A syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by rare variants in PPFIA3.

PPFIA3 encodes the protein-tyrosine phosphatase, receptor-type, F-polypeptide-interacting-protein-alpha-3 (PPFIA3), which is a member of the LAR-protein-tyrosine phosphatase-interacting-protein (liprin) family involved in synapse formation and function, synaptic vesicle transport, and presynaptic active zone assembly. The protein structure and function are evolutionarily well conserved, but human diseases related to PPFIA3 dysfunction are not yet reported in OMIM. Here, we report 20 individuals with rare PPFIA3 variants (19 heterozygous and 1 compound heterozygous) presenting with developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, dysmorphisms, microcephaly or macrocephaly, autistic features, and epilepsy with reduced penetrance. Seventeen unique PPFIA3 variants were detected in 18 families. To determine the pathogenicity of PPFIA3 variants in vivo, we generated transgenic fruit flies producing either human wild-type (WT) PPFIA3 or five missense variants using GAL4-UAS targeted gene expression systems. In the fly overexpression assays, we found that the PPFIA3 variants in the region encoding the N-terminal coiled-coil domain exhibited stronger phenotypes compared to those affecting the C-terminal region. In the loss-of-function fly assay, we show that the homozygous loss of fly Liprin-α leads to embryonic lethality. This lethality is partially rescued by the expression of human PPFIA3 WT, suggesting human PPFIA3 function is partially conserved in the fly. However, two of the tested variants failed to rescue the lethality at the larval stage and one variant failed to rescue lethality at the adult stage. Altogether, the human and fruit fly data reveal that the rare PPFIA3 variants are dominant-negative loss-of-function alleles that perturb multiple developmental processes and synapse formation.

Rare EIF4A2 variants are associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, and epilepsy.

Eukaryotic initiation factor-4A2 (EIF4A2) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase and a member of the DEAD-box protein family that recognizes the 5' cap structure of mRNAs, allows mRNA to bind to the ribosome, and plays an important role in microRNA-regulated gene repression. Here, we report on 15 individuals from 14 families presenting with global developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, and structural brain anomalies, all of whom have extremely rare de novo mono-allelic or inherited bi-allelic variants in EIF4A2. Neurodegeneration was predominantly reported in individuals with bi-allelic variants. Molecular modeling predicts these variants would perturb structural interactions in key protein domains. To determine the pathogenicity of the EIF4A2 variants in vivo, we examined the mono-allelic variants in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and identified variant-specific behavioral and developmental defects. The fruit fly homolog of EIF4A2 is eIF4A, a negative regulator of decapentaplegic (dpp) signaling that regulates embryo patterning, eye and wing morphogenesis, and stem cell identity determination. Our loss-of-function (LOF) rescue assay demonstrated a pupal lethality phenotype induced by loss of eIF4A, which was fully rescued with human EIF4A2 wild-type (WT) cDNA expression. In comparison, the EIF4A2 variant cDNAs failed or incompletely rescued the lethality. Overall, our findings reveal that EIF4A2 variants cause a genetic neurodevelopmental syndrome with both LOF and gain of function as underlying mechanisms.

The fly homolog of SUPT16H, a gene associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, is required in a cell-autonomous fashion for cell survival.

SUPT16H encodes the large subunit of the FAcilitate Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, which functions as a nucleosome organizer during transcription. We identified two individuals from unrelated families carrying de novo missense variants in SUPT16H. The probands exhibit global developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, facial dysmorphism and brain structural abnormalities. We used Drosophila to characterize two variants: p.T171I and p.G808R. Loss of the fly ortholog, dre4, causes lethality at an early developmental stage. RNAi-mediated knockdown of dre4 in either glia or neurons causes severely reduced eclosion and longevity. Tissue-specific knockdown of dre4 in the eye or wing leads to the loss of these tissues, whereas overexpression of SUPT16H has no dominant effect. Moreover, expression of the reference SUPT16H significantly rescues the loss-of-function phenotypes in the nervous system as well as wing and eye. In contrast, expression of SUPT16H p.T171I or p.G808R rescues the phenotypes poorly, indicating that the variants are partial loss-of-function alleles. While previous studies argued that the developmental arrest caused by loss of dre4 is due to impaired ecdysone production in the prothoracic gland, our data show that dre4 is required for proper cell growth and survival in multiple tissues in a cell-autonomous manner. Altogether, our data indicate that the de novo loss-of-function variants in SUPT16H are indeed associated with developmental and neurological defects observed in the probands.

