin (Thap11), a polyglutamine-containing protein encoded in a region on human chromosome 16q22.1 that has been genetically linked to SCA4, can be connected with SCA disease in a mouse model. We report that transgenic expression of Ronin in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells leads not only histopathologically to detrimental loss of Purkinje cells but also phenotypically to the development of severe ataxia as early as 10-12 weeks after birth. Mechanistically, we find that Ronin is part of a protein complex in the cerebellum that is distinct from the one previously found in embryonic stem cells. Importantly, ectopically expressed Ronin raises the protein level of Ataxin-1 (Atxn1), the causative gene of the most common type of SCA, SCA1. Hence, our data provide evidence for a link between Ronin and SCAs, and also suggest that Ronin may be involved in the development of other neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Generation and validation of versatile inducible CRISPRi embryonic stem cell and mouse model

PLoS Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. e3000749
Author(s):  
Rui Li ◽  
Xianyou Xia ◽  
Xing Wang ◽  
Xiaoyu Sun ◽  
Zhongye Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Guide Rnas ◽  
High Throughput Screens

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 has been widely used far beyond genome editing. Fusions of deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) to transcription effectors enable interrogation of the epigenome and controlling of gene expression. However, the large transgene size of dCas9-fusion hinders its applications especially in somatic tissues. Here, we develop a robust CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system by transgenic expression of doxycycline (Dox) inducible dCas9-KRAB in mouse embryonic stem cells (iKRAB ESC). After introduction of specific single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs), the induced dCas9-KRAB efficiently maintains gene inactivation, although it modestly down-regulates the expression of active genes. The proper timing of Dox addition during cell differentiation or reprogramming allows us to study or screen spatiotemporally activated promoters or enhancers and thereby the gene functions. Furthermore, taking the ESC for blastocyst injection, we generate an iKRAB knock-in (KI) mouse model that enables the shutdown of gene expression and loss-of-function (LOF) studies ex vivo and in vivo by a simple transduction of gRNAs. Thus, our inducible CRISPRi ESC line and KI mouse provide versatile and convenient platforms for functional interrogation and high-throughput screens of specific genes and potential regulatory elements in the setting of development or diseases.

scholarly journals Concise Review: Are Stimulated Somatic Cells Truly Reprogrammed into an ES/iPS-Like Pluripotent State? Better Understanding by Ischemia-Induced Multipotent Stem Cells in a Mouse Model of Cerebral Infarction

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takayuki Nakagomi ◽  
Akiko Nakano-Doi ◽  
Aya Narita ◽  
Tomohiro Matsuyama
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cerebral Infarction ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Multipotent Stem Cells ◽  
Great Hope ◽  
Reprogramming Factors ◽  
Induced Pluripotent

Following the discovery of pluripotent stem (PS) cells such as embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, there has been a great hope that injured tissues can be repaired by transplantation of ES/iPS-derived various specific types of cells such as neural stem cells (NSCs). Although PS cells can be induced by ectopic expression of Yamanaka’s factors, it is known that several stimuli such as ischemia/hypoxia can increase the stemness of somatic cells via reprogramming. This suggests that endogenous somatic cells acquire stemness during natural regenerative processes following injury. In this study, we describe whether somatic cells are converted into pluripotent stem cells by pathological stimuli without ectopic expression of reprogramming factors based on the findings of ischemia-induced multipotent stem cells in a mouse model of cerebral infarction.

