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Wild-Type Nonneuronal Cells Extend


Survival of SOD1 Mutant Motor
Neurons in ALS Mice
minh nguyen

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Cell t herapy and st em cells in animal models of mot or neuron disorders


Ole Isacson

REVIEW ART ILCE: Cell t herapy and st em cells in animal models of mot or neuron disorders
Michael Hefferan

Oligodendrocyt e dysfunct ion in t he pat hogenesis of amyot rophic lat eral sclerosis
Ludo Van Den Bosch
Wild-Type Nonneuronal Cells Extend Survival of SOD1 Mutant Motor
Neurons in ALS Mice
A. M. Clement, et al.
Science 302, 113 (2003);
DOI: 10.1126/science.1086071

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CORRECTED 24 OCTOBER 2003; SEE LAST PAGE
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domains, intracellular domain associations 47. J. R. Kremer, D. N. Mastronarde, J. R. McIntosh, J. 1052, and EMD-1053. Supported by NIH grant R01
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together into an adhesive patch with a suf- in preparing samples; F. Macaluso and J. Ault for
Supporting Online Material
ficient number of intercellular bonds to assistance with high-pressure freezing; and K. Tay- www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5642/109/
lor, E. Branlund, N. Kisseberth, and D. Mastronarde DC1
resist shear forces. Materials and Methods
for providing facilities and support for tomographic
data collection and image reconstruction. Coordi- SOM Text
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www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 302 3 OCTOBER 2003 113


REPORTS
death is caused by toxicity of mutant SOD1 acting sures (table S1), including assessment of coat spinal cord areas expressing lacZ, including large
solely within motor neurons, whether cells color, immunoblotting of tail extracts for accumu- spinal motor neurons (Fig. 1I). For comparison,
expressing mutant SOD1 damage neighboring lation of mutant SOD1 and YFP (Fig. 1B), and by spinal cord sections from wild-type and germline
wild-type motor neurons, and whether wild-type the proportion of cross-sectional area in spinal SOD1G93A mice are unstained or completely
nonneuronal cells can protect motor neurons ex- cords with detectable YFP (Fig. 1, C and D). stained for lacZ (Fig. 1, J and K).
pressing ALS-causing SOD1 mutations. Wild-type and SOD1 mutant–expressing cells The presence of wild-type cells in the
To resolve these issues, we generated chimeric contributed to multiple cell types (fig. S1). SOD1G37R/YFP and SOD1G85R/YFP chimeras
animals composed of mixtures of normal cells and An additional 23 chimeras (Fig. 1H) were delayed disease onset with average extensions
cells that express a human mutant SOD1 polypep- produced by using aggregation (31) of morulae of 1.6 months (P ⫽ 0.0033; n ⫽ 17; one tailed
tide at levels sufficient to cause fatal motor neuron from wild-type embryos with morulae carrying Mann-Whitney test) for SOD1G85R and 1.2
disease when expressed systemically in mice. transgenes for another mutant SOD1 (SOD1G93A) months (P ⫽ 0.0007, n ⫽ 17) for SOD1G37R
Forty-two chimeras were produced by injection of (2) and for ubiquitously expressed ␤-galactosidase chimeras (Fig. 1E). Compared with germline
wild-type embryonic stem (ES) cells that consti- (lacZ) (32). Comparable estimates were obtained SOD1 mutant mice, there was an average ex-
tutively express yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) for the amount of mutant SOD1 by using either tension of life-span of 1.8 months (P ⫽ 0.04,
(30) into SOD1G85R (line 148) (3) or SOD1G37R coat color or immunohistochemistry of spinal n ⫽ 13) for SOD1G85R and 1.1 months (P ⫽
(line 42) (4) mutant blastocysts (Fig. 1, A and B). cord sections to identify cells expressing lacZ. For 0.0001, n ⫽ 17) for SOD1G37R chimeras with a
Percent chimerism (ranging from ⬃5 to ⬃90% example, animals determined to be ⬃50% chi- maximum delay of 7.8 and 3.3 months, respec-
wild-type cells) was determined by multiple mea- meric by coat color had a corresponding ⬃50% of tively; Fig. 1F). Both measures correlated well

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011

Fig. 1. Wild-type cells increase survival of mice expressing ALS-linked SOD1 from normal mice and mice heterozygous for SOD1G93A and lacZ transgenes.
mutations. (A) Chimeras generated by injection of E-YFP– expressing ES cells (H to J) Spinal cords from a (I) chimera, ( J) wild-type mouse, and (K)
into blastocysts of SOD1G85R or SOD1G37R transgenic mice. (B) Degree of germline SOD1G93A, lacZ mouse after hematoxylin-and-eosin staining and
chimerism determined by immunoblotting of tail extracts from mice in (A) assay for lacZ (brown). Black and white arrows point to mutant and
with antibodies having equal affinity for human and mouse SOD1 (3, 4) or to wild-type neurons, respectively. (L) Survival versus age for SOD1G93A/lacZ
GFP. Spinal cord sections from mice with (C) low and (D) high contribution chimeras and germline SOD1G93A animals. (M) Survival of SOD1G93A/lacZ
of wild-type cells identified with a GFP antibody (green). DH, Dorsal horn; chimeras versus percent wild-type cells. (N and O) SOD1G93A mutant motor
VH, ventral horn. (E and F) Delayed onset of disease and extended survival of neurons identified in ventral horns of a SOD1G93A/lacZ chimera (N) versus
SOD1 mutant chimeras. (E) Disease onset and (F) survival times for a germline SOD1G93A mouse (O). Mutant cells were identified by antibodies
SOD1G37R/YFP chimeras. (G) All wild-type cells or all neurons, respectively, specific for human SOD1 (green) (3, 4); neurons were identified with a
identified in lumbar spinal cord sections of SOD1G37R/YFP chimeras identi- neurofilament antibody (SMI32) (red). Wild-type motor neurons (red ar-
fied with GFP (green) or neurofilament (red) antibodies. Ages shown are at rows); SOD1G93A mutant– expressing motor neurons (white arrows). A non-
end-stage disease. (H to K) Chimeras generated by aggregation of morulas neuronal, SOD1G93A-expressing cell is marked by an asterisk.

