Infection-specific phosphorylation of glutamyl-prolyl tRNA synthetase induces antiviral immunity.

The mammalian cytoplasmic multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) is a depot system that regulates non-translational cellular functions. Here we found that the MSC component glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS) switched its function following viral infection and exhibited potent antiviral activity. Infection-specific phosphorylation of EPRS at Ser990 induced its dissociation from the MSC, after which it was guided to the antiviral signaling pathway, where it interacted with PCBP2, a negative regulator of mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) that is critical for antiviral immunity. This interaction blocked PCBP2-mediated ubiquitination of MAVS and ultimately suppressed viral replication. EPRS-haploid (Eprs+/-) mice showed enhanced viremia and inflammation and delayed viral clearance. This stimulus-inducible activation of MAVS by EPRS suggests an unexpected role for the MSC as a regulator of immune responses to viral infection.

SET1 and p300 act synergistically, through coupled histone modifications, in transcriptional activation by p53.

The H3K4me3 mark in chromatin is closely correlated with actively transcribed genes, although the mechanisms involved in its generation and function are not fully understood. In vitro studies with recombinant chromatin and purified human factors demonstrate a robust SET1 complex (SET1C)-mediated H3K4 trimethylation that is dependent upon p53- and p300-mediated H3 acetylation, a corresponding SET1C-mediated enhancement of p53- and p300-dependent transcription that reflects a primary effect of SET1C through H3K4 trimethylation, and direct SET1C-p53 and SET1C-p300 interactions indicative of a targeted recruitment mechanism. Complementary cell-based assays demonstrate a DNA-damage-induced p53-SET1C interaction, a corresponding enrichment of SET1C and H3K4me3 on a p53 target gene (p21/WAF1), and a corresponding codependency of H3K4 trimethylation and transcription upon p300 and SET1C. These results establish a mechanism in which SET1C and p300 act cooperatively, through direct interactions and coupled histone modifications, to facilitate the function of p53.

The human PAF1 complex acts in chromatin transcription elongation both independently and cooperatively with SII/TFIIS.

Genetic and cell-based studies have implicated the PAF1 complex (PAF1C) in transcription-associated events, but there has been no evidence showing a direct role in facilitating transcription of a natural chromatin template. Here, we demonstrate an intrinsic ability of human PAF1C (hPAF1C) to facilitate activator (p53)- and histone acetyltransferase (p300)-dependent transcription elongation from a recombinant chromatin template in a biochemically defined RNA polymerase II transcription system. This represents a PAF1C function distinct from its established role in histone ubiquitylation and methylation. Importantly, we further demonstrate a strong synergy between hPAF1C and elongation factor SII/TFIIS and an underlying mechanism involving direct hPAF1C-SII interactions and cooperative binding to RNA polymerase II. Apart from a distinct PAF1C function, the present observations provide a molecular mechanism for the cooperative function of distinct transcription elongation factors in chromatin transcription.

Werner syndrome protein works as a dimer for unwinding and replication fork regression.

The determination of the oligomeric state of functional enzymes is essential for the mechanistic understanding of their catalytic activities. RecQ helicases have diverse biochemical activities, but it is still unclear how their activities are related to their oligomeric states. We use single-molecule multi-color fluorescence imaging to determine the oligomeric states of Werner syndrome protein (WRN) during its unwinding and replication fork regression activities. We reveal that WRN binds to a forked DNA as a dimer, and unwinds it without any change of its oligomeric state. In contrast, WRN binds to a replication fork as a tetramer, and is dimerized during activation of replication fork regression. By selectively inhibiting the helicase activity of WRN on specific strands, we reveal how the active dimers of WRN distinctly use the energy of ATP hydrolysis for repetitive unwinding and replication fork regression.

Molecular basis for SOX2-dependent regulation of super-enhancer activity.

Pioneer transcription factors (TFs) like SOX2 are vital for stemness and cancer through enhancing gene expression within transcriptional condensates formed with coactivators, RNAs and mediators on super-enhancers (SEs). Despite their importance, how these factors work together for transcriptional condensation and activation remains unclear. SOX2, a pioneer TF found in SEs of pluripotent and cancer stem cells, initiates SE-mediated transcription by binding to nucleosomes, though the mechanism isn't fully understood. To address SOX2's role in SEs, we identified mSE078 as a model SOX2-enriched SE and p300 as a coactivator through bioinformatic analysis. In vitro and cell assays showed SOX2 forms condensates with p300 and SOX2-binding motifs in mSE078. We further proved that SOX2 condensation is highly correlated with mSE078's enhancer activity in cells. Moreover, we successfully demonstrated that p300 not only elevated transcriptional activity but also triggered chromatin acetylation via its direct interaction with SOX2 within these transcriptional condensates. Finally, our validation of SOX2-enriched SEs showcased their contribution to target gene expression in both stem cells and cancer cells. In its entirety, this study imparts valuable mechanistic insights into the collaborative interplay of SOX2 and its coactivator p300, shedding light on the regulation of transcriptional condensation and activation within SOX2-enriched SEs.

