Article
Neurosciences
Tal Brandwine, Reut Ifrah, Tzofia Bialistoky, Rachel Zaguri, Elisheva Rhodes-Mordov, Liliana Mizrahi-Meissonnier, Dror Sharon, Vladimir L. Katanaev, Offer Gerlitz, Baruch Minke
Summary: DHDDS is a widely expressed enzyme that is highly conserved in various tissues and animal species. Using the Drosophila model, it has been shown that compromising DHDDS in developing retina can result in a unique pattern of retinal degeneration. This study suggests that DHDDS is essential for normal retinal formation.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Spectroscopy
Sherif S. Mahmoud, Eman S. Al Abrak, Eman M. Aly, Marwa A. Fouly
Summary: The study induced retinal degeneration by injecting ATP, and found that the degeneration condition led to changes in the structure of retinal proteins, significant reduction in retinal thickness, and intraretinal inflammation. Furthermore, infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence study indicated that the content of different amino acids varies with the progression of the disease.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Molly J. Kirk, Brittany R. Benlian, Yifu Han, Arya Gold, Ashvin Ravi, Parker E. Deal, Rosana S. Molina, Mikhail Drobizhev, Dion Dickman, Kristin Scott, Evan W. Miller
Summary: This study successfully combines a chemically-synthesized, voltage-sensitive fluorophore with a genetically encoded, self-labeling enzyme to enable voltage imaging in Drosophila melanogaster. Through in vivo experiments in intact fly brains, selective neuron labeling was achieved, validating the voltage sensitivity of RhoVR-Halo in fly tissue.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Gwenaelle Gavory, Caroline Baril, Gino Laberge, Gawa Bidla, Surapong Koonpaew, Thomas Sonea, Guy Sauvageau, Marc Therrien
Summary: The study identified modifiers of the NUP98-HOXA9 oncoprotein through a genetic screen in Drosophila, revealing its impact on cell fate transdetermination and implicating multiple intracellular events. This network of genes connected to NUP98-HOXA9 not only enhances understanding of its mechanism of action but also suggests potential therapeutic targets.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tiffany Ou, Gary Huang, Beth Wilson, Paul Gontarz, James B. Skeath, Aaron N. Johnson
Summary: This study investigates the mechanisms that determine the final topology of skeletal muscles and explores pathways involved in muscle morphogenesis. Through a recent EMS-based forward genetic screen, numerous loci not previously associated with muscle morphogenesis were identified, demonstrating the depth and precision in uncovering myogenic genes.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gerard Terradas, Jared B. Bennett, Zhiqian Li, John M. Marshall, Ethan Bier
Summary: CRISPR-based gene drives can be composed of a single cassette or separate elements, offering different control options. In this study, the authors compare the performance of genetically transformed full and split drives, and find that the full drive initially exhibits slower kinetics but eventually catches up to the split drive. These unexpected kinetics are likely due to transient fitness costs associated with individuals inheriting Cas9 and gRNA transgenes during the drive process.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Marcus T. Glittenberg, Ilias Kounatidis, Magda Atilano, Petros Ligoxygakis
Summary: Candida infections are being neglected in global public health, and there's a lack of new anti-fungal drugs. Genetic screening of Drosophila genes with human homologues reveals several genes that are crucial for host survival after Candida albicans infection.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Mohamad Ayajuddin, Rahul Chaurasia, Abhik Das, Priyanka Modi, Limamanen Phom, Zevelou Koza, Sarat Chandra Yenisetti
Summary: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Using a fly model, our laboratory has shown that there is a reduction in fluorescence intensity of secondary antibodies targeting tyrosine hydroxylase, indicating a decrease in dopamine synthesis and dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons. This quantification method of fluorescence intensity can be a sensitive and cost-effective approach for studying neurodegenerative diseases.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Navdeep Gogna, Sonia Weatherly, Fuxin Zhao, Gayle B. Collin, Jai Pinkney, Lisa Stone, Juergen K. Naggert, Gregory W. Carter, Patsy M. Nishina
Summary: This study investigates the independent and interactive contribution of Adipor1 and Mfrp genes to eye disease characteristics. The results show that Adipor1 and Mfrp interact to affect spotting and photoreceptor degeneration, but act independently to control axial length. Further examination of the molecular basis of this interaction may help in uncovering mechanisms by which these genes perturb ocular homeostasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Julien Roy Ishibashi, Riya Keshri, Tommy Henry Taslim, Daniel Kennedy Brewer, Tung Ching Chan, Scott Lyons, Anika Marie McManamen, Ashley Chen, Debra Del Castillo, Hannele Ruohola-Baker
Summary: This study utilized a genetically tractable model for stem cell survival in Drosophila gonads to identify small molecule drug candidates that may sensitize cancer stem cells to apoptosis, uncovering the NF-kappa B pathway as essential in GSC quiescence and viability. The study highlights the potential of the Drosophila stem cell niche as a model system for targeted drug discovery.
