Biology subjects

Walker, A. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Walker, A. K..

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2019

WormCat: an online tool for annotation and visualization of Caenorhabditis elegans genome-scale data

The emergence of large gene expression datasets has revealed the need for improved tools to identify enriched gene categories and visualize enrichment patterns. While Gene Ontogeny (GO) provides a valuable tool for gene set enrichment analysis, it has several limitations. First, it is difficult to graphically compare multiple GO analyses. Second, genes from some model systems are not well represented. For example, around 30% of Caenorhabditis elegans genes are missing from analysis in commonly used databases. To allow categorization and visualization of enriched C. elegans gene sets in different types of genome-scale data, we developed WormCat, a web-based tool that uses a near-complete annotation of the C. elegans genome to identify co-expressed gene sets and scaled heat map for enrichment visualization. We tested the performance of WormCat using a variety of published transcriptomic datasets and show that it reproduces major categories identified by GO. Importantly, we also found previously unidentified categories that are informative for interpreting phenotypes or predicting biological function. For example, we analyzed published RNA-seq data from C. elegans treated with combinations of lifespan-extending drugs where one combination paradoxically shortened lifespan. Using WormCat, we identified sterol metabolism as a category that was not enriched in the single or double combinations but emerged in a triple combination along with the lifespan shortening. Thus, WormCat identified a gene set with potential phenotypic relevance that was not uncovered with previous GO analysis. In conclusion, WormCat provides a powerful tool for the analysis and visualization of gene set enrichment in different types of C. elegans datasets.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2019

PrimPol-dependent single-stranded gap formation mediates homologous recombination at bulky DNA adducts

Obstacles on the DNA template can lead to DNA replication fork stalling and genomic rearrangements. RAD51-mediated homologous recombination (HR) can promote restart and repair of stalled forks, but also post-replicative repair once the obstacle has been bypassed. Bulky DNA adducts are important replication-blocking lesions induced by environmental carcinogens, but it is not known whether they activate HR directly at stalled forks, or at gaps left behind ongoing forks. Here we show that in mammalian cells, bulky adducts predominantly induce HR at post-replicative gaps formed by the DNA/RNA primase PrimPol. Using BPDE and other bulky model lesions, we report that RAD51 is not recruited to stalled or collapsed forks, but instead to long gaps formed by PrimPol re-priming activity and resection by MRE11 and EXO1. In contrast, RAD51 loading at DSBs does not require PrimPol. At bulky adducts, PrimPol is required for the induction of sister chromatid exchanges and genetic recombination. Our data support that HR at bulky adducts in mammalian cells involves post-replicative gap repair and define a role for PrimPol in DNA damage tolerance by homologous recombination.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease commonly treated with riluzole, a small molecule that may act via modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, riluzole only modestly extends lifespan for people living with ALS and its precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. Most ALS cases are characterised by accumulation of cytoplasmic TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), and understanding the effects of riluzole in models that closely recapitulate TDP-43 pathology may provide insights for development of improved therapeutics. We therefore investigated the effects of riluzole in transgenic mice that inducibly express nuclear localisation sequence (NLS)-deficient human TDP-43 in neurons (NEFH-tTA/tetO-hTDP-43{Delta}NLS, rNLS, mice). Riluzole treatment from the first day of hTDP-43{Delta}NLS expression did not alter disease onset, weight loss or performance on multiple motor behavioural tasks. Riluzole treatment also did not alter TDP-43 protein levels, solubility or phosphorylation. Although we identified a significant decrease in GluA2 and GluA3 proteins in the cortex of rNLS mice, riluzole did not ameliorate this disease-associated molecular phenotype. Likewise, riluzole did not alter the disease-associated atrophy of hindlimb muscle in rNLS mice. Finally, riluzole treatment beginning after disease onset in rNLS mice similarly had no effect on progression of late-stage disease or animal survival. Together, we demonstrate specific glutamatergic receptor alterations and muscle fibre-type changes reminiscent of ALS in rNLS mice, but riluzole had no effect on these or any other disease phenotypes. Future targeting of pathways directly related to accumulation of TDP-43 pathology may be needed to develop better treatments for ALS. Significance StatementAccumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 protein is the hallmark pathology of ALS. Riluzole is the most widely used drug for ALS treatment, but provides only a short extension of lifespan. We demonstrate here in the rNLS mouse model, which mimics TDP-43 pathology, that riluzole does not ameliorate progressive alterations in motor strength and coordination, muscle atrophy, glutamate receptor levels, or TDP-43 protein levels and solubility, and does not prolong animal survival. Riluzole similarly did not affect decreased levels of glutamate receptor subunits GluA2/GluA3 in rNLS mice. The inability of riluzole to rescue pathological or phenotypic changes in this TDP-43 model provides further impetus for the discovery of improved therapies targeting the key drivers of ALS pathogenesis.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

The deSUMOylase SENP2 coordinates homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining by independent mechanisms.

SUMOylation in the DNA double-strand break (DSB) response regulates recruitment, activity and clearance of repair factors. However, our understanding of a role for deSUMOylation in this process is limited. Here we identify different mechanistic roles for deSUMOylation in homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous enjoining (NHEJ) through the investigation of the deSUMOylase SENP2. We find regulated deSUMOylation of MDC1 prevents excessive SUMOylation and its RNF4-VCP mediated clearance from DSBs, thereby promoting NHEJ. In contrast we show HR is differentially sensitive to SUMO availability and SENP2 activity is needed to provide SUMO. SENP2 is amplified as part of the chromosome 3q amplification in many cancers. Increased SENP2 expression prolongs MDC1 foci retention and increases NHEJ and radioresistance. Collectively our data reveal that deSUMOylation differentially primes cells for responding to DSBs and demonstrates the ability of SENP2 to tune DSB repair responses.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Stress-responsive and metabolic gene regulation are altered in low S-adenosylmethionine

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is the methyl donor that modifies proteins such as histones, nucleic acids and produces phosphatidylcholine. Thus variations in SAM levels could affect processes from lipogenesis to epigenetic gene regulation. SAM is hypothesized to link metabolism and chromatin modification, however, its role in acute gene regulation is poorly understood. We recently found that Caenorhabditis elegans with reduced SAM had deficiencies in bacterial-induced H3K4 trimethylation at selected pathogen-response genes, decreasing their expression and limiting survival on the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This led us to the hypothesis that SAM may be generally required stress-responsive transcription. Here we show that C. elegans with low SAM fail to activate genome-wide transcriptional programs when exposed to bacterial or xenotoxic stress. However, heat shock responses were unaffected. We also investigated the role of two H3K4 methyltransferases that use SAM, set-2/SET1, and set-16/MLL and found that set-2/SET1 has a specific requirement in bacterial stress responses, whereas set-16/MLL was required for survival in all three stresses. These results define a role for SAM and H3K4 methyltransferases in the acute genome-wide remodeling of gene expression in response to stress. Finally, we find that the ability to modify metabolic gene expression correlates with enhanced survival in stress conditions.

molecular biology↗