Disruption of IRE1α through its kinase domain attenuates multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) arises from malignant immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting plasma cells and remains an incurable, often lethal disease despite therapeutic advances. The unfolded-protein response sensor IRE1α supports protein secretion by deploying a kinase-endoribonuclease module to activate the transcription factor XBP1s. MM cells may co-opt the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway; however, the validity of IRE1α as a potential MM therapeutic target is controversial. Genetic disruption of IRE1α or XBP1s, or pharmacologic IRE1α kinase inhibition, attenuated subcutaneous or orthometastatic growth of MM tumors in mice and augmented efficacy of two established frontline antimyeloma agents, bortezomib and lenalidomide. Mechanistically, IRE1α perturbation inhibited expression of key components of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation machinery, as well as secretion of Ig light chains and of cytokines and chemokines known to promote MM growth. Selective IRE1α kinase inhibition reduced viability of CD138+ plasma cells while sparing CD138- cells derived from bone marrows of newly diagnosed or posttreatment-relapsed MM patients, in both US- and European Union-based cohorts. Effective IRE1α inhibition preserved glucose-induced insulin secretion by pancreatic microislets and viability of primary hepatocytes in vitro, as well as normal tissue homeostasis in mice. These results establish a strong rationale for developing kinase-directed inhibitors of IRE1α for MM therapy.

A Fast and Accessible Method for the Isolation of RNA, DNA, and Protein To Facilitate the Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires widespread testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A main limitation for widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing is the global shortage of essential supplies, among them RNA extraction kits. The need for commercial RNA extraction kits places a bottleneck on tests that detect SARS-CoV-2 genetic material, including PCR-based reference tests. Here, we propose an alternative method we call PEARL (precipitation-enhanced analyte retrieval) that addresses this limitation. PEARL uses a lysis solution that disrupts cell membranes and viral envelopes while simultaneously providing conditions suitable for alcohol-based precipitation of RNA, DNA, and proteins. PEARL is a fast, low-cost, and simple method that uses common laboratory reagents and offers performance comparable to that of commercial RNA extraction kits. PEARL offers an alternative method to isolate host and pathogen nucleic acids and proteins to streamline the detection of DNA and RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

A Scalable, Easy-to-Deploy Protocol for Cas13-Based Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Genetic Material.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created massive demand for widespread, distributed tools for detecting SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. The hurdles to scalable testing include reagent and instrument accessibility, availability of highly trained personnel, and large upfront investment. Here, we showcase an orthogonal pipeline we call CREST (Cas13-based, rugged, equitable, scalable testing) that addresses some of these hurdles. Specifically, CREST pairs commonplace and reliable biochemical methods (PCR) with low-cost instrumentation, without sacrificing detection sensitivity. By taking advantage of simple fluorescence visualizers, CREST allows a binary interpretation of results. CREST may provide a point-of-care solution to increase the distribution of COVID-19 surveillance.

The importance of naturally attenuated SARS-CoV-2in the fight against COVID-19.

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is wreaking havoc throughout the world and has rapidly become a global health emergency. A central question concerning COVID-19 is why some individuals become sick and others not. Many have pointed already at variation in risk factors between individuals. However, the variable outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections may, at least in part, be due also to differences between the viral subspecies with which individuals are infected. A more pertinent question is how we are to overcome the current pandemic. A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 would offer significant relief, although vaccine developers have warned that design, testing and production of vaccines may take a year if not longer. Vaccines are based on a handful of different designs (i), but the earliest vaccines were based on the live, attenuated virus. As has been the case for other viruses during earlier pandemics, SARS-CoV-2 will mutate and may naturally attenuate over time (ii). What makes the current pandemic unique is that, thanks to state-of-the-art nucleic acid sequencing technologies, we can follow in detail how SARS-CoV-2 evolves while it spreads. We argue that knowledge of naturally emerging attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variants across the globe should be of key interest in our fight against the pandemic.