Rumi is a CAP10 domain glycosyltransferase that modifies Notch and is required for Notch signaling.

Notch signaling is broadly used to regulate cell-fate decisions. We have identified a gene, rumi, with a temperature-sensitive Notch phenotype. At 28 degrees C-30 degrees C, rumi clones exhibit a full-blown loss of Notch signaling in all tissues tested. However, at 18 degrees C only a mild Notch phenotype is evident. In vivo analyses reveal that the target of Rumi is the extracellular domain of Notch. Notch accumulates intracellularly and at the cell membrane of rumi cells but fails to be properly cleaved, despite normal binding to Delta. Rumi is an endoplasmic reticulum-retained protein with a highly conserved CAP10 domain. Our studies show that Rumi is a protein O-glucosyltransferase, capable of adding glucose to serine residues in Notch EGF repeats with the consensus C1-X-S-X-P-C2 sequence. These data indicate that by O-glucosylating Notch in the ER, Rumi regulates its folding and/or trafficking and allows signaling at the cell membrane.

Synthesis of 2-Tetrazolyl-Substituted 3-Acylpyrroles via a Sequential Ugi-Azide/Ag-Catalyzed Oxidative Cycloisomerization Reaction.

A new efficient Ag-catalyed cascade cycloisomerization/aerobic oxidation reaction of a Ugi-azide adduct for the preparation of 3-acylpyrroles using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant has been developed. A series of 2-tetrazolyl-substituted 3-acylpyrroles were obtained in 62-89% yields from readily available enynals 1, primary amines 2, isocyanides 3, and trimethylsilyl azide 4 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AgNO3 and DMAP under an O2 atmosphere.

MiMIC: a highly versatile transposon insertion resource for engineering Drosophila melanogaster genes.

We demonstrate the versatility of a collection of insertions of the transposon Minos-mediated integration cassette (MiMIC), in Drosophila melanogaster. MiMIC contains a gene-trap cassette and the yellow+ marker flanked by two inverted bacteriophage ΦC31 integrase attP sites. MiMIC integrates almost at random in the genome to create sites for DNAmanipulation. The attP sites allow the replacement of the intervening sequence of the transposon with any other sequence through recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE). We can revert insertions that function as gene traps and cause mutant phenotypes to revert to wild type by RMCE and modify insertions to control GAL4 or QF overexpression systems or perform lineage analysis using the Flp recombinase system. Insertions in coding introns can be exchanged with protein-tag cassettes to create fusion proteins to follow protein expression and perform biochemical experiments. The applications of MiMIC vastly extend the D. melanogaster toolkit.

A comprehensive Drosophila resource to identify key functional interactions between SARS-CoV-2 factors and host proteins.

Development of effective therapies against SARS-CoV-2 infections relies on mechanistic knowledge of virus-host interface. Abundant physical interactions between viral and host proteins have been identified, but few have been functionally characterized. Harnessing the power of fly genetics, we develop a comprehensive Drosophila COVID-19 resource (DCR) consisting of publicly available strains for conditional tissue-specific expression of all SARS-CoV-2 encoded proteins, UAS-human cDNA transgenic lines encoding established host-viral interacting factors, and GAL4 insertion lines disrupting fly homologs of SARS-CoV-2 human interacting proteins. We demonstrate the utility of the DCR to functionally assess SARS-CoV-2 genes and candidate human binding partners. We show that NSP8 engages in strong genetic interactions with several human candidates, most prominently with the ATE1 arginyltransferase to induce actin arginylation and cytoskeletal disorganization, and that two ATE1 inhibitors can reverse NSP8 phenotypes. The DCR enables parallel global-scale functional analysis of SARS-CoV-2 components in a prime genetic model system.

Rare variants in PPFIA3 cause delayed development, intellectual disability, autism, and epilepsy.