114 3 OCTOBER 2003 VOL 302 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org


REPORTS
G37R
with the proportion of wild-type (YFP-express- SOD1 mutant and hNF-L in spinal cord and C, arrows) and motor roots (Fig. 3E)
ing) cells within each spinal cord (Fig. 1G). extracts revealed ⬃30 and ⬃90% mutant cells in accumulated mutant SOD1. Both of these
A robust extension in life-span was also seen two SOD1G37R/hNFL chimeras (Fig. 2B). Chi- also displayed a striking left-right asymmetry
in the SOD1G93A/lacZ chimeras. Eleven of the 23, mera 7, with the higher wild-type content, did not in the proportion of wild-type (YFP-positive)
including 5 with ⬍30% contribution from wild- develop disease even 5 months beyond the age of
type cells, survived disease-free until they were the longest-lived germline SOD1G37R mice. As
killed at ⬎10 months of age (Fig. 1, L and M), an seen with antibodies specific for human SOD1
age at least twice that of the longest lived germline (fig. S2), hNF-L, or all neurofilaments (to iden-
SOD1G93A littermates (Fig. 1L). Examination of tify mutant and wild-type axons), 30% of ventral
spinal cord and motor roots of two of these re- root axons (Fig. 2, C to E) were mutant. Howev-
vealed that 67% (chimera 45; Fig. 1N) and 77% er, there was no sign of axonal degeneration or
(chimera 67) of motor neurons contained mutant loss in the L5 ventral root (Fig. 2F), in which 978
SOD1, but there was no degeneration or axonal axons remained, a number consistent with the
loss in thoracic roots of either chimera and only 927 ⫾ 99 (n ⫽ 26) seen in age-matched wild-
the earliest signs of degeneration in some lumbar type mice. Furthermore, in contrast to parental
roots of chimera 67. This contrasts with germline SOD1G37R mice (Fig. 2, H, K, and N), even the
SOD1G93A animals in which 100% of the motor earliest pathologic signs of disease, including
neurons express mutant SOD1 (Fig. 1O), and half astrocytosis and microgliosis, were absent in this
of these are lost by 5 months (2). chimera (Fig. 2, I, L, and O), just as they were in

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


Extended survival of mutant-expressing mo- normal mice (Fig. 2, G, J, and M).
tor neurons was also seen in chimeras generated Extended survivals of SOD1 mutant–
by aggregation of morulae from a SOD1G37R expressing motor neurons in the chimeras could
transgenic line (line 29, which has a later disease arise, at least in part, from a protective effect of
onset) (4) with morulae whose wild-type neurons wild-type motor neurons. To test this, two
were marked by expression of very low levels of SOD1G37R/YFP chimeras were identified that
the smallest human neurofilament subunit developed without wild-type motor neurons; all
(hNF-L) (33) (Fig. 2A). Immunoblots for the motor neurons of multiple lumbar levels (Fig. 3, B

Fig. 2. Absence of motor


neuron pathology or de-
generation despite 30%
SOD1G37R mutant–
expressing motor neu-
rons. (A) Chimeras gen-
erated by aggregation of
morulas derived from
hNF-L and SOD1G37R
(line 29) mice. (B) Chi-
merism was determined
by immmunoblotting
spinal cord extracts with
antibodies to hNF-L, ac-
tin, and human/mouse
SOD1. The amount of
hNF-L is a measure for
the contribution of Fig. 3. Wild-type cells that are not motor neurons
wild-type neurons. (C extend survival of SOD1 mutant motor neurons. (A)
to F) Sections of an Number of ventral horn motor neurons on both
L5 ventral root of sides of the lumbar spinal cord was determined for
SOD1G37R/hNF-L chi- germline SOD1G37R mice, age-matched wild-type
mera 7 simultaneously mice, and two chimeras with asymmetric distribu-
labeled for (C) neuro- tion of wild-type cells (n ⱖ 4 sections per animal).
filaments (antibody (***P ⱕ 0.001 with Student’s t test for paired
SMI-32) and (D) human samples; error bars are SEM). (B) Lumbar spinal
SOD1 (3, 4). (E) The ge- section demonstrating an asymmetric distribution
notype of all axons in of wild-type (green, GFP-immunopositive) cells. (C)
the same root were Higher power view of (B). Motor neurons are mu-
identified as in (C and tant (blue, stained with a human-specific SOD1
D) with antibodies spe- antibody), not wild type (GFP-specific antibody,
cific for human SOD1 green). (D) Asymmetric loss of large-caliber axons
(green), hNF-L (red) (to seen in toluidine blue–stained semithin sections of
identify wild-type ax- left and right L5 ventral roots of chimera 646. (E)
ons), and myelin basic Triple-immunofluorescence staining for (green)
protein (blue). (F) No wild-type YFP-expressing cells, (red) mutant human
sign of neurodegenera- SOD1, and (blue) myelin in an L5 ventral root of
tion was visible in a chimera 646. Green staining of a wild-type Schwann
toulidine blue–stained, cell body (left) serves as a positive control for de-
semithin section of the same root. (G to O) Spinal cord sections of (G, J, and M) wild-type, (H, K, and tection of YFP-containing wild-type cells. Examina-
N) SOD1G37R (line 29), and (I, L, and O) chimera 7 immunostained with antibodies against MAC-2 (G tion of the entire root revealed that all axons were
to I), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) ( J to L), and cyclin-dependant kinases (Cdk1, 2, 3) (M to O), mutant bearing (red) (fig. S2 for roots from other
which are markers of activated microglia, astrocytes, and proliferating cells, respectively. chimeras stained contemporaneously).