Negative regulation of NEMO signaling by the ubiquitin E3 ligase MARCH2.

NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) is a key regulatory protein that functions during NF-κB- and interferon-mediated signaling in response to extracellular stimuli and pathogen infections. Tight regulation of NEMO is essential for host innate immune responses and for maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we report that the E3 ligase MARCH2 is a novel negative regulator of NEMO-mediated signaling upon bacterial or viral infection. MARCH2 interacted directly with NEMO during the late phase of infection and catalyzed K-48-linked ubiquitination of Lys326 on NEMO, which resulted in its degradation. Deletion of MARCH2 resulted in marked resistance to bacterial/viral infection, along with increased innate immune responses both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, MARCH2-/- mice were more susceptible to LPS challenge due to massive production of cytokines. Taken together, these findings provide new insight into the molecular regulation of NEMO and suggest an important role for MARCH2 in homeostatic control of innate immune responses.

RAD6-Mediated transcription-coupled H2B ubiquitylation directly stimulates H3K4 methylation in human cells.

H2B ubiquitylation has been implicated in active transcription but is not well understood in mammalian cells. Beyond earlier identification of hBRE1 as the E3 ligase for H2B ubiquitylation in human cells, we now show (1) that hRAD6 serves as the cognate E2-conjugating enzyme; (2) that hRAD6, through direct interaction with hPAF-bound hBRE1, is recruited to transcribed genes and ubiquitylates chromatinized H2B at lysine 120; (3) that hPAF-mediated transcription is required for efficient H2B ubiquitylation as a result of hPAF-dependent recruitment of hBRE1-hRAD6 to the Pol II transcription machinery; (4) that H2B ubiquitylation per se does not affect the level of hPAF-, SII-, and p300-dependent transcription and likely functions downstream; and (5) that H2B ubiquitylation directly stimulates hSET1-dependent H3K4 di- and trimethylation. These studies establish the natural H2B ubiquitylation factors in human cells and also detail the mechanistic basis for H2B ubiquitylation and function during transcription.

The Histone Modification Domain of Paf1 Complex Subunit Rtf1 Directly Stimulates H2B Ubiquitylation through an Interaction with Rad6.

The five-subunit yeast Paf1 complex (Paf1C) regulates all stages of transcription and is critical for the monoubiquitylation of histone H2B (H2Bub), a modification that broadly influences chromatin structure and eukaryotic transcription. Here, we show that the histone modification domain (HMD) of Paf1C subunit Rtf1 directly interacts with the ubiquitin conjugase Rad6 and stimulates H2Bub independently of transcription. We present the crystal structure of the Rtf1 HMD and use site-specific, in vivo crosslinking to identify a conserved Rad6 interaction surface. Utilizing ChIP-exo analysis, we define the localization patterns of the H2Bub machinery at high resolution and demonstrate the importance of Paf1C in targeting the Rtf1 HMD, and thereby H2Bub, to its appropriate genomic locations. Finally, we observe HMD-dependent stimulation of H2Bub in a transcription-free, reconstituted in vitro system. Taken together, our results argue for an active role for Paf1C in promoting H2Bub and ensuring its proper localization in vivo.

ZWC complex-mediated SPT5 phosphorylation suppresses divergent antisense RNA transcription at active gene promoters.

The human genome encodes large numbers of non-coding RNAs, including divergent antisense transcripts at transcription start sites (TSSs). However, molecular mechanisms by which divergent antisense transcription is regulated have not been detailed. Here, we report a novel ZWC complex composed of ZC3H4, WDR82 and CK2 that suppresses divergent antisense transcription. The ZWC complex preferentially localizes at TSSs of active genes through direct interactions of ZC3H4 and WDR82 subunits with the S5p RNAPII C-terminal domain. ZC3H4 depletion leads to increased divergent antisense transcription, especially at genes that naturally produce divergent antisense transcripts. We further demonstrate that the ZWC complex phosphorylates the previously uncharacterized N-terminal acidic domain of SPT5, a subunit of the transcription-elongation factor DSIF, and that this phosphorylation is responsible for suppressing divergent antisense transcription. Our study provides evidence that the newly identified ZWC-DSIF axis regulates the direction of transcription during the transition from early to productive elongation.

