RESUMO
Cancer cells enter a reversible drug-tolerant persister (DTP) state to evade death from chemotherapy and targeted agents. It is increasingly appreciated that DTPs are important drivers of therapy failure and tumor relapse. We combined cellular barcoding and mathematical modeling in patient-derived colorectal cancer models to identify and characterize DTPs in response to chemotherapy. Barcode analysis revealed no loss of clonal complexity of tumors that entered the DTP state and recurred following treatment cessation. Our data fit a mathematical model where all cancer cells, and not a small subpopulation, possess an equipotent capacity to become DTPs. Mechanistically, we determined that DTPs display remarkable transcriptional and functional similarities to diapause, a reversible state of suspended embryonic development triggered by unfavorable environmental conditions. Our study provides insight into how cancer cells use a developmentally conserved mechanism to drive the DTP state, pointing to novel therapeutic opportunities to target DTPs.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Diapausa , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Autofagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Autofagia/genética , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células Clonais , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Embrião de Mamíferos/efeitos dos fármacos , Embrião de Mamíferos/metabolismo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Heterogeneidade Genética/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Irinotecano/farmacologia , Irinotecano/uso terapêutico , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Camundongos SCID , Modelos Biológicos , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Cima/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Cima/genética , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
The cancer transcriptome is remarkably complex, including low-abundance transcripts, many not polyadenylated. To fully characterize the transcriptome of localized prostate cancer, we performed ultra-deep total RNA-seq on 144 tumors with rich clinical annotation. This revealed a linear transcriptomic subtype associated with the aggressive intraductal carcinoma sub-histology and a fusion profile that differentiates localized from metastatic disease. Analysis of back-splicing events showed widespread RNA circularization, with the average tumor expressing 7,232 circular RNAs (circRNAs). The degree of circRNA production was correlated to disease progression in multiple patient cohorts. Loss-of-function screening identified 11.3% of highly abundant circRNAs as essential for cell proliferation; for â¼90% of these, their parental linear transcripts were not essential. Individual circRNAs can have distinct functions, with circCSNK1G3 promoting cell growth by interacting with miR-181. These data advocate for adoption of ultra-deep RNA-seq without poly-A selection to interrogate both linear and circular transcriptomes.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , RNA/genética , RNA/metabolismo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Perfil Genético , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Masculino , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Próstata/metabolismo , Splicing de RNA/genética , RNA Circular , RNA não Traduzido/genética , Análise de Sequência de RNA/métodos , TranscriptomaRESUMO
The prostate cancer (PCa) risk-associated SNP rs11672691 is positively associated with aggressive disease at diagnosis. We showed that rs11672691 maps to the promoter of a short isoform of long noncoding RNA PCAT19 (PCAT19-short), which is in the third intron of the long isoform (PCAT19-long). The risk variant is associated with decreased and increased levels of PCAT19-short and PCAT19-long, respectively. Mechanistically, the risk SNP region is bifunctional with both promoter and enhancer activity. The risk variants of rs11672691 and its LD SNP rs887391 decrease binding of transcription factors NKX3.1 and YY1 to the promoter of PCAT19-short, resulting in weaker promoter but stronger enhancer activity that subsequently activates PCAT19-long. PCAT19-long interacts with HNRNPAB to activate a subset of cell-cycle genes associated with PCa progression, thereby promoting PCa tumor growth and metastasis. Taken together, these findings reveal a risk SNP-mediated promoter-enhancer switching mechanism underlying both initiation and progression of aggressive PCa.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , RNA Longo não Codificante/genética , Alelos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/genética , Frequência do Gene/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Ligação Proteica , Isoformas de RNA/genética , Fatores de Risco , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Fator de Transcrição YY1/metabolismoRESUMO
Protein import into mitochondria is a highly regulated process, yet how cells clear mitochondria undergoing dysfunctional protein import remains poorly characterized. Here we showed that mitochondrial protein import stress (MPIS) triggers localized LC3 lipidation. This arm of the mitophagy pathway occurs through the Nod-like receptor (NLR) protein NLRX1 while, surprisingly, without the engagement of the canonical mitophagy protein PINK1. Mitochondrial depolarization, which itself induces MPIS, also required NLRX1 for LC3 lipidation. While normally targeted to the mitochondrial matrix, cytosol-retained NLRX1 recruited RRBP1, a ribosome-binding transmembrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, which relocated to the mitochondrial vicinity during MPIS, and the NLRX1/RRBP1 complex in turn controlled the recruitment and lipidation of LC3. Furthermore, NLRX1 controlled skeletal muscle mitophagy in vivo and regulated endurance capacity during exercise. Thus, localization and lipidation of LC3 at the site of mitophagosome formation is a regulated step of mitophagy controlled by NLRX1/RRBP1 in response to MPIS.