PPFIA3 encodes the Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase, Receptor-Type, F Polypeptide-Interacting Protein Alpha-3 (PPFIA3), which is a member of the LAR protein-tyrosine phosphatase-interacting protein (liprin) family involved in synaptic vesicle transport and presynaptic active zone assembly. The protein structure and function are well conserved in both invertebrates and vertebrates, but human diseases related to PPFIA3 dysfunction are not yet known. Here, we report 14 individuals with rare mono-allelic PPFIA3 variants presenting with features including developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, autism, and epilepsy. To determine the pathogenicity of PPFIA3 variants in vivo , we generated transgenic fruit flies expressing either human PPFIA3 wildtype (WT) or variant protein using GAL4-UAS targeted gene expression systems. Ubiquitous expression with Actin-GAL4 showed that the PPFIA3 variants had variable penetrance of pupal lethality, eclosion defects, and anatomical leg defects. Neuronal expression with elav-GAL4 showed that the PPFIA3 variants had seizure-like behaviors, motor defects, and bouton loss at the 3 rd instar larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Altogether, in the fly overexpression assays, we found that the PPFIA3 variants in the N-terminal coiled coil domain exhibited stronger phenotypes compared to those in the C-terminal region. In the loss-of-function fly assay, we show that the homozygous loss of fly Liprin- α leads to embryonic lethality. This lethality is partially rescued by the expression of human PPFIA3 WT, suggesting human PPFIA3 protein function is partially conserved in the fly. However, the PPFIA3 variants failed to rescue lethality. Altogether, the human and fruit fly data reveal that the rare PPFIA3 variants are dominant negative loss-of-function alleles that perturb multiple developmental processes and synapse formation.

Versatile P[acman] BAC libraries for transgenesis studies in Drosophila melanogaster.

We constructed Drosophila melanogaster bacterial artificial chromosome libraries with 21-kilobase and 83-kilobase inserts in the P[acman] system. We mapped clones representing 12-fold coverage and encompassing more than 95% of annotated genes onto the reference genome. These clones can be integrated into predetermined attP sites in the genome using UC31 integrase to rescue mutations. They can be modified through recombineering, for example, to incorporate protein tags and assess expression patterns.

Eps15 and Dap160 control synaptic vesicle membrane retrieval and synapse development.

Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway substrate clone 15 (Eps15) is a protein implicated in endocytosis, endosomal protein sorting, and cytoskeletal organization. Its role is, however, still unclear, because of reasons including limitations of dominant-negative experiments and apparent redundancy with other endocytic proteins. We generated Drosophila eps15-null mutants and show that Eps15 is required for proper synaptic bouton development and normal levels of synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis. Consistent with a role in SV endocytosis, Eps15 moves from the center of synaptic boutons to the periphery in response to synaptic activity. The endocytic protein, Dap160/intersectin, is a major binding partner of Eps15, and eps15 mutants phenotypically resemble dap160 mutants. Analyses of eps15 dap160 double mutants suggest that Eps15 functions in concert with Dap160 during SV endocytosis. Based on these data, we hypothesize that Eps15 and Dap160 promote the efficiency of endocytosis from the plasma membrane by maintaining high concentrations of multiple endocytic proteins, including dynamin, at synapses.

Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Middle-Aged Obesity: A Multicentre, Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) for obesity over a 16-week treatment period using sham stimulation as the control. Methods: A multicenter, randomised, parallel, sham-controlled trial was conducted from February 10, 2017, to May 15, 2018. Men with waistlines ≥85 cm and women with ≥80 cm at three sites were randomised to receive eight sessions (over 16 weeks) of ACE (n = 108) or sham ACE (n = 108) with skin penetration at sham acupoints. The catgut was embedded once every two weeks using two alternating sets of acupoints. The follow-up lasted for an additional 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the percentage waistline reduction from baseline to week 16. Results: We included 216 individuals in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 16 weeks, the rate of waistline reduction was 8.80% (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.93% to 9.66%) in the ACE group and 4.09% (95% CI, 3.18% to 5.00%) in the sham control group, with a between-group difference of 4.71% (95% CI, 3.47% to 5.95%; P < 0.0001). This difference persisted throughout the entire follow-up period (between-group difference after 24-week additional weeks, 4.94% (95% CI, 3.58% to 6.30%); P < 0.001). The subgroup analyses of waistline by sex (male/female) revealed treatment effects of 1.93 (95% CI, -0.37 to 4.23, P = 0.1) in the male group and 3.19 (95% CI, 1.99 to 4.39, P < 0.001) in the female group. The adverse event analysis suggested that ACE and laboratory tests confirmed the safety of ACE. Discussion. ACE for 16 weeks could decrease the waistline and weight and was safe for the treatment of obesity. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and sex differences. This trial is registered with NCT02936973.

