45 results on '"Bongiorni, S"'
Search Results
2. Genome wide association study on beef production traits in Marchigiana cattle breed
- Author
-
Sorbolini, S., Bongiorni, S., Cellesi, M., Gaspa, G., Dimauro, C., Valentini, A., and Macciotta, N.P.P.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
3. Transcriptomic investigation of meat tenderness in two Italian cattle breeds
- Author
-
Bongiorni, S., Gruber, C. E. M., Bueno, S., Chillemi, G., Ferrè, F., Failla, S., Moioli, B., and Valentini, A.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Genome wide association study on beef production traits in Marchigiana cattle breed
- Author
-
Sorbolini, S., primary, Bongiorni, S., additional, Cellesi, M., additional, Gaspa, G., additional, Dimauro, C., additional, Valentini, A., additional, and Macciotta, N.P.P., additional
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Signature of selection around the myostatin locus in Piedmontese cattle Typed by 54,000 SNP panel
- Author
-
Valentini, A., Pariset, L., Bongiorni, S., Williams, J., Ajmone Marsan, P., Andrea, Mariasilvia D., Fabio PILLA, Quaglino, A., Albera, A., and Nardone, A.
- Published
- 2009
6. Drosophila rae1 is required for male meiosis and spermatogenesis
- Author
-
Volpi, S., primary, Bongiorni, S., additional, Fabbretti, F., additional, Wakimoto, B.T., additional, and Prantera, G., additional
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Facultative heterochromatization in parahaploid male mealybugs: involvement of a heterochromatin-associated protein.
- Author
-
Bongiorni, S, Mazzuoli, M, Masci, S, and Prantera, G
- Abstract
The behavior of chromosomes during development of the mealybug Planococcus citri provides one of the most dramatic examples of facultative heterochromatization. In male embryos, the entire haploid paternal chromosome set becomes heterochromatic at mid-cleavage. Male mealybugs are thus functionally haploid, owing to heterochromatization (parahaploidy). To understand the mechanisms underlying facultative heterochromatization in male mealybugs, we have investigated the possible involvement of an HP-1-like protein in this process. HP-1 is a conserved, nonhistone chromosomal protein with a proposed role in heterochromatinization in other species. It was first identified in Drosophila melanogaster as a protein enriched in the constitutive heterochromatin of polytene chromosome. Using a monoclonal antibody raised against the Drosophila HP-1 in immunoblot and immunocytological experiments, we provide evidence for the presence of an HP-1-like in Planococcus citri males and females. In males, the HP-1-like protein is preferentially associated with the male-specific heterochromatin. In the developing male embryos, its appearance precedes the onset of heterochromatization. In females, the HP-1-like protein displays a scattered but reproducible localization pattern along chromosomes. The results indicate a role for an HP-1-like protein in the facultative heterochromatization process. more...
- Published
- 2001
8. Genetic structure of Italian beef cattle breeds on a 54,000 SNP panel
- Author
-
Valentini, A., Guarcini, R., Quaglino, A., Luttman, T., Vicario, D., Albera, A., Filippini, F., Blasi, M., Bongiorni, S., Andrea, Mariasilvia D., Fabio PILLA, Trombetta M, F., and Nardone, A.
9. Preliminary results of a genome scan of Marchigiana cattle for carcass yield using Illumina 54,000 SNP panel
- Author
-
Valentini, A., Pariset, L., Bongiorni, S., Andrea, Mariasilvia D., Fabio PILLA, Guarcini, R., Filippini, F., Williams J, L., Ajmone Marsan, P., and Nardone, A.
10. Genetic structire of Italian beef cattle breeds based on 54,000 SNP panel
- Author
-
Valentini, A., Guarcini, R., Quaglino, A., Luttmann, Vicario, D., Albera, A., Filippini, F., Blasi, M., Bongiorni, S., Andrea, Mariasilvia D., Fabio PILLA, Trombetta M, F., and Nardone, A.
11. Signature around the myostatin locus in Piedmontese cattle typed by a 54,000 SNP panel
- Author
-
Valentini, A., Pariset, L., Bongiorni, S., Williams J, L., Ajmone Marsan, P., Andrea, Mariasilvia D., Fabio PILLA, Quaglino, A., Albera, A., and Nardone, A.
12. Small business success--does anyone care?
- Author
-
Bongiorni, S.
- Subjects
SMALL business - Abstract
Focuses on the importance of small businesses in the community. Significance of the survival of independent businesses; Factors contributing to consumers' shopping decisions.
- Published
- 1997
13. Transcriptomic investigation of meat tenderness in two Italian cattle breeds
- Author
-
Cesare Ernesto Maria Gruber, Fabrizio Ferrè, Susana Bueno, Bianca Moioli, S. Failla, Alessio Valentini, Giovanni Chillemi, Silvia Bongiorni, Bongiorni, S, Gruber, C.E.M., Bueno, S., Chillemi, G., Ferrè, F., Failla, S., Moioli, B., and Valentini, A. more...
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Gene isoform ,Meat ,Maremmana ,Muscle Proteins ,Single-nucleotide polymorphism ,AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ,Breeding ,Biology ,Chianina ,Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ,meat quality ,03 medical and health sciences ,Meat tenderness ,Genetic ,Gene expression ,Genetics ,Animals ,Allele ,Muscle, Skeletal ,Promoter Regions, Genetic ,Gene ,Alleles ,Sequence Analysis, RNA ,High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ,General Medicine ,PRKAG3 gene ,biology.organism_classification ,Alternative Splicing ,030104 developmental biology ,MRNA Sequencing ,Italy ,skeletal muscle transcriptome ,Cattle ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Transcriptome - Abstract
Our objectives for this study were to understand the biological basis of meat tenderness and to provide an overview of the gene expression profiles related to meat quality as a tool for selection. Through deep mRNA sequencing, we analyzed gene expression in muscle tissues of two Italian cattle breeds: Maremmana and Chianina. We uncovered several differentially expressed genes that encode for proteins belonging to a family of tripartite motif proteins, which are involved in growth, cell differentiation and apoptosis, such as TRIM45, or play an essential role in regulating skeletal muscle differentiation and the regeneration of adult skeletal muscle, such as TRIM32. Other differentially expressed genes (SCN2B, SLC9A7 and KCNK3) emphasize the involvement of potassium-sodium pumps in tender meat. By mapping splice junctions in RNA-Seq reads, we found significant differences in gene isoform expression levels. The PRKAG3 gene, which is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, showed four isoforms that were differentially expressed. This distinct pattern of PRKAG3 gene expression could indicate impaired glycogen storage in skeletal muscle, and consequently, this gene very likely has a role in the tenderization process. Furthermore, with this deep RNA-sequencing, we captured a high number of expressed SNPs, for example, we found 1462 homozygous SNPs showing the alternative allele with a 100% frequency when comparing tender and tough meat. SNPs were then classified into categories by their position and also by their effect on gene coding (174 non-synonymous polymorphisms) based on the available UMD_3.1 annotations. more...
- Published
- 2016
14. Skeletal muscle transcriptional profiles in two Italian beef breeds, Chianina and Maremmana, reveal breed specific variation
- Author
-
Silvia Bongiorni, Susana Bueno, Alessio Valentini, S. Failla, Fabrizio Ferrè, Cesare Ernesto Maria Gruber, Bianca Moioli, Giovanni Chillemi, Bongiorni, S, Gruber, C E M, Chillemi, G, Bueno, S, Failla, S, Moioli, B, Ferrè, F, and Valentini, A more...
