Małgorzata Daczewska

Coordinated development of muscles and tendons of the Drosophila leg

Since Millers morphological description, the Drosophila leg musculature and its formation has not been revisited. Here, using a set of GFP markers and confocal microscopy, we analyse Drosophila leg muscle development, and describe all the muscles and tendons present in the adult leg. Importantly, we provide for the first time evidence for tendons located internally within leg segments. By visualising muscle and tendon precursors, we demonstrate that leg muscle development is closely associated with the formation of internal tendons. In the third instars discs, in the vicinity of tendon progenitors, some Twist-positive myoblasts start to express the muscle founder cell marker dumbfounded (duf). Slightly later, in the early pupa, epithelial tendon precursors invaginate inside the developing leg segments, giving rise to the internal string-like tendons. The tendon-associated duf-lacZ-expressing muscle founders are distributed along the invaginating tendon precursors and then fuse with surrounding myoblasts to form syncytial myotubes. At mid-pupation, these myotubes grow towards their epithelial insertion sites, apodemes, and form links between internally located tendons and the leg epithelium. This leads to a stereotyped pattern of multifibre muscles that ensures movement of the adult leg.

Muscle stem cells and model systems for their investigation.

Stem cells are characterized by their clonal ability both to generate differentiated progeny and to undergo self‐renewal. Studies of adult mammalian organs have revealed stem cells in practically every tissue. In the adult skeletal muscle, satellite cells are the primary muscle stem cells, responsible for postnatal muscle growth, hypertrophy, and regeneration. In the past decade, several molecular markers have been found that identify satellite cells in quiescent and activated states. However, despite their prime importance, surprisingly little is known about the biology of satellite cells, as their analysis was for a long time hampered by a lack of genetically amenable experimental models where their properties can be dissected. Here, we review how the embryonic origin of satellite cells was discovered using chick and mouse model systems and discuss how cells from other sources can contribute to muscle regeneration. We present evidence for evolutionarily conserved properties of muscle stem cells and their identification in lower vertebrates and in the fruit fly. In Drosophila, muscle stem cells called adult muscle precursors (AMP) can be identified in embryos and in larvae by persistent expression of a myogenic basic helix–loop–helix factor Twist. AMP cells play a crucial role in the Drosophila life cycle, allowing de novo formation and regeneration of adult musculature during metamorphosis. Based on the premise that AMPs represent satellite‐like cells of the fruit fly, important insight into the biology of vertebrate muscle stem cells can be gained from genetic analysis in Drosophila. Developmental Dynamics 236:3332–3342, 2007.

Contribution of small heat shock proteins to muscle development and function

This review focuses on the question how sHSPs, still relatively poorly understood proteins, contribute to the development and function of three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, cardiac and smooth.

Model Organisms in the Fight against Muscular Dystrophy: Lessons from Drosophila and Zebrafish

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness, abnormal contractions and muscle wasting, often leading to premature death. More than 30 types of MD have been described so far; those most thoroughly studied are Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and congenital MDs. Structurally, physiologically and biochemically, MDs affect different types of muscles and cause individual symptoms such that genetic and molecular pathways underlying their pathogenesis thus remain poorly understood. To improve our knowledge of how MD-caused muscle defects arise and to find efficacious therapeutic treatments, different animal models have been generated and applied. Among these, simple non-mammalian Drosophila and zebrafish models have proved most useful. This review discusses how zebrafish and Drosophila MD have helped to identify genetic determinants of MDs and design innovative therapeutic strategies with a special focus on DMD, DM1 and congenital MDs.

Drosophila small heat shock protein CryAB ensures structural integrity of developing muscles, and proper muscle and heart performance.

Molecular chaperones, such as the small heat shock proteins (sHsps), maintain normal cellular function by controlling protein homeostasis in stress conditions. However, sHsps are not only activated in response to environmental insults, but also exert developmental and tissue-specific functions that are much less known. Here, we show that during normal development the Drosophila sHsp CryAB [L(2)efl] is specifically expressed in larval body wall muscles and accumulates at the level of Z-bands and around myonuclei. CryAB features a conserved actin-binding domain and, when attenuated, leads to clustering of myonuclei and an altered pattern of sarcomeric actin and the Z-band-associated actin crosslinker Cheerio (filamin). Our data suggest that CryAB and Cheerio form a complex essential for muscle integrity: CryAB colocalizes with Cheerio and, as revealed by mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation experiments, binds to Cheerio, and the muscle-specific attenuation of cheerio leads to CryAB-like sarcomeric phenotypes. Furthermore, muscle-targeted expression of CryABR120G, which carries a mutation associated with desmin-related myopathy (DRM), results in an altered sarcomeric actin pattern, in affected myofibrillar integrity and in Z-band breaks, leading to reduced muscle performance and to marked cardiac arrhythmia. Taken together, we demonstrate that CryAB ensures myofibrillar integrity in Drosophila muscles during development and propose that it does so by interacting with the actin crosslinker Cheerio. The evidence that a DRM-causing mutation affects CryAB muscle function and leads to DRM-like phenotypes in the fly reveals a conserved stress-independent role of CryAB in maintaining muscle cell cytoarchitecture. Summary: dCryAB, a heat shock protein, displays stress-independent expression in Drosophila muscles and interacts with the actin crosslinker filamin to ensure proper muscle cytoarchitecture.