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 302 3 OCTOBER 2003 115


REPORTS
nonneuronal cells in the two halves of their signs of neurodegeneration. A hallmark for dam- parental mice is not sufficient to trigger their
spinal cords. Germline SOD1G37R mice at end- age to neurons in human patients is the appear- degeneration or the development of pathologic
stage disease uniformly exhibit symmetric loss ance of ubiquitin-positive protein aggregates (34, abnormalities. Rather, wild-type nonneuronal
of two-thirds of their large motor neurons in 35). These are also seen as an early sign for cells, in some cases representing a small minor-
both halves of the lumbar spinal cord (Fig. 3A). damaged neurons in SOD1G85R (3, 8) and ity of total cells, can ameliorate degeneration
However, although all motor neurons were mu- SOD1G37R (4) mice, but do not appear in motor and death of SOD1 mutant–expressing motor
tant in these two SOD1G37R/YFP chimeras, neurons of wild-type mice (Fig. 4, A to C). Ubiq- neurons compared with those in parental SOD1
there was an asymmetric loss of motor neurons uitin aggregates appear in neuronal processes and, mutant mice. That SOD1 mutant neurons sur-
(Fig. 3A; P ⬍ 0.001; paired Student’s t test with less prominently, in cell bodies (Fig. 4B; fig. S3). vive longer when surrounded by a wild-type
n ⬎ 4 sections per animal) and axons, with Similar ubiquitinated epitopes were never seen in environment supports the view that damage to
more than twice as many large-caliber (⬎3.5 age-matched wild-type littermates (Fig. 4A; fig. adjacent nonneuronal cells by mutant SOD1 is a
␮m diameter) surviving axons (Fig. 3D; 187 on S3). In contrast, in both SOD1G37R and major contributor to disease caused by SOD1
the left versus 89 on the right) in the less- SOD1G85R chimeras (n ⫽ 4), some wild-type mutations. Damaged glial cells and neurons,
affected side. In both chimeras, the side with neurons (YFP-containing; arrows in Fig. 4, D and therefore, could act in concert to provoke dis-
higher neuronal survival had a higher propor- E, and G and H) in end-stage chimeras accumu- ease, consistent with failure of mutant expres-
tion (25 versus 2% in chimera 646; 30 versus lated ubiquitinated epitopes in neuronal processes sion in single cell types to induce motor neuron
10% in chimera 213) of wild-type (YFP- (Fig. 4F, arrows) and cell bodies (Fig. 4I, arrow), degeneration (27–29). It is also consistent with
expressing) nonneuronal cells throughout the which indicates that a deficit in ubiquitin-depen- the failure of increased levels of mutant SOD1
lumbar cords. Thus, even when all motor neu- dent protein degradation is acquired by these wild- within neurons to accelerate disease caused by

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


rons are mutant, an environment having a high- type neurons. The intensity of such ubiquitin ubiquitous expression of SOD1G93A (28). In-
er proportion of wild-type, nonneuronal cells staining in wild-type axons (Fig. 4F, arrows) and deed, we know of no compelling in vivo evi-
reduces motor neuron mortality. motor neuron cell bodies (Fig. 4I, arrow) frequent- dence that the genotype of the motor neurons
To assess whether SOD1 mutant nonneuronal ly exceeded that of neurons expressing mutant themselves has any bearing on the probability of
cells can influence neighboring wild-type neu- SOD1 (Fig. 4F, boxed areas; Fig. 4I). their death in ALS; motor neuron death could in
rons, spinal cord sections of chimeric animals We found that expression of mutant SOD1 principle be provoked solely by damage to multi-
were analyzed at end-stage disease for pathologic in motor neurons at levels that cause disease in ple types of adjacent cells such as interneurons,
astrocytes, and microglia. Further work is critical
to evaluate this possibility.

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20. E. D. Hall, J. A. Oostveen, M. E. Gurney, Glia 23, 249
(1998).
21. J. L. Elliott, Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 95, 172 (2001).
22. T. Kawamata, H. Akiyama, T. Yamada, P. L. McGeer,
Am. J. Pathol. 140, 691 (1992).
23. L. Van Den Bosch, P. Tilkin, G. Lemmens, W. Robbe-
recht, Neuroreport 13, 1067 (2002).
24. S. Zhu et al., Nature 417, 74 (2002).
Fig. 4. Acquisition of abnormal ubiquitination in wild-type neurons adjacent to SOD1 mutant–expressing 25. J. Kriz, M. D. Nguyen, L. P. Julien, Neurobiol. Dis.10,
cells. Confocal micrographs of spinal cord cross sections from the lumbar region of (A) normal (C57/B6), (B) 268 (2002).
SOD1G85R (line 148), and (C) SOD1G37R (line 42) mice after staining with (red) neurofilament (SMI32) and 26. C. Raoul et al., Neuron 35, 1067 (2002).
(blue) ubiquitin antibodies. Ubiquitin-containing aggregates in neuronal processes (arrows) are present in 27. A. Pramatarova, J. Laganiere, J. Roussel, K. Brisebois,
SOD1G85R and SOD1G37R germline animals, as well as in the cell bodies (block arrow). (D to I) Triple labeling G. A. Rouleau, J. Neurosci. 21, 3369 (2001).
28. M. M. Lino, C. Schneider, P. Caroni, J. Neurosci. 22,
of spinal cord sections from (D to F) SOD1G37R and (G to I) SOD1G85R chimeras stained with (D and G) SMI32 4825 (2002).
to identify neurons (red), (E and H) GFP to detect wild-type cells (green), and (F and I) ubiquitin (blue). Arrows 29. Y. H. Gong, A. S. Parsadanian, A. Andreeva, W. D.
in (D to F) point to a wild-type axon with elevated levels of ubiquitin compared with a mutant axon Snider, J. L. Elliott, J. Neurosci. 20, 660 (2000).
highlighted in the boxed region. Arrow in (G to I) points to a wild-type neuronal cell body with high ubiquitin 30. A. K. Hadjantonakis, A. Nagy, Histochem. Cell Biol.
accumulation compared with an adjacent SOD1G85R motor neuron. Additional examples are in fig. S3. 115, 49 (2001).

