Biology subjects

Vuckovic, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Vuckovic, F..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Reversal of Biological Age in Multiple Rat Organs by Young Porcine Plasma Fraction

Young blood plasma is known to confer beneficial effects on various organs in mice and rats. However, it was not known whether plasma from young pigs rejuvenates old rat tissues at the epigenetic level; whether it alters the epigenetic clock, which is a highly accurate molecular biomarker of aging. To address this question, we developed and validated six different epigenetic clocks for rat tissues that are based on DNA methylation values derived from n=613 tissue samples. As indicated by their respective names, the rat pan-tissue clock can be applied to DNA methylation profiles from all rat tissues, while the rat brain-, liver-, and blood clocks apply to the corresponding tissue types. We also developed two epigenetic clocks that apply to both human and rat tissues by adding n=1366 human tissue samples to the training data. We employed these six rat clocks to investigate the rejuvenation effects of a porcine plasma fraction treatment in different rat tissues. The treatment more than halved the epigenetic ages of blood, heart, and liver tissue. A less pronounced, but statistically significant, rejuvenation effect could be observed in the hypothalamus. The treatment was accompanied by progressive improvement in the function of these organs as ascertained through numerous biochemical/physiological biomarkers and behavioral responses to assess cognitive functions. An immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycosylation pattern shift from pro-to anti-inflammatory also indicated reversal of glycan aging. Overall, this study demonstrates that a young porcine plasma-derived treatment markedly reverses aging in rats according to epigenetic clocks, IgG glycans, and other biomarkers of aging.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Total cell N-glycosylation is altered during neuronal differentiation of iPSC to NSC and is disturbed by trisomy 21

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition caused by trisomy 21 (T21) and characterized by a range of neurological symptoms including intellectual disability, early onset of neurodegeneration and dementia, some of which can be attributed to accelerated aging. N-glycosylation is a protein modification that plays a critical role in numerous biological processes and its dysregulation is associated with a wide range of diseases, in some even before the onset of symptoms. N-glycosylation of total plasma proteins, as well as specific plasma proteins, such as immunoglobulin G, has been shown to change in DS, displaying an accelerated aging phenotype consistent with the various symptoms of premature aging that occur in DS. However, little is known about how T21 affects the N-glycosylation of other cellular proteins. To better understand how T21 affects N-glycosylation during neural differentiation, we characterized and compared the total released N-glycans of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their neural stem cell (NSC) derivatives. We analyzed six different isogenic clones all derived from a single individual with mosaic DS and thus all sharing the same genetic background; however, three had a normal disomic karyotype (D21), while the other three had an additional copy of chromosome 21 (T21). We characterized the total cell N-glycosylation profiles using ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and subsequent tandem mass spectrometry analysis to determine proposed glycan structures. Our results revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences in the composition of N-glycomes between iPSCs and NSCs, with NSCs showing a higher amount of complex N-glycans and a lower amount of mannosidic N-glycans when compared to iPSCs. Moreover, we found differences in N-glycosylation patterns between D21 and T21 cells. Notably, T21 cells exhibited a significant increase in the amount of pseudohybrid N-glycans. Trisomy 21 also caused a significant decrease in the abundance of a hybrid monoantennary fucosylated glycan (H6N3F1). Our findings define the released N-glycan profile of total cells for both D21 and T21 iPSCs and NSCs and suggest that the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21 impacts N-glycosylation patterns already in the stem cell state.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Human-specific features and developmental dynamics of the brain N-glycome

Comparative "omics" studies have revealed unique aspects of human neurobiology, yet an evolutionary perspective of the brain N-glycome is lacking. Here, we performed multi-regional characterization of rat, macaque, chimpanzee, and human brain N-glycomes using chromatography and mass spectrometry, then integrated these data with complementary glycotranscriptomic data. We found that in primates the brain N-glycome has evolved more rapidly than the underlying transcriptomic framework, providing a mechanism for generating additional diversity. We show that brain N-glycome evolution in hominids has been characterized by an increase in complexity and (2-6)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid along with human-specific cell-type expression of key glycogenes. Finally, by comparing the prenatal and adult human brain N-glycome, we identify region-specific neurodevelopmental pathways that lead to distinct spatial N-glycosylation profiles in the mature brain. One-Sentence SummaryEvolution of the human brain N-glycome has been marked by an increase in complexity and a shift in sialic acid linkage.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Same role but different actors: genetic regulation of post-translational modification of two distinct proteins

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) diversify protein functions and dynamically coordinate their signalling networks, influencing most aspects of cell physiology. Nevertheless, their genetic regulation or influence on complex traits is not fully understood. Here, we compare for the first time the genetic regulation of the same PTM of two proteins - glycosylation of transferrin and immunoglobulin G (IgG). By performing genome-wide association analysis of transferrin glycosylation, we identified 10 significantly associated loci, all novel. Comparing these with IgG glycosylation-associated genes, we note protein-specific associations with genes encoding glycosylation enzymes (transferrin - MGAT5, ST3GAL4, B3GAT1; IgG - MGAT3, ST6GAL1) as well as shared associations (FUT6, FUT8). Colocalisation analyses of the latter suggest that different causal variants in the FUT genes regulate fucosylation of the two proteins. We propose that they affect the binding of different transcription factors in different tissues, with fucosylation of IgG being regulated by IKZF1 in B-cells and of transferrin by HNF1A in liver.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Global variability of the human IgG glycome

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the most abundant serum antibody and is a key determinant of the humoral immune response. Its structural characteristics and effector functions are modulated through the attachment of various sugar moieties called glycans. IgG N-glycome patterns change with the age of individual and in different diseases. Variability of IgG glycosylation within a population is well studied and is affected by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, global inter-population differences in IgG glycosylation have never been properly addressed. Here we present population-specific N-glycosylation patterns of whole IgG, analysed in 5 different populations totalling 10,482 IgG glycomes, and of IgGs fragment crystallisable region (Fc), analysed in 2,530 samples from 27 populations sampled across the world. We observed that country of residence associates with many N-glycan features and is a strong predictor of monogalactosylation variability. IgG galactosylation also strongly correlated with the development level of a country, defined by United Nations health and socioeconomic development indicators. We found that subjects from developing countries had low IgG galactosylation levels, characteristic for inflammation and ageing. Our results suggest that citizens of developing countries may be exposed to country-specific environmental factors that can cause low-grade chronic inflammation and the apparent increase in biological age.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2018

Defining the genetic control of human blood plasma N-glycome using genome-wide association study

Glycosylation is a common post-translational modification of proteins. It is known, that glycans are directly involved in the pathophysiology of every major disease. Defining genetic factors altering glycosylation may provide a basis for novel approaches to diagnostic and pharmaceutical applications. Here, we report a genome-wide association study of the human blood plasma N-glycome composition in up to 3811 people. We discovered and replicated twelve loci. This allowed us to demonstrate a clear overlap in genetic control between total plasma and IgG glycosylation. Majority of loci contained genes that encode enzymes directly involved in glycosylation (FUT3/FUT6, FUT8, B3GAT1, ST6GAL1, B4GALT1, ST3GAL4, MGAT3, and MGAT5). We, however, also found loci that are likely to reflect other, more complex, aspects of plasma glycosylation process. Functional genomic annotation suggested the role of DERL3, which potentially highlights the role of glycoprotein degradation pathway, and such transcription factor as IKZF1.

genetics↗