Targeting IRE1 with small molecules counteracts progression of atherosclerosis.

Metaflammation, an atypical, metabolically induced, chronic low-grade inflammation, plays an important role in the development of obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. An important primer for metaflammation is the persistent metabolic overloading of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to its functional impairment. Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), a homeostatic regulatory network that responds to ER stress, is a hallmark of all stages of atherosclerotic plaque formation. The most conserved ER-resident UPR regulator, the kinase/endoribonuclease inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), is activated in lipid-laden macrophages that infiltrate the atherosclerotic lesions. Using RNA sequencing in macrophages, we discovered that IRE1 regulates the expression of many proatherogenic genes, including several important cytokines and chemokines. We show that IRE1 inhibitors uncouple lipid-induced ER stress from inflammasome activation in both mouse and human macrophages. In vivo, these IRE1 inhibitors led to a significant decrease in hyperlipidemia-induced IL-1ß and IL-18 production, lowered T-helper type-1 immune responses, and reduced atherosclerotic plaque size without altering the plasma lipid profiles in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. These results show that pharmacologic modulation of IRE1 counteracts metaflammation and alleviates atherosclerosis.

A conformational RNA zipper promotes intron ejection during non-conventional XBP1 mRNA splicing.

The kinase/endonuclease IRE1 is the most conserved signal transducer of the unfolded protein response (UPR), an intracellular signaling network that monitors and regulates the protein folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Upon sensing protein folding perturbations in the ER, IRE1 initiates the unconventional splicing of XBP1 mRNA culminating in the production of the transcription factor XBP1s, which expands the ER's protein folding capacity. We show that an RNA-intrinsic conformational change causes the intron of XBP1 mRNA to be ejected and the exons to zipper up into an extended stem, juxtaposing the RNA ends for ligation. These conformational rearrangements are important for XBP1 mRNA splicing in vivo. The features that point to such active participation of XBP1 mRNA in the splicing reaction are highly conserved throughout metazoan evolution, supporting their importance in orchestrating XBP1 mRNA processing with efficiency and fidelity.

E2f3b plays an essential role in myogenic differentiation through isoform-specific gene regulation.

Current models posit that E2F transcription factors can be divided into members that either activate or repress transcription, in part through collaboration with the retinoblastoma (pRb) tumor suppressor family. The E2f3 locus encodes E2f3a and E2f3b proteins, and available data suggest that they regulate cell cycle-dependent gene expression through opposing transcriptional activating and repressing activities in growing and quiescent cells, respectively. However, the role, if any, of E2F proteins, and in particular E2f3, in myogenic differentiation is not well understood. Here, we dissect the contributions of E2f3 isoforms and other activating and repressing E2Fs to cell cycle exit and differentiation by performing genome-wide identification of isoform-specific targets. We show that E2f3a and E2f3b target genes are involved in cell growth, lipid metabolism, and differentiation in an isoform-specific manner. Remarkably, using gene silencing, we show that E2f3b, but not E2f3a or other E2F family members, is required for myogenic differentiation, and that this requirement for E2f3b does not depend on pRb. Our functional studies indicate that E2f3b specifically attenuates expression of genes required to promote differentiation. These data suggest how diverse E2F isoforms encoded by a single locus can play opposing roles in cell cycle exit and differentiation.

Baseline unfolded protein response signaling adjusts the timing of the mammalian cell cycle.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a single-copy organelle that cannot be generated de novo, suggesting coordination between the mechanisms overseeing ER integrity and those controlling the cell cycle to maintain organelle inheritance. The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a conserved signaling network that regulates ER homeostasis. Here, we show that pharmacological and genetic inhibition of the UPR sensors IRE1, ATF6, and PERK in unstressed cells delays the cell cycle, with PERK inhibition showing the most penetrant effect, which was associated with a slowdown of the G1-to-S/G2 transition. Treatment with the small molecule ISRIB to bypass the effects of PERK-dependent phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α had no such effect, suggesting that cell cycle timing depends on PERK's kinase activity but is independent of eIF2α phosphorylation. Using complementary light and electron microscopy and flow cytometry-based analyses, we also demonstrate that the ER enlarges before mitosis. Together, our results suggest coordination between UPR signaling and the cell cycle to maintain ER physiology during cell division.

