Project description:GM1 gangliosidosis is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in theGLB1gene, which encodes lysosomalb-galactosidase. The enzyme deficiency blocks GM1 ganglioside catabolism, leading to accumulation of GM1 ganglioside and asialo-GM1 ganglioside (GA1 glycolipid) in brain. This disease can present in varying degrees of severity, with the level of residualb-galactosidase activity primarily determining the clinical course.Glb1null mouse models, which completely lackb-galactosidase expression, exhibit a less severe form of the disease than expected from the comparable deficiency in humans, suggesting a potential species difference in the GM1 ganglioside degradation pathway. We hypothesized this difference may involve the sialidase NEU3, which acts on GM1 ganglioside to produce GA1 glycolipid. To test this hypothesis, we generatedGlb1/Neu3double knockout (DKO) mice. These mice had a significantly shorter lifespan, increased neurodegeneration, and more severe ataxia thanGlb1KO mice.Glb1/Neu3DKO mouse brains exhibited an increased GM1 ganglioside to GA1 glycolipid ratio compared withGlb1KO mice, indicating that Neu3 mediated GM1 ganglioside to GA1 glycolipid conversion inGlb1KO mice. The expression of genes associated with neuroinflammation and glial responses were enhanced inGlb1/Neu3DKO mice compared withGlb1KO mice. Mouse Neu3 more efficiently converted GM1 ganglioside to GA1 glycolipid than human NEU3 did. Our findings highlight Neu3’s role in ameliorating the consequences ofGlb1deletion in mice, provide insights into NEU3’s differential effects between mice and humans in GM1 gangliosidosis, and offer a potential therapeutic approach for reducing toxic GM1 ganglioside accumulation in GM1 gangliosidosis patients.
Project description:The draft nuclear genomes of Diplodia sapinea, Ceratocystis moniliformis s. str., and C. manginecans are presented. Diplodia sapinea is an important shoot-blight and canker pathogen of Pinus spp., C. moniliformis is a saprobe associated with wounds on a wide range of woody angiosperms and C. manginecans is a serious wilt pathogen of mango and Acacia mangium. The genome size of D. sapinea is estimated at 36.97 Mb and contains 13 020 predicted genes. Ceratocystis moniliformis includes 25.43 Mb and is predicted to encode at least 6 832 genes. This is smaller than that reported for the mango wilt pathogen C. manginecans which is 31.71 Mb and is predicted to encode at least 7 494 genes. The latter is thus more similar to C. fimbriata s.str., the type species of the genus. The genome sequences presented here provide an important resource to resolve issues pertaining to the taxonomy, biology and evolution of these fungi.