116 3 OCTOBER 2003 VOL 302 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org


REPORTS
31. A. Nagy, J. Rossant, in Gene Targeting: A Practical supported by the grants from the NIH (NS 27036 to CIHR Senior Investigator Award. D.W.C. receives salary
Approach, A. L. Joyner, Ed. (Oxford Univ. Press, New D.W.C, HD 30249 to A.P.M., AG 13846 to R.J.F., AG support from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.
York, 1999), pp. 177–206. 12992 to R.H.B. and R.J.F, and NS 31248 and NS 37912 L.S.B.G. is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Med-
32. B. P. Zambrowicz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. to R.H.B.); the Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins ical Institute.
94, 3789 (Apr 15, 1997). (to D.W.C and L.S.B.G.); the ALS Association (to A.P.M.
Supporting Online Material
33. J. P. Julien, L. Beaudet, I. Tretjakoff, A. Peterson, and R.H.B.); the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
J. Physiol. 84, 50 (1990). www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5642/113/
(CIHR) (to J.-P.J.); the Angel Fund for ALS Research; and
34. P. H. Leigh et al., Brain 114, 775 (1991). DC1
Project ALS (to R.H.B.); and the Veterans Administration
35. M. Watanabe et al., Neurobiol. Dis. 8, 933 (2001). Materials and Methods
(R.J.F.). A.M.C. was supported in part by a fellowship
36. We gratefully acknowledge A.-K. Hadjantonakis (Co- from the German Research Council (DFG, Cl-175). Figs. S1 to S4
lumbia University, New York, NY ) and A. Nagy (Mount M.D.N. is a recipient of a K. M. Hunter/CIHR Scholarship. Table S1
Sinai Hospital, Toronto) for providing the E-YFP-ES cells; M.L.G. is the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from References and Notes
P. Hince and D. Houle for their technical help; and J. the NIH. S.B. is a recipient of a Fondation pour la
Folmer ( Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD). This work was Recherche Medicale fellowship. J.-P.J. is a recipient of a 24 April 2003; accepted 13 August 2003

Thalamic Control of Visceral Mice homozygous for a null mutation of the


␣1G (CaV3.1) gene showed a functional deletion
of T-type currents and lacked low threshold burst
Nociception Mediated by T-Type firing in the thalamocortical relay neurons (13).
We measured the sensitivity of the ␣1G-deficient
Ca2ⴙ Channels mice (␣1G–/–) by delivering thermal or mechani-
cal stimuli delivered either on the palm or tail

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


Daesoo Kim, Donghyun Park, Soonwook Choi, Sukchan Lee, (supporting online material). No significant differ-
Minjeong Sun, Chanki Kim, Hee-Sup Shin* ence was observed between the mutants and their
wild-type littermates in these assays (Fig. 1, A to
Sensations from viscera, like fullness, easily become painful if the stimulus persists. Mice C). Hyperalgesia to cutaneous pain, as measured
lacking ␣1G T-type Ca2⫹ channels show hyperalgesia to visceral pain. Thalamic infusion by the relative enhancement of the pain response
of a T-type blocker induced similar hyperalgesia in wild-type mice. In response to by a subcutaneous injection of complete Freund’s
visceral pain, the ventroposterolateral thalamic neurons evoked a surge of single spikes, adjuvant (CFA) before pain tests (14), also did not
which then slowly decayed as T type–dependent burst spikes gradually increased. In significantly differ between the wild type and the
␣1G-deficient neurons, the single-spike response persisted without burst spikes. These mutant (Fig. 1D). Next, we examined the sensi-
results indicate that T-type Ca2⫹ channels underlie an antinociceptive mechanism tivity of the mice to visceral pain induced by
operating in the thalamus and support the idea that burst firing plays a critical role in intraperitoneal administration of either acetic acid
sensory gating in the thalamus. (Fig. 1E) or MgSO4 solution (Fig. 1F) as previ-
ously described (15). The wild-type mice showed
Low voltage–activated (LVA) T-type Ca2⫹ chan- sensory inputs, they respond in dual firing typical pain behaviors characterized by writhing,
nels play crucial roles in the control of cellular modes: either in singular action potentials or in such as abdominal stretching and constriction in
excitability under diverse physiological and a burst of action potentials clustered together as response to these two chemicals, with MgSO4-
pathological processes (1, 2). Recently, studies a high-frequency discharge (8–10). T-type induced pain responses terminated earlier than
revealed a novel role of T-type Ca2⫹ channel in Ca2⫹ channels are known to excite hyperpolar- those by acetic acids (15). However, compared
the pain sensory pathway by showing that this ized thalamic neurons to generate bursts of
channel facilitates pain signals in peripheral noci- action potentials. There has been much debate
ceptors (3, 4) and in the spinal cord (5). T-type about the role of the thalamic burst firing in the National Creative Research Initiative Center for Cal-
channels are also highly expressed in the thalamus sensory processing (11, 12). Therefore, whether cium and Learning, Korea Institutes of Science and
(6), through which noxious signals from the spi- thalamic T-type channels would contribute to Technology, Seoul 136-791, Korea.
nal cords must pass before reaching the cortex (7). the nociceptive signal processing as a signal *To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-
When the thalamocortical relay neurons receive enhancer or a suppressor is an open question. mail: shin@kist.re.kr