PHF20 is crucial for epigenetic control of starvation-induced autophagy through enhancer activation.

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis under various stress conditions, including conditions of nutrient deprivation. To elevate autophagic flux to a sufficient level under stress conditions, transcriptional activation of autophagy genes occurs to replenish autophagy components. Thus, the transcriptional and epigenetic control of the genes regulating autophagy is essential for cellular homeostasis. Here, we applied integrated transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling to reveal the roles of plant homeodomain finger protein 20 (PHF20), which is an epigenetic reader possessing methyl binding activity, in controlling the expression of autophagy genes. Phf20 deficiency led to impaired autophagic flux and autophagy gene expression under glucose starvation. Interestingly, the genome-wide characterization of chromatin states by Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin (ATAC)-sequencing revealed that the PHF20-dependent chromatin remodelling occurs in enhancers that are co-occupied by dimethylated lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me2). Importantly, the recognition of H3K36me2 by PHF20 was found to be highly correlated with increased levels of H3K4me1/2 at the enhancer regions. Collectively, these results indicate that PHF20 regulates autophagy genes through enhancer activation via H3K36me2 recognition as an epigenetic reader. Our findings emphasize the importance of nuclear events in the regulation of autophagy.

Lugol's Solution Reduces Positive Margins and Residual Disease After the Large Loop Excision of Transformation Zone.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether the intraoperative use of Lugol's solution reduces the proportion of positive resection margins (RMs) using the data of women who underwent large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,751 consecutive women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who underwent LLETZ with or without Lugol's solution were retrospectively retrieved from each database of 3 university hospitals in South Korea. Outcomes included positive RMs and residual disease pathologically confirmed within 6 months after LLETZ. RESULTS: Positive RMs were noted in 345 cases (19.7%). Among 1,507 women followed up, residual disease was diagnosed in 100 cases (6.6%) (69/308 cases with positive RMs; 31/1,199 cases with negative RMs). The Lugol's solution group was less likely to have positive RMs (11.8% vs 25.5%, p < .01), to require additional surgical intervention (5.4% vs 10.2%, p < .01), and to have residual disease (4.9% vs 8.0%, p = .02). On multiple logistic regression analysis, Lugol's solution reduced the proportion of positive RMs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.31). Age (50 years or older; aOR, 1.64), preconization cervical cytology (aOR, 1.53), high-risk human papillomavirus (aOR, 1.75), and CIN 2 or 3 (aOR, 2.65) were independent risk factors for margin positivity ( p < .01 for all except high-risk human papillomavirus of p = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Lugol's solution optimizes CIN treatment by reducing the proportion of positive RMs and residual disease after LLETZ.

Comparative Analysis of Autophagy and Apoptosis in Disc Degeneration: Understanding the Dynamics of Temporary-Compression-Induced Early Autophagy and Sustained-Compression-Triggered Apoptosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the initiation of autophagy activation and apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells under temporary compression (TC) and sustained compression (SC) to identify ideal research approaches in intervertebral disc degeneration. Various techniques were used: radiography (X-ray), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transmission electron microscope (TEM), H&E staining, Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) (LC3, beclin-1, and cleaved caspase-3), and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for autophagy-related (beclin-1, LC3, and P62) and apoptosis-related (caspase-3 and PARP) gene expression analysis. X-ray and MRI revealed varying degrees of disc degeneration, ranging from moderate to severe in both groups. The severity was directly linked to compression duration, with SC resulting in notably severe central NP cell degeneration. Surprisingly, TC also caused similar, though less severe, degeneration. Elevated expression of LC3 and beclin-1 was identified after 6 weeks, but it notably declined after 12 weeks. Central NP cells in both groups exhibited increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 that was positively correlated with the duration of SC. TC showed fewer apoptotic markers compared to SC. LC3, beclin-1, and P62 mRNA expression peaked after 6 weeks and declined after 12 weeks in both groups. Cleaved caspase-3 and PARP expression peaked in SC, positively correlating with longer compression duration, while TC showed lower levels of apoptosis gene expression. Furthermore, TEM results revealed different events of the autophagic degradation process after 2 weeks of compression. TCmay be ideal for studying early triggered autophagy-mediated degeneration, while SC may be ideal for studying late or slower-triggered apoptosis-mediated degeneration.

Skin Improvement Effects of Ultrasound-Enzyme-Treated Collagen Peptide Extracts from Flatfish (Paralichthys olivaceus) Skin in an In Vitro Model.

