Adenosine induces growth-cone turning of sensory neurons

The formation of appropriate connections between neurons and their specific targets is an essential step during development and repair of the nervous system. Growth cones are located at the leading edges of the growing neurites and respond to environmental cues in order to be guided to their final targets. Directional information can be coded by concentration gradients of substrate-bound or diffusible-guidance molecules. Here we show that concentration gradients of adenosine stimulate growth cones of sensory neurons (dorsal root ganglia) from chicken embryos to turn towards the adenosine source. This response is mediated by adenosine receptors. The subsequent signal transduction process involves cAMP. It may be speculated that the in vivo function of this response is concerned with the formation or the repair and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system

tom-1, a novel v-Myb target gene expressed in AMV- and E26-transformed myelomonocytic cells.

The retroviral oncogene v-myb is a mutated and truncated version of the c-myb proto-oncogene and encodes a transcription factor (v-Myb) that specifically transforms myelomonocytic cells. Two different variants of v-myb, transduced independently by the oncogenic chicken retroviruses AMV and E26, have been characterized. It is believed that both variants of v-Myb transform myelomonocytic cells by affecting the expression of specific genes; however, no target genes common to both oncogenic viruses have been identified. Here, we describe the identification of a novel v-Myb target gene, designated as tom-1 (target of myb 1). The tom-1 gene has two promoters, one of which is Myb-inducible. tom-1 is expressed at elevated levels in AMV-transformed as well as in E26-transformed myeloid cells. We show that tom-1 activation by v-Myb does not require de novo protein synthesis and that the Myb-inducible tom-1 promoter contains a functional Myb binding site. Thus, tom-1 is the first example of a direct target gene for both oncogenic forms of the v-myb gene. Further analysis of the Myb-inducible tom-1 promoter shows that a C/EBP binding site is juxtaposed to the Myb binding site and that C/EBP is required for the Myb-dependent activation of the promoter. Together with previous work our results suggest that C/EBP may be a general cooperation partner for v-Myb in myelomonocytic cells

Ythdf is a N6-methyladenosine reader that modulates Fmr1 target mRNA selection and restricts axonal growth in Drosophila

Contains fulltext : 230120.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)29 januari 202

Biallelic variants in NSUN6 cause an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder.

5-methylcytosine RNA modifications are driven by NSUN methyltransferases. Although variants in NSUN2 and NSUN3 were associated with neurodevelopmental diseases, the physiological role of NSUN6 modifications on transfer RNAs and messenger RNAs remained elusive. We combined exome sequencing of consanguineous families with functional characterization to identify a new neurodevelopmental disorder gene. We identified 3 unrelated consanguineous families with deleterious homozygous variants in NSUN6. Two of these variants are predicted to be loss-of-function. One maps to the first exon and is predicted to lead to the absence of NSUN6 via nonsense-mediated decay, whereas we showed that the other maps to the last exon and encodes a protein that does not fold correctly. Likewise, we demonstrated that the missense variant identified in the third family has lost its enzymatic activity and is unable to bind the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine. The affected individuals present with developmental delay, intellectual disability, motor delay, and behavioral anomalies. Homozygous ablation of the NSUN6 ortholog in Drosophila led to locomotion and learning impairment. Our data provide evidence that biallelic pathogenic variants in NSUN6 cause one form of autosomal recessive intellectual disability, establishing another link between RNA modification and cognition