Drosophila functional screening of de novo variants in autism uncovers damaging variants and facilitates discovery of rare neurodevelopmental diseases.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit an increased burden of de novo mutations (DNMs) in a broadening range of genes. While these studies have implicated hundreds of genes in ASD pathogenesis, which DNMs cause functional consequences in vivo remains unclear. We functionally test the effects of ASD missense DNMs using Drosophila through "humanization" rescue and overexpression-based strategies. We examine 79 ASD variants in 74 genes identified in the Simons Simplex Collection and find 38% of them to cause functional alterations. Moreover, we identify GLRA2 as the cause of a spectrum of neurodevelopmental phenotypes beyond ASD in 13 previously undiagnosed subjects. Functional characterization of variants in ASD candidate genes points to conserved neurobiological mechanisms and facilitates gene discovery for rare neurodevelopmental diseases.

Aberrant lysosomal carbohydrate storage accompanies endocytic defects and neurodegeneration in Drosophila benchwarmer.

Lysosomal storage is the most common cause of neurodegenerative brain disease in preadulthood. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms that lead to neuronal dysfunction are unknown. Here, we report that loss of Drosophila benchwarmer (bnch), a predicted lysosomal sugar carrier, leads to carbohydrate storage in yolk spheres during oogenesis and results in widespread accumulation of enlarged lysosomal and late endosomal inclusions. At the bnch larval neuromuscular junction, we observe similar inclusions and find defects in synaptic vesicle recycling at the level of endocytosis. In addition, loss of bnch slows endosome-to-lysosome trafficking in larval garland cells. In adult bnch flies, we observe age-dependent synaptic dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. Finally, we find that loss of bnch strongly enhances tau neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. We hypothesize that, in bnch, defective lysosomal carbohydrate efflux leads to endocytic defects with functional consequences in synaptic strength, neuronal viability, and tau neurotoxicity.

Clinical effect of catgut implantation at acupoints for the treatment of simple obesity: A multicentre randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Catgut implantation at acupoints (CIA) is a subtype of acupuncture that has been widely used to treat simple obesity, but evidence for its effectiveness remains scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treating simple obesity with CIA. OBJECTIVE: This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CIA used for treatment of simple obesity. METHODS: This is a multicentre, randomized, parallel, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 216 patients with simple obesity will be recruited. They will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the CIA group or the sham control group. All treatments will be given once every 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the rate of waistline reduction. Secondary outcome measures are the rates of reduction of body measurements, including weight, body mass index (BMI), hipline, waist-hip-ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage (BFP), the changes in scores on scales, including the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Questionnaire (IWQOL-Lite), Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 28, and 40, respectively. All adverse events that occur during this study will be recorded. If any participant withdraws from the trial, an intention-to-treat analysis (ITT) will be performed. CONCLUSION: This is a randomized, sham-controlled trial of CIA treatment for simple obesity. The results of this trial will provide more evidence on whether CIA is efficacious and safe for treating obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02936973. Registered on October 18, 2016.