Collagen is considered to be an intercellular adhesive that prevents tissue stretching or damage. It is widely utilized in cosmetic skin solutions, drug delivery, vitreous substitutions, 3D cell cultures, and surgery. In this study, we report the development of a green technology for manufacturing collagen peptides from flatfish skin using ultrasound and enzymatic treatment and a subsequent assessment on skin functionality. First, flatfish skin was extracted using ultrasound in distilled water (DW) for 6 h at 80 °C. Molecular weight analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after treatment with industrial enzymes (alcalase, papain, protamex, and flavourzyme) showed that the smallest molecular weight (3.56 kDa) was achieved by adding papain (0.5% for 2 h). To determine functionality based on peptide molecular weight, two fractions of 1100 Da and 468 Da were obtained through separation using Sephadex™ G-10. We evaluated the effects of these peptides on protection against oxidative stress in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells, inhibition of MMP-1 expression in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells, reduction in melanin content, and the inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity in murine melanoma (B16F10) cells. These results demonstrate that the isolated low-molecular-weight peptides exhibit superior skin anti-oxidant, anti-wrinkle, and whitening properties.

Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Polysaccharide Isolated from Undaria pinnatifida Sporophyll Extracts.

Undaria pinnatifida is a temperate brown alga known to exert free radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the skin-whitening effects of U. pinnatifida sporophyll extracts (UPEs) in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. The crude polysaccharide fraction (UPF) was obtained via ethanol precipitation. Four polysaccharide fractions (UPF1-4) were isolated and purified using ion-exchange column chromatography, and their anti-melanogenic activity was evaluated. UPF3 exhibited the highest anti-melanogenic activity, showing the highest sulfate (39.79%), fucose (143 µg/mg), and galactose (208 µg/mg) contents. UPF3 significantly inhibited intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. We also evaluated the melanogenic signaling pathway to determine the mechanism of action of UPF3 in melanongenesis. UPF3 reduced the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), and tyrosinase, which play important roles in melanin production. Therefore, UPF3 has high potential for use in skin-whitening functional pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Evaluating the accuracy of CEREC intraoral scanners for inlay restorations: impact of adjacent tooth materials.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of intraoral scanning is critical for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing workflows in dentistry. However, data regarding the scanning accuracy of various adjacent restorative materials and intraoral scanners are lacking. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of adjacent restorative material type and CEREC's intraoral scanners on the accuracy of intraoral digital impressions for inlay cavities. METHODS: The artificial tooth was prepared with an occlusal cavity depth of 2 mm, a proximal box width at the gingival floor of 1.5 mm, and an equi-gingival margin extended disto-occlusally at the transition line angle on both the lingual and buccal sides for an inlay restoration. The adjacent teeth were veneered with crowns made of gold and zirconia, and an artificial tooth (resin) was utilized as the control group. The inlay cavity and adjacent teeth (Gold, Zirconia, and resin) were scanned 10 times using Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) Primescan (PS), Omnicam (OC), and Bluecam (BC). A reference scan was obtained using a laboratory scanner (3-shape E3). Scanning was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, including powder application for the BC group. Standard tesselation language files were analyzed using a three-dimensional analysis software program. Experimental data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance and the Tukey's post-hoc comparison test. RESULTS: The restorative materials of the adjacent teeth significantly affected the accuracy of the intraoral digital impressions (p < .05). The zirconia group exhibited the highest trueness deviation, followed by the resin and gold groups, with each demonstrating a statistically significant difference (p < .05). The resin group demonstrated the highest maximum positive deviation and deviation in precision. Gold exhibited the lowest average deviation value for trueness compared with those of the other adjacent restorative materials. Intraoral scanner type significantly influenced the trueness and precision of the scan data (p < .05). The average deviation of trueness according to the intraoral scanner type increased in the following order: BC > PS > OC. The average deviation in precision increased in the following order: PS>OC>BC (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The restorative materials of the adjacent tooth and the type of intraoral scanner affect the accuracy of the intraoral digital impression. The trueness of the digital images of the BC group, obtained by spraying the powder, was comparable to that of the PS group. Among the adjacent restorative materials, zirconia exhibited the lowest trueness. In contrast, PS demonstrated the highest precision among the intraoral scanners, while resin displayed the lowest precision among the adjacent restorative materials.

In Situ Activatable Nitrobenzene-Cysteine-Copper(II) Nano-complexes for Programmed Photodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used to reduce cancerous and precancerous cells via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from photosensitizers. Numerous photosensitizers are available today to treat a variety of diseases, but their therapeutic efficacy is hindered within the tumor microenvironment, and there are safety concerns associated with their non-specific activation. In this work, we disclosed a nano-therapeutic based on in situ activatable nitrobenzene-cysteine-copper(II) nano-complexes (NCCNs) that work within cancer cells. Among the NCCNs, CyP shows outstanding potential as a promising candidate for programmed photodynamic cancer therapy with its unique properties such as (i) bright near-infrared imaging, (ii) chemodynamic therapeutic effect, (iii) photodynamic therapeutic effect (types I and II), and (iv) anti-cancer effect by anti-angiogenesis in early cancer stage under light. Overall, this work opens up exciting possibilities for the development of innovative and effective treatments for cancer, paving the way for future advancements in the clinical medicine field.

