Deciphering DED assembly mechanisms in FADD-procaspase-8-cFLIP complexes regulating apoptosis.

Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), procaspase-8, and cellular FLICE-inhibitory proteins (cFLIP) assemble through death-effector domains (DEDs), directing death receptor signaling towards cell survival or apoptosis. Understanding their three-dimensional regulatory mechanism has been limited by the absence of atomic coordinates for their ternary DED complex. By employing X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we present the atomic coordinates of human FADD-procaspase-8-cFLIP complexes, revealing structural insights into these critical interactions. These structures illustrate how FADD and cFLIP orchestrate the assembly of caspase-8-containing complexes and offer mechanistic explanations for their role in promoting or inhibiting apoptotic and necroptotic signaling. A helical procaspase-8-cFLIP hetero-double layer in the complex appears to promote limited caspase-8 activation for cell survival. Our structure-guided mutagenesis supports the role of the triple-FADD complex in caspase-8 activation and in regulating receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1). These results propose a unified mechanism for DED assembly and procaspase-8 activation in the regulation of apoptotic and necroptotic signaling across various cellular pathways involved in development, innate immunity, and disease.

High-throughput mapping of a whole rhesus monkey brain at micrometer resolution.

Whole-brain mesoscale mapping in primates has been hindered by large brain sizes and the relatively low throughput of available microscopy methods. Here, we present an approach that combines primate-optimized tissue sectioning and clearing with ultrahigh-speed fluorescence microscopy implementing improved volumetric imaging with synchronized on-the-fly-scan and readout technique, and is capable of completing whole-brain imaging of a rhesus monkey at 1 × 1 × 2.5 µm3 voxel resolution within 100 h. We also developed a highly efficient method for long-range tracing of sparse axonal fibers in datasets numbering hundreds of terabytes. This pipeline, which we call serial sectioning and clearing, three-dimensional microscopy with semiautomated reconstruction and tracing (SMART), enables effective connectome-scale mapping of large primate brains. With SMART, we were able to construct a cortical projection map of the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus and identify distinct turning and routing patterns of individual axons in the cortical folds while approaching their arborization destinations.

Scalable volumetric imaging for ultrahigh-speed brain mapping at synaptic resolution.

The speed of high-resolution optical imaging has been a rate-limiting factor for meso-scale mapping of brain structures and functional circuits, which is of fundamental importance for neuroscience research. Here, we describe a new microscopy method of Volumetric Imaging with Synchronized on-the-fly-scan and Readout (VISoR) for high-throughput, high-quality brain mapping. Combining synchronized scanning beam illumination and oblique imaging over cleared tissue sections in smooth motion, the VISoR system effectively eliminates motion blur to obtain undistorted images. By continuously imaging moving samples without stopping, the system achieves high-speed 3D image acquisition of an entire mouse brain within 1.5 hours, at a resolution capable of visualizing synaptic spines. A pipeline is developed for sample preparation, imaging, 3D image reconstruction and quantification. Our approach is compatible with immunofluorescence methods, enabling flexible cell-type specific brain mapping and is readily scalable for large biological samples such as primate brains. Using this system, we examined behaviorally relevant whole-brain neuronal activation in 16 c-Fos-shEGFP mice under resting or forced swimming conditions. Our results indicate the involvement of multiple subcortical areas in stress response. Intriguingly, neuronal activation in these areas exhibits striking individual variability among different animals, suggesting the necessity of sufficient cohort size for such studies.

Structural Insights into DD-Fold Assembly and Caspase-9 Activation by the Apaf-1 Apoptosome.

Death domain (DD)-fold assemblies play a crucial role in regulating the signaling to cell survival or death. Here we report the crystal structure of the caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-CARD disk of the human apoptosome. The structure surprisingly reveals that three 1:1 Apaf-1:procaspase-9 CARD protomers form a novel helical DD-fold assembly on the heptameric wheel-like platform of the apoptosome. The small-angle X-ray scattering and multi-angle light scattering data also support that three protomers could form an oligomeric complex similar to the crystal structure. Interestingly, the quasi-equivalent environment of CARDs could generate different quaternary CARD assemblies. We also found that the type II interaction is conserved in all DD-fold complexes, whereas the type I interaction is found only in the helical DD-fold assemblies. This study provides crucial insights into the caspase activation mechanism, which is tightly controlled by a sophisticated and highly evolved CARD assembly on the apoptosome, and also enables better understanding of the intricate DD-fold assembly.

