Biology subjects

Greenberg, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Greenberg, D..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Knockout of the longevity gene Klotho perturbs aging- and Alzheimer's disease-linked brain microRNAs and tRNA fragments

Introductory paragraphOverexpression of the longevity gene Klotho prolongs, while its knockout shortens lifespan and impairs cognition via altered fibroblast growth factor signaling that perturbs myelination and synapse formation; however, comprehensive analysis of Klothos knockout consequences on mammalian brain transcriptomics is lacking. Here, we report the altered levels under Klotho knockout of 1059 long RNAs, 27 microRNAs (miRs) and 6 tRNA fragments (tRFs), reflecting effects upon aging and cognition. Perturbed transcripts included key neuronal and glial pathway regulators that are notably changed in murine models of aging and Alzheimers Disease (AD) and in corresponding human post-mortem brain tissue. To seek cell type distributions of the affected short RNAs, we isolated and FACS-sorted neurons and microglia from live human brain tissue, yielding detailed cell type-specific short RNA-seq datasets. Together, our findings revealed multiple Klotho deficiency-perturbed aging- and neurodegeneration-related long and short RNA transcripts in both neurons and glia from murine and human brain.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Sex-specific declines in cholinergic-targeting tRNA fragments in the nucleus accumbens in Alzheimer's disease

IntroductionFemales with Alzheimers disease (AD) suffer accelerated dementia and loss of cholinergic neurons compared to males, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Seeking causal contributors to both these phenomena, we pursued changes in tRNA fragments (tRFs) targeting cholinergic transcripts (CholinotRFs). MethodsWe analyzed small RNA-sequencing data from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) brain region which is enriched in cholinergic neurons, compared to hypothalamic or cortical tissues from AD brains; and explored small RNA expression in neuronal cell lines undergoing cholinergic differentiation. ResultsNAc CholinotRFs of mitochondrial genome origin showed reduced levels that correlated with elevations in their predicted cholinergic-associated mRNA targets. Single cell RNA seq from AD temporal cortices showed altered sex-specific levels of cholinergic transcripts in diverse cell types; inversely, human-originated neuroblastoma cells under cholinergic differentiation presented sex-specific CholinotRF elevations. DiscussionOur findings support CholinotRFs contributions to cholinergic regulation, predicting their involvement in AD sex-specific cholinergic loss and dementia.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

Systematic Analysis of Mobile Genetic Elements Mediating β-lactamase Gene Amplification in Non-Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections

Non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (non-CP-CRE) are increasingly recognized as important contributors to prevalent carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections. However, there is limited understanding of mechanisms underlying non-CP-CRE causing invasive disease. Long- and short-read whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to elucidate carbapenem non-susceptibility determinants in Enterobacterales bloodstream isolates at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. We investigated carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacterales (CNSE) mechanisms through a combination of phylogenetic analysis, antimicrobial resistant (AMR) gene detection/copy number quantification, porin assessment, and mobile genetic element (MGE) characterization. Most CNSE isolates sequenced were non-CP-CRE (41/79; 51.9%) whereas 25.3% (20/79) were carbapenem intermediate Enterobacterales (CIE) and 22.8% (18/79) were carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CPE). Statistically significant copy number variants (CNVs) of extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase (ESBL) genes (Wilcoxon Test; p-value < 0.001) were present in both non-CP-CR E. coli (median CNV = 2.6X; n= 17) and K. pneumoniae (median CNV = 3.2X, n = 17). All non-CP-CR E. coli and K. pneumoniae had predicted reduced expression of at least one outer membrane porin gene (i.e., ompC/ompF or ompK36/ompK35). Completely resolved CNSE genomes revealed that IS26 and ISEcp1 structures harboring blaCTX-M variants along with other AMR elements were the primary drivers of gene amplification, occurring in mostly IncFIB/IncFII plasmid contexts. MGE mediated {beta}-lactamase gene amplifications resulted in either tandem arrays, primarily mediated by IS26 translocatable units, or segmental duplication, typically due to ISEcp1 transposition units. Non-CP-CRE strains were the most prevalent cause of CRE bacteremia with carbapenem non-susceptibility driven by concurrent porin loss and MGE-mediated amplification of blaCTX-M genes. IMPORTANCECarbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are considered urgent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threats. The vast majority of CRE research has focused on carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CPE) even though non-carbapenemase-producing CRE (non-CP-CRE) comprise 50% or more of isolates in some surveillance studies. Thus, carbapenem resistance mechanisms in non-CP-CRE remain poorly characterized. To address this problem, we applied a combination of short- and long-read sequencing technologies to a cohort of CRE bacteremia isolates and used these data to unravel complex mobile genetic element structures mediating {beta}- lactamase gene amplification. By generating complete genomes of 65 carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacterales (CNSE) covering a genetically diverse array of isolates, our findings both generate novel insights into how non-CP-CRE overcome carbapenem treatments and provide researchers scaffolds for characterization of their own non-CP-CRE isolates. Improved recognition of mechanisms driving development of non-CP-CRE could assist with design and implementation of future strategies to mitigate the impact of these increasingly recognized AMR pathogens.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2018

A hypomorphic Stip1 allele reveals the requirement for chaperone networks in mouse development and aging

Chaperone networks are dysregulated with aging and neurodegenerative disease, but whether compromised Hsp70/Hsp90 chaperone function directly contributes to neuronal degeneration is unknown. Stress-inducible phosphoprotein-1 (STI1; STIP1; HOP) is a co-chaperone that simultaneously interacts with Hsp70 and Hsp90, but whose function in vivo remains poorly understood. To investigate the requirement of STI1-mediated regulation of the chaperone machinery in aging we combined analysis of a mouse line with a hypomorphic Stip1 allele, with a neuronal cell line lacking STI1 and in-depth analyses of chaperone genes in human datasets. Loss of STI1 function severely disturbed the Hsp70/Hsp90 machinery in vivo, and all client proteins tested and a subset of cochaperones presented decreased levels. Importantly, mice expressing a hypomorphic STI1 allele showed spontaneous age-dependent hippocampal neurodegeneration, with consequent spatial memory deficits. STI1 is a critical node for the chaperone network and it can contribute to age-dependent hippocampal neurodegeneration.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Amplification-free, CRISPR-Cas9 Targeted Enrichment and SMRT Sequencing of Repeat-Expansion Disease Causative Genomic Regions

Targeted sequencing has proven to be an economical means of obtaining sequence information for one or more defined regions of a larger genome. However, most target enrichment methods require amplification. Some genomic regions, such as those with extreme GC content and repetitive sequences, are recalcitrant to faithful amplification. Yet, many human genetic disorders are caused by repeat expansions, including difficult to sequence tandem repeats.\n\nWe have developed a novel, amplification-free enrichment technique that employs the CRISPR-Cas9 system for specific targeting multiple genomic loci. This method, in conjunction with long reads generated through Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing and unbiased coverage, enables enrichment and sequencing of complex genomic regions that cannot be investigated with other technologies. Using human genomic DNA samples, we demonstrate successful targeting of causative loci for Huntingtons disease (HTT; CAG repeat), Fragile X syndrome (FMR1; CGG repeat), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (C9orf72; GGGGCC repeat), and spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) (ATXN10; variable ATTCT repeat). The method, amenable to multiplexing across multiple genomic loci, uses an amplification-free approach that facilitates the isolation of hundreds of individual on-target molecules in a single SMRT Cell and accurate sequencing through long repeat stretches, regardless of extreme GC percent or sequence complexity content. Our novel targeted sequencing method opens new doors to genomic analyses independent of PCR amplification that will facilitate the study of repeat expansion disorders.

genomics↗