Optogenetic control of the integrated stress response reveals proportional encoding and the stress memory landscape.

The integrated stress response (ISR) is a conserved signaling network that detects aberrations and computes cellular responses. Dissecting these computations has been difficult because physical and chemical inducers of stress activate multiple parallel pathways. To overcome this challenge, we engineered a photo-switchable control over the ISR sensor kinase PKR (opto-PKR), enabling virtual, on-target activation. Using light to control opto-PKR dynamics, we traced information flow through the transcriptome and for key downstream ISR effectors. Our analyses revealed a biphasic, proportional transcriptional response with two dynamic modes, transient and gradual, that correspond to adaptive and terminal outcomes. We then constructed an ordinary differential equation (ODE) model of the ISR, which demonstrated the dependence of future stress responses on past stress. Finally, we tested our model using high-throughput light-delivery to map the stress memory landscape. Our results demonstrate that cells encode information in stress levels, durations, and the timing between encounters. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.

Traf7, a MyoD1 transcriptional target, regulates nuclear factor-κB activity during myogenesis.

We have identified the E3 ligase Traf7 as a direct MyoD1 target and show that cell cycle exit-an early event in muscle differentiation-is linked to decreased Traf7 expression. Depletion of Traf7 accelerates myogenesis, in part through downregulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. We used a proteomic screen to identify NEMO, the NF-κB essential modulator, as a Traf7-interacting protein. Finally, we show that ubiquitylation of NF-κB essential modulator is regulated exclusively by Traf7 activity in myoblasts. Our results suggest a new mechanism by which MyoD1 function is coupled to NF-κB activity through Traf7, regulating the balance between cell cycle progression and differentiation during myogenesis.

Signaling by the integrated stress response kinase PKR is fine-tuned by dynamic clustering.

The double-stranded RNA sensor kinase PKR is one of four integrated stress response (ISR) sensor kinases that phosphorylate the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) in response to stress. The current model of PKR activation considers the formation of back-to-back PKR dimers as a prerequisite for signal propagation. Here we show that PKR signaling involves the assembly of dynamic PKR clusters. PKR clustering is driven by ligand binding to PKR's sensor domain and by front-to-front interfaces between PKR's kinase domains. PKR clusters are discrete, heterogeneous, autonomous coalescences that share some protein components with processing bodies. Strikingly, eIF2α is not recruited to PKR clusters, and PKR cluster disruption enhances eIF2α phosphorylation. Together, these results support a model in which PKR clustering may limit encounters between PKR and eIF2α to buffer downstream signaling and prevent the ISR from misfiring.

CREST, a Cas13-Based, Rugged, Equitable, Scalable Testing (CREST) for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Patient Samples.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating human toll worldwide. The development of impactful guidelines and measures for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic requires continuous and widespread testing of suspected cases and their contacts through accurate, accessible, and reliable methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Here we describe a CRISPR-Cas13-based method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The assay is called CREST (Cas13-based, rugged, equitable, scalable testing), and is specific, sensitive, and highly accessible. As such, CREST may provide a low-cost and dependable alternative for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Cas13-ased detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material using a real-time PCR detection system Alternate Protocol: Cas13-based detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material using a fluorescence viewer Support Protocol 1: LwaCas13a purification Support Protocol 2: In vitro transcription of synthetic targets.

Comparison of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Screening Using Reverse Transcriptase-Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction or CRISPR-Based Assays in Asymptomatic College Students.