Assuntos
Proteínas Mitocondriais , Mitofagia , Retículo Endoplasmático/genética , Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/genética , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Transporte ProteicoRESUMO
BRCA1 mutations are associated with increased breast and ovarian cancer risk. BRCA1-mutant tumors are high-grade, recurrent, and often become resistant to standard therapies. Herein, we performed a targeted CRISPR-Cas9 screen and identified MEPCE, a methylphosphate capping enzyme, as a synthetic lethal interactor of BRCA1. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that depletion of MEPCE in a BRCA1-deficient setting led to dysregulated RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) promoter-proximal pausing, R-loop accumulation, and replication stress, contributing to transcription-replication collisions. These collisions compromise genomic integrity resulting in loss of viability of BRCA1-deficient cells. We also extend these findings to another RNAPII-regulating factor, PAF1. This study identifies a new class of synthetic lethal partners of BRCA1 that exploit the RNAPII pausing regulation and highlight the untapped potential of transcription-replication collision-inducing factors as unique potential therapeutic targets for treating cancers associated with BRCA1 mutations.
Assuntos
Proteína BRCA1 , Replicação do DNA , Síndrome Hereditária de Câncer de Mama e Ovário , Mutação , Transcrição Gênica , Humanos , Proteína BRCA1/deficiência , Proteína BRCA1/genética , Replicação do DNA/genética , Síndrome Hereditária de Câncer de Mama e Ovário/genética , Síndrome Hereditária de Câncer de Mama e Ovário/patologia , Síndrome Hereditária de Câncer de Mama e Ovário/fisiopatologia , RNA Polimerase II/metabolismo , Transcrição Gênica/genética , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Metiltransferases/deficiência , Metiltransferases/genética , Estruturas R-Loop , Morte CelularRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) governs the fate of RNAs through m6A readers. Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits aberrant m6A modifications and expression of m6A regulators. However, how m6A readers interpret oncogenic m6A methylome to promote malignant transformation remains to be illustrated. METHODS: YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein 1 (Ythdf1) knockout mouse was generated to determine the effect of Ythdf1 in CRC tumorigenesis in vivo. Multiomic analysis of RNA-sequencing, m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, YTHDF1 RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, and proteomics were performed to unravel targets of YTHDF1 in CRC. The therapeutic potential of targeting YTHDF1-m6A-Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2 (ARHGEF2) was evaluated using small interfering RNA (siRNA) encapsulated by lipid nanoparticles (LNP). RESULTS: DNA copy number gain of YTHDF1 is a frequent event in CRC and contributes to its overexpression. High expression of YTHDF1 is significantly associated with metastatic gene signature in patient tumors. Ythdf1 knockout in mice dampened tumor growth in an inflammatory CRC model. YTHDF1 promotes cell growth in CRC cell lines and primary organoids and lung and liver metastasis in vivo. Integrative multiomics analysis identified RhoA activator ARHGEF2 as a key downstream target of YTHDF1. YTHDF1 binds to m6A sites of ARHGEF2 messenger RNA, resulting in enhanced translation of ARHGEF2. Ectopic expression of ARHGEF2 restored impaired RhoA signaling, cell growth, and metastatic ability both in vitro and in vivo caused by YTHDF1 loss, verifying that ARHGEF2 is a key target of YTHDF1. Finally, ARHGEF2 siRNA delivered by LNP significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: We identify a novel oncogenic epitranscriptome axis of YTHDF1-m6A-ARHGEF2, which regulates CRC tumorigenesis and metastasis. siRNA-delivering LNP drug validated the therapeutic potential of targeting this axis in CRC.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/metabolismo , Animais , Carcinogênese/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Humanos , Lipossomos , Camundongos , Nanopartículas , RNA Interferente Pequeno , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/metabolismo , Fatores de Troca de Nucleotídeo Guanina Rho/genética , Fatores de Troca de Nucleotídeo Guanina Rho/metabolismo , Proteína rhoA de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Proteína rhoA de Ligação ao GTP/metabolismoRESUMO
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a devastating disease in need of new therapies to improve patient survival. Targeted adoptive T-cell therapies have achieved impressive clinical outcomes in some B-cell leukemias and lymphomas but not in AML. Double-negative T cells (DNTs) effectively kill blast cells from the majority of AML patients and are now being tested in clinical trials. However, AML blasts obtained from â¼30% of patients show resistance to DNT-mediated cytotoxicity; the markers or mechanisms underlying this resistance have not been elucidated. Here, we used a targeted clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) screen to identify genes that cause susceptibility of AML cells to DNT therapy. Inactivation of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) deubiquitinating complex components sensitized AML cells to DNT-mediated cytotoxicity. In contrast, CD64 inactivation resulted in resistance to DNT-mediated cytotoxicity. Importantly, the level of CD64 expression correlated strongly with the sensitivity of AML cells to DNT treatment. Furthermore, the ectopic expression of CD64 overcame AML resistance to DNTs in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, our data demonstrate the utility of CRISPR/Cas9 screens to uncover mechanisms underlying the sensitivity to DNT therapy and suggest CD64 as a predictive marker for response in AML patients.
