Biology subjects

Goland, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Goland, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Regulation of intracellular signaling and neuron function by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome proteins in patient-specific iPSC-derived neurons

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in genes encoding components of the primary cilium and characterized by hyperphagic obesity. We developed a cellular model of BBS using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs)-derived hypothalamic arcuate-like neurons. BBS mutations BBS1M390R and BBS10C91fsX95 did not affect neuron differentiation efficiency but caused morphological defects including impaired neurite outgrowth and longer primary cilia. Expression of intact BBS10 normalized cilia length. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of BBS1M390R hypothalamic neurons identified several down regulated pathways including insulin and cAMP signaling, and axon guidance. In agreement with scRNA-seq data, insulin-induced AKT phosphorylation at Thr308 was reduced in BBS1M390R and BBS10c91fsX95 human fibroblasts and iPSC-derived neurons, as well as in BBS10 knockdown iPSC-derived neurons. Overexpression of intact BBS10 fully restored insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in BBS10c91fsX95 neurons. Mutations in BBS1 and BBS10 impaired leptin-mediated p-STAT3 activation in both human primary fibroblasts and iPSC-derived hypothalamic neurons. Correction of the BBS mutation by CRISPR rescued leptin signaling. POMC expression in BBS1M390R and BBS10 C91fsX95 iPSC-derived hypothalamic neurons was downregulated, as was hypothalamic Pomc in BBS1M390R knockin (KI) mice. In the aggregate, these data provide insights into the anatomic and functional mechanisms by which components of the BBsome in CNS primary cilia mediate effects on energy homeostasis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Reading frame restoration at the EYS locus, and allele-specific chromosome removal after Cas9 cleavage in human embryos

The correction of disease-causing mutations in human embryos could reduce the burden of inherited genetic disorders in the fetus and newborn, and improve the efficiency of fertility treatments for couples with disease-causing mutations in lieu of embryo selection. Here we evaluate the repair outcomes of a Cas9-induced double-strand break (DSB) introduced on the paternal chromosome at the EYS locus, which carries a frame-shift mutation causing blindness. We show that the most common repair outcome is microhomology-mediated end joining, which occurs during the first cell cycle in the zygote, leading to embryos with non-mosaic restoration of the reading frame. However, about half of the breaks remain unrepaired, resulting in an undetectable paternal allele and, upon entry into mitosis, loss of one or both chromosomal arms. Thus, Cas9 allows for the modification of chromosomal content in human embryos in a targeted manner, which may be useful for the prevention of trisomies. HighlightsO_LICas9-mediated DSB induction and repair by end joining occurs within hours C_LIO_LIEnd joining provides an efficient way to restore reading frames without mosaicism C_LIO_LIUnrepaired DSBs persist through mitosis and result in frequent chromosome loss C_LI

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Establishing cell-intrinsic limitations in cell cycle progression controls graft growth and promotes differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells

Limitations in cell proliferation are a key barrier to reprogramming differentiated cells to pluripotent stem cells, and conversely, acquiring these limitations may be important to establish the differentiated state. The pancreas, and beta cells in particular have a low proliferative potential, which limits regeneration, but how these limitations are established is largely unknown. Understanding proliferation potential is important for the safty of cell replacement therapy with cell products made from pluripotent stem cell which have unlimited proliferative potential. Here we test a novel hypothesis, that these limitations are established through limitations in S-phase progression. We used a stem cell-based system to expose differentiating stem cells to small molecules that interfere with cell cycle progression either by inducing G1 arrest, impairing S-phase entry, or S-phase completion. Upon release from these molecules, we determined growth potential, differentiation and function of insulin-producing endocrine cells both in vitro and after grafting in vivo. We found that the combination of G1 arrest with a compromised ability to complete DNA replication promoted the differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells towards insulin-producing cells, improved the stability of the differentiated state, and protected mice from diabetes without the formation of cystic growths. Therefore, a compromised ability to enter S-phase and replicate the genome is a functionally important property of pancreatic endocrine differentiation, and can be exploited to generate insulin-producing organoids with predictable growth potential after transplantation.

cell biology↗