Project description:Recent work has bolstered the possibility that peripheral changes may be relevant to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis in the brain. While age-associated blood-borne proteins have been targeted to restore function to the aged brain, it remains unclear whether other dysfunctional systemic states can be exploited for similar benefits. Here we investigate whether APOE allelic variation or presence of brain amyloid are associated with plasma proteomic changes and the molecular processes associated with these changes. Using the SOMAscan assay, we measured 1,305 plasma proteins from 53 homozygous, APOE3 and APOE4 subjects without dementia. We investigated the relationship of either the APOE-ε4 allele or amyloid positivity with plasma proteome changes by linear mixed effects modeling and ontology-based pathway and module trait correlation analyses. APOE4 is associated with plasma protein differences linked to atherosclerosis, tyrosine kinase activity, cholesterol transport, extracellular matrix, and synaptogenesis pathways. Independent of APOE4, we found that subjects likely harboring brain amyloid exhibit plasma proteome signatures associated with AD-linked pathways, including neurovascular dysfunction. Our results indicate that APOE4 status or presence of brain amyloid are associated with plasma proteomic shifts prior to the onset of symptoms, suggesting that systemic pathways in certain risk contexts may be plausible targets for disease modification.
Project description:Using 2 male and 2 female zebrafish (pool of 6) brain samples, we generated base-resolution DNA methylation maps to document sex-specific epigenetic differences. Here we generated single-nucleotide resoultion DNA methylation map of 4 zebrafish brain samples using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS)
Project description:Purpose: Identify zebrafish control and csf1r-mutant brain transcriptomes Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on whole brain of control (3x), csf1ra-/- microglia (3x) and csf1ra-/-;b+/- microglia (3x) and csf1ra-/-;b-/- zebrafish. 10-20 million reads per sample were obtained. Reads were mapped to zebrafish genome GRC10. Results: We identified that microglia gene expression was reduced in csf1ra-/-;b+/- and csf1ra-/-;b-/;- mutant transcriptomes.
Project description:The proteome of human brain synapses is highly complex and mutated in over 130 diseases. This complexity arose from two whole genome duplications early in the vertebrate lineage. Zebrafish are used in modelling human diseases, however its synapse proteome is uncharacterised and whether the teleost-specific genome duplication (TSGD) influenced complexity is unknown. We report the first characterisation of the proteomes and ultrastructure of central synapses in zebrafish and analyse the importance of the TSGD. The TSGD increased overall synapse proteome complexity. The Post Synaptic Density (PSD) proteome of zebrafish had lower complexity than mammals and a highly conserved set of ~1000 proteins is shared across vertebrates. PSD ultrastructural features were also conserved. Lineage-specific proteome differences indicate vertebrate species evolved distinct synapse types and functions. The datasets are a resource for a wide range of studies and have important implications for the use of zebrafish in modelling human synaptic diseases.
Project description:We applied zebrafish whole genome microarrays to identify molecular effects of suvorexant, imipramine and a orexin antagonist from natural plant. Behavioral assays were performed to analyze for correlations between altered gene expression with effects on the organism level. Central nervous system drug induced gene expression in larval zebrafish brain was measured at 3 hours after exposure of 1uM suvorexant, 1uM imipramine, 10uM 8beta-(4'-Hydroxytigloyloxy) costunolide or 100uM 8beta-(4'-Hydroxytigloyloxy) costunolide. Three independent experiments were performed.Gene expression profile of brain tissue of 10uM 8beta-(4'-Hydroxytigloyloxy) costunolide treated larva showed closest similarity with suvorexant, as assumed by behavior profile.
Project description:Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that is often detected in the tissues of fish-eating species. It has been well established that prenatal exposure to MeHg can lead to widespread brain damage and impaired neurological development resulting in defects ranging from severe cerebral palsy and cognitive deficits to impaired motor and sensory function. A wide range of environmental toxicants have been shown to induce transgenerational inheritance of diseases via changes in DNA methylation—a well-known epigenetic modification. Our previous research has demonstrated that developmental MeHg exposure may yield transgenerational inheritance of neurological dysfunction in adult F3-lineage zebrafish via quantitative neurobehavioral assays that evaluated the visual startle response, retinal electrophysiology, and locomotor function. The objective of the current study was to examine the correlation between neurobehavioral phenotypes and the transcriptome activity in the brain and retina of F3 zebrafish by RNA sequencing (RNAseq). Transcriptomic analyses of F3 generation MeHg-treated zebrafish (compared to control) revealed significant gene dysregulation in both the brain and retina. There were 1648 and 138 differentially expressed genes in the retina and brain, respectively (FDR <0.05). Thirty-five genes were commonly dysregulated in both organs. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed significantly enriched pathways including: neurodevelopment, visual functions, phototransduction, and motor movement. Moreover, commonly dysregulated genes were associated with circadian rhythm and metabolic pathways, as well as arginine and proline metabolism. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a transgenerational transcriptome induced by ancestral developmental exposure to MeHg in any species. If the transgenerational phenotypes, transcriptome, homologous biomarkers, or similar molecular pathways hold true for human populations, our findings have significant impact on global public health in terms of identifying the susceptible populations using biomarkers and preventing transgenerational inheritance of MeHg-induced neurobehavioral deficits.
Project description:Characterization of proteome changes to zebrafish and fathead minnow following exposure to the Anatoxin-a surrogate anatoxin-fumerate.
Project description:The brain plasma membrane proteome represents the major subsets of signaling proteins and promising drug targets though often understudied due to traditional experimental difficulties. Here we report a comprehensive dataset of the proteins identified in the highly enriched plasma membrane of zebrafish brain by applying multidimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem-mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A total number of 108767 peptide groups were identified resulting in 9201 proteins. These included brain receptors, transporters and channels that are important elements linked to brain functions, diseases and drug discovery.