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Maremmana ,Energy metabolism ,Single-nucleotide polymorphism ,Breeding ,Beef cattle ,Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ,03 medical and health sciences ,Genetics ,Skeletal Muscle Tissue ,medicine ,Animals ,Chianiana ,Muscle, Skeletal ,Molecular Biology ,Breed selection ,biology ,Gluconeogenesis ,0402 animal and dairy science ,Skeletal muscle ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,040201 dairy & animal science ,Breed ,Red Meat ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,MRNA Sequencing ,Italy ,Evolutionary biology ,Cattle ,RNA-seq ,Transcriptome ,Glycolysis - Abstract
Chianina and Maremmana breeds play an important role in the Italian cattle meat market. The Chianina breed is an ancient breed principally raised for draught. Now this breed is the worldwide recognized producer of top quality beef, tasteful and tender, specifically the famous "Florentine steak". The Maremmana characterized by a massive skeletal structure, is a rustic cattle breed selected for adaptability to the marshy land of the Maremma region. We used a high throughput mRNA sequencing to analyze gene expression in muscle tissues of two Italian cattle breeds, Maremmana (MM) and Chianina (CN) with different selection history. We aim to examine the specific genetic contribution of each breed to meat production and quality, comparing the skeletal muscle tissue from Maremmana and Chianina. Most of the differentially expressed genes were grouped in the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathways. The rate and the extent of post-mortem energy metabolism have a critical effect on the conversion of muscle to meat. Furthermore, we aim at discovering the differences in nucleotide variation between the two breeds which might be attributable to the different history of selection/divergence. In this work we could emphasize the involvement of pathways of post-mortem energy metabolism. Moreover, we detected a collection of coding SNPs which could offer new genomic resources to improve phenotypic selection in livestock breeding program. more...
- Published
- 2016
15. Di(2-ethylexyl) phthalate and chromosomal damage: Insight on aneugenicity from the cytochalasin-block micronucleus assay.
- Author
-
Amadio F, Bongiorni S, Varalda GM, Marcon F, and Meschini R
- Subjects
- Humans, Plasticizers toxicity, Chromosome Aberrations chemically induced, Chromosome Aberrations drug effects, Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective chemically induced, Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective drug effects, Animals, Cytochalasin B pharmacology, Chromosome Segregation drug effects, Micronucleus Tests methods, Spindle Apparatus drug effects, Diethylhexyl Phthalate toxicity, Aneugens toxicity
- Abstract
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is the most abundant phthalate used as plasticizer to soften plastics and polymers included in medical devices. Human and environmental exposure may occur because DEHP is not chemically bound to plastics and can easily leach out of the materials. This phthalate is classified as reproductive toxicant and possible carcinogen to humans. The genotoxic potential has still to be clarified, but there are indications suggesting that DEHP may have aneugenic effects. To further investigate DEHP genotoxicity, the cytochalasin-block micronucleus assay was applied and combined with the CREST staining to characterise micronucleus content and gain insights on its genotoxic mode of action. Chromosomal damage was also analysed in metaphase and ana-telophase cells and the morphology of the mitotic spindle was investigated to evaluate the possible involvement of this cellular apparatus as a target of DEHP. Our findings indicated that DEHP induced a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei as well as in the frequency of CREST-positive micronuclei. Consistently, disturbance of chromosome segregation and induction of numerical chromosome changes were observed together with changes in spindle morphology, formation of multipolar spindles and alteration of the microtubule network. Experiments performed without metabolic activation demonstrated a direct action of DEHP on chromosome segregation not mediated by its metabolites. In conclusion, there is consistent evidence for an aneugenic activity of DEHP. A thresholded genotoxic activity was identified for DEHP, disclosing possible implications for risk assessment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Pathological Defects in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease and Beneficial Effects of the Natural Product Lisosan G.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Catalani E, Arisi I, Lazzarini F, Del Quondam S, Brunetti K, Cervia D, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism, Brain drug effects, Brain metabolism, Brain pathology, Apoptosis drug effects, Autophagy drug effects, Biological Products pharmacology, Biological Products chemistry, Antioxidants pharmacology, Peptide Fragments metabolism, Alzheimer Disease drug therapy, Alzheimer Disease metabolism, Alzheimer Disease pathology, Drosophila melanogaster drug effects, Disease Models, Animal, Amyloid beta-Peptides metabolism
- Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains are histologically marked by the presence of intracellular and extracellular amyloid deposits, which characterize the onset of the disease pathogenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that certain nutrients exert a direct or indirect effect on amyloid β (Aβ)-peptide production and accumulation and, consequently, on AD pathogenesis. We exploited the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster model of AD to evaluate in vivo the beneficial properties of Lisosan G, a fermented powder obtained from organic whole grains, on the intracellular Aβ-42 peptide accumulation and related pathological phenotypes of AD. Our data showed that the Lisosan G-enriched diet attenuates the production of neurotoxic Aβ peptides in fly brains and reduces neuronal apoptosis. Notably, Lisosan G exerted anti-oxidant effects, lowering brain levels of reactive oxygen species and enhancing mitochondrial activity. These aspects paralleled the increase in autophagy turnover and the inhibition of nucleolar stress. Our results give support to the use of the Drosophila model not only to investigate the molecular genetic bases of neurodegenerative disease but also to rapidly and reliably test the efficiency of potential therapeutic agents and diet regimens. more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. Exposure to the Natural Compound Climacostol Induces Cell Damage and Oxidative Stress in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster .
- Author
-
Catalani E, Brunetti K, Del Quondam S, Bongiorni S, Picchietti S, Fausto AM, Lupidi G, Marcantoni E, Perrotta C, Achille G, Buonanno F, Ortenzi C, and Cervia D
- Abstract
The ciliate Climacostomum virens produces the metabolite climacostol that displays antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human and rodent tumor cells. Given its potential as a backbone in pharmacological studies, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to evaluate how the xenobiotic climacostol affects biological systems in vivo at the organismal level. Food administration with climacostol demonstrated its harmful role during larvae developmental stages but not pupation. The midgut of eclosed larvae showed apoptosis and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus demonstrating gastrointestinal toxicity. Climacostol did not affect enteroendocrine cell proliferation, suggesting moderate damage that does not initiate the repairing program. The fact that climacostol increased brain ROS and inhibited the proliferation of neural cells revealed a systemic (neurotoxic) role of this harmful substance. In this line, we found lower expression of relevant antioxidant enzymes in the larvae and impaired mitochondrial activity. Adult offsprings presented no major alterations in survival and mobility, as well the absence of abnormal phenotypes. However, mitochondrial activity and oviposition behavior was somewhat affected, indicating the chronic toxicity of climacostol, which continues moderately until adult stages. These results revealed for the first time the detrimental role of ingested climacostol in a non-target multicellular organism. more...
