Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Drosophila and the heart--SERCA study

Abraham DM, Wolf MJ. Disruption of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase function in Drosophila leads to cardiac dysfunction. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 3;8(10):e77785. PMID: 24098595; PMCID: PMC3789689.

From the abstract:
"... we show that disruption of CaP60A in a cardiac specific manner results in cardiac dilation and dysfunction ... In addition, the co-expression of a calcium release channel mutation with CaP60A (kum170) is sufficient to rescue the cardiac phenotype but not paralysis. Finally, we show that CaP60A overexpression is able to rescue cardiac function in a model of Drosophila cardiac dysfunction similar to what is observed in mammals ..."

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Review of enhancers and "enhanceropathies" includes discussion of several fly studies

Smith E, Shilatifard A. Enhancer biology and enhanceropathies. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2014 Mar;21(3):210-9. PMID: 24599251.

Parkinson's-related PINK1 study includes mouse and fly assays

Morais VA, Haddad D, Craessaerts K, De Bock PJ, Swerts J, Vilain S, Aerts L, Overbergh L, Grünewald A, Seibler P, Klein C, Gevaert K, Verstreken P, De Strooper B. PINK1 loss-of-function mutations affect mitochondrial complex I activity via NdufA10 ubiquinone uncoupling. Science. 2014 Apr 11;344(6180):203-7. PMID: 24652937.

Editorial suggests use of Drosophila in studies related to nanotoxicology and nanomedicine

Vecchio G. A fruit fly in the nanoworld: once again Drosophila contributes to environment and human health. Nanotoxicology. 2014 Apr 28. PMID: 24766263.

From the abstract: "... The aim of this editorial is to encourage the use of Drosophila by the different research groups working in the fields of nanotoxicology and nanomedicine, in order to define the effects induced by nanomaterials at molecular level for their subsequent exploitation in the field of nanomedicine."

Review--fly neurobiology and cancer

Jiang Y, Reichert H. Drosophila neural stem cells in brain development and tumor formation. J Neurogenet. 2014 Apr 28. PMID: 24766377.

From the abstract: "Here, we review the molecular genetics of Drosophila neuroblasts and discuss some recent advances in stem cell and cancer biology using this model system."

Hedgehog signaling and cilia--fly study related to a variety of human diseases

Kuzhandaivel A, Schultz SW, Alkhori L, Alenius M. Cilia-Mediated Hedgehog Signaling in Drosophila. Cell Rep. 2014 Apr 23. pii: S2211-1247(14)00249-6. PMID: 24768000.

From the abstract: "Cilia mediate Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in vertebrates and Hh deregulation results in several clinical manifestations, such as obesity, cognitive disabilities, developmental malformations, and various cancers. ... We demonstrate that several fundamental key aspects of the vertebrate cilia pathway ... are present in Drosophila. ... our data demonstrate that Hh signaling in Drosophila can be mediated by two pathways and that the ciliary Hh pathway is conserved from Drosophila to vertebrates."

Review looks at Drososophila models of metabolism-related diseases including diabetes

Padmanabha D, Baker KD. Drosophila gains traction as a repurposed tool to investigate metabolism. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Apr 22. pii: S1043-2760(14)00058-7. PMID: 24768030.

From the abstract: "... the Drosophila system is being used to identify human disease genes and has the potential to model successfully human disorders that center on excessive caloric intake and metabolic dysfunction, including diet-induced lipotoxicity and type 2 diabetes. ..."

Review asks if Drosophila can be used as a model for study of Williams syndrome

Nikitina EA, Medvedeva AV, Zakharov GA, Savvateeva-Popova EV. Williams syndrome as a model for elucidation of the pathway genes - the brain - cognitive functions: genetics and epigenetics. Acta Naturae. 2014 Jan;6(1):9-22. PubMed PMID: 24772323.

From the abstract: "This review tackles the following problems: is it possible to develop relatively simple model systems to analyze the contribution of both a single gene and the consequences of its epigenetic regulation in the formation of the Williams syndrome's cognitive phenotype? Is it possible to use Drosophila as a simple model system?"