Ascitic autotaxin as a potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Malignant ascites contributes to the metastatic process by facilitating the multifocal dissemination of ovarian tumour cells onto the peritoneal surface. However, the prognostic and diagnostic relevance of ascitic fluid remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the potential clinical value and therapeutic utility of ascitic autotaxin (ATX) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: ATX expression was assessed in clinical samples. Spheroid-forming assay, real-time PCR, western blot analysis, invadopodia assay, and adhesion assays were performed. RESULTS: Ascitic ATX expression was highly elevated in patients with ovarian cancer compared to those with benign ascites and was associated with advanced stage, high grade, and a short disease-free period in patients with EOC. Combining the diagnostic ability of ascitic ATX and serum CA-125 levels significantly improved the area under the curve (AUC) value for EOC compared to serum CA125 level alone. This marker combination showed a large odds ratio for short disease-free period in high-risk EOC groups. Functional studies revealed that ascitic ATX was required for maintaining cancer stem cell-like characteristics and invadopodia formation. CONCLUSION: Ascitic ATX levels may serve as a useful prognostic indicator for predicting aggressive behaviour in EOC. ATX-linked invadopodia are a potential target to prevent peritoneal dissemination in ovarian cancer.

Randomly Disassembled Nanostructure for Wide Angle Light Extraction of Top-Emitting Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

The quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) represents one of the strongest display technologies and has unique advantages like a shallow emission spectrum and superior performance based on the cumulative studies of state-of-the-art quantum dot (QD) synthesis and interfacial engineering. However, research on managing the device's light extraction has been lacking compared to the conventional LED field. Moreover, relevant studies on top-emitting QLEDs (TE-QLEDs) have been severely lacking compared to bottom-emitting QLEDs (BE-QLEDs). This paper demonstrates a novel light extraction structure called the randomly disassembled nanostructure (RaDiNa). The RaDiNa is formed by detaching polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film from a ZnO nanorod (ZnO NR) layer and laying it on top of the TE-QLED. The RaDiNa-attached TE-QLED shows significantly widened angular-dependent electroluminescence (EL) intensities over the pristine TE-QLED, confirming the effective light extraction capability of the RaDiNa layer. Consequently, the optimized RaDiNa-attached TE-QLED achieves enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQE) over the reference device by 60%. For systematic analyses, current-voltage-luminance (J-V-L) characteristics are investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical simulation based on COMSOL Multiphysics. It is believed that this study's results provide essential information for the commercialization of TE-QLEDs.

MEK/ERK signaling is a critical regulator of high-risk human papillomavirus oncogene expression revealing therapeutic targets for HPV-induced tumors.

Intracellular pathogens have evolved to utilize normal cellular processes to complete their replicative cycles. Pathogens that interface with proliferative cell signaling pathways risk infections that can lead to cancers, but the factors that influence malignant outcomes are incompletely understood. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) predominantly cause benign hyperplasia in stratifying epithelial tissues. However, a subset of carcinogenic or "high-risk" HPV (hr-HPV) genotypes are etiologically linked to nearly 5% of all human cancers. Progression of hr-HPV-induced lesions to malignancies is characterized by increased expression of the E6 and E7 oncogenes and the oncogenic functions of these viral proteins have been widely studied. Yet, the mechanisms that regulate hr-HPV oncogene transcription and suppress their expression in benign lesions remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling, influenced by epithelial contact inhibition and tissue differentiation cues, regulates hr-HPV oncogene expression. Using monolayer cells, epithelial organotypic tissue models, and neoplastic tissue biopsy materials, we show that cell-extrinsic activation of ERK overrides cellular control to promote HPV oncogene expression and the neoplastic phenotype. Our data suggest that HPVs are adapted to use the EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway to regulate their productive replicative cycles. Mechanistic studies show that EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling influences AP-1 transcription factor activity and AP-1 factor knockdown reduces oncogene transcription. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibitors of EGFR, MEK, and ERK signaling quash HPV oncogene expression and the neoplastic phenotype, revealing a potential clinical strategy to suppress uncontrolled cell proliferation, reduce oncogene expression and treat HPV neoplasia.