Assuntos
Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/genética , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/terapia , Linfócitos T/transplante , Transferência Adotiva , Animais , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Regulação Leucêmica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Camundongos Endogâmicos NOD , Receptores de IgG/genéticaRESUMO
Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors are cytoplasmic pattern-recognition receptors that together with RIG-I-like receptor (retinoic acid-inducible gene 1), Toll-like receptor (TLR), and C-type lectin families make up the innate pathogen pattern recognition system. There are 22 members of NLRs in humans, 34 in mice, and even a larger number in some invertebrates like sea urchins, which contain more than 200 receptors. Although initially described to respond to intracellular pathogens, NLRs have been shown to play important roles in distinct biological processes ranging from regulation of antigen presentation, sensing metabolic changes in the cell, modulation of inflammation, embryo development, cell death, and differentiation of the adaptive immune response. The diversity among NLR receptors is derived from ligand specificity conferred by the leucine-rich repeats and an NH2-terminal effector domain that triggers the activation of different biological pathways. Here, we describe NLR genes associated with different biological processes and the molecular mechanisms underlying their function. Furthermore, we discuss mutations in NLR genes that have been associated with human diseases.
Assuntos
Citosol/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Sinalização NOD/metabolismo , Animais , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Variação Genética , Humanos , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Sinalização NOD/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has recently emerged as a new regulatory mechanism in cancer progression. We aimed to explore the role of the m6A regulatory enzyme METTL3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target. METHODS: The expression and clinical implication of METTL3 were investigated in multiple human CRC cohorts. The underlying mechanisms of METTL3 in CRC were investigated by integrative m6A sequencing, RNA sequencing, and ribosome profiling analyses. The efficacy of targeting METTL3 in CRC treatment was elucidated in CRC cell lines, patient-derived CRC organoids, and Mettl3-knockout mouse models. RESULTS: Using targeted clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 dropout screening, we identified METTL3 as the top essential m6A regulatory enzyme in CRC. METTL3 was overexpressed in 62.2% (79/127) and 88.0% (44/50) of primary CRCs from 2 independent cohorts. High METTL3 expression predicted poor survival in patients with CRC (n = 374, P < .01). Functionally, silencing METTL3 suppressed tumorigenesis in CRC cells, human-derived primary CRC organoids, and Mettl3-knockout mouse models. We discovered the novel functional m6A methyltransferase domain of METTL3 in CRC cells by domain-focused CRISPR screening and mutagenesis assays. Mechanistically, METTL3 directly induced the m6A-GLUT1-mTORC1 axis as identified by integrated m6A sequencing, RNA sequencing, ribosome sequencing, and functional validation. METTL3 induced GLUT1 translation in an m6A-dependent manner, which subsequently promoted glucose uptake and lactate production, leading to the activation of mTORC1 signaling and CRC development. Furthermore, inhibition of mTORC1 potentiated the anticancer effect of METTL3 silencing in CRC patient-derived organoids and METTL3 transgenic mouse models. CONCLUSIONS: METTL3 promotes CRC by activating the m6A-GLUT1-mTORC1 axis. METTL3 is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Transportador de Glucose Tipo 1/genética , Metiltransferases/metabolismo , Neoplasias Experimentais/genética , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/metabolismo , Idoso , Animais , Azoximetano/administração & dosagem , Azoximetano/toxicidade , Carcinogênese , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Estudos de Coortes , Neoplasias Colorretais/induzido quimicamente , Neoplasias Colorretais/mortalidade , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Metilação de DNA , Sulfato de Dextrana/administração & dosagem , Sulfato de Dextrana/toxicidade , Feminino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Humanos , Masculino , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/metabolismo , Metiltransferases/genética , Camundongos Knockout , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Experimentais/induzido quimicamente , Neoplasias Experimentais/patologia , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
Autophagy is emerging as a crucial defense mechanism against bacteria, but the host intracellular sensors responsible for inducing autophagy in response to bacterial infection remain unknown. Here we demonstrated that the intracellular sensors Nod1 and Nod2 are critical for the autophagic response to invasive bacteria. By a mechanism independent of the adaptor RIP2 and transcription factor NF-kappaB, Nod1 and Nod2 recruited the autophagy protein ATG16L1 to the plasma membrane at the bacterial entry site. In cells homozygous for the Crohn's disease-associated NOD2 frameshift mutation, mutant Nod2 failed to recruit ATG16L1 to the plasma membrane and wrapping of invading bacteria by autophagosomes was impaired. Our results link bacterial sensing by Nod proteins to the induction of autophagy and provide a functional link between Nod2 and ATG16L1, which are encoded by two of the most important genes associated with Crohn's disease.