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. Neuroprotective role of plumbagin on eye damage induced by high-sucrose diet in adult fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Del Quondam S, Brunetti K, Cherubini A, Bongiorni S, Taddei AR, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Clementi E, Prantera G, and Cervia D
- Subjects
- Animals, Drosophila, Diet, Retina, Glutathione Transferase, Glucose, Drosophila melanogaster, Hyperglycemia
- Abstract
The natural compound plumbagin has a wide range of pharmacological and potential therapeutic activities, although its role in neuroretina degeneration is unknown. Here we evaluated the effects of plumbagin on retina homeostasis of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster fed with high glucose diet, a model of hyperglycemia-induced eye impairment to study the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy at the early stages. To this aim, the visual system of flies orally administered with plumbagin has been analyzed at structural, functional, and molecular/cellular level as for instance neuronal apoptosis/autophagy dysregulation and oxidative stress-related signals. Our results demonstrated that plumbagin ameliorates the visual performance of hyperglycemic flies. Drosophila eye-structure, clearly altered by hyperglycemia, i.e. defects of the pattern of ommatidia, irregular rhabdomeres, vacuoles, damaged mitochondria, and abnormal phototransduction units were rescued, at least in part, by plumbagin. In addition, it reactivated autophagy, decreased the presence of cell death/apoptotic features, and exerted antioxidant effects in the retina. In terms of mechanisms favoring death/survival ratio, Nrf2 signaling activation may be one of the strategies by which plumbagin reduced redox unbalance mainly increasing the levels of glutathione-S-transferase. Likewise, plumbagin may act additively and/or synergistically inhibiting the mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways, which prevented neuronal impairment and eye damage induced by reactive oxygen species. These results provide an avenue for further studies, which may be helpful to develop novel therapeutic candidates and drug targets against eye neurotoxicity by high glucose, a key aspect in retinal complications of diabetes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. RACK1 is evolutionary conserved in satellite stem cell activation and adult skeletal muscle regeneration.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, Cherubini A, Del Quondam S, Brunetti K, Silvestri F, Roux-Biejat P, Napoli A, Casati SR, Ceci M, Romano N, Bongiorni S, Prantera G, Clementi E, Perrotta C, De Palma C, and Cervia D more...
- Abstract
Skeletal muscle growth and regeneration involves the activity of resident adult stem cells, namely satellite cells (SC). Despite numerous mechanisms have been described, different signals are emerging as relevant in SC homeostasis. Here we demonstrated that the Receptor for Activated C-Kinase 1 (RACK1) is important in SC function. RACK1 was expressed transiently in the skeletal muscle of post-natal mice, being abundant in the early phase of muscle growth and almost disappearing in adult mature fibers. The presence of RACK1 in interstitial SC was also detected. After acute injury in muscle of both mouse and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (used as alternative in vivo model) we found that RACK1 accumulated in regenerating fibers while it declined with the progression of repair process. To note, RACK1 also localized in the active SC that populate recovering tissue. The dynamics of RACK1 levels in isolated adult SC of mice, i.e., progressively high during differentiation and low compared to proliferating conditions, and RACK1 silencing indicated that RACK1 promotes both the formation of myotubes and the accretion of nascent myotubes. In Drosophila with depleted RACK1 in all muscle cells or, specifically, in SC lineage we observed a delayed recovery of skeletal muscle after physical damage as well as the low presence of active SC in the wound area. Our results also suggest the coupling of RACK1 to muscle unfolded protein response during SC activation. Collectively, we provided the first evidence that transient levels of the evolutionarily conserved factor RACK1 are critical for adult SC activation and proper skeletal muscle regeneration, favoring the efficient progression of SC from a committed to a fully differentiated state., (© 2022. The Author(s).) more...
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Apple Polyphenol Diet Extends Lifespan, Slows down Mitotic Rate and Reduces Morphometric Parameters in Drosophila Melanogaster: A Comparison between Three Different Apple Cultivars.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Arisi I, Ceccantoni B, Rossi C, Cresta C, Castellani S, Forgione I, Rinalducci S, Muleo R, and Prantera G
- Abstract
Plant-derived polyphenols exhibit beneficial effects on physiological and pathological processes, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, mainly because of their antioxidant activity. Apples are highly enriched in these compounds, mainly in their peel. The Tuscia Red (TR) apple variety exhibits the peculiar characteristic of depositing high quantities of polyphenols in the pulp, the edible part of the fruit. Since polyphenols, as any natural product, cannot be considered a panacea per se, in this paper, we propose to assess the biological effects of TR flesh extracts, in comparison with two commercial varieties, in a model system, the insect Drosophila melanogaster , largely recognized as a reliable system to test the in vivo effects of natural and synthetic compounds. We performed a comparative, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the polyphenol compositions of the three cultivars and found that TR flesh shows the highest content of polyphenols, and markedly, anthocyanins. Then, we focused on their effects on a panel of physiological, morphometrical, cellular and behavioral phenotypes in wild-type D. melanogaster . We found that all the apple polyphenol extracts showed dose-dependent effects on most of the phenotypes we considered. Remarkably, all the varieties induced a strong relenting of the cell division rate. more...
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Economic Impact of Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacists in an Advanced Heart Failure Clinic.
- Author
-
Kido K, Colvin BM, Broscious R, Bongiorni S, Sokos G, and Kamal KM
- Abstract
Background: Clinical pharmacists play pivotal roles in multidisciplinary heart failure (HF) teams through the management of HF pharmacotherapy, but no study has examined the economic impact of HF ambulatory clinical pharmacists in an advanced HF clinic., Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the economic impact of HF ambulatory clinical pharmacist interventions in an advanced HF clinic using a cost-benefit analysis., Methods: This prospective observational study detailed HF ambulatory clinical pharmacist interventions over 6 months in an advanced HF clinic in a single-center tertiary teaching hospital. The economic impact of the interventions was estimated based on the indirect cost savings with pharmacist interventions and direct cost savings recommendations. A cost-benefit analysis was performed to assess the cost of delivering the interventions compared with the benefits generated by clinical pharmacists. Results were reported as a benefit-cost ratio and net benefits., Results: HF ambulatory clinical pharmacists made a total of 2,361 provider-accepted interventions over 6 months. Overall, the 3 most common intervention types were medication reconciliation (28.7%), dose change (20.8%), and addition of medication (12.3%). Anticoagulation (21.2%) was the most common intervened class of medication, followed by sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (12.3%) and angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (9.2%). The total net benefits were $55,553.24 over 6 months and the benefit-cost ratio was 1.55., Conclusion and Relevance: The addition of cardiology clinical pharmacists to an advanced HF clinic may be financially justified and cost-beneficial. more...
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Nutraceutical Strategy to Counteract Eye Neurodegeneration and Oxidative Stress in Drosophila melanogaster Fed with High-Sugar Diet.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Fanelli G, Silvestri F, Cherubini A, Del Quondam S, Bongiorni S, Taddei AR, Ceci M, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Rinalducci S, Prantera G, and Cervia D
- Abstract
Aberrant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common feature of damaged retinal neurons in diabetic retinopathy, and antioxidants may exert both preventive and therapeutic action. To evaluate the beneficial and antioxidant properties of food supplementation with Lisosan G, a powder of bran and germ of grain ( Triticum aestivum ) obtained by fermentation with selected lactobacillus and natural yeast strains, we used an in vivo model of hyperglycemia-induced retinal damage, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster fed with high-sucrose diet. Lisosan G positively affected the visual system of hyperglycemic flies at structural/functional level, decreased apoptosis, and reactivated protective autophagy at the retina internal network. Also, in high sucrose-fed Drosophila, Lisosan G reduced the levels of brain ROS and retina peroxynitrite. The analysis of oxidative stress-related metabolites suggested 7,8-dihydrofolate, uric acid, dihydroorotate, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine, allantoin, cysteinyl-glycine, and quinolate as key mediators of Lisosan G-induced inhibition of neuronal ROS, along with the upregulation of glutathione system. Of note, Lisosan G may impact oxidative stress and the ensuing retinal cell death, also independently from autophagy, although the autophagy-ROS cross-talk is critical. This study demonstrated that the continuous supplementation with the alimentary integrator Lisosan G exerts a robust and multifaceted antioxidant effect on retinal neurons, thus providing efficacious neuroprotection of hyperglycemic eye. more...