Aplysia Locomotion: Network and Behavioral Actions of GdFFD, a D-Amino Acid-Containing Neuropeptide.

One emerging principle is that neuromodulators, such as neuropeptides, regulate multiple behaviors, particularly motivated behaviors, e.g., feeding and locomotion. However, how neuromodulators act on multiple neural networks to exert their actions remains poorly understood. These actions depend on the chemical form of the peptide, e.g., an alternation of L- to D-form of an amino acid can endow the peptide with bioactivity, as is the case for the Aplysia peptide GdFFD (where dF indicates D-phenylalanine). GdFFD has been shown to act as an extrinsic neuromodulator in the feeding network, while the all L-amino acid form, GFFD, was not bioactive. Given that both GdFFD/GFFD are also present in pedal neurons that mediate locomotion, we sought to determine whether they impact locomotion. We first examined effects of both peptides on isolated ganglia, and monitored fictive programs using the parapedal commissural nerve (PPCN). Indeed, GdFFD was bioactive and GFFD was not. GdFFD increased the frequency with which neural activity was observed in the PPCN. In part, there was an increase in bursting spiking activity that resembled fictive locomotion. Additionally, there was significant activity between bursts. To determine how the peptide-induced activity in the isolated CNS is translated into behavior, we recorded animal movements, and developed a computer program to automatically track the animal and calculate the path of movement and velocity of locomotion. We found that GdFFD significantly reduced locomotion and induced a foot curl. These data suggest that the increase in PPCN activity observed in the isolated CNS during GdFFD application corresponds to a reduction, rather than an increase, in locomotion. In contrast, GFFD had no effect. Thus, our study suggests that GdFFD may act as an intrinsic neuromodulator in the Aplysia locomotor network. More generally, our study indicates that physiological and behavioral analyses should be combined to evaluate peptide actions.

The versatile roles of CARDs in regulating apoptosis, inflammation, and NF-κB signaling.

CARD subfamily is the second largest subfamily in the DD superfamily that plays important roles in regulating various signaling pathways, including but not limited to NF-kB activation signaling, apoptosis signaling and inflammatory signaling. The CARD subfamily contains 33 human CARD-containing proteins, regulating the assembly of many signaling complexes, including apoptosome, inflammsome, nodosome, the CBM complex, PIDDosome, the TRAF2 complex, and the MAVS signalosome, by homotypic CARD-CARD interactions. The mechanism of how CARDs find the right binding partner to form a specific complex remains unclear. This review uses different classification schemes to update the classification of CARD-containing proteins. Combining the classification based on domain structures, functions, associated signaling complexes, and roles would help better understand the structural and function diversity of CARD-containing proteins. This review also summarizes recent structural studies on CARDs. Especially, the CARD-containing complexes can be divided into the homodimeric, heterodimeric, oligomeric, filamentous CARD complexes and the CARD-ubiquitin complex. This review will give an overview of the versatile roles of CARDs in regulating signaling transduction, as well as the therapeutic drugs targeting CARD-containing proteins.

Tandem DEDs and CARDs suggest novel mechanisms of signaling complex assembly.

Apoptosis is an important process to maintain cellular homeostasis. Deregulated apoptosis has linked to a number of diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorder, and cancers. A major signaling complex in the death receptor signaling pathway leading to apoptosis is death-induced signaling complex (DISC), which is regulated mainly by death effector domain (DED)-containing proteins. There are seven DED-containing proteins in human, including FADD, c-FLIP, caspase-8, caspase-10, DEDD, DEDD2, and PEA-15. The main players in DISC formation employ tandem DEDs for regulating signaling complex formation. The regulatory mechanism of signaling complex formation is important and yet remains unclear. Interestingly, three caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing members, which belong to the same DD superfamily as DED-containing proteins, also contains similar tandem CARDs. Recent structural studies have shown that tandem CARDs are essential for the formation of a helical signaling complex. This review summarizes recent structural studies on DED-containing proteins and especially discusses the studies on tandem DEDs and tandem CARDs, which suggest new mechanisms of signaling complex assembly.

