Light-sheet microscopy of cleared tissues with isotropic, subcellular resolution.

We present cleared-tissue axially swept light-sheet microscopy (ctASLM), which enables isotropic, subcellular resolution imaging with high optical sectioning capability and a large field of view over a broad range of immersion media. ctASLM can image live, expanded, and both aqueous and non-aqueous chemically cleared tissue preparations. Depending on the optical configuration, ctASLM provides up to 260 nm of axial resolution, a three to tenfold improvement over confocal and other reported cleared-tissue light-sheet microscopes. We imaged millimeter-scale cleared tissues with subcellular three-dimensional resolution, which enabled automated detection of multicellular tissue architectures, individual cells, synaptic spines and rare cell-cell interactions.

Sigma-1 Receptor (S1R) Interaction with Cholesterol: Mechanisms of S1R Activation and Its Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is a 223 amino acid-long transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein. The S1R modulates the activity of multiple effector proteins, but its signaling functions are poorly understood. S1R is associated with cholesterol, and in our recent studies we demonstrated that S1R association with cholesterol induces the formation of S1R clusters. We propose that these S1R-cholesterol interactions enable the formation of cholesterol-enriched microdomains in the ER membrane. We hypothesize that a number of secreted and signaling proteins are recruited and retained in these microdomains. This hypothesis is consistent with the results of an unbiased screen for S1R-interacting partners, which we performed using the engineered ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) technology. We further propose that S1R agonists enable the disassembly of these cholesterol-enriched microdomains and the release of accumulated proteins such as ion channels, signaling receptors, and trophic factors from the ER. This hypothesis may explain the pleotropic signaling functions of the S1R, consistent with previously observed effects of S1R agonists in various experimental systems.

Reactions of Cyclometalated Platinum(II) [Pt(N∧C)(PR3)Cl] Complexes with Imidazole and Imidazole-Containing Biomolecules: Fine-Tuning of Reactivity and Photophysical Properties via Ligand Design.

This work describes interaction of a family of [Pt(N∧C)(PR3)Cl] complexes with imidazole (Im), possible application of this chemistry for regioselective labeling of proteins through imidazole rings of histidine residues and employment of the resulting phosphorescent products in bioimaging. It was found that the complexes containing aliphatic phosphines display reversible substitution of chloride ligand for imidazole function that required considerable excess of imidazole to obtain full conversion into the substituted [Pt(ppy)(PR3)(Im)] product, whereas the substitution in the complexes with aromatic phosphines readily proceeds in 1:1.5 mixture of reagents. Rapid, selective, and quantitative coordination of imidazole to the platinum complexes enabled regioselective labeling of ubiquitin. X-ray protein crystallography of the {[Pt(ppy)(PPh3)]/ubiquitin} conjugate revealed direct bonding of the platinum center to unique histidine-68 residue through the nitrogen atom of imidazole function, the coordination being also supported by noncovalent interaction of the ligands with the protein secondary structure. The variations of the cyclometalating N∧C ligands gave a series of [Pt(N∧C)(PPh3)Cl] complexes (N∧C = 2-phenylpyridine, 2-(benzofuran-3-yl)pyridine, 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl)pyridine, methyl-2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylate), which were used to investigate the impact of N∧C-ligand onto photophysical properties of the imidazole complexes and conjugates with human serum albumin (HSA). The chloride ligand substitution for imidazole and formation of the conjugates results in ignition of the platinum chromophore luminescence with substantially higher quantum yield in the latter case. Variation of the metalating N∧C-ligand made possible the shift of the emission to the red region of visible spectrum for both types of the products. Cell-viability tests revealed low cytotoxicity of all {[Pt(N∧C)(PPh3)Cl]/HSA} conjugates, while PLIM experiments demonstrated their high potential for oxygen sensing.

Sigma 1 Receptor, Cholesterol and Endoplasmic Reticulum Contact Sites.

Recent studies indicated potential importance of membrane contact sites (MCS) between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and other cellular organelles. These MCS have unique protein and lipid composition and serve as hubs for inter-organelle communication and signaling. Despite extensive investigation of MCS protein composition and functional roles, little is known about the process of MCS formation. In this perspective, we propose a hypothesis that MCS are formed not as a result of random interactions between membranes of ER and other organelles but on the basis of pre-existing cholesterol-enriched ER microdomains.

The role of sigma 1 receptor in organization of endoplasmic reticulum signaling microdomains.

Sigma 1 receptor (S1R) is a 223-amino-acid-long transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein. S1R modulates activity of multiple effector proteins and is a well-established drug target. However, signaling functions of S1R in cells are poorly understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that biological activity of S1R in cells can be explained by its ability to interact with cholesterol and to form cholesterol-enriched microdomains in the ER membrane. By performing experiments in reduced reconstitution systems, we demonstrate direct effects of cholesterol on S1R clustering. We identify a novel cholesterol-binding motif in the transmembrane region of human S1R. Mutations of this motif impair association of recombinant S1R with cholesterol beads, affect S1R clustering in vitro and disrupt S1R subcellular localization. We demonstrate that S1R-induced membrane microdomains have increased local membrane thickness and that increased local cholesterol concentration and/or membrane thickness in these microdomains can modulate signaling of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α in the ER. Further, S1R agonists cause disruption of S1R clusters, suggesting that biological activity of S1R agonists is linked to remodeling of ER membrane microdomains. Our results provide novel insights into S1R-mediated signaling mechanisms in cells.