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Retinal damage in a new model of hyperglycemia induced by high-sucrose diets.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Silvestri F, Bongiorni S, Taddei AR, Fanelli G, Rinalducci S, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Prantera G, and Cervia D
- Subjects
- Animals, Diabetic Retinopathy pathology, Disease Models, Animal, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Hyperglycemia complications, Hyperglycemia pathology, Male, Diabetic Retinopathy etiology, Diet, Carbohydrate Loading adverse effects, Dietary Sucrose adverse effects, Hyperglycemia etiology, Retina pathology
- Abstract
Loss of retinal neurons may precede clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR). We studied for the first time the effects of hyperglycemia on the visual system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to characterize a model for glucose-induced retinal neurodegeneration, thus complementing more traditional vertebrate systems. Adult flies were fed with increased high-sucrose regimens which did not modify the locomotion ability, muscle phenotype and mobility after 10 days. The increased availability of dietary sucrose induced hyperglycemia and phosphorylation of Akt in fat tissue, without significant effects on adult growth and viability, consistent with the early phase of insulin signaling and a low impact on the overall metabolic profile of flies at short term. Noteworthy, high-sucrose diets significantly decreased Drosophila responsiveness to the light as a consequence of vision defects. Hyperglycemia did not alter the gross anatomical architecture of the external eye phenotype although a progressive damage of photosensitive units was observed. Appreciable levels of cleaved caspase 3 and nitrotyrosine were detected in the internal retina network as well as punctate staining of Light-Chain 3 and p62, and accumulated autophagosomes, indicating apoptotic features, peroxynitrite formation and autophagy turnover defects. In summary, our results in Drosophila support the view that hyperglycemia induced by high-sucrose diets lead to eye defects, apoptosis/autophagy dysregulation, oxidative stress, and visual dysfunctions which are evolutionarily conserved, thus offering a meaningful opportunity of using a simple in vivo model to study the pathophysiology of neuroretinal alterations that develop in patients at the early stages of DR., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Defects of full-length dystrophin trigger retinal neuron damage and synapse alterations by disrupting functional autophagy.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Bongiorni S, Taddei AR, Mezzetti M, Silvestri F, Coazzoli M, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, Perrotta C, De Palma C, Clementi E, Ceci M, Prantera G, and Cervia D
- Subjects
- Animals, Autophagy genetics, Brain metabolism, Brain pathology, Drosophila melanogaster genetics, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred mdx, Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne complications, Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne genetics, Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne pathology, Protein Isoforms genetics, Retina metabolism, Retina pathology, Retinal Diseases etiology, Retinal Diseases pathology, Retinal Neurons pathology, Synapses genetics, Dystrophin genetics, Retinal Diseases genetics, Retinal Neurons metabolism
- Abstract
Dystrophin (dys) mutations predispose Duchenne muscular disease (DMD) patients to brain and retinal complications. Although different dys variants, including long dys products, are expressed in the retina, their function is largely unknown. We investigated the putative role of full-length dystrophin in the homeostasis of neuro-retina and its impact on synapsis stabilization and cell fate. Retinas of mdx mice, the most used DMD model which does not express the 427-KDa dys protein (Dp427), showed overlapped cell death and impaired autophagy. Apoptotic neurons in the outer plexiform/inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer had an impaired autophagy with accumulated autophagosomes. The autophagy dysfunction localized at photoreceptor axonal terminals and bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells. The absence of Dp427 does not cause a severe phenotype but alters the neuronal architecture, compromising mainly the pre-synaptic photoreceptor terminals and their post-synaptic sites. The analysis of two dystrophic mutants of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the homozygous Dys
E17 and DysEP3397 , lacking functional large-isoforms of dystrophin-like protein, revealed rhabdomere degeneration. Structural damages were evident in the internal network of retina/lamina where photoreceptors make the first synapse. Both accumulated autophagosomes and apoptotic features were detected and the visual system was functionally impaired. The reactivation of the autophagosome turnover by rapamycin prevented neuronal cell death and structural changes of mutant flies and, of interest, sustained autophagy ameliorated their response to light. Overall, these findings indicate that functional full-length dystrophin is required for synapsis stabilization and neuronal survival of the retina, allowing also proper autophagy as a prerequisite for physiological cell fate and visual properties. more...- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Profiles in Cows Subjected to Different Stress Level as Assessed by Cortisol in Milk.
- Author
-
Del Corvo M, Bongiorni S, Stefanon B, Sgorlon S, Valentini A, Ajmone Marsan P, and Chillemi G
- Subjects
- Animals, Cattle, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Milk immunology, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Genome, Hydrocortisone blood, Milk metabolism, Stress, Physiological, Transcriptome
- Abstract
Dairy cattle health, wellbeing and productivity are deeply affected by stress. Its influence on metabolism and immune response is well known, but the underlying epigenetic mechanisms require further investigation. In this study, we compared DNA methylation and gene expression signatures between two dairy cattle populations falling in the high- and low-variant tails of the distribution of milk cortisol concentration (MC), a neuroendocrine marker of stress in dairy cows. Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing was used to obtain a methylation map from blood samples of these animals. The high and low groups exhibited similar amounts of methylated CpGs, while we found differences among non-CpG sites. Significant methylation changes were detected in 248 genes. We also identified significant fold differences in the expression of 324 genes. KEGG and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that genes of both groups act together in several pathways, such as nervous system activity, immune regulatory functions and glucocorticoid metabolism. These preliminary results suggest that, in livestock, cortisol secretion could act as a trigger for epigenetic regulation and that peripheral changes in methylation can provide an insight into central nervous system functions. more...
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Telomere length measurement in tumor and non-tumor cells as a valuable prognostic for tumor progression.
- Author
-
Mehrez F, Bougatef K, Monache ED, Arisi I, Proietti-De-Santis L, Prantera G, Zouiten L, Caputo M, Ben Ammar Elgaaied A, and Bongiorni S
- Subjects
- Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms genetics, Neoplasms metabolism, Prognosis, Neoplasms pathology, Telomere
- Abstract
Telomere shortening has been supposed to be implicated in both aging and various human diseases especially carcinogenesis process. This phenomenon can lead to a chromosomal instability, contributing to a cell immortalization and tumor induction. In our study, we analyzed the role of telomere shortening in cancer progression, in Tunisian patients with digestive cancer. We measured the absolute telomere length in tumoral vs healthy adjacent tissues of each patient by using a q-RT PCR method and we investigated the relationship between telomere length and various sociodemographic and clinical parameters such as age, sex, tumor stage. In this pathological situation, we observed that, starting from 60 years of age, the telomere length increases in healthy mucosa and that in both healthy and cancer tissues, patients under 60 years have shorter telomeres, suggesting the telomere lengthening becomes more active with age. Finally, a positive correlation between normal and cancer tissues in both non-metastatic and metastatic stages, indicates telomere length in cancer tissue depends essentially on tumor stages. Our data allow us to suggest that telomere length depends on sex and age in healthy tissue while shortening and lengthening fluctuates considerably according to the tumor stage., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) more...
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. The Natural Compound Climacostol as a Prodrug Strategy Based on pH Activation for Efficient Delivery of Cytotoxic Small Agents.
- Author
-
Catalani E, Buonanno F, Lupidi G, Bongiorni S, Belardi R, Zecchini S, Giovarelli M, Coazzoli M, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Clementi E, Prantera G, Marcantoni E, Ortenzi C, Fausto AM, Picchietti S, and Cervia D more...
