There
are
thousands
of
Mendelian
diseases
with
more
being
discovered
weekly
and
the
majority
have
no
approved
treatments.
To
address
this
need,
we
require
scalable
approaches
that
relatively
inexpensive
compared
to
traditional
drug
development.
In
absence
a
validated
target,
phenotypic
screening
in
model
organisms
provides
route
for
identifying
candidate
Success
requires
screenable
phenotype,
however
right
phenotype
assay
may
not
be
obvious
pleiotropic
neuromuscular
disorders.
Here
show
high-throughput
imaging
quantitative
phenotyping
can
conducted
systematically
on
panel
C.
elegans
disease
strains.
We
used
CRISPR
genome-editing
create
25
worm
models
human
phenotyped
them
using
single
standardised
assay.
All
but
two
strains
were
significantly
different
from
wild
type
controls
at
least
one
feature.
The
observed
phenotypes
diverse,
mutations
genes
predicted
related
functions
their
orthologs
led
similar
behavioural
differences
worms.
As
proof-of-concept,
performed
repurposing
screen
an
FDA
compound
library,
identified
compounds
rescued
UNC80
deficiency.
Our
results
measure
multiple
applied
diverse
models.
short
time
low
cost
associated
creating
suggests
tracking
could
provide
approach
commensurate
number
diseases.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: July 13, 2019
Abstract
Egg
laying
in
the
nematode
worm
Caenorhabditis
elegans
is
a
two-state
behavior
modulated
by
internal
and
external
sensory
input.
We
have
previously
shown
that
homeostatic
feedback
of
embryo
accumulation
uterus
regulates
bursting
activity
serotonergic
HSN
command
neurons
sustains
egg-laying
active
state.
How
egg
release
signals
to
terminate
state
less
understood.
find
Gα
o
,
conserved
Pertussis
Toxin-sensitive
G
protein,
within
inhibit
circuit
prevent
entry
into
signaling
hyperpolarizes
HSN,
reducing
Ca
2+
input
onto
postsynaptic
vulval
muscles.
Loss
inhibitory
uncouples
presynaptic
from
postsynaptic,
stretch-dependent
homeostat,
causing
precocious
when
only
few
eggs
are
present
uterus.
Feedback
opening
activates
uv1
neuroendocrine
cells
which
NLP-7
neuropeptides
signal
through
-independent
mechanisms
HSNs
-dependent
other
than
HSNs.
Thus,
neuropeptide
maintains
bi-stable
electrical
excitability
dynamically
controls
response
both
drive
output.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 13, 2019
Abstract
Drebrin-like
protein
(DBN-1)
in
C.
elegans
is
an
adaptor
that
connects
different
cellular
pathways
to
the
actin
cytoskeleton.
Using
a
CRISPR-Cas9
system,
we
generated
new
dbn-1
allele,
which
lacks
80%
of
C-terminal
part
DBN-1.
The
mutant
displays
striking
hyper-bending
locomotion
phenotype
and
body
posture
with
two
times
stronger
curvature
than
wild
type.
We
show
by
atomic
force
microscopy
muscle
tone
remains
unaffected.
Aiming
track
down
cause
hyper-bending,
performed
genetic
epistasis
experiments.
found
mutations
Rho-specific
guanine-nucleotide
exchange
factor
(GEF)
domain
UNC-73
(Trio),
pan-neuronal
expression
dominant
negative
RHO-1
NCA
(NALCN)
cation
leak
channels
all
suppressed
mutant.
These
data
indicate
DBN-1
negatively
regulates
activity
both
NCA-1
NCA-2
channels,
opposing
non-canonical
Gq
pathway.
conclude
important
component
neuronal
signaling
cascade
controls
degree
bending
during
locomotion.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Aug. 28, 2023
Abstract
There
are
thousands
of
Mendelian
diseases
with
more
being
discovered
weekly
and
the
majority
have
no
approved
treatments.
To
address
this
need,
we
require
scalable
approaches
that
relatively
inexpensive
compared
to
traditional
drug
development.
In
absence
a
validated
target,
phenotypic
screening
in
model
organisms
provides
route
for
identifying
candidate
Success
requires
screenable
phenotype,
however
right
phenotype
assay
may
not
be
obvious
pleiotropic
neuromuscular
disorders.
Here
show
high-throughput
imaging
quantitative
phenotyping
can
conducted
systematically
on
panel
C.
elegans
disease
strains.
We
used
CRISPR
genome-editing
create
25
worm
models
human
phenotyped
them
using
single
standardised
assay.
All
but
two
strains
were
significantly
different
from
wild-type
controls
at
least
one
feature.
The
observed
phenotypes
diverse,
mutations
genes
predicted
related
functions
their
orthologs
led
similar
behavioural
differences
worms.
As
proof-of-concept,
performed
repurposing
screen
an
FDA
compound
library,
identified
compounds
rescued
UNC80
deficiency.
Our
results
measure
multiple
applied
diverse
models.
short
time
low
cost
associated
creating
suggests
tracking
could
provide
approach
commensurate
number
diseases.
There
are
thousands
of
Mendelian
diseases
with
more
being
discovered
weekly
and
the
majority
have
no
approved
treatments.
To
address
this
need,
we
require
scalable
approaches
that
relatively
inexpensive
compared
to
traditional
drug
development.
In
absence
a
validated
target,
phenotypic
screening
in
model
organisms
provides
route
for
identifying
candidate
Success
requires
screenable
phenotype,
however
right
phenotype
assay
may
not
be
obvious
pleiotropic
neuromuscular
disorders.
Here
show
high-throughput
imaging
quantitative
phenotyping
can
conducted
systematically
on
panel
C.
elegans
disease
strains.
We
used
CRISPR
genome-editing
create
25
worm
models
human
phenotyped
them
using
single
standardised
assay.
All
but
two
strains
were
significantly
different
from
wild
type
controls
at
least
one
feature.
The
observed
phenotypes
diverse,
mutations
genes
predicted
related
functions
their
orthologs
led
similar
behavioural
differences
worms.
As
proof-of-concept,
performed
repurposing
screen
an
FDA
compound
library,
identified
compounds
rescued
UNC80
deficiency.
Our
results
measure
multiple
applied
diverse
models.
short
time
low
cost
associated
creating
suggests
tracking
could
provide
approach
commensurate
number
diseases.