Importance: The reopening of colleges and universities in the US during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a significant public health challenge. The development of accessible and practical approaches for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection in the college population is paramount for deploying recurrent surveillance testing as an essential strategy for virus detection, containment, and mitigation. Objective: To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic participants in a university community by using CREST (Cas13-based, rugged, equitable, scalable testing), a CRISPR-based test developed for accessible and large-scale viral screening. Design, Setting, and Participants: For this cohort study, a total of 1808 asymptomatic participants were screened for SARS-CoV-2 using a CRISPR-based assay and a point-of-reference reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test. Viral prevalence in self-collected oropharyngeal swab samples collected from May 28 to June 11, 2020, and from June 23 to July 2, 2020, was evaluated. Exposures: Testing for SARS-CoV-2. Main Outcomes and Measures: SARS-CoV-2 status, viral load, and demographic information of the study participants were collected. Results: Among the 1808 participants (mean [SD] age, 27.3 [11.0] years; 955 [52.8%] female), 732 underwent testing from May to early June (mean [SD] age, 28.4 [11.7] years; 392 [53.6%] female). All test results in this cohort were negative. In contrast, 1076 participants underwent testing from late June to early July (mean [SD] age, 26.6 [10.5] years; 563 [52.3%] female), with 9 positive results by RT-qPCR. Eight of these positive samples were detected by the CRISPR-based assay and confirmed by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified diagnostic testing. The mean (SD) age of the positive cases was 21.7 (3.3) years; all 8 individuals self-identified as students. These metrics showed that a CRISPR-based assay was effective at capturing positive SARS-CoV-2 cases in this student population. Notably, the viral loads detected in these asymptomatic cases resemble those seen in clinical samples, highlighting the potential of covert viral transmission. The shift in viral prevalence coincided with the relaxation of stay-at-home measures. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings reveal a shift in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in a young and asymptomatic population and uncover the leading edge of a local outbreak that coincided with rising case counts in the surrounding county and the state of California. The concordance between CRISPR-based and RT-qPCR testing suggests that CRISPR-based assays are reliable and offer alternative options for surveillance testing and detection of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, as is required to resume operations in higher-education institutions in the US and abroad.

Genotoxic stress triggers the activation of IRE1α-dependent RNA decay to modulate the DNA damage response.

The molecular connections between homeostatic systems that maintain both genome integrity and proteostasis are poorly understood. Here we identify the selective activation of the unfolded protein response transducer IRE1α under genotoxic stress to modulate repair programs and sustain cell survival. DNA damage engages IRE1α signaling in the absence of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signature, leading to the exclusive activation of regulated IRE1α-dependent decay (RIDD) without activating its canonical output mediated by the transcription factor XBP1. IRE1α endoribonuclease activity controls the stability of mRNAs involved in the DNA damage response, impacting DNA repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The activation of the c-Abl kinase by DNA damage triggers the oligomerization of IRE1α to catalyze RIDD. The protective role of IRE1α under genotoxic stress is conserved in fly and mouse. Altogether, our results uncover an important intersection between the molecular pathways that sustain genome stability and proteostasis.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 in dementia across Latin America: A call for an urgent regional plan and coordinated response.

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic will disproportionately impact countries with weak economies and vulnerable populations including people with dementia. Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) are burdened with unstable economic development, fragile health systems, massive economic disparities, and a high prevalence of dementia. Here, we underscore the selective impact of SARS-CoV-2 on dementia among LACs, the specific strain on health systems devoted to dementia, and the subsequent effect of increasing inequalities among those with dementia in the region. Implementation of best practices for mitigation and containment faces particularly steep challenges in LACs. Based upon our consideration of these issues, we urgently call for a coordinated action plan, including the development of inexpensive mass testing and multilevel regional coordination for dementia care and related actions. Brain health diplomacy should lead to a shared and escalated response across the region, coordinating leadership, and triangulation between governments and international multilateral networks.