- Abstract
We synthesized and characterized MOMO as a new small molecule analog of the cytotoxic natural product climacostol efficiently activated in mild extracellular acidosis. The synthesis of MOMO had a key step in the Wittig olefination for the construction of the carbon-carbon double bond in the alkenyl moiety of climacostol. The possibility of obtaining the target ( Z )-alkenyl MOMO derivative in very good yield and without presence of the less active ( E )-diastereomer was favored from the methoxymethyl ether (MOM)-protecting group of hydroxyl functions in aromatic ring of climacostol aldehyde intermediate. Of interest, the easy removal of MOM-protecting group in a weakly acidic environment allowed us to obtain a great quantity of climacostol in biologically active (Z)-configuration. Results obtained in free-living ciliates that share the same micro-environment of the climacostol natural producer Climacostomum virens demonstrated that MOMO is well-tolerated in a physiological environment, while its cytotoxicity is rapidly and efficiently triggered at pH 6.3. In addition, the cytostatic vs. cytotoxic effects of acidified-MOMO can be modulated in a dose-dependent manner. In mouse melanoma cells, MOMO displayed a marked pH-sensitivity since its cytotoxic and apoptotic effects become evident only in mild extracellular acidosis. Data also suggested MOMO being preferentially activated in the unique extra-acidic microenvironment that characterizes tumoural cells. Finally, the use of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster fed with an acidic diet supported the efficient activity and oral delivery of MOMO molecule in vivo . MOMO affected oviposition of mating adults and larvae eclosion. Reduced survival of flies was due to lethality during the larval stages while emerging larvae retained their ability to develop into adults. Interestingly, the gut of eclosed larvae exhibited an extended damage (cell death by apoptosis) and the brain tissue was also affected (reduced mitosis), demonstrating that orally activated MOMO efficiently targets different tissues of the developing fly. These results provided a proof-of-concept study on the pH-dependence of MOMO effects. In this respect, MOM-protection emerges as a potential prodrug strategy which deserves to be further investigated for the generation of efficient pH-sensitive small organic molecules as pharmacologically active cytotoxic compounds. more...
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. CSB ablation induced apoptosis is mediated by increased endoplasmic reticulum stress response.
- Author
-
Caputo M, Balzerano A, Arisi I, D'Onofrio M, Brandi R, Bongiorni S, Brancorsini S, Frontini M, and Proietti-De-Santis L
- Subjects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic genetics, HeLa Cells, Humans, Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins, Apoptosis genetics, DNA Helicases deficiency, DNA Helicases genetics, DNA Repair Enzymes deficiency, DNA Repair Enzymes genetics, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress genetics, Gene Silencing
- Abstract
The DNA repair protein Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) has been recently identified as a promising anticancer target. Suppression, by antisense technology, of this protein causes devastating effects on tumor cells viability, through a massive induction of apoptosis, while being non-toxic to non-transformed cells. To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying the pro-apoptotic effects observed after CSB ablation, global gene expression patterns were determined, to identify genes that were significantly differentially regulated as a function of CSB expression. Our findings revealed that response to endoplasmic reticulum stress and response to unfolded proteins were ranked top amongst the cellular processes affected by CSB suppression. The major components of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis pathway, including pro-apoptotic factors downstream of the ATF3-CHOP cascade, were dramatically up-regulated. Altogether our findings add new pieces to the understanding of CSB mechanisms of action and to the molecular basis of CS syndrome. more...
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Confocal Analysis of Nuclear Lamina Behavior during Male Meiosis and Spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Author
-
Fabbretti F, Iannetti I, Guglielmi L, Perconti S, Evangelistella C, Proietti De Santis L, Bongiorni S, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Nucleus metabolism, Drosophila genetics, Drosophila melanogaster, Lamins metabolism, Male, Nuclear Envelope metabolism, Meiosis physiology, Microscopy, Confocal methods, Nuclear Lamina metabolism, Spermatogenesis physiology
- Abstract
Lamin family proteins are structural components of a filamentous framework, the nuclear lamina (NL), underlying the inner membrane of nuclear envelope. The NL not only plays a role in nucleus mechanical support and nuclear shaping, but is also involved in many cellular processes including DNA replication, gene expression and chromatin positioning. Spermatogenesis is a very complex differentiation process in which each stage is characterized by nuclear architecture dramatic changes, from the early mitotic stage to the sperm differentiation final stage. Nevertheless, very few data are present in the literature on the NL behavior during this process. Here we show the first and complete description of NL behavior during meiosis and spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. By confocal imaging, we characterized the NL modifications from mitotic stages, through meiotic divisions to sperm differentiation with an anti-laminDm0 antibody against the major component of the Drosophila NL. We observed that continuous changes in the NL structure occurred in parallel with chromatin reorganization throughout the whole process and that meiotic divisions occurred in a closed context. Finally, we analyzed NL in solofuso meiotic mutant, where chromatin segregation is severely affected, and found the strict correlation between the presence of chromatin and that of NL. more...
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Structural and Dynamic Characterization of the C313Y Mutation in Myostatin Dimeric Protein, Responsible for the "Double Muscle" Phenotype in Piedmontese Cattle.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Valentini A, and Chillemi G
- Abstract
The knowledge of the molecular effects of the C313Y mutation, responsible for the "double muscle" phenotype in Piedmontese cattle, can help understanding the actual mechanism of phenotype determination and paves the route for a better modulation of the positive effects of this economic important phenotype in the beef industry, while minimizing the negative side effects, now inevitably intersected. The structure and dynamic behavior of the active dimeric form of Myostatin in cattle was analyzed by means of three state-of-the-art Molecular Dynamics simulations, 200-ns long, of wild-type and C313Y mutants. Our results highlight a role for the conserved Arg333 in establishing a network of short and long range interactions between the two monomers in the wild-type protein that is destroyed upon the C313Y mutation even in a single monomer. Furthermore, the native protein shows an asymmetry in residue fluctuation that is absent in the double monomer mutant. Time window analysis on further 200-ns of simulation demonstrates that this is a characteristic behavior of the protein, likely dependent on long range communications between monomers. The same behavior, in fact, has already been observed in other mutated dimers. Finally, the mutation does not produce alterations in the secondary structure elements that compose the characteristic TGF-β cystine-knot motif. more...
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Promoter polymorphisms in genes involved in porcine myogenesis influence their transcriptional activity.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Tilesi F, Bicorgna S, Iacoponi F, Willems D, Gargani M, D'Andrea M, Pilla F, and Valentini A
- Subjects
- Animals, CHO Cells, Cricetinae, Cricetulus, Food Quality, Gene Frequency, Meat, Mice, Muscle, Skeletal growth & development, Muscle, Skeletal metabolism, MyoD Protein metabolism, Myostatin metabolism, Phenotype, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sus scrofa genetics, Sus scrofa growth & development, Transcription, Genetic, Transcriptional Activation, Muscle Development, MyoD Protein genetics, Myostatin genetics, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Abstract
Background: Success of meat production and selection for improvement of meat quality is among the primary aims in animal production. Meat quality traits are economically important in swine; however, the underlying genetic nature is very complex. Therefore, an improved pork production strongly depends on identifying and studying how genetic variations contribute to modulate gene expression. Promoters are key regions in gene modulation as they harbour several binding motifs to transcription regulatory factors. Therefore, polymorphisms in these regions are likely to deeply affect RNA levels and consequently protein synthesis. In this study, we report the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in promoter regions of candidate genes involved in development, cellular differentiation and muscle growth in Sus scrofa. We identified SNPs in the promoter regions of genes belonging to the Myogenic Regulatory Factors (MRF) gene family (the Myogenic Differentiation gene, MYOD1) and to Growth and Differentiation Factors (GDF) gene family (Myostatin gene, MSTN, GDF8), in Casertana and Large White breeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate if polymorphisms in the promoters could affect the transcriptional activity of these genes. With this aim, we evaluated in vitro the functional activity of the luciferase reporter gene luc2 activity, driven by two constructs carrying different promoter haplotypes., Results: We tested the effects of the G302A (U12574) transition on the promoter efficiency in MYOD1 gene. We ascertained a difference in transcription efficiency for the two variants. A stronger activity of the A-carrying construct is more evident in C2C12. The luciferase expression driven by the MYOD1-A allelic variant displayed a 3.8-fold increased transcriptional activity. We investigated the activity of two haplotype variants (AY527152) in the promoter of GDF8 gene. The haploptype-1 (A435-A447-A879) up-regulated the expression of the reporter gene by a two-fold increase, and hence presumably of the GDF8 gene, in both CHO and C2C12 cultured cells., Conclusions: In vitro the MYOD1-A allelic variant could up-regulate the expression of MYOD1 gene. Additionally, we could assess a different response of in vitro gene expression according to cell type used to transfect constructs, suggesting that MyoD activation is regulated by mechanisms that are specific of myoblasts. more...
