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Methuselah/Methuselah-like G protein-coupled receptors constitute an ancient metazoan gene family.

ABSTRACT: Inconsistent conclusions have been drawn regarding the phylogenetic age of the Methuselah/Methuselah-like (Mth/Mthl) gene family of G protein-coupled receptors, the founding member of which regulates development and lifespan in Drosophila. Here we report the results from a targeted homolog search of 39 holozoan genomes and phylogenetic analysis of the conserved seven transmembrane domain. Our findings reveal that the Mth/Mthl gene family is ancient, has experienced numerous extinction and expansion events during metazoan evolution, and acquired the current definition of the Methuselah ectodomain during its exceptional expansion in arthropods. In addition, our findings identify Mthl1, Mthl5, Mthl14, and Mthl15 as the oldest Mth/Mthl gene family paralogs in Drosophila. Future studies of these genes have the potential to define ancestral functions of the Mth/Mthl gene family.

SUBMITTER: de Mendoza A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4768249 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Methuselah/Methuselah-like G protein-coupled receptors constitute an ancient metazoan gene family.

de Mendoza Alexandre A Jones Jeffery W JW Friedrich Markus M

Scientific reports 20160226

Inconsistent conclusions have been drawn regarding the phylogenetic age of the Methuselah/Methuselah-like (Mth/Mthl) gene family of G protein-coupled receptors, the founding member of which regulates development and lifespan in Drosophila. Here we report the results from a targeted homolog search of 39 holozoan genomes and phylogenetic analysis of the conserved seven transmembrane domain. Our findings reveal that the Mth/Mthl gene family is ancient, has experienced numerous extinction and expans ...[more]

PMID: 26915348

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Project description:Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly its sporadic or late-onset form (SAD/LOAD), is the most prevalent (96-98% of cases) neurodegenerative dementia in aged people. AD's neuropathology hallmarks are intrabrain accumulation of amyloid-? peptides (A?s) and of hyperphosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) proteins, diffuse neuroinflammation, and progressive death of neurons and oligodendrocytes. Mounting evidences suggest that family C G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which include ?-aminobutyric acid B receptors (GABABRs), metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1-8), and the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), are involved in many neurotransmitter systems that dysfunction in AD. This review updates the available knowledge about the roles of GPCRs, particularly but not exclusively those expressed by brain astrocytes, in SAD/LOAD onset and progression, taking stock of their respective mechanisms of action and of their potential as anti-AD therapeutic targets. In particular, GABABRs prevent A?s synthesis and neuronal hyperexcitability and group I mGluRs play important pathogenetic roles in transgenic AD-model animals. Moreover, the specific binding of A?s to the CaSRs of human cortical astrocytes and neurons cultured in vitro engenders a pathological signaling that crucially promotes the surplus synthesis and release of A?s and hyperphosphorylated Tau proteins, and also of nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and proinflammatory agents. Concurrently, A?s•CaSR signaling hinders the release of soluble (s)APP-? peptide, a neurotrophic agent and GABABR1a agonist. Altogether these effects progressively kill human cortical neurons in vitro and likely also in vivo. Several CaSR's negative allosteric modulators suppress all the noxious effects elicited by A?s•CaSR signaling in human cortical astrocytes and neurons thus safeguarding neurons' viability in vitro and raising hopes about their potential therapeutic benefits in AD patients. Further basic and clinical investigations on these hot topics are needed taking always heed that activation of the several brain family C GPCRs may elicit divergent upshots according to the models studied.

Dataset Information

Methuselah/Methuselah-like G protein-coupled receptors constitute an ancient metazoan gene family.

Publications

Methuselah/Methuselah-like G protein-coupled receptors constitute an ancient metazoan gene family.

Similar Datasets

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