Assuntos
Autofagia , Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD1/metabolismo , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/metabolismo , Animais , Proteínas Relacionadas à Autofagia , Bactérias/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte/genética , Linhagem Celular , Membrana Celular/microbiologia , Membrana Celular/ultraestrutura , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/genética , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/metabolismo , Células HeLa , Humanos , Immunoblotting , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Endogâmicos , Camundongos Knockout , Microscopia Confocal , Microscopia Eletrônica , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Mutação , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD1/genética , Proteína Adaptadora de Sinalização NOD2/genética , TransfecçãoRESUMO
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) accounts for approximately 0.2% to 0.6% of all adenosine in mammalian mRNA, representing the most abundant internal mRNA modifications. m6A RNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (MeRIP-seq) is a powerful technique to map the m6A location transcriptome-wide. However, this method typically requires 300 µg of total RNA, which limits its application to patient tumors. In this study, we present a refined m6A MeRIP-seq protocol and analysis pipeline that can be applied to profile low-input RNA samples from patient tumors. We optimized the key parameters of m6A MeRIP-seq, including the starting amount of RNA, RNA fragmentation, antibody selection, MeRIP washing/elution conditions, methods for RNA library construction, and the bioinformatics analysis pipeline. With the optimized immunoprecipitation (IP) conditions and a postamplification rRNA depletion strategy, we were able to profile the m6A epitranscriptome using 500 ng of total RNA. We identified approximately 12,000 m6A peaks with a high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio from 2 lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) patient tumors. Through integrative analysis of the transcriptome, m6A epitranscriptome, and proteome data in the same patient tumors, we identified dynamics at the m6A level that account for the discordance between mRNA and protein levels in these tumors. The refined m6A MeRIP-seq method is suitable for m6A epitranscriptome profiling in a limited amount of patient tumors, setting the ground for unraveling the dynamics of the m6A epitranscriptome and the underlying mechanisms in clinical settings.
Assuntos
Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Imunoprecipitação/métodos , RNA/metabolismo , Células A549 , Adenocarcinoma de Pulmão/genética , Adenocarcinoma de Pulmão/patologia , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/metabolismo , Anticorpos/metabolismo , Sequência de Bases , Humanos , RNA/genéticaRESUMO
Steady-state gene expression across the cell cycle has been studied extensively. However, transcriptional gene regulation and the dynamics of histone modification at different cell-cycle stages are largely unknown. By applying a combination of global nuclear run-on sequencing (GRO-seq), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and histone-modification Chip sequencing (ChIP-seq), we depicted a comprehensive transcriptional landscape at the G0/G1, G1/S, and M phases of breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Importantly, GRO-seq and RNA-seq analysis identified different cell-cycle-regulated genes, suggesting a lag between transcription and steady-state expression during the cell cycle. Interestingly, we identified genes actively transcribed at early M phase that are longer in length and have low expression and are accompanied by a global increase in active histone 3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me2) and histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) modifications. In addition, we identified 2,440 cell-cycle-regulated enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) that are strongly associated with differential active transcription but not with stable expression levels across the cell cycle. Motif analysis of dynamic eRNAs predicted Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) as a key regulator of G1/S transition, and this identification was validated experimentally. Taken together, our combined analysis characterized the transcriptional and histone-modification profile of the human cell cycle and identified dynamic transcriptional signatures across the cell cycle.
