Molecular pathogenesis of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2 is an inherited axonal motor and sensory neuropathy. It is very heterogenous, both clinically and genetically. Till present, 15 types of CMT2, 14 loci and 13 genes are known to be causative of CMT2. Studying mechanisms of molecular pathogenesis is very important for finding a therapy for patients but the diversity of proteins involved in pathogenesis makes this very difficult. Proteins involved in molecular pathogenesis are e.g. proteins of the mitochondrial outer membrane with opposite functions (mitofusin 2 and GDAP1) responsible for fusion and fission of the mitochondrial network. Mutations also occur in genes encoding tRNA-synthetases, neuronal cytoskeletal protein, cation channel protein and molecular chaperones. This review presents knowledge of CMT2 and possible pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the disease.     

Effects of α-Synuclein Monomers Administration in the Gigantocellular Reticular Nucleus on Neurotransmission in Mouse Model

The aim of the study was to examine the Braak’s hypothesis to explain the spreading and distribution of the neuropathological changes observed in the course of Parkinson’s disease among ascending neuroanatomical regions. We investigated the neurotransmitter levels (monoamines and amino acid concentration) as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and transglutaminase-2 (TG2) mRNA expression in the mouse striata (ST) after intracerebral α-synuclein (ASN) administration into gigantocellular reticular nucleus (Gi). Male C57BL/10 Tar mice were used in this study. ASN was administrated by stereotactic injection into Gi area (4 μl; 1 μg/μl) and mice were decapitated after 1, 4 or 12 weeks post injection. The neurotransmitters concentration in ST were evaluated using HPLC detection. TH and TG2 mRNA expression were examined by Real-Time PCR method. At 4 and 12 weeks after ASN administration we observed decrease of DA concentration in ST relative to control groups and we found a significantly higher concentration one of the DA metabolites—DOPAC. At these time points, we also noticed the increase in DA turnover determined as DOPAC/DA ratio. Additionally, at 4 and 12 weeks after ASN injection we noted decreasing of TH mRNA expression. Our findings corresponds with the Braak’s theory about the presence of the first neuropathological changes within brainstem and then with time affecting higher neuroanatomical regions. These results obtained after administration of ASN monomers to the Gi area may be useful to explain the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.

     

Feeding preferences of an invasive Ponto‐Caspian goby for native and non‐native gammarid prey

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Identification of uric acid as the redox molecule secreted by the yeast Arxula adeninivorans

The yeast Arxula adeninivorans has been previously shown to secrete a large amount of an electro-active molecule. The molecule was produced by cells that had been cultivated in a rich medium, harvested, washed and then suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The molecule was easily detectable after 60 min of incubation in PBS, and the cells continued to produce the molecule in these conditions for up to 3 days. The peak anodic potential of the oxidation peak was 0.42 V, and it was shown to be a solution species rather than a cell-attached species. We have optimised the production of the molecule, identified it by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation and high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis and determined the pathway involved in its synthesis. It has a mass/charge ratio that corresponds to uric acid, and this identification was supported by comparing UV spectra and cyclic voltammograms of the samples to those of uric acid. An A. adeninivorans xanthine oxidase gene disruption mutant failed to produce uric acid, which added further validity to this identification. It also demonstrated that the purine catabolism pathway is involved in its production. A transgenic A. adeninivorans strain with a switchable urate oxidase gene (AUOX) accumulated uric acid when the gene was switched off but did not when the gene was switched on. Cultivation of cells on amino acid and purine-free minimal media with an inorganic nitrogen source suggests that the cells synthesise purines from inorganic nitrogen and proceed to degrade them via the normal purine degradation pathway.     

Loss of sialic acid binding domain redirects protein σ1 to enhance M cell-directed vaccination

Ovalbumin (OVA) genetically fused to protein sigma 1 (pσ1) results in tolerance to both OVA and pσ1. Pσ1 binds in a multi-step fashion, involving both protein- and carbohydrate-based receptors. To assess the relative pσ1 components responsible for inducing tolerance and the importance of its sialic binding domain (SABD) for immunization, modified OVA-pσ1, termed OVA-pσ1(short), was deleted of its SABD, but with its M cell targeting moiety intact, and was found to be immunostimulatory and enhanced CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell proliferation. When used to nasally immunize mice given with and without cholera toxin (CT) adjuvant, elevated SIgA and serum IgG responses were induced, and OVA-pσ1(s) was more efficient for immunization than native OVA+CT. The immune antibodies (Abs) were derived from elevated Ab-forming cells in the upper respiratory tissues and submaxillary glands and were supported by mixed Th cell responses. Thus, these studies show that pσ1(s) can be fused to vaccines to effectively elicit improved SIgA responses.     

A novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">TPM2</Emphasis> gene splice-site mutation causes severe congenital myopathy with arthrogryposis and dysmorphic features

To date, only two splice-site mutations within the TPM2 gene have been shown to be causative for congenital myopathies. While the majority of TPM2 gene mutations are causative for nemaline myopathy, cap disease or distal arthrogryposis, some mutations in this gene have been found to be associated with non-specific congenital myopathy. We report on a patient with such an unspecified congenital myopathy associated with distinctive facial dysmorphic features and distal arthrogryposis. Using the whole exome sequencing (WES) approach we were able to identify a novel heterozygous splice-site mutation within the TPM2 gene, showing the utility of WES in molecular diagnostics of congenital myopathies without recognizable morphological hallmarks.     

The studies of ParA and ParB dynamics reveal asymmetry of chromosome segregation in mycobacteria

Active segregation of bacterial chromosomes usually involves the action of ParB proteins, which bind in proximity of chromosomal origin (oriC) regions forming nucleoprotein complexes – segrosomes. Newly duplicated segrosomes are moved either uni‐ or bidirectionally by the action of ATPases – ParA proteins. In Mycobacterium smegmatis the oriC region is located in an off‐centred position and newly replicated segrosomes are segregated towards cell poles. The elimination of M. smegmatis ParA and/or ParB leads to chromosome segregation defects. Here, we took advantage of microfluidic time‐lapse fluorescent microscopy to address the question of ParA and ParB dynamics in M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis cells. Our results reveal that ParB complexes are segregated in an asymmetrical manner. The rapid movement of segrosomes is dependent on ParA that is transiently associated with the new pole. Remarkably in M. tuberculosis, the movement of the ParB complex is much slower than in M. smegmatis, but segregation as in M. smegmatis lasts approximately 10% of the cell cycle, which suggests a correlation between segregation dynamics and the growth rate. On the basis of our results, we propose a model for the asymmetric action of segregation machinery that reflects unequal division and growth of mycobacterial cells.     

Characteristic defects in neural crest cell-specific Galphaq/Galpha11- and Galpha12/Galpha13-deficient mice

The endothelin/endothelin receptor system plays a critical role in the differentiation and terminal migration of particular neural crest cell subpopulations. Targeted deletion of the G-protein-coupled endothelin receptors ET(A) and ET(B) was shown to result in characteristic developmental defects of derivatives of cephalic and cardiac neural crest and of neural crest-derived melanocytes and enteric neurons, respectively. Since both endothelin receptors are coupled to G-proteins of the G(q)/G(11)- and G(12)/G(13)-families, we generated mouse lines lacking Galpha(q)/Galpha(11) or Galpha(12)/Galpha(13) in neural crest cells to study their roles in neural crest development. Mice lacking Galpha(q)/Galpha(11) in a neural crest cell-specific manner had craniofacial defects similar to those observed in mice lacking the ET(A) receptor or endothelin-1 (ET-1). However, in contrast to ET-1/ET(A) mutant animals, cardiac outflow tract morphology was intact. Surprisingly, neither Galpha(q)/Galpha(11)- nor Galpha(12)/Galpha(13)-deficient mice showed developmental defects seen in animals lacking either the ET(B) receptor or its ligand endothelin-3 (ET-3). Interestingly, Galpha(12)/Galpha(13) deficiency in neural crest cell-derived cardiac cells resulted in characteristic cardiac malformations. Our data show that G(q)/G(11)- but not G(12)/G(13)-mediated signaling processes mediate ET-1/ET(A)-dependent development of the cephalic neural crest. In contrast, ET-3/ET(B)-mediated development of neural crest-derived melanocytes and enteric neurons appears to involve G-proteins different from G(q)/G(11)/G(12)/G(13).     

Comparison between the Polish population and European populations on the basis of mitochondrial morphs and haplogroups

Polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were analyzed in 152 samples from the Polish population using restriction enzymes AvaI, BamHI, HaeII, HpaI and PstI. Additionally, each sample was classified into the appropriate haplogroup. When required, appropriate fragments were sequenced to establish the exact polymorphic sites. We found one new morph for PstI and six new morphs for AvaII. Some detected morphs have previously been described as population specific morphs in different regions of the world. All polymorphisms were classified into 31 different haplotypes. 21 of them were detected in single individuals. The Polish population was compared with other populations from different regions. Moreover, we have obtained evidence for mutation hot spots in the mtDNA coding region. Our results indicate that AvaII morph and haplogroup composition of the Polish population is similar to other European populations and has a distribution typical for this part of the world. However, statistically significant differences in haplogroup composition were found between the Polish population and Italian and Finnish populations.