Monday, April 28, 2014

New review--Drosophila studies and neurodegenerative diseases

Charng WL, Yamamoto S, Bellen HJ. Shared mechanisms between Drosophila peripheral nervous system development and human neurodegenerative diseases. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2014 Apr 21;27C:158-164. PMID: 24762652.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Alzheimer's-related study in flies---A beta 42 and neuronal transmission

Lin JY, Wang WA, Zhang X, Liu HY, Zhao XL, Huang FD. Intraneuronal accumulation of Aβ42 induces age-dependent slowing of neuronal transmission in Drosophila. Neurosci Bull. 2014 Apr;30(2):185-90. PMID: 24733651.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Drosophila studies & cancer -- three new reports

Two reviews:

Markstein M. Modeling colorectal cancer as a 3-dimensional disease in a dish: the case for drug screening using organoids, zebrafish, and fruit flies. Drug Discov Today Technol. 2013  Spring;10(1):e73-81. PMID: 24050233.  
From the abstract: "This review discusses recent shifts in the understanding of colorectal cancer as a stem cell based disease ... recent advances in the culturing of colorectal stem cells using mammalian organoids, zebrafish, and Drosophila offer promising avenues for anti-CSC drug discovery."

Das TK, Cagan RL. A Drosophila approach to thyroid cancer therapeutics. Drug Discov Today Technol. 2013 Spring;10(1):e65-71. PMID: 24050232; PMCID: PMC3779345.  
From the abstract: "... In this review, we examine the contributions of work in the fruit fly Drosophila toward multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), a Ret-based disease to which recent Drosophila models have proven useful both for understanding disease mechanism as well as helping identify new generation therapeutics."

And a research resport:

Lourenço FC, Munro J, Brown J, Cordero J, Stefanatos R, Strathdee K, Orange C, Feller SM, Sansom OJ, Vidal M, Murray GI, Olson MF. Reduced LIMK2 expression in colorectal cancer reflects its role in limiting stem cell proliferation. Gut.2014 Mar;63(3):480-93. PMID: 23585469; PMCID: PMC3932979.

From the abstract: "... Genetic analysis in Drosophila midgut and intestinal epithelial cells isolated from genetically modified mice revealed a conserved role for LIMK2 in constraining gastrointestinal stem cell proliferation. ..."

Review--animal models and Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

Chartier A, Simonelig M. Animal models in therapeutic drug discovery for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Drug Discov Today Technol. 2013 Spring;10(1):e103-8. PMID: 24050237.

Fly assays included in Parkinson's related study

Martin I, Kim JW, Lee BD, Kang HC, Xu JC, Jia H, Stankowski J, Kim MS, Zhong J, Kumar M, Andrabi SA, Xiong Y, Dickson DW, Wszolek ZK, Pandey A, Dawson TM, Dawson VL. Ribosomal Protein s15 Phosphorylation Mediates LRRK2 Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease. Cell. 2014 Apr 10;157(2):472-85. PMID: 24725412.

Methods review likely helpful for designing disease-related fly heart studies

Ocorr K, Vogler G, Bodmer R. Methods to assess Drosophila heart development, function and aging. Methods. 2014 Apr 8. pii: S1046-2023(14)00133-9. PMID: 24727147.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Prion protein study includes fly assay

Robinson SW, Nugent ML, Dinsdale D, Steinert JR. Prion protein facilitates synaptic vesicle release by enhancing release probability. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Apr 9. PMID: 24722203.

Emerging Drosophila model? Aspect of fly trachael system is compared to mammalian blood vessels

Linneweber GA, Jacobson J, Busch KE, Hudry B, Christov CP, Dormann D, Yuan M, Otani T, Knust E, de Bono M, Miguel-Aliaga I. Neuronal control of metabolism through nutrient-dependent modulation of tracheal branching. Cell. 2014 Jan 16;156(1-2):69-83. PMID: 24439370; PMCID: PMC3898607.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Two reports related to neurodegenerative diseases

Hu Y, Han Y, Wang X, Xue L. Aging-related neurodegeneration eliminates male courtship choice in Drosophila. Neurobiol Aging. 2014 Mar 1. pii:S0197-4580(14)00232-2. PMID: 24684795.

Afsari F, Christensen KV, Smith GP, Hentzer M, Nippe OM, Elliott CJ, Wade AR. Abnormal visual gain control in a Parkinson's Disease model. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Apr 9. PMID: 24718285.

Synapse growth defects in acyl-CoA mutant flies--study with relevance to intellectual disability

Liu Z, Huang Y, Hu W, Huang S, Wang Q, Han J, Zhang YQ. dAcsl, the Drosophila ortholog of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 and 4, inhibits synapse growth by attenuating bone morphogenetic protein signaling via endocytic recycling. J Neurosci. 2014 Feb 19;34(8):2785-96. PMID: 24553921.

From the abstract: "... Mutations in acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), which converts long-chain fatty acids to acyl-CoAs, result in nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation. ... expression of human ACSL4 rescued the endocytic trafficking and NMJ phenotypes of dAcsl mutants. Together, our results reveal a novel mechanism whereby dAcsl facilitates Rab11-dependent receptor recycling and provide insights into the pathogenesis of ACSL4-related mental retardation."