The Unfolded Protein Response: Detecting and Responding to Fluctuations in the Protein-Folding Capacity of the Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Most of the secreted and plasma membrane proteins are synthesized on membrane-bound ribosomes on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). They require engagement of ER-resident chaperones and foldases that assist in their folding and maturation. Since protein homeostasis in the ER is crucial for cellular function, the protein-folding status in the organelle's lumen is continually surveyed by a network of signaling pathways, collectively called the unfolded protein response (UPR). Protein-folding imbalances, or "ER stress," are detected by highly conserved sensors that adjust the ER's protein-folding capacity according to the physiological needs of the cell. We review recent developments in the field that have provided new insights into the ER stress-sensing mechanisms used by UPR sensors and the mechanisms by which they integrate various cellular inputs to adjust the folding capacity of the organelle to accommodate to fluctuations in ER protein-folding demands.

In vitro RNA Cleavage Assays to Characterize IRE1-dependent RNA Decay.

The kinase/RNase IRE1 is a key effector of the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum stress. The RNase activity of IRE1 can be measured in cells or in the test tube. Here we describe a protocol for the in vitro cleavage and analysis of RNA substrates of IRE1. The method consists of the in vitro transcription, purification and re-folding of IRE1 substrate RNAs followed by their cleavage using recombinant cytosolic kinase/RNase domains of IRE1 and the separation of the resulting fragments by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protocol allows the study of the cleavage kinetics of IRE1's RNA substrates in vitro.

Recent advances in signal integration mechanisms in the unfolded protein response.

Since its discovery more than 25 years ago, great progress has been made in our understanding of the unfolded protein response (UPR), a homeostatic mechanism that adjusts endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function to satisfy the physiological demands of the cell. However, if ER homeostasis is unattainable, the UPR switches to drive cell death to remove defective cells in an effort to protect the health of the organism. This functional dichotomy places the UPR at the crossroads of the adaptation versus apoptosis decision. Here, we focus on new developments in UPR signaling mechanisms, in the interconnectivity among the signaling pathways that make up the UPR in higher eukaryotes, and in the coordination between the UPR and other fundamental cellular processes.

The unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum protein targeting machineries converge on the stress sensor IRE1.

The protein folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is tightly regulated by a network of signaling pathways, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR sensors monitor the ER folding status to adjust ER folding capacity according to need. To understand how the UPR sensor IRE1 maintains ER homeostasis, we identified zero-length crosslinks of RNA to IRE1 with single nucleotide precision in vivo. We found that IRE1 specifically crosslinks to a subset of ER-targeted mRNAs, SRP RNA, ribosomal and transfer RNAs. Crosslink sites cluster in a discrete region of the ribosome surface spanning from the A-site to the polypeptide exit tunnel. Moreover, IRE1 binds to purified 80S ribosomes with high affinity, indicating association with ER-bound ribosomes. Our results suggest that the ER protein translocation and targeting machineries work together with the UPR to tune the ER's protein folding load.

An unfolded protein-induced conformational switch activates mammalian IRE1.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) adjusts the cell's protein folding capacity in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) according to need. IRE1 is the most conserved UPR sensor in eukaryotic cells. It has remained controversial, however, whether mammalian and yeast IRE1 use a common mechanism for ER stress sensing. Here, we show that similar to yeast, human IRE1α's ER-lumenal domain (hIRE1α LD) binds peptides with a characteristic amino acid bias. Peptides and unfolded proteins bind to hIRE1α LD's MHC-like groove and induce allosteric changes that lead to its oligomerization. Mutation of a hydrophobic patch at the oligomerization interface decoupled peptide binding to hIRE1α LD from its oligomerization, yet retained peptide-induced allosteric coupling within the domain. Importantly, impairing oligomerization of hIRE1α LD abolished IRE1's activity in living cells. Our results provide evidence for a unifying mechanism of IRE1 activation that relies on unfolded protein binding-induced oligomerization.