Fig. 1. Pain responses


of ␣1G⫺/⫺ mice to
noxious stimuli. (A)
Responses to mechan-
ical stimuli with von
Frey filaments. (B) Tail
flick responses to ther-
mal stimuli. (C) Paw
withdrawal responses
to infrared thermal
stimuli at two differ-
ent intensities. (D) One day after injection of CFA (1⫻) in the left paw, infrared
thermal stimuli were delivered either to the injected paw (ipsilateral) or the opposite
uninjected paw (contralateral). Visceral pain induced by intraperitoneal injection of
either acetic acid (E) or MgSO4 solution (F). Writhing responses were examined for 20
min after acetic acid injection or for 10 min after MgSO4 injection. Error bars indicate
SEM. Two-tailed t test, *P ⬍ 0.01; **P ⬎ 0.05.

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 302 3 OCTOBER 2003 117


C O R R E C T I O N S A N D C L A R I F I C AT I O N S

ERRATUM post date 24 October 2003

REPORTS: “Wild-type nonneuronal cells extend survival of SOD1 mu-


tant motor neurons in ALS mice” by A. M. Clement et al. (3 Oct. 2003,
p. 113). The word “inherited” was deleted from the first sentence of
the abstract. It should read as follows: “The most common inherited
form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative dis-
ease affecting adult motor neurons, is caused by dominant mutations
in the ubiquitously expressed Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1).”

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE Erratum post date 24 OCTOBER 2003 1


Letters to the Editor
Letters (~300 words) discuss material published
in Science in the previous 6 months or issues
of general interest. They can be submitted by
LETTERS
e-mail (science_letters@aaas.org), the Web compelling evidence for the control of School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales,
(www.letter2science.org), or regular mail phytoplankton productivity by dissolved Bangor, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK. E-
(1200 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC iron (K. O. Buesseler, P. W. Boyd, “Will mail: d.thomas@bangor.ac.uk
20005, USA). Letters are not acknowledged ocean fertilization work?”, Perspectives, 4 References
upon receipt, nor are authors generally Apr., p. 67) (1). 1. S. W. Chisholm, P. G. Falkowski, J. J. Cullen, Science
consulted before publication. Whether 294, 309 (2001).
However, there is an intriguing conun- 2. D. N.Thomas, G. S. Dieckmann, Science 295, 641 (2002).
published in full or in part, letters are subject
drum when interpreting the annual develop- 3. A. S. Brierley, D. N.Thomas, Adv.Mar.Biol. 43, 171 (2002).
to editing for clarity and space. 4. H. Eicken, Polar Biol. 12, 3 (1992).
ment of primary production in this region. In
5. S. F. Ackley, C.W. Sullivan, Deep-Sea Res. 41, 1583 (1994).
autumn, about 14 million km2 of the 6. K. R. Arrigo, D. L. Worthen, M. P. Lizotte, P. Dixon, G. S.
A Serendipitous Southern Ocean freezes over, providing a Dieckmann, Science 276, 394 (1997).
seasonally variable habitat for marine organ-
Purchase isms (2, 3). If iron is limiting to Southern
European Union R&D
Ocean phytoplankton growth, and sea ice is
I RECENTLY ORDERED A BOOK, BASIC COLOR formed from the same iron-deficient waters, Spending
Terms: Their Universality and Evolution it seems reasonable to conclude that the ice-
(1), through an online book dealer. The based primary production should also be iron LIKE MANY WHO SHARE PIERRE PAPON’S

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


book was simply advertised as a “used limited. Some phytoplankton species become vision of a more interlinked future for
book, first edition, dust jacket, good condi- caught up in the ice. Maximum growth of science among countries in the European
tion.” When it arrived, I opened the front these “ice algae” is often concentrated on the Union (EU)—a “European Research
cover and found a bookplate from The bottom few centimeters of ice floes (2, 4), Area”—I greatly appreciated his recent
Rockefeller University and a tag with the where replenishment of inorganic nutrients Editorial, “A challenge for the EU” (1
words “Laboratory book—Dr. Hartline.” from the underlying water sustains high Aug., p. 565). The following points may
It has been 20 years since Haldane Keffer standing crops, several orders of magnitude add some relevant texture.
Hartline passed away. Hartline shared the greater than those measured in the water Papon begins by emphasizing the dispari-
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in column (3–5). If this replenishment is with ties in spending on R&D between the United
1967 with Ragnar Granit and George Wald. States, Japan, and the EU: 2.8%,
He was a mentor to many neuroscientists at 3.0%, and 1.9% of GDP, respec-
the University of Pennsylvania, Johns tively. Against this background,
Hopkins University, and Rockefeller Papon outlines the European
University. I am a direct “academic descen- Commissioners’ plan to increase
dant” of his. My graduate advisor lineage can EU R&D spending to 3.0% of
be traced back through Maureen Powers, GDP and then devotes much of
Stephen Easter Jr., and Edward the rest of his Editorial to EU
MacNichol Jr. to “Keff ” Hartline. proposals about spending on
Words cannot express my feelings basic research in general and for
about owning a book that was owned by a European Research Council
my graduate adviser’s adviser’s adviser’s (ERC) in particular. To the
adviser. We in science need to give contrary of the impression that
thanks to our mentors and those who Papon’s Editorial may uninten-
have blazed the trails before us in our tionally give, science base
respective fields; we also need to spending (1) is slightly higher in
Sea ice in the Southern Ocean.
continue to be cognizant of our students the EU than in the United States,
and how we may influence them directly or iron-deficient water, the growth of these although lower than in Japan: 0.65%, 0.63%,
indirectly. In the words of Hartline from his algae presumably would be iron limited. In and 0.85% of GDP, respectively. The differ-
banquet speech at the Nobel ceremony, “Tack fact, sea ice algal growth is rapid within new ences in the R&D figures arise almost
sa mycket.” Thank you very much. sea ice (2–6), and in spring and summer, entirely from differences in spending by the
CARL J. BASSI iced-based primary production remains high private sector (business and industry),
College of Optometry, University of Missouri–St. (4, 5). This suggests that the ice-based mainly on Development rather than
Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA. E-mail: primary production is not iron limited. Research. And within the EU countries,
bassi@umsl.edu Blooms of sea ice algae occur throughout the there is considerable variation, with several
Reference pack and are not restricted to ice overlying spending significantly more on their science
1. B. Berlin, P. Kay, Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and iron-rich coastal waters. base than the United States: Germany,
Evolution (Univ. of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 1969).
Although logistically difficult, iron 0.73%; France, 0.80%; Netherlands, 0.88%;
fertilization experiments extended to and Sweden, 0.95%, compared with, for
measure the fate of a “fertilized” patch example, UK, 0.59%, and Spain, 0.42%.
Iron Limitation in the when frozen into sea ice, or the “fertiliza- Studies of research output, whether meas-
CREDITS: D. N. THOMAS

