Filopodia are required for cortical neurite initiation.

Extension of neurites from a cell body is essential to form a functional nervous system; however, the mechanisms underlying neuritogenesis are poorly understood. Ena/VASP proteins regulate actin dynamics and modulate elaboration of cellular protrusions. We recently reported that cortical axon-tract formation is lost in Ena/VASP-null mice and Ena/VASP-null cortical neurons lack filopodia and fail to elaborate neurites. Here, we report that neuritogenesis in Ena/VASP-null neurons can be rescued by restoring filopodia formation through ectopic expression of the actin nucleating protein mDia2. Conversely, wild-type neurons in which filopodia formation is blocked fail to elaborate neurites. We also report that laminin, which promotes the formation of filopodia-like actin-rich protrusions, rescues neuritogenesis in Ena/VASP-deficient neurons. Therefore, filopodia formation is a key prerequisite for neuritogenesis in cortical neurons. Neurite initiation also requires microtubule extension into filopodia, suggesting that interactions between actin-filament bundles and dynamic microtubules within filopodia are crucial for neuritogenesis.

Feeding Neurons Integrate Metabolic and Reproductive States in Mice.

Trade-offs between metabolic and reproductive processes are important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. Puberty and reproduction, as energetically taxing life stages, are often gated by metabolic availability in animals with ovaries. How the nervous system coordinates these trade-offs is an active area of study. We identify somatostatin neurons of the tuberal nucleus (TNSST) as a node of the feeding circuit that alters feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of TNSST neurons increased food intake across sexes, selective ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. Interestingly, this ablation effect was only apparent in animals with a low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of TNSST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of the effects of TNSST neurons on food intake. Together, these studies point to a mechanism whereby TNSST hypothalamic neurons modulate feeding by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens differentially based on energy stores. This research provides insight into how neural circuits integrate reproductive and metabolic signals, and illustrates how gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context-dependent and gated by metabolic status.

Feeding neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive states in mice.

Balance between metabolic and reproductive processes is important for survival, particularly in mammals that gestate their young. How the nervous system coordinates this balance is an active area of study. Herein, we demonstrate that somatostatin (SST) neurons of the tuberal hypothalamus alter feeding in a manner sensitive to metabolic and reproductive states in mice. Whereas chemogenetic activation of SST neurons increased food intake across sexes, ablation decreased food intake only in female mice during proestrus. This ablation effect was only apparent in animals with low body mass. Fat transplantation and bioinformatics analysis of SST neuronal transcriptomes revealed white adipose as a key modulator of these effects. These studies indicate that SST hypothalamic neurons integrate metabolic and reproductive cues by responding to varying levels of circulating estrogens to modulate feeding differentially based on energy stores. Thus, gonadal steroid modulation of neuronal circuits can be context dependent and gated by metabolic status.

Transposon Mutagenesis Reveals RBMS3 Silencing as a Promoter of Malignant Progression of BRAFV600E-Driven Lung Tumorigenesis.

Mutationally activated BRAF is detected in approximately 7% of human lung adenocarcinomas, with BRAFT1799A serving as a predictive biomarker for treatment of patients with FDA-approved inhibitors of BRAFV600E oncoprotein signaling. In genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, expression of BRAFV600E in the lung epithelium initiates growth of benign lung tumors that, without additional genetic alterations, rarely progress to malignant lung adenocarcinoma. To identify genes that cooperate with BRAFV600E for malignant progression, we used Sleeping Beauty-mediated transposon mutagenesis, which dramatically accelerated the emergence of lethal lung cancers. Among the genes identified was Rbms3, which encodes an RNA-binding protein previously implicated as a putative tumor suppressor. Silencing of RBMS3 via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing promoted growth of BRAFV600E lung organoids and promoted development of malignant lung cancers with a distinct micropapillary architecture in BRAFV600E and EGFRL858R GEM models. BRAFV600E/RBMS3Null lung tumors displayed elevated expression of Ctnnb1, Ccnd1, Axin2, Lgr5, and c-Myc mRNAs, suggesting that RBMS3 silencing elevates signaling through the WNT/ß-catenin signaling axis. Although RBMS3 silencing rendered BRAFV600E-driven lung tumors resistant to the effects of dabrafenib plus trametinib, the tumors were sensitive to inhibition of porcupine, an acyltransferase of WNT ligands necessary for their secretion. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas patient samples revealed that chromosome 3p24, which encompasses RBMS3, is frequently lost in non-small cell lung cancer and correlates with poor prognosis. Collectively, these data reveal the role of RBMS3 as a lung cancer suppressor and suggest that RBMS3 silencing may contribute to malignant NSCLC progression. SIGNIFICANCE: Loss of RBMS3 cooperates with BRAFV600E to induce lung tumorigenesis, providing a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying mutant BRAF-driven lung cancer and potential strategies to more effectively target this disease.