Review
Ophthalmology
Malena Daich Varela, Tassos Georgiadis, Michel Michaelides
Summary: Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) have been a significant area of gene therapy development in the past decade, with over 40 clinical trials completed or ongoing. Recently, there has been progress in targeting autosomal dominant diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, using novel therapeutic approaches like antisense oligonucleotide therapy. Autosomal dominant IRDs are less common but tend to have milder symptoms and later onset compared to autosomal recessive diseases. Various strategies, including zinc fingers, RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotides, translational read-through therapy, and gene editing, are currently being investigated for their potential in treating IRDs.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Midori Ideyama, Yuki Muraoka, Kentaro Kawai, Masaharu Ishikura, Shin Kadomoto, Naomi Nishigori, Takanori Kameda, Kenji Ishihara, Manabu Miyata, Masahiro Miyake, Tomoaki Murakami, Sotaro Ooto, Akitaka Tsujikawa
Summary: This study included 97 patients with unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and investigated pigmentary lesion (PL) characteristics around the sites of original tears. The results suggest that PL may be a risk factor for RRD, developing alongside or separately from lattice degeneration (LD).
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elodie Martin, Raheleh Heidari, Veronique Monnier, Herve Tricoire
Summary: Study found that partial nej/dCBP depletion in adult Drosophila glial cells can protect against mutant huntingtin-induced pathology, leading to increased lifespan and restored locomotor activity. This discovery reveals a contrasting impact of HD pathology in glial cells compared to neurons, suggesting that combinatorial approaches combined with specific tissue targeting may be key to identifying effective therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medical Informatics
Carol Y. Cheung, An Ran Ran, Shujun Wang, Victor T. T. Chan, Kaiser Sham, Saima Hilal, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, Ching-Yu Cheng, Charumathi Sabanayagam, Yih Chung Tham, Leopold Schmetterer, Gareth J. McKay, Michael A. Williams, Adrian Wong, Lisa W. C. Au, Zhihui Lu, Jason C. Yam, Clement C. Tham, John J. Chen, Oana M. Dumitrascu, Pheng-Ann Heng, Timothy C. Y. Kwok, Vincent C. T. Mok, Dan Milea, Christopher Li-Hsian Chen, Tien Yin Wong
Summary: A deep learning algorithm utilizing retinal photographs shows good accuracy in detecting Alzheimer's disease, providing potential for screening the disease in a community setting.
LANCET DIGITAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangjun She, Yifan Zhou, Zhi Liang, Jin Wei, Bintao Xie, Yun Zhang, Lijun Shen
Summary: This study investigated the altered metabolic pathways and physiological changes after retinal detachment and identified key changes, such as alterations in histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism, decreased antioxidant capacity, and reduced levels of the neurotransmitter tyrosine.
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Xu, Tao Wang
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ying Kuo, Huanwei Huang, Tao Cai, Tao Wang
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2015)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ying Xu, Futing An, Jolanta A. Borycz, Janusz Borycz, Ian A. Meinertzhagen, Tao Wang
Article
Cell Biology
Na Zhuang, Lin Li, She Chen, Tao Wang
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2016)
Article
Cell Biology
Suxia Ren, Zengyi Huang, Yuqiang Jiang, Tao Wang
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Cell Biology
Haifang Zhao, Jing Wang, Tao Wang
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kai Wu, Jia Liu, Na Zhuang, Tao Wang
Article
Cell Biology
Ying Xu, Tao Wang
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liangyao Xiong, Lin Zhang, Yeming Yang, Na Li, Wenjia Lai, Fengchao Wang, Xianjun Zhu, Tao Wang
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Haifang Zhao, Tao Wang
Article
Cell Biology
Yongchao Han, Na Zhuang, Tao Wang
Summary: The maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis requires PINK1-dependent mitophagy, and its loss can lead to growth defects and metabolic abnormalities. PTEN mutations can impair systemic growth by reducing PINK1 expression, resembling wasting syndrome in cancer patients. PINK1 plays a crucial role in regulating systemic growth and metabolic processes under the context of PTEN mutations.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jun Xie, Yongchao Han, Tao Wang
Summary: The scaffold protein RACK1 plays a crucial role in polyglutamine diseases by promoting POE-dependent degradation of ERK to alleviate cell death, suggesting RACK1/POE/ERK pathway as potential therapeutic targets for treating polyglutamine diseases.
Article
Biology
Yongchao Han, Lei Peng, Tao Wang, P. Robin Hiesinger
Summary: Neurotransmitters are crucial for synaptic transmission and are generated by de novo synthesis. In this study, a specific histidine transporter, TADR, was identified to play a critical role in visual transmission in Drosophila. These findings provide genetic evidence that TADR-dependent local de novo synthesis of histamine is necessary for synaptic transmission.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jaiwei Xu, Haifang Zhao, Tao Wang