tion” of water just prior to freezing, would ured by numbers of papers, citations, or major
Southern Ocean help a more complete interpretation of iron international prizes, in relation to science base
limitation of phytoplankton growth in spending 3 to 5 years earlier, reveal very big
LARGE-SCALE “IRON FERTILIZATION” EXPERI- seasonally ice-covered waters. differences—up to a factor of five—among
ments in the Southern Ocean provide DAVID N. THOMAS Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 302 24 OCTOBER 2003 565


LETTERS
ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
Development (OECD) countries, with the top EU and the United States. Indicators reveal
performers being Switzerland, Sweden, and that Europe is investing globally less in
Israel (2, 3). It is not simply how much you research than the United States, and the
spend, but how you spend it. recent trend is not favorable to Europe: U.S.
The existing European Science Found- industry has continuously increased its
ation (ESF) has modest funding, but I think it R&D funding (but not in basic science),
uses it wonderfully well for its designated while the NIH, for example, has doubled its
task of creating collegial networks in budget during the last 5 years. As far as the
response to theme proposals. Along with figures regarding spending for basic science
Framework VI’s Marie Curie, Human that May cites, I think they must be consid-
Resources and Mobility, and other postdoc- ered carefully. For example, May points out
toral programs that enable the best young that France’s science base funding corre-
researchers in the EU to move freely among sponds to 0.80% of the GDP, with lower
the best laboratories, this is a powerful force figures for Germany and the UK and higher
for breaking down hierarchical organizations figures for Sweden and the Netherlands.
and, indeed, creating a European research Actually, those figures for public expenses
area. But any ERC, roughly aimed as a pan- correspond to different types of spending in
EU analog of the U.S. National Science different countries: For France, the figure
Foundation (NSF), should, in my view, meet includes budgets for academic science
several stringent criteria: It must fulfil clearly (CNRS, universities, etc.) and also for

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


identified scientific needs that are not space, nuclear energy, and defense activities
currently being met, be based on clear prin- (roughly half of the 0.80%) that are not, for
The following organizations ciples of scientific excellence, have the most part, science-related. I suspect that
have placed ads in the minimum bureaucracy, complement existing the situation is the same for Germany, which
Special Advertising Section organizations, and not be at the expense of has an important space budget, and probably
national funding. Given the huge variety of for the UK, which has kept an important mili-
Drug Discovery and scientific cultures currently within the EU tary R&D effort, although the military/space
Biotechnology Trends
countries, fulfilment of these criteria cannot spending is probably a lower proportion of the

DNA and
be lightly assumed. I look forward to seeing total than in France. The United States, which
how these issues are dealt with by the rele- has by far the biggest military R&D in the
vant EU Panel, chaired by Federico Mayor, world, spends a rather fair proportion of this

Biochips 3: former Director General of UNESCO.


These observations are offered in a
constructive spirit and with real enthusiasm
effort on basic science; this is not the case in a
country such as France. Furthermore, funds
provided by foundations to academic science
Smaller, Faster, Better for the ideal of “one Europe” in science. are certainly higher in the United States than
The EU postdoctoral mobility schemes, in Europe (the UK being a positive exception
ADVERTISER Page despite the considerable bureaucracy too in Europe).
Affymetrix, Inc. ....................... 669
often associated with them, are truly I agree that research output varies
building the scientific Europe of tomorrow. considerably within Europe and that the
American Type
Culture Collection At this stage, however, I would put more way money is spent is also important. The
(ATCC) ...................................... 673 emphasis on unleashing this creativity of performance of Swedish and Swiss science
Ciphergen the young in Europe, especially in countries is certainly very good, but those countries
Biosystems, Inc. .................... 671 where current hierarchical structures are have focused their activities on a limited
Fluidigm Corporation .......... 675 correlated with relatively poor average number of areas (biomedicine, for
Roche return on research spending, and less on example) in which they can manage to have
Applied Sciences .................. 666 creating large EU-level research councils. a better concentration of material and
SANYO Sales & Marketing ROBERT M. MAY human means.
Corporation / SANYO Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, I fully agree also with May’s remarks
Electric Biomedical Co., Ltd. .. 676
South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. about the ERC, and the criteria that he
Takara Bio, Inc. ...................... 668
References and Notes proposes are those that were highlighted in the
1. The term “science base” describes all research and ESF high-level expert group’s report to which
postgraduate training undertaken in universities,
government-funded laboratories, and private I refer in my Editorial. An ERC should react
nonprofit organizations (charities or foundations) more quickly to the science evolution than the
funded both from public and nonpublic sources. For present R&D Framework Programme, which
more information on the science base and difficulties
Turn to page 667 in its estimation [it is not a conventional OECD has been able to launch positive initiatives
statistic, and the usual R&D spending by institutions as the Marie Curie fellowships. Lastly, I
of Higher Education (HERD) is not always a good agree with May that the absolute priority
measure of it], see reference (9) in (4).
2. R. M. May, Science 275, 793 (1997).
for Europe and the European Research
3. See reference (1) in (4). Area is to support the young generation of
4. R. M. May, Science 281, 48 (1998). scientists. It should be also the task of an
ERC.
Response PIERRE PAPON
I THANK MAY FOR HIS COMMENTS ON MY Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie
Editorial. I wanted, indeed, to emphasize the Industrielles, CNRS, 10 Rue Vauquelin, Paris 75005,
growing gap in R&D funding between the France.