Assuntos
Ciclo Celular , Transcrição Gênica , Imunoprecipitação da Cromatina , Histonas/genética , Histonas/metabolismo , Humanos , Fator 4 Semelhante a Kruppel , Células MCF-7 , Análise de Sequência de RNARESUMO
NLRX1, the mitochondrial NOD-like receptor (NLR), modulates apoptosis in response to both intrinsic and extrinsic cues. Insights into the mechanism of how NLRX1 influences apoptosis remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that NLRX1 associates with SARM1, a protein with a toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-containing domain also found in adaptor proteins downstream of toll-like receptors, such as MyD88. While a direct role of SARM1 in innate immunity is unclear, the protein plays essential roles in Wallerian degeneration (WD), a type of neuronal catabolism occurring following axonal severing or damage. In non-neuronal cells, we found that endogenous SARM1 was equally distributed in the cytosol and the mitochondrial matrix, where association with NLRX1 occurred. In these cells, the apoptotic role of NLRX1 was fully dependent on SARM1, indicating that SARM1 was downstream of NLRX1 in apoptosis regulation. In primary murine neurons, however, Wallerian degeneration induced by vinblastine or NGF deprivation occurred in SARM1- yet NLRX1-independent manner, suggesting that WD requires the cytosolic pool of SARM1 or that NLRX1 levels in neurons are too low to contribute to WD regulation. Together, these results shed new light into the mechanisms through which NLRX1 controls apoptosis and provides evidence of a new link between NLR and TIR-containing proteins.
Assuntos
Apoptose , Proteínas do Domínio Armadillo/imunologia , Axônios/imunologia , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/imunologia , Imunidade Inata , Mitocôndrias/imunologia , Proteínas Mitocondriais/imunologia , Animais , Proteínas do Domínio Armadillo/genética , Axônios/patologia , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/genética , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Mitocôndrias/genética , Mitocôndrias/patologia , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/genética , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/imunologia , Vimblastina/efeitos adversos , Vimblastina/farmacologia , Degeneração Walleriana/induzido quimicamente , Degeneração Walleriana/genética , Degeneração Walleriana/imunologia , Degeneração Walleriana/patologiaRESUMO
Despite the importance of Campylobacter jejuni as a pathogen, little is known about the fundamental aspects of its peptidoglycan (PG) structure and factors modulating its helical morphology. A PG dl-carboxypeptidase Pgp1 essential for maintenance of C. jejuni helical shape was recently identified. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the CJJ81176_0915 gene product as co-occurring with Pgp1 in several organisms. Deletion of cjj81176_0915 (renamed pgp2) resulted in straight morphology, representing the second C. jejuni gene affecting cell shape. The PG structure of a Δpgp2 mutant showed an increase in tetrapeptide-containing muropeptides and a complete absence of tripeptides, consistent with ld-carboxypeptidase activity, which was confirmed biochemically. PG analysis of a Δpgp1Δpgp2 double mutant demonstrated that Pgp2 activity is required to generate the tripeptide substrate for Pgp1. Loss of pgp2 affected several pathogenic properties; the deletion strain was defective for motility in semisolid agar, biofilm formation, and fluorescence on calcofluor white. Δpgp2 PG also caused decreased stimulation of the human nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (Nod1) proinflammatory mediator in comparison with wild type, as expected from the reduction in muropeptide tripeptides (the primary Nod1 agonist) in the mutant; however, these changes did not alter the ability of the Δpgp2 mutant strain to survive within human epithelial cells or to elicit secretion of IL-8 from epithelial cells after infection. The pgp2 mutant also showed significantly reduced fitness in a chick colonization model. Collectively, these analyses enhance our understanding of C. jejuni PG maturation and help to clarify how PG structure and cell shape impact pathogenic attributes.
Assuntos
Infecções por Campylobacter/microbiologia , Campylobacter jejuni/citologia , Campylobacter jejuni/enzimologia , Carboxipeptidases/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/microbiologia , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Biofilmes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Campylobacter jejuni/patogenicidade , Campylobacter jejuni/fisiologia , Carboxipeptidases/genética , Linhagem Celular , Deleção de Genes , Humanos , Peptidoglicano/química , Peptidoglicano/metabolismoRESUMO
NLRX1 is a mitochondrial Nod-like receptor (NLR) protein whose function remains enigmatic. Here, we observed that NLRX1 expression was glucose-regulated and blunted by SV40 transformation. In transformed but not primary murine embryonic fibroblasts, NLRX1 expression mediated resistance to an extrinsic apoptotic signal, whereas conferring susceptibility to intrinsic apoptotic signals, such as glycolysis inhibition, increased cytosolic calcium and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In a murine model of colorectal cancer induced by azoxymethane, NLRX1-/- mice developed fewer tumors than wild type mice. In contrast, in a colitis-associated cancer model combining azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium, NLRX1-/- mice developed a more severe pathology likely due to the increased sensitivity to dextran sulfate sodium colitis. Together, these results identify NLRX1 as a critical mitochondrial protein implicated in the regulation of apoptosis in cancer cells. The unique capacity of NLRX1 to regulate the cellular sensitivity toward intrinsic versus extrinsic apoptotic signals suggests a critical role for this protein in numerous physiological processes and pathological conditions.
