Silencing of β-catenin1 blocks tail regeneration, but does not induce head regeneration in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano

Опубликована: Март 18, 2025

Abstract β-Catenin has two major functions conserved across metazoans. It enables the interaction of classical cadherin with actin and it is main transcription factor activated by canonical Wnt pathway. In these functions, acts in patterning body axis early embroys, cell differentiation proliferation. flatworms, four β-catenin homologs have been identified planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Functional studies revealed that only Smed-β-catenin1 can transduce signal plays a part defining posterior identity. We made phylogenetic reconstruction retrieved from wide range flatworms analysed role during regeneration Macrostomum lignano . at least copies all taxa except Catenulida; this suggests duplication occurred ancestrally Rhabditophora. M. , we detected 3 homologs. Upon knockdown homologs, Mlig-β-catenin1 blocked blastema formation tail. After knockdown, regenerates restored normal tails but instances imperfect or duplicated tails. Different to planarians, Mlig-β-catenins individually combination failed rescue head amputation levels anterior regenerates. Together, findings suggest β-catenin1 responsible for identity specification also Our study demonstrates ability upon may be an apomorphy not ancestral character flatworms.

Язык: Английский

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Transcriptional phenotype of the anti-parasitic benzodiazepine meclonazepam on the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 19(4), С. e0012969 - e0012969

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2025

There are limited control measures for the disease schistosomiasis, despite fact that infection with parasitic blood flukes affects hundreds of millions people worldwide. The current treatment, praziquantel, has been in use since 1980’s and there is a concern drug resistance may emerge continued monotherapy. Given need additional antischistosomal drugs, we have re-visited an old lead, meclonazepam. In comparison to relatively little work on its antiparasitic mechanism. Recent findings indicate praziquantel meclonazepam act through distinct receptors, making benzodiazepines promising chemical series further exploration. Previous profiled transcriptional changes evoked by treatment. Here, examine detail schistosome phenotypes vitro vivo These data confirm causes extensive tegument damage directly kills parasites, as measured pro-apoptotic caspase activation. exposure results differential expression many genes divergent flatworms, well several gene products implicated feeding regulation hemostasis other parasites. Many these transcripts also differentially expressed exposure, which reflect common response two drugs. However, similarities response, praziquantel-resistant parasites retain susceptibility meclonazepam’s schistocidal effects. provide new insight into mechanism benzodiazepines, resolving differences frontline therapy, praziquantel.

Язык: Английский

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Planarian EGF repeat-containing genes megf6 and hemicentin are required to restrict the stem cell compartment

PLoS Genetics, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 16(2), С. e1008613 - e1008613

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2020

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is important for maintaining the boundaries between tissues. This role particularly critical in stem cell niche, as pre-neoplastic or cancerous cells must pass these order to invade into surrounding tissue. Here, we examine of ECM a regulator compartment planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, highly regenerative, long-lived organism with large population adult cells. We identify two EGF repeat-containing genes, megf6 and hemicentin, identical knockdown phenotypes. find that hemicentin are needed maintain structure basal lamina, absence either gene, pluripotent migrate ectopically outside their hyper-proliferate, causing lesions body wall muscle. These muscle ectopic also associated gut branches, which protrude from normal towards dorsal side animal. Interestingly, both worms capable regenerating tissue free cells, indicating genes dispensable regeneration. results provide insight restricting compartment, suggest signals within may act suppress hyperproliferation.

Язык: Английский

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Dugesia japonica is the best suited of three planarian species for high-throughput toxicology screening

Chemosphere, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 253, С. 126718 - 126718

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2020

Язык: Английский

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Ancestral Role of Ecdysis-Related Neuropeptides in Animal Life Cycle Transitions

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 31(1), С. 207 - 213.e4

Опубликована: Окт. 30, 2020

Язык: Английский

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