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Microarray gene expression profiling of neural tissues in bovine spastic paresis.
- Author
-
Pariset L, Bongiorni S, Bueno S, Gruber CE, Prosperini G, Chillemi G, Bicorgna S, Gentile A, and Valentini A
- Subjects
- Animals, Cattle, Cattle Diseases genetics, Female, Gene Expression genetics, Male, Paraparesis, Spastic genetics, Paraparesis, Spastic metabolism, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction veterinary, Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases genetics, Cattle Diseases metabolism, Gene Expression Profiling veterinary, Nervous System metabolism, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis veterinary, Paraparesis, Spastic veterinary
- Abstract
Background: Bovine Spastic Paresis (BSP) is a neuromuscular disorder which affects both male and female cattle. BSP is characterized by spastic contraction and overextension of the gastrocnemious muscle of one or both limbs and is associated with a scarce increase in body weight. This disease seems to be caused by an autosomal and recessive gene, with incomplete penetration, although no genes clearly involved with its onset have been so far identified. We employed cDNA microarrays to identify metabolic pathways affected by BSP in Romagnola cattle breed. Investigation of those pathways at the genome level can help to understand this disease., Results: Microarray analysis of control and affected individuals resulted in 268 differentially expressed genes. These genes were subjected to KEGG pathway functional clustering analysis, revealing that they are predominantly involved in Cell Communication, Signalling Molecules and Interaction and Signal Transduction, Diseases and Nervous System classes. Significantly enriched KEGG pathway's classes for the differentially expressed genes were calculated; interestingly, all those significantly under-expressed in the affected samples are included in Neurodegenerative Diseases. To identify genome locations possibly harbouring gene(s) involved in the disease, the chromosome distribution of the differentially expressed genes was also investigated., Conclusions: The cDNA microarray we used in this study contains a brain library and, even if carrying an incomplete transcriptome representation, it has proven to be a valuable tool allowing us to add useful and new information to a poorly studied disease. By using this tool, we examined nearly 15000 transcripts and analysed gene pathways affected by the disease. Particularly, our data suggest also a defective glycinergic synaptic transmission in the development of the disease and an alteration of calcium signalling proteins. We provide data to acquire knowledge of a genetic disease for which literature still presents poor results and that could be further and specifically analysed in the next future. Moreover this study, performed in livestock, may also harbour molecular information useful for understanding human diseases. more...
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Mealybug chromosome cycle as a paradigm of epigenetics.
- Author
-
Prantera G and Bongiorni S
- Abstract
Recently, epigenetics has had an ever-growing impact on research not only for its intrinsic interest but also because it has been implied in biological phenomena, such as tumor emergence and progression. The first epigenetic phenomenon to be described in the early 1960s was chromosome imprinting in some insect species (sciaridae and coccoideae). Here, we discuss recent experimental results to dissect the phenomenon of imprinted facultative heterochromatinization in Lecanoid coccids (mealybugs). In these insect species, the entire paternally derived haploid chromosome set becomes heterochromatic during embryogenesis in males. We describe the role of known epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, in this phenomenon. We then discuss the models proposed to explain the noncanonical chromosome cycle of these species. more...
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Identification of a short region on chromosome 6 affecting direct calving ease in Piedmontese cattle breed.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Mancini G, Chillemi G, Pariset L, and Valentini A
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Pregnancy, Breeding, Cattle genetics, Chromosome Mapping veterinary
- Abstract
Calving in cattle is affected by calf morphology and by dam characteristics. It is described by two different traits: maternal calving ease, which is the ability to generate dams with good physiological predisposition to calving, and direct calving ease, which is the ability to generate calves that are easily born. The aim of this study was to identify regions of cattle genome harboring genes possibly affecting direct calving ease in the Piedmontese cattle breed. A population of 323 bulls scored for direct calving ease (EBV) was analyzed by a medium-density SNP marker panel (54,001 SNPs) to perform a genome-wide scan. The strongest signal was detected on chromosome 6 between 37.8 and 38.7 Mb where 13 SNPs associated to direct calving ease were found. Three genes are located in this region: LAP3, encoding for a leucine aminopeptidase involved in the oxytocin hydrolysis; NCAPG, encoding for a non-SMC condensin I complex, which has been associated in cattle with fetal growth and carcass size; and LCORL, which has been associated to height in humans and cattle. To further confirm the results of the genome-wide scan we genotyped additional SNPs within these genes and analyzed their association with direct calving ease. The results of this additional analysis fully confirmed the findings of the GWAS and particularly indicated LAP3 as the most probable gene involved. Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed high correlation between SNPs located within LAP3 and LCORL indicating a possible selection signature due either to increased fitness or breeders' selection for the trait. more...
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Epigenetic marks for chromosome imprinting during spermatogenesis in coccids.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Pugnali M, Volpi S, Bizzaro D, Singh PB, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Acetylation, Animals, Cell Nucleus metabolism, Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly, Female, Hemiptera metabolism, Hemiptera physiology, Heterochromatin genetics, Heterochromatin metabolism, Histones metabolism, Immunohistochemistry, Insect Proteins metabolism, Lysine metabolism, Male, Methylation, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Nuclear Proteins metabolism, Spermatogenesis physiology, Epigenesis, Genetic, Genomic Imprinting, Hemiptera genetics, Spermatogenesis genetics
- Abstract
The establishment of sex-specific epigenetic marks during gametogenesis is one of the key feature of genomic imprinting. By immunocytological analysis, we thoroughly characterized the chromatin remodeling events that take place during gametogenesis in the mealybug Planococcus citri, in which an entire haploid set of (imprinted) chromosomes undergoes facultative heterochromatinization in male embryos. Building on our previous work, we have investigated the interplay of several epigenetic marks in the regulation of this genome-wide phenomenon. We characterized the germline patterns of histone modifications, Me(3)K9H3, Me(2)K9H3, and Me(3)K20H4, and of heterochromatic proteins, PCHET2 (HP1-like) and HP2-like during male and female gametogenesis. We found that at all stages in oogenesis chromatin is devoid of any detectable epigenetic marks. On the other hand, spermatogenesis is accompanied by a complex pattern of redistribution of epigenetic marks from euchromatin to heterochromatin, and vice versa. At the end of spermatogenesis, sperm heads are decorated by all the molecules we tested, except for PCHET2. However, only Me(3)K9H3 and Me(2)K9H3 are still detectable in the male pronucleus. We suggest that the histone H3 lysine 9 methylation is the signal used to establish the male-specific imprinting on the paternal genome, thus allowing it to be distinguished from the maternal genome in the developing embryo. more...