24 OCTOBER 2003 VOL 302 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org


LETTERS
The Structure of Biology, Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research
Establishment, Japan Atomic Energy Research
D. radiodurans Institute, 1233 Watanuki, Takasaki, Gunma 370-
1292, Japan. 5Laboratoire de Génétique
IN THEIR RECENT REPORT (“RINGLIKE STRUC- Moléculaire Evolutive et Médicale, INSERM U
ture of the Deinococcus radiodurans 571–2ème étage, Faculté de Médecine Necker-
genome: a key to radioresistance,” 10 Jan., Enfants Malades Université René, Descartes-Paris
p. 254), S. Levin-Zaidman et al. propose V, 75730 Paris Cedex 15, France. 6Institut de
that single genomes of D. radiodurans Génétique et Microbiologie, Université Paris Sud,
assume a tightly packed toroidal morphology, Bâtiment 409, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
each within its own cellular compartment. Reference
They suggest that this structure passively 1. N. V. Hud, K. H. Downing, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
98, 14925 (2001).
protects D. radiodurans from DNA double-
strand breaks by preventing the ends of
adjacent DNA fragments from diffusing Response
apart during a first stage of repair. In THE PROPOSED CORRELATION BETWEEN
thinking about the organism and the model, DNA repair in Deinococcus radiodurans
we believe that several additional consider- and the toroidal chromosome organization
ations should receive attention. exhibited by this radioresistant bacterial
First, we do not consider transmission strain has instigated heated debates.

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


electron microscopy images alone suffi- In the most general terms, we do not
cient evidence to justify categorizing the claim that efficient and probably unique
nucleoid as toroidal. Second, the D. radio- enzymatic pathways do not contribute to the
durans genome is divided into four circular exceptional resistance of D. radiodurans.
genetic elements that are repaired with Rather, we contend that error-free repair of
equal efficiency. It is difficult to envision multiple double-stranded DNA breaks
how all four segments of the genome could represents an informational problem that
conform to the proposed structure and cannot be solved solely by such pathways.
repair model. Third, it is unclear why the The next issue concerns the actual pres-
authors refer to the tetracoccus as a single ence, uniqueness, and physiological rele-
cell with four compartments. Every vance of the chromatin toroidal morphology
previous study has concluded that the tetra- in D. radiodurans cells. This morphology
coccus represents four separate cells, each should be assessed in light of our knowl-
with four or more genome equivalents of edge on DNA packaging modes in other
DNA. The DNA content detected in earlier bacterial strains and the techniques used to
studies argues for much more than one identify these modes. D. radiodurans cells
genome per compartment. Fourth, the work were prepared for transmission electron
of Hud and Downing (1), cited by Levin- microscopy by several fixation methods,
Zaidman et al., does not address diffusion including chemical and ultrafast cryo tech-
of DNA fragments within a toroid. The niques, which are generally considered as
authors argue that the restricted diffusion highly reliable (1). When these techniques
might allow for error-free end-joining as a were applied on actively growing E. coli,
repair process. However, DNA ends salmonella, B. subtilis, M. xanthus, and
damaged by radiation have a variety of struc- other bacterial strains, they invariably indi-
tures and may have missing nucleotides. They cated an amorphous and irregularly
are thus unlikely to be spliced together in an dispersed chromatin organization. The fact
error-free manner, regardless of restricted that an identical array of fixation methods
diffusion. regularly reveals distinct DNA toroids in D.
We share the authors’ fascination with radiodurans attests to both the credibility
this unusually adaptable bacterium. New of the observation and the uniqueness of
efforts at quantitative examination of the this packaging mode. But does this organi-
morphological features of this bacterium, zation represent indeed a decisive factor in
complemented by work in other disci- promoting DNA repair?
plines, may help to resolve these issues. We proposed that the tight toroidal
JOHN R. BATTISTA,1 MICHAEL M. COX,2 MICHAEL J. organization prevents free DNA ends from
DALY,3 ISSAY NARUMI,4 MIROSLAV RADMAN,5 diffusing away from each other, based not
SUZANNE SOMMER6 only on the high extent of compactness and
1Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, 202 order that characterize in vitro DNA
Life Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. E-mail: toroids, but also on two additional observa-
jbattis@lsu.edu. 2Department of Biochemistry, tions. DNA repair in D. radiodurans is
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI markedly promoted by freezing and desic-
53706, USA. 3Department of Pathology, Uniformed cation (2) that slow down molecular diffu-
Services University of the Health Sciences, sion. Repair is, in contrast, strongly attenu-
Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. 4Biotechnology ated at high temperatures (3) that accelerate
Laboratory, Department of Ion-beam-applied diffusion. Moreover, conditions that induce

