Biology subjects

Böttger, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Böttger, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Differential gene regulation in DAPT-treated Hydra reveals molecular pathways dependent on Notch signalling during interstitial cell differentiation and formation of the oral-aboral axis in Hydra.

The Notch pathway is highly conserved and essential for animal development. We investigated the function of Notch-signalling in Hydra by using the presenilin inhibitor DAPT, which efficiently blocks propagation of Notch-signals. In Hydra, DAPT treatment prevents differentiation of proliferating nematocyte progenitor cells into mature nematocytes. Moreover, it causes defects in the Hydra head by compromising the head organizer. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms by which the Notch pathway regulates these processes we performed RNAseq to identify genes that are differentially regulated in response to 48 hours of DAPT-exposure. This revealed downregulation of 624 genes and upregulation of 207 genes. To identify candidate direct regulators of Notch-signalling, we also profiled gene expression changes that occur during restoration of Notch-activity 3 and 6 hours after DAPT-removal. We then analysed gene expression patterns of these Notch-responsive genes in untreated animals by interrogating the available single cell sequencing data set for untreated animals and found that almost half of the Notch responsive genes were specifically expressed in nematocytes and nematocyte progenitors. This confirms the critical role for Notch-signalling in nematocyte development. Promoter analyses and gene expression profiling after DAPT-removal suggested an indirect role for Notch in regulating a POU-transcription factor, which is critical for nematogenesis. In support of a role for Notch-signalling in head organizer formation, we identified several head organizer genes in the Notch regulated gene data set, including Cngsc, a homologue of goosecoid, a gene associated with the Spemann organizer, and the Wnt pathway genes Sp5, Tcf and Wnt-7. Finally, the expression levels of the tentacle patterning genes HyAlx and Sp5 rapidly recovered after DAPT removal. Given that these genes possess Notch-responsive RBPJ transcription factor binding sites in their regulatory regions, these genes are likely directly targeted by Notch signalling. In summary, our data provide a comprehensive picture of the molecular pathways regulated by Notch signalling in interstitial cell differentiation and formation of the oral-aboral axis in Hydra.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Iron can be microbially extracted from Lunar and Martian regolith simulants and 3D printed into tough structural materials

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is increasingly acknowledged as an essential requirement for the construction of sustainable extra-terrestrial colonies. Even with decreasing launch costs, the ultimate goal of establishing colonies must be the usage of resources found at the destination of interest. Typical approaches towards ISRU are often constrained by the mass and energy requirements of transporting processing machineries, such as rovers and massive reactors, and the vast amount of consumables needed. Application of self-reproducing bacteria for the extraction of resources is a promising approach to avoid these pitfalls. In this work, the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis was used to reduce three different types of Lunar and Martian regolith simulants, allowing for the magnetic extraction of iron-rich materials. The quantity of bacterially extracted material was up to 5.8 times higher and the total iron concentration was up to 43.6% higher in comparison to untreated material. The materials were 3D printed into cylinders and the mechanical properties were tested, resulting in a 396 {+/-} 115% improvement in compressive strength in the bacterially treated samples. This work demonstrates a proof of concept for the on-demand production of construction and replacement parts in space exploration.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Hydra Bcl-2 and TMBIMP family proteins display anti-apoptotic functions

BackgroundMechanisms of programmed cell death differ considerably between animals, plants and fungi. In animals they depend on caspases and Bcl-2 family proteins and this kind of cell death is called apoptosis. Most gene families encoding proteins involved in apoptosis are found in multicellular animals already in the eldest phyla but their functional conservation is still being studied. Much older protein families have cytoprotective functions across all kingdoms of life. This includes the TMBIMP-family, the presence and function of which in early metazoans has not been investigated yet.\n\nMethodsWe quantified apoptosis in transgenic Hydra overexpressing HyBcl-2-like 4. Moreover, we investigated putative TMBIMP-family members in Hydra by sequence comparison. By overexpression of TMBIMP-family members in Hydra and human HEK cells we analysed their subcellular localisation and in one case their capacity to protect cells from camptothecin induced apoptosis.\n\nResultsHyBcl-2-like 4, as previously shown in a heterologous system, was localised to mitochondria and able to protect Hydra epithelial cells from apoptosis. The TMBIMP-family in Hydra includes HyBax-Inhibitor-1, HyLifeguard-1a and -1b and HyLifeguard 4 proteins. HyBax-inhibitor-1 protein was found localised to ER-membranes, HyLifeguard-family members were found at the plasma membrane and in Golgi-vesicles. Moreover, HyBax-inhibitor-1 protected human cells from apoptosis.\n\nConclusionThis work provides the first functional study to support an anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-2 like proteins in pre-bilaterians within a physiological context. Furthermore it illustrates that genes that were \"inherited\" from non-animal ancestors, like the TMBIMP-family, were recruited to carry out cell protective anti-apoptotic functions already in early metazoans.

developmental biology↗