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Microarrays and high-throughput transcriptomic analysis in species with incomplete availability of genomic sequences.
- Author
-
Pariset L, Chillemi G, Bongiorni S, Romano Spica V, and Valentini A
- Subjects
- Animals, Expressed Sequence Tags, Genome, Humans, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sheep genetics, Species Specificity, Gene Expression Profiling, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Abstract
Microarrays produce a measurement of gene expression based on the relative measures of dye intensities that correspond to the amount of target RNA. This technology is fast developing and its application is expanding from Homo sapiens to a wide number of species, where enough information on sequences and annotations exist. Anyway, the number of species for which a dedicated platform exists is not high. The use of heterologous array hybridization, screening for gene expression in one species using an array developed for another one, is still quite frequent, even though cross-species microarray hybridization has raised many arguments. Some methods which are high throughput and do not rely on knowledge of the DNA/RNA sequence exist, namely serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing (MPSS) and deep sequencing of full transcriptome. Although very powerful, particularly the latter, they are still quite costly and cumbersome methods. In some species where genome sequences are largely unknown, several anonymous sequences are deposited in gene banks as a result of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) sequencing projects. The ESTs databases represent a valuable knowledge that can be exploited with some bioinformatic effort to build species-specific microarrays. We present here a method of high-density in situ synthesized microarrays starting from available EST sequences in, Ovis aries. Our data indicate that the method is very efficient and can be easily extended to other species of which genetic sequences are present in public databases, but neglected so far with advanced devices like microarrays. As a perspective, the approach can be applied also to species of which no sequences are available to date, thanks to high-throughput deep sequencing methods. more...
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. A tool for sheep product quality: custom microarrays from public databases.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Chillemi G, Prosperini G, Bueno S, Valentini A, and Pariset L
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Lactation genetics, Lactation physiology, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis methods, Dairy Products standards, Milk standards, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis veterinary, Sheep genetics
- Abstract
Milk and dairy products are an essential food and an economic resource in many countries. Milk component synthesis and secretion by the mammary gland involve expression of a large number of genes whose nutritional regulation remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the genomic influence on milk quality and synthesis by comparing two sheep breeds with different milking attitude (Sarda and Gentile di Puglia) using sheep-specific microarray technology. From sheep ESTs deposited at NCBI, we have generated the first annotated microarray developed for sheep with a coverage of most of the genome. more...
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Comparison of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins of Chianina and Holstein cattle breed milk samples through proteomics methods.
- Author
-
Murgiano L, Timperio AM, Zolla L, Bongiorni S, Valentini A, and Pariset L
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation physiology, Glycolipids metabolism, Glycoproteins metabolism, Lactation physiology, Lipid Droplets, Membrane Proteins genetics, Cattle genetics, Cattle metabolism, Glycolipids chemistry, Glycoproteins chemistry, Membrane Proteins metabolism, Proteomics
- Abstract
Identification of proteins involved in milk production is important to understand the biology of lactation. Many studies have advanced the understanding of mammary function and milk secretion, but the critical molecular mechanisms implicated in milk fat secretion is still incomplete. Milk fat globules are secreted from the apical surface of the mammary cells, surrounded by a thin membrane bilayer, the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), formed by proteins which have been suggested to be cholesterolemia-lowering factors, inhibitors of cancer cell growth, vitamin binders, bactericidal, suppressors of multiple sclerosis. Using a proteomic approach, we compared MFGM from milk samples of individuals belonging to two different cattle breeds, Chianina and Holstein, representative of selection for milk and meat traits, respectively. We were able to isolate some of the major MFGM proteins in the examined samples and to identify differences between the protein fractions of the two breeds. We detected differences in the amount of proteins linked to mammary gland development and lipid droplets formation, as well as host defence mechanisms. We have shown that proteomics is a suitable, unbiased method for the study of milk fractions proteins and a powerful tool in nutritional genomics. more...
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. HP2-like protein: a new piece of the facultative heterochromatin puzzle.
- Author
-
Volpi S, Bongiorni S, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibodies immunology, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone analysis, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone genetics, Chromosomes chemistry, Chromosomes metabolism, Chromosomes ultrastructure, Drosophila melanogaster immunology, Female, Hemiptera genetics, Hemiptera metabolism, Heterochromatin chemistry, Insect Proteins analysis, Insect Proteins genetics, Male, RNA Interference, RNA, Double-Stranded pharmacology, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone metabolism, Hemiptera embryology, Heterochromatin metabolism, Insect Proteins metabolism
- Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster, the two chromosomal proteins HP1 and HP2 colocalize on heterochromatic and euchromatic sites in polytene chromosomes. Mutations in the HP2 gene act as dominant suppressors of position effect variegation, demonstrating a role for HP2 in the formation or maintenance of heterochromatin. In this paper, we investigated whether a putative homolog of the D. melanogaster HP2 is involved in the facultative heterochromatinization process in mealybugs. Using an antibody raised against the Drosophila HP2, we identified in the mealybug Planococcus citri a cross-reactive epitope, which we refer to as HP2-like. We investigated the HP2-like pattern during the male embryo development where the entire paternal haploid chromosome set becomes heterochromatic. The HP2 antibody heavily decorates the chromocenters, where it localizes with HP1, and marks the chromatin before it acquires the full cytological characteristics of the male-specific heterochromatin. In euchromatic chromosomes, HP2-like is mainly concentrated at telomeric sites. The interplay between HP2-like and HP1-like was studied by dsRNA interference experiments. Extinguishing HP1-like expression by RNAi does not prevent the association of HP2-like with facultative heterochromatin, implying that HP2-like binds to chromatin in a HP1-independent manner. Our results confirm and extend the structural and functional conservation of proteins involved in heterochromatin assembly. more...
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Epigenetic regulation of facultative heterochromatinisation in Planococcus citri via the Me(3)K9H3-HP1-Me(3)K20H4 pathway.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Pasqualini B, Taranta M, Singh PB, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Chromosome Aberrations, Embryo, Nonmammalian physiology, Genomic Imprinting, Hemiptera genetics, Histones chemistry, Insect Proteins genetics, Lysine chemistry, Male, Methylation, Nuclear Proteins genetics, RNA, Double-Stranded metabolism, Signal Transduction, Epigenesis, Genetic, Hemiptera physiology, Heterochromatin physiology, Histones physiology, Insect Proteins physiology, Metaphase physiology, Nuclear Proteins physiology
- Abstract
Using RNA interference (RNAi) we have conducted a functional analysis of the HP1-like chromobox gene pchet2 during embryogenesis of the mealybug Planococcus citri. Knocking down pchet2 expression results in decondensation of the male-specific chromocenter that normally arises from the developmentally-regulated facultative heterochromatinisation of the paternal chromosome complement. Together with the disappearance of the chromocenter the staining levels of two associated histone modifications, tri-methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 [Me(3)K9H3] and tri-methylated lysine 20 of histone H4 [Me(3)K20H4], are reduced to undetectable levels. Embryos treated with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting pchet2 also exhibit chromosome abnormalities, such as aberrant chromosome condensation, and also the presence of metaphases that contain 'lagging' chromosomes. We conclude that PCHET2 regulates chromosome behavior during metaphase and is a crucial component of a Me(3)K9H3-HP1-Me(3)K20H4 pathway involved in the facultative heterochromatinisation of the (imprinted) paternal chromosome set. more...
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Heterochromatin and tri-methylated lysine 20 of histone H4 in animals.