778 Preclinical study using a glutamatergic signaling and immune-checkpoint inhibitors in a spontaneous melanoma prone mouse model

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A828-A828
Author(s):  
Kevinn Eddy ◽  
Christina Marinaro ◽  
Maryam Rasheed ◽  
Joseph Campagnolo ◽  
Xiaoxuan Zhong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Tumor Burden ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Combination Group ◽  
Glutamatergic Signaling ◽  
Melanoma Patients

BackgroundMuch progress has been made in understanding melanoma pathogenesis within the last few years through targeted therapies and immunotherapies. However, resistance to small molecule inhibitors remains an obstacle. Immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors against PD-1/PD-L1 lead to durable responses but only in a subset of melanoma patients. Mouse models reflecting human cancers provide invaluable tools towards the translation of basic science discoveries to clinical therapies, but many of these in vivo studies are short-term and do not accurately mimic patient circumstances. Our lab has a melanoma-prone transgenic mouse model which is driven by ectopic expression of a normal neuronal receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (GRM1). This mouse model recapitulates melanoma development and progression frequently associated with melanoma patients, where aberrant GRM1 expression is detected. We have shown that in >90% of late-stage melanoma patients, there is atypical GRM1 mediated signaling and expression.MethodsIn this study, we are using these mice, TGS, to determine the long-term, 18-week, therapeutic consequences of troriluzole, a prodrug for riluzole, which is an inhibitor of glutamatergic signaling plus anti-PD-1, an immune-checkpoint inhibitor. Tumor burden is monitored every 6 weeks for 18 weeks using a small imaging system, IVIS and tumor burden is quantified using ImageJ software. Blood, lymphoid, and tumor samples were collected at several time points during the study for molecular, and immune analyses.ResultsPreliminary results suggest a gender-biased treatment response and that the combination of troriluzole and anti-PD-1 is more efficacious than either agent alone. In males, a 43.9% reduction in tumor burden was observed while in females there was a 29.6% increase in tumor burden in the combination group compared to vehicle. In concordance, after the removal of the treatment modality, the male mice in the combinatorial group survived 42 days longer compared to vehicle controls with sustained tumor reduction by 68.3%. In female mice no significant advantage in survival or reduction in tumor burden was noted.ConclusionsN/A

Transgenic expression of gallerimycin, a novel antifungal insect defensin from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, confers resistance to pathogenic fungi in tobacco

2006 ◽  
Vol 387 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Langen ◽  
Jafargholi Imani ◽  
Boran Altincicek ◽  
Gernot Kieseritzky ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Tobacco ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Insect Defensin ◽  
Wax Moth

Abstract A cDNA encoding gallerimycin, a novel antifungal peptide from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, was isolated from a cDNA library of genes expressed during innate immune response in the caterpillars. Upon ectopic expression of gallerimycin in tobacco, using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a vector, gallerimycin conferred resistance to the fungal pathogens Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sclerotinia minor. Quantification of gallerimycin mRNA in transgenic tobacco by real-time PCR confirmed transgenic expression under control of the inducible mannopine synthase promoter. Leaf sap and intercellular washing fluid from transgenic tobacco inhibited in vitro germination and growth of the fungal pathogens, demonstrating that gallerimycin is secreted into intercellular spaces. The feasibility of the use of gallerimycin to counteract fungal diseases in crop plants is discussed.

scholarly journals Inactivation of mouse alpha-globin gene by homologous recombination: mouse model of hemoglobin H disease

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1846-1851 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chang ◽  
RH Lu ◽  
SM Xu ◽  
J Meneses ◽  
K Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Globin Genes ◽  
Human Homologue ◽  
Alpha Thalassemia ◽  
Alpha Globin ◽  
Hemoglobin H Disease

We have disrupted the 5′ locus of the duplicated adult alpha-globin genes by gene targeting in the mouse embryonic stem cells and created mice with alpha-thalassemia syndromes. The heterozygous knockout mice (.alpha/alpha alpha) are asymptomatic like the silent carriers in humans whereas the homozygous knockout mice (.alpha/.alpha) show hemolytic anemia. Mice with three dysfunctional alpha-globin genes generated by breeding the 5′ alpha-globin knockouts (.alpha/alpha alpha) and the deletion type alpha-thalassemia mice (../alpha alpha) produce severe hemoglobin H disease and they die in utero. These results indicate that the 5′ alpha-globin gene is the predominant locus in mice, and suggest that it is even more dominant than its human homologue.

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