Inducible fly model of prion disease

Murali A, Maue RA, Dolph PJ. Reversible symptoms and clearance of mutant prion protein in an inducible model of a genetic prion disease in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiol Dis. 2014 Mar 28. pii: S0969-9961(14)00074-6. PMID: 24686303.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Flavanoids and A-beta-42

Singh SK, Gaur R, Kumar A, Fatima R, Mishra L, Srikrishna S. The Flavonoid Derivative 2-(4' Benzyloxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-chromen-4-one Protects Against Aβ(42)-Induced Neurodegeneration in Transgenic Drosophila: Insights from In Silico and In Vivo Studies. Neurotox Res. 2014 Apr 5. PMID: 24706035.

Fly and human studies related to Wolfram syndrome

Jones MA, Amr S, Ferebee A, Huynh P, Rosenfeld JA, Miles MF, Davies AG, Korey CA, Warrick JM, Shiang R, Elsea SH, Girirajan S, Grotewiel M. Genetic studies in Drosophila and humans support a model for the concerted function of CISD2, PPT1 and CLN3 in disease. Biol Open. 2014 Apr 4. pii: bio.20147559v1. PMID: 24705017.

ALS-related fly study includes Drosophila assays

Alami NH, Smith RB, Carrasco MA, Williams LA, Winborn CS, Han SS, Kiskinis E, Winborn B, Freibaum BD, Kanagaraj A, Clare AJ, Badders NM, Bilican B, Chaum E, Chandran S, Shaw CE, Eggan KC, Maniatis T, Taylor JP. Axonal transport of TDP-43 mRNA granules is impaired by ALS-causing mutations. Neuron. 2014 Feb 5;81(3):536-43. PMID: 24507191; PMCID: PMC3939050.

Review of Drosophila as a model for understanding the genetics and neuropathy of intellectual disability

van der Voet M, Nijhof B, Oortveld MA, Schenck A. Drosophila models of early onset cognitive disorders and their clinical applications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Mar 21. pii: S0149-7634(14)00057-8. PMID: 24661984.

From the abstract:  "... The available resources and efficiency of Drosophila place it in a position to tackle the main challenges in the field: mapping functional modules of ID [intellectual disability] genes to provide conceptually novel insights into the genetic control of cognition, tailored functional studies to improve 'next-generation' diagnostics, and identification of reversible ID phenotypes and medication. ... In conclusion, Drosophila provides many opportunities to advance future medical genomics of early onset cognitive disorders"

Cross-species study related to Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Leitch CC, Lodh S, Prieto-Echagüe V, Badano JL, Zaghloul NA. Basal body proteins regulate Notch signaling via endosomal trafficking. J Cell Sci. 2014 Mar 28. PMID: 24681783.

Tissue remodeling & tumors--a review

Patel PH, Edgar BA. Tissue design: how Drosophila tumors remodel their neighborhood. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2014 Mar 28. PMID: 24685612.

JAK/STAT and tumors--a review

Amoyel M, Anderson AM, Bach EA. JAK/STAT pathway dysregulation in tumors: A Drosophila perspective. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2014 Mar 28. pii:S1084-9521(14)00059-7. PMID: 24685611.

Receptor tyrosine kinase fly study with "potential implications" for cancer therapeutics

Macagno JP, Diaz Vera J, Yu Y, Macpherson I, Sandilands E, Palmer R, Norman JC, Frame M, Vidal M. FAK Acts as a Suppressor of RTK-MAP Kinase Signalling in Drosophila melanogaster Epithelia and Human Cancer Cells. PLoS Genet. 2014 Mar 27;10(3):e1004262. PMID: 24676055.

From the abstract: "... the FAK-mediated negative regulation of RTK/MAPK signalling described here may have potential implications in the designing of therapy strategies for RTK-driven tumours."

Chaperone-domain protein prevents CNS toxicity in fly model of Alzheimer's Disease

Hermansson E, Schultz S, Crowther D, Linse S, Winblad B, Westermark G, Johansson J, Presto J. The chaperone domain BRICHOS prevents amyloid β-peptide CNS toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Dis Model Mech. 2014 Mar 28. PMID: 24682783.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Cholera and Notch signaling--study includes fly assays

Guichard A, Cruz-Moreno B, Aguilar B, van Sorge NM, Kuang J, Kurkciyan AA, Wang Z, Hang S, Pineton de Chambrun GP, McCole DF, Watnick P, Nizet V, Bier E. Cholera toxin disrupts barrier function by inhibiting exocyst-mediated trafficking of host proteins to intestinal cell junctions. Cell Host Microbe. 2013 Sep 11;14(3):294-305. PMID: 24034615; PMCID: PMC3786442.