Crystallization studies of the murine c-di-GMP sensor protein STING.

The innate immune response is the first defence system against pathogenic microorganisms, and cytosolic detection of pathogen-derived DNA is believed to be one of the major mechanisms of interferon production. Recently, the mammalian ER membrane protein STING (stimulator of IFN genes; also known as MITA, ERIS, MPYS and TMEM173) has been found to be the master regulator linking the detection of cytosolic DNA to TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and its downstream transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). In addition, STING itself was soon discovered to be a direct sensor of bacterial cyclic dinucleotides such as c-di-GMP or c-di-AMP. However, structural studies of apo STING and its complexes with these cyclic dinucleotides and with other cognate binding proteins are essential in order to fully understand the roles played by STING in these crucial signalling pathways. In this manuscript, the successful crystallization of the C-terminal domain of murine STING (STING-CTD; residues 138-344) is reported. Native and SeMet-labelled crystals were obtained and diffracted to moderate resolutions of 2.39 and 2.2 Å, respectively.

The structure and inhibition of a GGDEF diguanylate cyclase complexed with (c-di-GMP)(2) at the active site.

Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a key signalling molecule involved in regulating many important biological functions in bacteria. The synthesis of c-di-GMP is catalyzed by the GGDEF-domain-containing diguanylate cyclase (DGC), the activity of which is regulated by the binding of product at the allosteric inhibitory (I) site. However, a significant number of GGDEF domains lack the RxxD motif characteristic of the allosteric I site. Here, the structure of XCC4471(GGDEF), the GGDEF domain of a DGC from Xanthomonas campestris, in complex with c-di-GMP has been solved. Unexpectedly, the structure of the complex revealed a GGDEF-domain dimer cross-linked by two molecules of c-di-GMP at the strongly conserved active sites. In the complex (c-di-GMP)(2) adopts a novel partially intercalated form, with the peripheral guanine bases bound to the guanine-binding pockets and the two central bases stacked upon each other. Alteration of the residues involved in specific binding to c-di-GMP led to dramatically reduced K(d) values between XCC4471(GGDEF) and c-di-GMP. In addition, these key residues are strongly conserved among the many thousands of GGDEF-domain sequences identified to date. These results indicate a new product-bound form for GGDEF-domain-containing proteins obtained via (c-di-GMP)(2) binding at the active site. This novel XCC4471(GGDEF)-c-di-GMP complex structure may serve as a general model for the design of lead compounds to block the DGC activity of GGDEF-domain-containing proteins in X. campestris or other microorganisms that contain multiple GGDEF-domain proteins.

[Validation and analysis of water column correction algorithm at Sanya Bay].

Water column correction has been a substantial challenge for remote sensing. In order to improve the accuracy of coastal ocean monitoring where optical properties are complex, optical property of shallow water at Sanya Bay and the suitable water column correction algorithms were studies in the present paper. The authors extracted the bottom reflectance without water column effects by using a water column correction algorithm which is based on the simulation of the underwater light field in idealized water. And we compared the results which were calculated by the model and Christian's model respectively. Based on a detailed analysis, we concluded that: Because the optical properties of Sanya Bay are complex and vary greatly with location, Christian's model lost its advantage in the area. Conversely, the bottom reflectance calculating by the algorithm based on the simulation of the underwater light field in idealized water agreed well with in situ measured bottom reflectance, although the reflectance was lower than in situ measured reflectance value between 400 and 500 nm. So, it is reasonable to extract bottom information by using the water column correction algorithm in local bay area where optical properties are complex.

[Progress in Teflon AF LWCC/LCW applications].