- Author
-
Kourmouli N, Jeppesen P, Mahadevhaiah S, Burgoyne P, Wu R, Gilbert DM, Bongiorni S, Prantera G, Fanti L, Pimpinelli S, Shi W, Fundele R, and Singh PB
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Line, Cell Nucleus metabolism, Cells, Cultured, Centromere chemistry, Chromosomes metabolism, Culture Media, Serum-Free, DNA biosynthesis, Drosophila genetics, Drosophila metabolism, Embryo, Mammalian metabolism, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Female, Fibroblasts metabolism, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Genetic Markers, Hemiptera metabolism, Male, Methylation, Mice embryology, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Oocytes metabolism, S Phase, Spermatozoa metabolism, Telomere metabolism, Heterochromatin metabolism, Histones metabolism, Lysine metabolism
- Abstract
Tri-methylated lysine 20 on histone H4 (Me(3)K20H4) is a marker of constitutive heterochromatin in murine interphase and metaphase cells. Heterochromatin marked by Me(3)K20H4 replicates late during S phase of the cell cycle. Serum starvation increases the number of cells that exhibit high levels of Me(3)K20H4 at constitutive heterochromatin. Me(3)K20H4 is also present at the centromeric heterochromatin of most meiotic chromosomes during spermatogenesis and at the pseudoautosomal region, as well as at some telomeres. It is not present on the XY-body. During murine embryogenesis the maternal pronucleus contains Me(3)K20H4; Me(3)K20H4 is absent from the paternal pronucleus. On Drosophila polytene chromosomes Me(3)K20H4 is present in a 'punctate pattern' at many chromosomal bands, including the chromocenter. In coccids it is present on the facultatively heterochromatinised paternal chromosome set. We also present evidence that Me(3)K20H4 is dependent upon H3-specific Suv(3)9 histone methyltransferase activity, suggesting that there may be 'epigenetic cross-talk' between histones H3 and H4. more...
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Inverted meiosis and meiotic drive in mealybugs.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Fiorenzo P, Pippoletti D, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Male, Oogenesis, Spindle Apparatus physiology, Hemiptera genetics, Meiosis genetics
- Abstract
In the males of lecanoid coccids, or mealybugs, an entire, paternally derived, haploid chromosome set becomes heterochromatic after the seventh embryonic mitotic cycle. In females, both haploid sets are euchromatic throughout the life cycle. In mealybugs, as in all homopteran species, chromosomes are holocentric. Holocentric chromosomes are characterized by the lack of a localized centromere and consequently of a localized kinetic activity. In monocentric species, sister chromatid cohesion and monopolar attachment play a pivotal role in regulating chromosome behavior during the two meiotic divisions. Both these processes rely upon the presence of a single, localized centromere and as such cannot be properly executed by holocentric chromosomes. Here we furnish further evidence that meiosis is inverted in both sexes of mealybugs and we suggest how this might represent an adaptation to chromosome holocentrism. Moreover, we reveal that at the second meiotic division in males a monopolar spindle is formed, to which only euchromatic chromosomes become attached. By this mechanism the paternally derived, heterochromatic, haploid chromosome set strictly segregates from the euchromatic one, and it is then excluded from the genetic continuum as a result of meiotic drive. more...
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Imprinted facultative heterochromatization in mealybugs.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Chromobox Protein Homolog 5, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone genetics, DNA Methylation, Gene Expression Regulation, Histones genetics, Male, Genomic Imprinting genetics, Hemiptera genetics, Heterochromatin genetics
- Abstract
In lecanoid Coccids, or mealybugs, the male development is accompanied by the facultative heterochromatization of the entire, paternally derived, haploid chromosome set. This epigenetic phenomenon occurs in all the cells of mid-cleavage male embryos. Consequently, the Coccid chromosome system offers a powerful tool for gaining insights into the structure of facultative heterochromatin, and into the epigenetic mechanisms of its imprinted, developmentally regulated formation. This paper will present new data and summarize recent studies on genomic imprinting and facultative heterochromatization in mealybugs. First, the existence and the possible role of DNA methylation as an epigenetic modification that fulfills the requisites of the imprinting process in mealybugs will be considered. The second part of this paper will focus on proteins involved in the facultative heterochromatization process. In particular, the involvement of an HP-1-like protein in the silencing of the paternally derived haploid chromosome set and its interaction with the lysine 9 methylated isoform of histone H3 will be discussed. more...
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Heterochromatin, HP1 and methylation at lysine 9 of histone H3 in animals.
- Author
-
Cowell IG, Aucott R, Mahadevaiah SK, Burgoyne PS, Huskisson N, Bongiorni S, Prantera G, Fanti L, Pimpinelli S, Wu R, Gilbert DM, Shi W, Fundele R, Morrison H, Jeppesen P, and Singh PB
- Subjects
- Animals, Bisbenzimidazole, Chromobox Protein Homolog 5, DNA metabolism, Drosophila genetics, Drosophila metabolism, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Gene Silencing physiology, Genomic Imprinting, Male, Methylation, Mice, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Oocytes metabolism, Spermatozoa metabolism, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone metabolism, Heterochromatin metabolism, Histones metabolism, Lysine metabolism
- Abstract
We show that methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 (Me9H3) is a marker of heterochromatin in divergent animal species. It localises to both constitutive and facultative heterochromatin and replicates late in S-phase of the cell cycle. Significantly, Me9H3 is enriched in the inactive mammalian X chromosome (Xi) in female cells, as well as in the XY body during meiosis in the male, and forms a G-band pattern along the arms of the autosomes. Me9H3 is a constituent of imprinted chromosomes that are repressed. The paternal and maternal pronuclei in one-cell mouse embryos show a striking non-equivalence in Me9H3: the paternal pronucleus contains no immunocytologically detectable Me9H3. The levels of Me9H3 on the parental chromosomes only become equivalent after the two-cell stage. Finally, we provide evidence that Me9H3 is neither necessary nor sufficient for localisation of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) to chromosomal DNA. more...
- Published
- 2002
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. The relationship between DNA methylation and chromosome imprinting in the coccid Planococcus citri.
- Author
-
Bongiorni S, Cintio O, and Prantera G
- Subjects
- Animals, Deoxyribonuclease HpaII, Female, Haploidy, Heterochromatin genetics, Heterochromatin metabolism, Male, Reproduction genetics, Sex Characteristics, DNA Methylation, Genomic Imprinting, Hemiptera genetics, Hemiptera metabolism
- Abstract
The phenomenon of chromosome, or genomic, imprinting indicates the relevance of parental origin in determining functional differences between alleles, homologous chromosomes, or haploid sets. In mealybug males (Homoptera, Coccoidea), the haploid set of paternal origin undergoes heterochromatization at midcleavage and remains so in most of the tissues. This different behavior of the two haploid sets, which depends on their parental origin, represents one of the most striking examples of chromosome imprinting. In mammals, DNA methylation has been postulated as a possible molecular mechanism to differentially imprint DNA sequences during spermatogenesis or oogenesis. In the present article we addressed the role of DNA methylation in the imprinting of whole haploid sets as it occurs in Coccids. We investigated the DNA methylation patterns at both the molecular and chromosomal level in the mealybug Planococcus citri. We found that in both males and females the paternally derived haploid set is hypomethylated with respect to the maternally derived one. Therefore, in males, it is the paternally derived hypomethylated haploid set that is heterochromatized. Our data suggest that the two haploid sets are imprinted by parent-of-origin-specific DNA methylation with no correlation with the known gene-silencing properties of this base modification. more...
- Published
- 1999
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.