Mechanisms of targeting the MDM2-p53-FOXM1 axis in well-differentiated intestinal neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The tumor suppressor p53 is rarely mutated in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) but they frequently show a strong expression of p53 negative regulators, rendering these tumors excellent targets for a p53 recovery therapy. Therefore, we analyzed the mechanisms of a p53 recovery therapy on intestinal neuroendocrine tumors in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: By western blot and immunohistochemistry, we found that in GEP-NEN biopsy material overexpression of MDM2 was present in intestinal NEN. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of a small-molecule inhibitor, nutlin-3a, in p53 wild type and mutant GEP-NEN cell lines by proliferation assay, flow cytometry, immune fluorescence, western blot and multiplex gene expression analysis. Finally, we analyzed the anti-tumor effect of nutlin-3a in a xenograft mouse model in vivo. During the study, the tumor volume was determined. RESULTS: The midgut wild type cell line KRJ-I responded to the treatment with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. By gene expression analysis, we could demonstrate that nutlins re-activated an anti-proliferative p53 response. KRJ-I-derived xenograft tumors showed a significantly decrease tumor growth upon treatment with nutlin-3a in vivo. Furthermore, our data suggest that MDM2 also influences the expression of the oncogene FOXM1 in a p53-independent manner. Subsequently, a combined treatment of nutlin-3a and cisplatin (as chemoresistance model) resulted in synergistically enhanced anti-proliferative effects. CONCLUSION: In summary, MDM2 overexpression is a frequent event in p53 wild type intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms and therefore recovery of a p53 response might be a novel personalized treatment approach in these tumors

Ythdf is a N6-methyladenosine reader that modulates Fmr1 target mRNA selection and restricts axonal growth in Drosophila.

N6-methyladenosine (m <sup>6</sup> A) regulates a variety of physiological processes through modulation of RNA metabolism. This modification is particularly enriched in the nervous system of several species, and its dysregulation has been associated with neurodevelopmental defects and neural dysfunctions. In Drosophila, loss of m <sup>6</sup> A alters fly behavior, albeit the underlying molecular mechanism and the role of m <sup>6</sup> A during nervous system development have remained elusive. Here we find that impairment of the m <sup>6</sup> A pathway leads to axonal overgrowth and misguidance at larval neuromuscular junctions as well as in the adult mushroom bodies. We identify Ythdf as the main m <sup>6</sup> A reader in the nervous system, being required to limit axonal growth. Mechanistically, we show that the m <sup>6</sup> A reader Ythdf directly interacts with Fmr1, the fly homolog of Fragile X mental retardation RNA binding protein (FMRP), to inhibit the translation of key transcripts involved in axonal growth regulation. Altogether, this study demonstrates that the m <sup>6</sup> A pathway controls development of the nervous system and modulates Fmr1 target transcript selection

Supplementary Material for: Mechanisms of Targeting the MDM2-p53-FOXM1 Axis in Well-Differentiated Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors

<p><b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The tumor suppressor p53 is rarely mutated in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) but they frequently show a strong expression of negative regulators of p53, rendering these tumors excellent targets for a p53 recovery therapy. Therefore, we analyzed the mechanisms of a p53 recovery therapy on intestinal neuroendocrine tumors in vitro and in vivo<i>.</i><b><i>Methods:</i></b> By Western blot and immunohistochemistry, we found that in GEP-NEN biopsy material overexpression of MDM2 was present in intestinal NEN. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of a small-molecule inhibitor, nutlin-3a, in p53 wild-type and mutant GEP-NEN cell lines by proliferation assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and by multiplex gene expression analysis. Finally, we analyzed the antitumor effect of nutlin-3a in a xenograft mouse model in vivo. During the study, the tumor volume was determined. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The midgut wild-type cell line KRJ-I responded to the treatment with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. By gene expression analysis, we could demonstrate that nutlins reactivated an antiproliferative p53 response. KRJ-I-derived xenograft tumors showed a significantly decreased tumor growth upon treatment with nutlin-3a in vivo. Furthermore, our data suggest that MDM2 also influences the expression of the oncogene FOXM1 in a p53-independent manner. Subsequently, a combined treatment of nutlin-3a and cisplatin (as chemoresistance model) resulted in synergistically enhanced antiproliferative effects. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In summary, MDM2 overexpression is a frequent event in p53 wild-type intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms and therefore recovery of a p53 response might be a novel personalized treatment approach in these tumors.</p