Huntington’s disease (HD) is one of the human neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective treatment. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a novel neuroprotective agent that can alleviate its course. Fullerene derivatives are considered to be such agents; however, they need to be comprehensively investigated in model organisms. In this work, neuroprotective activity of C₆₀(OH)₃₀ and C₁₂₀O(OH)₄₄ fullerenols was analyzed for the first time in a Drosophila transgenic model of HD. Lifespan, behavior, oxidative stress level and age-related neurodegeneration were assessed in flies with the pathogenic Huntingtin protein expression in nerve cells. Feed supplementation with hydroxylated C₆₀ fullerene and C₁₂₀O dimer oxide molecules was shown to diminish the oxidative stress level and neurodegenerative processes in the flies’ brains. Thus, fullerenes displayed neuroprotective activity in this model.

Bruck syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by increased bone fragility and joint contractures similar to those in arthrogryposis and is known to be associated with mutations in the FKBP10 (FKBP prolyl isomerase 10) and PLOD2 (Procollagen-Lysine,2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenase 2) genes. These genes encode endoplasmic reticulum proteins that play an important role in the biosynthesis of type I collagen, which in turn affects the structure and strength of connective tissues and bones in the body. Mutations are associated with disturbances in both the primary collagen chain and its post-translational formation, but the mechanism by which mutations lead to Bruck syndrome phenotypes has not been determined, not only because of the small number of patients who come to the attention of researchers but also because of the lack of disease models. In our work, we investigated the cellular effects of two forms of the wild-type PLOD2 gene, as well as the PLOD2 gene with homozygous mutation c.1885A>G (p.Thr629Ala). The synthesized genetic constructs were transfected into HEK293 cell line and human skin fibroblasts (DF2 line). The localization of PLOD2 protein in cells and the effects caused by the expression of different isoforms—long, short, and long with mutation—were analyzed. In addition, the results of the transcriptome analysis of a patient with Bruck syndrome, in whom this mutation was detected, are presented.

Arthrogryposis, which represents a group of congenital disorders, includes various forms. One such form is amyoplasia, which most commonly presents in a sporadic form in addition to distal forms, among which hereditary cases may occur. This condition is characterized by limited joint mobility and muscle weakness, leading to limb deformities and various clinical manifestations. At present, the pathogenesis of this disease is not clearly understood, and its diagnosis is often complicated due to significant phenotypic diversity, which can result in delayed detection and, consequently, limited options for symptomatic treatment. In this study, a transcriptomic analysis of the affected muscles from patients diagnosed with amyoplasia was performed, and more than 2000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A functional analysis revealed disrupted biological processes, such as vacuole organization, cellular and aerobic respiration, regulation of mitochondrion organization, cellular adhesion, ATP synthesis, and others. The search for key nodes (hubs) in protein–protein interaction networks allowed for the identification of genes involved in mitochondrial processes.

Functional changes in PNPLA6 (Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 6), caused by gene mutations or inhibition by organophosphates, affect the levels of various phospholipids. In humans, this leads to organophosphorus compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity syndrome (OPIDN) and a number of rare diseases. In this study, we analyze the role of the Swiss cheese gene (sws), an ortholog of PNPLA6, in spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. We report that the sws¹ mutation affects membrane remodeling during spermatid individualization, as well as spermatid coiling during the late stages of spermatogenesis. In addition, the sws¹ mutation leads to changes in the transcriptome in the testes of flies. We also demonstrate that sws is required for the proper functioning of important biological barriers in Drosophila.

Glia is the most common cell type in the central nervous system. Interest in them has increased significantly over the past decades as it has become clear that glia are not just “support” cells for neurons. They also regulate important aspects of the development and functioning of the nervous system. In vertebrates, glial cells perform supporting, trophic, secretory, dividing and protective functions. Despite the fact that the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster has a simple structure, it is similar in function to mammalian glia. The similarity of glia of Drosophila melanogaster and mammals at the molecular and morphological levels suggests that the study of invertebrate glia will provide a better understanding of the main issues in the development of glia in mammals. Using Drosophila melanogaster makes it possible to study various neuron-glia interactions in an intact organism and the use of a wide range of molecular genetic methods allows us to investigate fundamental questions about the nature of glia. The review presents the classification of glial cells in Drosophila melanogaster, describes the currently known functions of all glial cell types in insects, and compares the functions of various glia types of mammals and Drosophila glial cells. Глиальные клетки (ГК) являются наиболее распространенным типом клеток в центральной нервной системе. Интерес к ним значительно увеличился за последние десятилетия по мере осознания того, что глия является не только «опорными» клетками для нейронов, но также регулирует важные аспекты развития и функционирования нервной системы. У позвоночных ГК выполняют опорную, трофическую, секреторную, разграничительную и защитную функции. Несмотря на то, что нервная система Drosophila melanogaster относительно проста по своей структуре, ей присущи характеристики сложно устроенной глии млекопитающих. Схожесть глии Drosophila melanogaster и млекопитающих на молекулярном и морфологическом уровне дает возможность предположить, что исследование глии беспозвоночных позволит лучше понять основные вопросы развития глии у млекопитающих. Использование Drosophila melanogaster дает возможность изучать различные нейрон-глиальные взаимодействия в интактном организме, а использование широкого набора молекулярно-генетических методов позволяет исследовать фундаментальные вопросы природы глии. В обзоре дана классификация глиальных клеток Drosophila melanogaster, описаны известные на сегодняшний день функции всех типов глии насекомого, а также проведено сравнение функций разных типов глиальных клеток млекопитающих и дрозофилы.