www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 302 24 OCTOBER 2003


LETTERS
Explore toroidal DNA packaging have been shown
to dramatically stimulate DNA ligation.
and toroidal chromatin packaging, implying
that these factors contribute to radioresis-
Greenland These findings highlight the relevance of
restricted diffusion within DNA toroids that
tance.
ABRAHAM MINSKY, AJAY K. SHARMA, JOSEPH
& Iceland! act as a “molecular cage.” Within the tightly
packed DNA toroids, water content is
ENGLANDER
Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann
Spectacular Landscapes
reduced, resulting in a decreased formation Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, and
Wildlife & History of reactive radicals, as well as in altered Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, National
September 13-26, 2004 photochemical properties of DNA (4). This, Cancer Institute/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
and the close proximity of free DNA ends References:
within the toroids, is likely to substantially 1. C. Robinow, E. Kellenberger, Microbiol. Rev. 58, 211
(1994).
reduce the probability of nucleotide modifi- 2. A. Venkateswaran et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66,
cations at these ends. The observation that 2620 (2000).
repair is enhanced by desiccation (2) further 3. S. Kitayama, A. Matsuyama, J. Radiat. Res. 21, 257
(1980).
substantiates this claim. 4. M. H. Patrick, D. M. Gray, Photochem. Photobiol. 24,
The last point concerns the morphology of 507 (1976).
a D. radiodurans cell and its relevance to 5. R. G. Murray, M. Hall, B. G. Thompson, Can. J. Microbiol.
29, 1412 (1983).
DNA repair. In their seminal structural 6. See http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/
studies, Murray et al. demonstrated that D. ast14dec99_1.htm.
radiodurans strains separate into what the 7. V. Norris, M. S. Madsen, J. Mol. Biol. 253, 739 (1995).

Downloaded from www.sciencemag.org on February 4, 2011


authors specified as individual tetrads,
whereby the compartments are not fully sepa-
rated but rather “remain in communication”
(5). We probed a very large number of cells at CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
different growth phases. All stationary D. Research Articles: “LMO2-associated clonal T cell
radiodurans cells were scored as tetrads, as proliferation in two patients after gene therapy for
Join us!... on this 14-day were ~85% of exponentially growing SCID-X1” by S. Hacein-Bey-Abina et al. (17 Oct., p.
bacteria. The rest appeared as sextets or 415). The second and third authors, C.Von Kalle and
expedition and voyage of M. Schmidt, should have had asterisks after their
octets, corresponding to cells at various states
discovery to Greenland of division. The tetrad morphology of D.
names, to indicate shared first authorship with S.
Hacein-Bey-Abina. The asterisks were inadvertently
and Iceland. radiodurans was highlighted in a light micro- omitted because of an editorial error.
Explore intriguing volcanic graph contributed by M. Daly, where the cells
and historic locations in were defined as “tetrad growth units” (6). Reports: “Wild-type nonneuronal cells extend
Iceland, and remote, rarely Our studies revealed that chromosomal survival of SOD1 mutant motor neurons in ALS
copies in a D. radiodurans cell are segregated mice” by A. M. Clement et al. (3 Oct., p. 113). The
visited fjords and the stunning word “inherited” was deleted from the first
east coast of Greenland, while in the four compartments. Because chromo- sentence of the abstract. It should read as follows:
we look for musk ox, narwals, somal segregation has been proposed to “The most common inherited form of amyotrophic
whales, seals, seabirds, and promote different extents of DNA packaging lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease
other wildlife. Fjords and per genome (7), we claim that the tetrad affecting adult motor neurons, is caused by domi-
morphology is relevant to DNA repair, inas- nant mutations in the ubiquitously expressed Cu-
glaciers plunge to the sea Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1).”
along East Greenland, one of much as it allows for coexistence of dispersed
and tightly packed toroidal chromosomes in a
the most beautiful landscapes Reports: “A dearth of dark matter in ordinary
single D. radiodurans cell. Indeed, prelimi-
imaginable. nary studies conducted in our laboratory on
elliptical galaxies” by A. J. Romanowsky et al. (19
Sept., p. 1696). In the third column on page 1697,
We will also learn about the the highly resistant strains D. radiopugnans in the 21st line, the number should be 7.1 ± 0.6,
early Viking voyages 1,000 years and D. radiophilus revealed DNA segregation not 6.4 ± 0.6.
ago, the fabulous literature of
medieval Iceland, and history
of one of the world’s oldest TECHNICAL COMMENT ABSTRACTS
democracies. Travel on an COMMENT ON “14C Dates from Tel Rehov: Iron-Age Chronology, Pharaohs,
excellent expedition ship, and Hebrew Kings”
M/V Mikheev. At night the Israel Finkelstein and Eli Piasetzky
Northern Lights will dance
overhead. We contest the interpretation by Bruins et al. (Reports, 11 April 2003, p. 315) of the Tel Rehov 14C data from the
points of view of method, provenance, interpretation of the calibration, and historical analysis.These data can be
From approximately $4,595 interpreted as supporting the Low Chronology for Iron Age IIA strata in the Levant.
per person twin share + air. Full text at www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5645/568b

For a detailed brochure, RESPONSE TO COMMENT ON “14C Dates from Tel Rehov: Iron-Age Chronology,
please call (800) 252-4910 Pharaohs, and Hebrew Kings”
Hendrik J. Bruins, Johannes van der Plicht, Amihai Mazar
The entire 10th century B.C.E. is represented in the consistent Groningen radiocarbon series of Tel Rehov: Phases
D3 and D2, and Strata VI, V, and even IV in its upper range. The results contradict Finkelstein’s Low Chronology,
17050 Montebello Road but do support a Revised Traditional Chronology for the Iron Age in the Southern Levant.
Cupertino, California 95014 Full text at www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/302/5645/568c

Email: AAASinfo@betchartexpeditions.com
24 OCTOBER 2003 VOL 302 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org

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