Estrogen receptor alpha in the brain mediates tamoxifen-induced changes in physiology in mice.

Adjuvant tamoxifen therapy improves survival in breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, long-term treatment comes with side effects that impact health and quality of life, including hot flashes, changes in bone density, and fatigue. Partly due to a lack of proven animal models, the tissues and cells that mediate these negative side effects are unclear. Here, we show that mice undergoing tamoxifen treatment experience changes in temperature, bone, and movement. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that tamoxifen treatment induces widespread gene expression changes in the hypothalamus and preoptic area (hypothalamus-POA). These expression changes are dependent on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), as conditional knockout of ERα in the hypothalamus-POA ablates or reverses tamoxifen-induced gene expression. Accordingly, ERα-deficient mice do not exhibit tamoxifen-induced changes in temperature, bone, or movement. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the effects of tamoxifen on the hypothalamus-POA and indicate that ERα mediates several physiological effects of tamoxifen treatment in mice.

Estrogen is a hormone often known for its role in female development and reproduction. Yet, it also has an impact on many biological processes such as immunity and the health of bones, the heart, or the brain. It usually works by attaching to receptor proteins in specific cells. For instance, estrogen-responsive cells are present in the hypothalamus, the brain area that controls energy levels as well as the body's temperature and internal clock. Breast cancer cells are also often sensitive to estrogen, with the hormone fuelling the growth of tumors. The drug tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors, stopping cells from responding to the hormone. As such, it is often used to reduce the likelihood that estrogen-dependent breast cancer will come back after treatment. However, its use can induce hot flashes, changes in bone density, fatigue and other life-altering side effects. Here, Zhang et al. investigated how estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and a related region known as the preoptic area could be responsible for these side effects in mice. When the rodents were given tamoxifen for 28 days, they experienced changes in temperature, bone density and movement similar to those found in humans. In fact, genetic analyses revealed that the drug altered the way genes were turned on and off in certain cells types in the hypothalamus. Crucially, mice whose hypothalamus and preoptic area lacked estrogen receptors did not experience these behavioral and biological alterations. The findings by Zhang et al. help to understand how the side effects of tamoxifen emerge, singling out estrogen receptors in particular brain regions. This result could help to develop new therapies so that breast cancer can be treated with a better quality of life.

Transcriptional analysis of the multiple Sry genes and developmental program at the onset of testis differentiation in the rat.

BACKGROUND: The commonly used laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus, is unique in having multiple Sry gene copies found on the Y chromosome, with different copies encoding amino acid variations that influence the resulting protein function. It is not clear which Sry genes are expressed at the onset of testis differentiation or how their expression correlates with that of other genes in testis-determination pathways. METHODS: Here, two independent E11-E14 developmental RNAseq datasets show that multiple Sry genes are expressed at E12-E13. RESULTS: The identified copies expressed during testis initiation include Sry4A, Sry1, and Sry3C, which are conserved in every strain of Rattus norvegicus with genomes sequenced to date. CONCLUSIONS: This work represents a first step in defining the complex environment of rat testis differentiation that can open the door for generating sex reversal model systems using embryo manipulation techniques that have been available in the mouse but not the rat.

Hypothalamic estrogen receptor alpha establishes a sexually dimorphic regulatory node of energy expenditure.

Estrogen receptor a (ERa) signaling in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) contributes to energy homeostasis by modulating physical activity and thermogenesis. However, the precise neuronal populations involved remain undefined. Here, we describe six neuronal populations in the mouse VMH by using single-cell RNA transcriptomics and in situ hybridization. ERa is enriched in populations showing sex biased expression of reprimo (Rprm), tachykinin 1 (Tac1), and prodynorphin (Pdyn). Female biased expression of Tac1 and Rprm is patterned by ERa-dependent repression during male development, whereas male biased expression of Pdyn is maintained by circulating testicular hormone in adulthood. Chemogenetic activation of ERa positive VMH neurons stimulates heat generation and movement in both sexes. However, silencing Rprm gene function increases core temperature selectively in females and ectopic Rprm expression in males is associated with reduced core temperature. Together these findings reveal a role for Rprm in temperature regulation and ERa in the masculinization of neuron populations that underlie energy expenditure.

Estrogen-sensitive medial preoptic area neurons coordinate torpor in mice.