Teflon AF is chemically very inert, quite physically and optically stable, a highly vapor-permeable polymer with optical transparency through much of the UV-Vis region and with an RI lower than that of water, so Teflon AF LWCC/LCW (Long path-length liquid waveguide capillary cell/liquid core waveguides) has been used with a range of different detection techniques, including absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and gas sensor. The present article describes the properties and the aspects of Teflon AF LWCC/LCW instrumentation and applications. And finally,the future prospect and outlook of Teflon AF LWCC/LCW is also discussed.

Insights into the alkyl peroxide reduction pathway of Xanthomonas campestris bacterioferritin comigratory protein from the trapped intermediate-ligand complex structures.

Considerable insights into the oxidoreduction activity of the Xanthomonas campestris bacterioferritin comigratory protein (XcBCP) have been obtained from trapped intermediate/ligand complex structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Multiple sequence alignment and enzyme assay indicate that XcBCP belongs to a subfamily of atypical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (Prxs), containing a strictly conserved peroxidatic cysteine (C(P)48) and an unconserved resolving cysteine (C(R)84). Crystals at different states, i.e. Free_SH state, Intra_SS state, and Inter_SS state, were obtained by screening the XcBCP proteins from a double C48S/C84S mutant, a wild type, and a C48A mutant, respectively. A formate or an alkyl analog with two water molecules that mimic an alkyl peroxide substrate was found close to the active site of the Free_SH or Inter_SS state, respectively. Their global structures were found to contain a novel substrate-binding pocket capable of accommodating an alkyl chain of no less than 16 carbons. In addition, in the Intra_SS or Inter_SS state, substantial local unfolding or complete unfolding of the C(R)-helix was detected, with the C(P)-helix remaining essentially unchanged. This is in contrast to the earlier observation that the C(P)-helix exhibits local unfolding during disulfide bond formation in typical 2-Cys Prxs. These rich experimental data have enabled us to propose a pathway by which XcBCP carries out its oxidoreduction activity through the alternate opening and closing of the substrate entry channel and the disulfide-bond pocket.

Structure of XC6422 from Xanthomonas campestris at 1.6 A resolution: a small serine alpha/beta-hydrolase.

XC6422 is a conserved hypothetical protein from Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris (Xcc), a Gram-negative yellow-pigmented pathogenic bacterium that causes black rot, one of the major worldwide diseases of cruciferous crops. The protein consists of 220 amino acids and its structure has been determined to 1.6 A resolution using the multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. Although it has very low sequence identity to protein sequences in the PDB (less than 20%), the determined structure nevertheless shows that it belongs to the superfamily of serine alpha/beta-hydrolases, with an active site that is fully accessible to solvent owing to the absence of a lid domain. Modelling studies with the serine esterase inhibitor E600 indicate that XC6422 adopts a conserved Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad common to this superfamily and has a preformed oxyanion hole for catalytic activation. These structural features suggest that XC6422 is most likely to be a hydrolase active on a soluble ester or a small lipid. An extra strand preceding the first beta-strand in the canonical alpha/beta-hydrolase fold leads to extensive subunit interactions between XC6422 monomers, which may explain why XC6422 crystals of good diffraction quality can grow to dimensions of up to 1.5 mm in a few days.

Cloning, purification crystallization and preliminary X-ray characterization of a conserved hypothetical protein XC6422 from Xanthomonas campestris.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is a Gram-negative yellow-pigmented pathogenic bacterium that causes black rot, one of the major worldwide diseases of cruciferous crops. Its genome contains approximately 4500 genes, roughly one third of which have no known structure and/or function. However, some genes of unknown function are highly conserved among several different bacterial genuses. XC6422 is one such conserved hypothetical protein and has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized in a variety of forms using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals grew to approximately 2 x 1.5 x 0.4 mm in size after one week and diffracted to at least 1.6 A resolution. They belong to the monoclinic space group C2, with one molecule per asymmetric unit and unit-cell parameters a = 75.8, b = 79.3, c = 38.2 A, beta = 109.4 degrees. Determination of this structure may provide insights into the protein's function.