[Moxibustion therapy in prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): construction and application of non-contact diagnosis and treatment mode].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and promote the non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment mode based on mobile internet for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with moxibustion therapy, and to observe the feasibility and effectiveness of the model in the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 43 first-line medical staff and 149 suspected and confirmed cases with COVID-19 [18 cases in medical observation period, 17 cases of mild type (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung), 24 cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung) and 90 cases in recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung)] were included. A non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment platform was established for the treatment of COVID-19 with indirect moxibustion plaster based on mobile internet. By the platform, the patients were instructed to use indirect moxibustion plaster in treatment. For the first-line medical staff and patients in the medical observation period, Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6) and Zhongwan (CV 12) were selected. For the mild cases (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung) and the cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected. In the recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung), Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Zusanli (ST 36) and Kongzui (LU 6) were used. The treatment was given once daily for 40 min each time. The intervention lasted for 10 days. After intervention, the infection rate and the improvement in the symptoms and psychological status of COVID-19 were observed in clinical first-line medical staff and COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: In 10 days of intervention with indirect moxibustion plaster, there was "zero" infection among medical staff. Of 43 first-line physicians and nurses, 33 cases had some physical symptoms and psychological discomforts, mainly as low back pain, poor sleep and anxiety. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 78.8% (26/33) and the curative rate was 36.4% (12/33). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 58.3% (14/24) and the curative rate was 37.5 (9/24). Of 149 patients, 133 cases had the symptoms and psychological discomforts. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 81.2% (108/133) and the curative rate was 34.6% (46/133). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 76.5% (52/68) and the curative rate was 57.4 % (39/68). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to apply the indirect moxibustion plaster technique based on mobile internet to the treatment COVID-19. This mode not only relieves the symptoms such as cough and fatigue, improves psychological state, but also possibly prevents the first-line medical staff from COVID-19.

[Effect of acupuncture on the expressions of TNF-α and IFN-γ in patients with premature ovarian failure].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of acupuncture and the potential effect mechanism in patients with premature ovarian failure. METHODS: A total of 104 patients with premature ovarian failure were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 52 cases in each one. In the western medication group, the conjugated estrogens tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 0.625 mg each time, once a day, consecutively for 21 days. On the 16th day of medication with conjugated estrogens tablets, the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets were supplemented, 10 mg each time, once a day, consecutively for 5 days, and then, these two kinds of western medication were discontinued for 1 week. A total of 3 cycles were required in treatment with 28 days as an artificial cycle. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied. Two groups of acupoints were selected. The first group of acupoints were stimulated before ovulation and the acupoints were Guanyuan (CV 4), Guilai (ST 29), Taichong (LR 3), Taixi (KI 3), Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), Shuidao (ST 28), Dahe (KI 12) and Tianshu (ST 25). The second group of acupoints were stimulated after ovulation and the acupoints included Ciliao (BL 32), Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17) and Pishu (BL 20). The therapeutic effect was observed and compared in the patients between the two groups, as well as the expressions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicule stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) before and after treatment. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 90.4% (47/52) in the acupuncture group, higher than 67.3% (35/62) in the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the acupuncture group were obviously lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). Except for serum LH after treatment, at the end of treatment and in 30 days and 90 days after treatment, the levels of serum E2 in the acupuncture group were higher obviously than the western medication group and the levels of serum LH and FSH were lower obviously than the western medication group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture promotes the regular menstruation, effectively regulates the levels of serum LH, FSH and E2 and improves the pituitary gland and the ovary endocrine in the patients with premature ovarian failure. Such effect may be related to the the improvements in the expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α, the inhibition of the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells, the recovery of ovarian function and the enhancement of reserve capacity.

A gene-specific T2A-GAL4 library for Drosophila.

We generated a library of ~1000 Drosophila stocks in which we inserted a construct in the intron of genes allowing expression of GAL4 under control of endogenous promoters while arresting transcription with a polyadenylation signal 3' of the GAL4. This allows numerous applications. First, ~90% of insertions in essential genes cause a severe loss-of-function phenotype, an effective way to mutagenize genes. Interestingly, 12/14 chromosomes engineered through CRISPR do not carry second-site lethal mutations. Second, 26/36 (70%) of lethal insertions tested are rescued with a single UAS-cDNA construct. Third, loss-of-function phenotypes associated with many GAL4 insertions can be reverted by excision with UAS-flippase. Fourth, GAL4 driven UAS-GFP/RFP reports tissue and cell-type specificity of gene expression with high sensitivity. We report the expression of hundreds of genes not previously reported. Finally, inserted cassettes can be replaced with GFP or any DNA. These stocks comprise a powerful resource for assessing gene function.