Crystal structure of the SH3 domain of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2.

This study presents the crystal structure of the N-terminal SH3 (SH3N) domain of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2) at 2.5 Šresolution. Grb2 is a small (215-amino-acid) adaptor protein that is widely expressed and involved in signal transduction/cell communication. The crystal structure of full-length Grb2 has previously been reported (PDB entry 1gri). The structure of the isolated SH3N domain is consistent with the full-length structure. The structure of the isolated SH3N domain was solved at a higher resolution (2.5 Šcompared with 3.1 Šfor the previously deposited structure) and made it possible to resolve some of the loops that were missing in the full-length structure. In addition, interactions between the carboxy-terminal region of the SH3N domain and the Sos1-binding sites were observed in the structure of the isolated domain. Analysis of these interactions provided new information about the ligand-binding properties of the SH3N domain of Grb2.

Mutational Analysis of Sigma-1 Receptor's Role in Synaptic Stability.

Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident transmembrane protein. In our previous experiments, we demonstrated neuroprotective effects of pridopidine, an agonist of S1R, in cellular and animal models of Huntington's disease (HD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consistent with previous observations, deletion of endogenous S1R with CRISPR/Cas9 in cultured hippocampal neurons resulted in fewer mushroom-shaped dendritic spines. Overexpression of human S1R restored mushroom spine density to control levels. In contrast, overexpression of S1R with the Δ31-50 deletion (linked to distal hereditary motor neuropathy) or the E102Q mutation (linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) destabilized mushroom spines. Recently a crystal structure of S1R was determined in lipidic cubic phase. In the present study, we took an advantage of this structural information and performed docking studies with pridopidine and the S1R structural model. We generated a series of S1R point mutations based on residues predicted to be involved in direct association with pridopidine. We discovered that all ligand binding-site mutants were able to compensate for loss of endogenous S1R. However, most of these mutants were not able to support pridopidine-induced rescue of mushroom spines in presenilin-1-mutant cultures. Our mutational analysis was in agreement with in silico docking based on the published S1R crystal structure, with an exception of R119 residue. Our data also suggest that basal S1R activity is required for mature spine stability, whereas agonist-mediated S1R activity is required for stabilization of mushroom spines in the context of disease-causing mutations.

Neuronal Sigma-1 Receptors: Signaling Functions and Protective Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is a multi-functional, ligand-operated protein situated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes and changes in its function and/or expression have been associated with various neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's (AD) and Huntington's diseases (HD). S1R agonists are broadly neuroprotective and this is achieved through a diversity of S1R-mediated signaling functions that are generally pro-survival and anti-apoptotic; yet, relatively little is known regarding the exact mechanisms of receptor functioning at the molecular level. This review summarizes therapeutically relevant mechanisms by which S1R modulates neurophysiology and implements neuroprotective functions in neurodegenerative diseases. These mechanisms are diverse due to the fact that S1R can bind to and modulate a large range of client proteins, including many ion channels in both ER and plasma membranes. We summarize the effect of S1R on its interaction partners and consider some of the cell type- and disease-specific aspects of these actions. Besides direct protein interactions in the endoplasmic reticulum, S1R is likely to function at the cellular/interorganellar level by altering the activity of several plasmalemmal ion channels through control of trafficking, which may help to reduce excitotoxicity. Moreover, S1R is situated in lipid rafts where it binds cholesterol and regulates lipid and protein trafficking and calcium flux at the mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM) domain. This may have important implications for MAM stability and function in neurodegenerative diseases as well as cellular bioenergetics. We also summarize the structural and biochemical features of S1R proposed to underlie its activity. In conclusion, S1R is incredibly versatile in its ability to foster neuronal homeostasis in the context of several neurodegenerative disorders.

The 2.2-Angstrom resolution crystal structure of the carboxy-terminal region of ataxin-3.

An expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) sequence in ataxin-3 protein causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, an inherited neurodegenerative disorder. The crystal structure of the polyQ-containing carboxy-terminal fragment of human ataxin-3 was solved at 2.2-Å resolution. The Atxn3 carboxy-terminal fragment including 14 glutamine residues adopts both random coil and α-helical conformations in the crystal structure. The polyQ sequence in α-helical structure is stabilized by intrahelical hydrogen bonds mediated by glutamine side chains. The intrahelical hydrogen-bond interactions between glutamine side chains along the axis of the polyQ α-helix stabilize the secondary structure. Analysis of this structure furthers our understanding of the polyQ-structural characteristics that likely underlie the pathogenesis of polyQ-expansion disorders.

Tuberculosis in St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea region.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health concern and challenges the national structures for infection control and health care, as well as international institutions, to develop and implement new strategies to control and combat this disease. In our report, we investigated the TB epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg and the countries around the Baltic Sea using national epidemiological statistics and epidemiological reports of international organizations, such as the WHO and Euro-TB. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, a steep increase in tuberculosis was seen in the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg and the Baltic States, after which it stabilized at levels significantly higher compared to the Nordic countries. Moreover, the epidemiological situation in St. Petersburg and the Baltic States was aggravated by the emergence and spread of TB/HIV coinfection, as well as that of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis, which imposed further difficulties in gaining control of TB. During the studied period, the TB burden in neither St. Petersburg nor Baltic States has had a significant impact on the epidemiology in the low TB burden neighbouring countries around the Baltic Sea.