Applications of calcium electroporation to effective apoptosis induction in fibrosarcoma cells and stimulation of normal muscle cells

The electroporation (EP) supports various types of anticancer therapies by the selective transport of cytostatics. Increase in intracellular calcium level by EP may be a new approach to fibrosarcoma treatment. Calcium is one of the most important factors of cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death (apoptosis or necrosis). Calcium level balanced by electroporation can cause different effects on normal and pathological cells. The efficiency and safety of electroporation combined with Ca(2+) ions were examined in our study. The two muscle cell lines were used: normal rat skeletal muscle cells - L6 and cancer muscle cells - Wehi-164 (fibrosarcoma). Two CaCl2 concentrations were tested: 0.5 mM and 5 mM combined with EP parameters: 1000 V/cm, 1200 V/cm, and 1500 V/cm. The results show that EP supported by Ca(2+) is cytotoxic for Wehi-164 cells and simultaneously safe for normal muscle cells. The main type of cell death - apoptosis - was confirmed by Tunnel and Annexin V/PI assay. Additionally, sPLA2 pro-tumorigenic influence was proved by immunocytochemistry. Moreover, EP with 0.5 mM of Ca(2+) slightly stimulates the normal muscle cells - L6 to increase proliferation.

Doxorubicin delivery enhanced by electroporation to gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma cells with P-gp overexpression.

Electroporation (EP) can effectively support the penetration of macromolecules from the extracellular space into cells. Electropores induced by the influence of electromagnetic field generate additional paths of transport for macromolecules. The aim of this study was evaluation of the electroporation effect on doxorubicin transport efficiency to human colon (LoVo and LoVo/DX) and gastric (EPG85-257/P and EPG85-257/RDB) adenocarcinoma cells with overexpression of P-glycoprotein and murine macrophage cell line (P388/D1). In our EP experiments cells were placed into a cuvette with aluminum electrodes and pulsed with five square electric pulses of 1300 V/cm and duration of 50 μs each. Cells were also treated with low doxorubicin concentration ([DOX]=1.7 μM). The ultrastructure (TEM) and changes of P-glycoprotein expression of tumor cells subjected to electric field were monitored. The mitochondrial cell function and trypan blue staining were evaluated after 24h. Our results indicate the most pronounced effect of EP with DOX and disturbed ultrastructure in resistant gastric and colon cells with decrease of P-gp expression. Electroporation may be an attractive delivery method of cytostatic drugs in chemotherapy, enabling reduction of drug dose, exposure time and side effects.

Pax-3 and Pax-7 Label Muscle Progenitor Cells During Myotomal Myogenesis in Coregonus lavaretus (Teleostei: Coregonidae)

In Coregonus lavaretus, prior the mesoderm segmentation, in cells adjacent to the notochord called adaxial cells MyoD and slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC‐slow) proteins were observed. After somite formation, adaxial cells migrate towards the lateral part of the myotome and form a layer of red muscles. Deeper cells differentiate into white muscle fibres. In situ hybridization using Pax‐3 molecular probe revealed, that after somitogenesis, Pax‐3 is expressed in a layer of cells superficial to the myotome resembling the “external cells” (found in many teleosts species) or dermomyotome described in Amniota. During later developmental stages Pax‐3 gene is expressed in cells in intermyotomal space and then in myoblasts between myotubes. In these cells Pax‐7 protein was also observed. Pax‐3/7 positive cells which have migrated into the myotomes differentiate into satellite cells/secondary myoblasts and participate in hypertrophic and hyperplastic growth of muscles.

Differentiation and Growth of Myotomal Muscles in a Non-Model Tropical Fish Pterophyllum scalare (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

With 4 figures

Muscle Development and Regeneration in Normal and Pathological Conditions: Learning from Drosophila

The recent demonstration that, throughout evolution, many molecular mechanisms have been highly conserved is fundamental to the advancement of our knowledge on muscle development and regeneration. Research has provided new insights into genetic cascades governing early steps of embryonic myogenesis and the regeneration of adult muscle in normal and pathological conditions, thus revealing significant similarity of both processes. Here we provide a current view on genetic mechanisms underlying muscle regeneration with a special focus on regeneration processes that take place in diseased and aging human muscle. Through examples of Drosophila models of human muscular diseases, we discuss potential impact they might have on uncovering molecular bases and identifying new treatments of muscle disorders. Taking advantage of evolutionarily conserved aspects of muscle development and the relative ease by which molecular pathways can be uncovered and dissected in a simple animal model, the fruit fly, we provide a comprehensive analysis of muscle development in Drosophila. Importantly, identification of muscle stem cell like adult muscle precursors in Drosophila makes fruit fly an attractive model system for studying muscle stem cell biology and muscle regeneration. In support of this assumption, recent studies in our laboratory provide arguments that important insights into the biology of vertebrate muscle stem cells can be gained from genetic analysis in Drosophila.