Homeotherms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite changing environments. During energy deficiency, some species can cease to defend their body temperature and enter a hypothermic and hypometabolic state known as torpor. Recent advances have revealed the medial preoptic area (MPA) as a key site for the regulation of torpor in mice. The MPA is estrogen-sensitive and estrogens also have potent effects on both temperature and metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that estrogen-sensitive neurons in the MPA can coordinate hypothermia and hypometabolism in mice. Selectively activating estrogen-sensitive MPA neurons was sufficient to drive a coordinated depression of metabolic rate and body temperature similar to torpor, as measured by body temperature, physical activity, indirect calorimetry, heart rate, and brain activity. Inducing torpor with a prolonged fast revealed larger and more variable calcium transients from estrogen-sensitive MPA neurons during bouts of hypothermia. Finally, whereas selective ablation of estrogen-sensitive MPA neurons demonstrated that these neurons are required for the full expression of fasting-induced torpor in both female and male mice, their effects on thermoregulation and torpor bout initiation exhibit differences across sex. Together, these findings suggest a role for estrogen-sensitive MPA neurons in directing the thermoregulatory and metabolic responses to energy deficiency.

Mutationally-activated PI3'-kinase-α promotes de-differentiation of lung tumors initiated by the BRAFV600E oncoprotein kinase.

Human lung adenocarcinoma exhibits a propensity for de-differentiation, complicating diagnosis and treatment, and predicting poorer patient survival. In genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer, expression of the BRAFV600E oncoprotein kinase initiates the growth of benign tumors retaining characteristics of their cell of origin, AT2 pneumocytes. Cooperating alterations that activate PI3'-lipid signaling promote progression of BRAFV600E-driven benign tumors to malignant adenocarcinoma. However, the mechanism(s) by which this cooperation occurs remains unclear. To address this, we generated mice carrying a conditional BrafCAT allele in which CRE-mediated recombination leads to co-expression of BRAFV600E and tdTomato. We demonstrate that co-expression of BRAFV600E and PIK3CAH1047R in AT2 pneumocytes leads to rapid cell de-differentiation, without decreased expression of the transcription factors NKX2-1, FOXA1, or FOXA2. Instead, we propose a novel role for PGC1α in maintaining AT2 pneumocyte identity. These findings provide insight into how these pathways may cooperate in the pathogenesis of human lung adenocarcinoma.

IDOL regulates systemic energy balance through control of neuronal VLDLR expression.

Liver X receptors limit cellular lipid uptake by stimulating the transcription of Inducible Degrader of the LDL Receptor (IDOL), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets lipoprotein receptors for degradation. The function of IDOL in systemic metabolism is incompletely understood. Here we show that loss of IDOL in mice protects against the development of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction by altering food intake and thermogenesis. Unexpectedly, analysis of tissue-specific knockout mice revealed that IDOL affects energy balance, not through its actions in peripheral metabolic tissues (liver, adipose, endothelium, intestine, skeletal muscle), but by controlling lipoprotein receptor abundance in neurons. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the hypothalamus demonstrated that IDOL deletion altered gene expression linked to control of metabolism. Finally, we identify VLDLR rather than LDLR as the primary mediator of IDOL effects on energy balance. These studies identify a role for the neuronal IDOL-VLDLR pathway in metabolic homeostasis and diet-induced obesity.

Meiosis: when even two is a crowd.

Recent studies in Caenorhabditis elegans show that crossover interference, which usually limits the number of exchanges per meiotic bivalent to just 'one', requires the continuity of both homologs. One 'function' of crossover interference may be the prevention of crossover events that might not effectively hold homologs together.

P2A-Fluorophore Tagging of BRAF Tightly Links Expression to Fluorescence In Vivo.

The Braf proto-oncogene is a key component of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade and is a critical regulator of both normal development and tumorigenesis in a variety of tissues. In order to elucidate BRAF's differing roles in varying cell types, it is important to understand both the pattern and timing of BRAF expression. Here we report the production of a mouse model that links the expression of Braf with the bright red fluorescent protein, tdTomato. We have utilized a P2A knock-in strategy, ensuring that BRAF and the fluorophore are expressed from the same endogenous promoter and from the same bicistronic mRNA transcript. This mouse model (BrafTOM) shows bright red fluorescence in organs and cell types known to be sensitive to BRAF perturbation. We further show that on a cell-by-cell basis, fluorescence correlates with BRAF protein levels. Finally, we extend the utility of this mouse by demonstrating that the remnant P2A fragment attached to BRAF acts as a suitable epitope for immunoprecipitation and biochemical characterization of BRAF in vivo.