Assuntos
Apoptose , Colite/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular Transformada , Colite/induzido quimicamente , Colite/genética , Colite/patologia , Neoplasias do Colo/genética , Neoplasias do Colo/patologia , Sulfato de Dextrana/toxicidade , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genéticaRESUMO
Luciferase reporter assays (LRAs) are widely used to assess the activity of specific signal transduction pathways. Although powerful, rapid and convenient, this technique can also generate artifactual results, as revealed for instance in the case of high throughput screens of inhibitory molecules. Here we demonstrate that the previously reported inhibitory effect of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) protein NLRX1 on NF-κB- and type I interferon-dependent pathways in LRAs was a nonspecific consequence of the overexpression of the NLRX1 leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. By comparing luciferase activity and luciferase gene expression using quantitative PCR from the same samples, we showed that NLRX1 inhibited LRAs in a post-transcriptional manner. In agreement, NLRX1 also repressed LRAs if luciferase was expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter, although the degree of inhibition by NLRX1 seemed to correlate with the dynamic inducibility of luciferase reporter constructs. Similarly, we observed that overexpression of another NLR protein, NLRC3, also resulted in artifactual inhibition of LRAs; thus suggesting that the capacity to inhibit LRAs at a post-transcriptional level is not unique to NLRX1. Finally, we demonstrate that host type I interferon response to Sendai virus infection was normal in NLRX1-silenced human HEK293T cells. Our results thus highlight the fact that LRAs are not a reliable technique to assess the inhibitory function of NLRs, and possibly other overexpressed proteins, on signal transduction pathways.
Assuntos
Genes Reporter , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/metabolismo , Luciferases/biossíntese , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intercelular/genética , Luciferases/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , NF-kappa B/genética , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/biossíntese , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Transdução de Sinais/genéticaRESUMO
Mitochondria are cellular organelles involved in host-cell metabolic processes and the control of programmed cell death. A direct link between mitochondria and innate immune signalling was first highlighted with the identification of MAVS-a crucial adaptor for RIGI-like receptor signalling-as a mitochondria-anchored protein. Recently, other innate immune molecules, such as NLRX1, TRAF6, NLRP3 and IRGM have been functionally associated with mitochondria. Furthermore, mitochondrial alarmins-such as mitochondrial DNA and formyl peptides-can be released by damaged mitochondria and trigger inflammation. Therefore, mitochondria emerge as a fundamental hub for innate immune signalling.
Assuntos
Imunidade Inata , Mitocôndrias/imunologia , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/imunologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/imunologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose , Humanos , Mitocôndrias/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Proteínas Mitocondriais/imunologia , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismoRESUMO
MYC is a well characterized oncogenic transcription factor in prostate cancer, and CTCF is the main architectural protein of three-dimensional genome organization. However, the functional link between the two master regulators has not been reported. In this study, we find that MYC rewires prostate cancer chromatin architecture by interacting with CTCF protein. Through combining the H3K27ac, AR and CTCF HiChIP profiles with CRISPR deletion of a CTCF site upstream of MYC gene, we show that MYC activation leads to profound changes of CTCF-mediated chromatin looping. Mechanistically, MYC colocalizes with CTCF at a subset of genomic sites, and enhances CTCF occupancy at these loci. Consequently, the CTCF-mediated chromatin looping is potentiated by MYC activation, resulting in the disruption of enhancer-promoter looping at neuroendocrine lineage plasticity genes. Collectively, our findings define the function of MYC as a CTCF co-factor in three-dimensional genome organization.
Assuntos
Cromatina , Neoplasias da Próstata , Masculino , Humanos , Cromatina/genética , Fator de Ligação a CCCTC/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Genes myc , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Sítios de LigaçãoRESUMO
One key advantage of RNA over genomic editing is its temporary effects. Aside from current use of DNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas9, the more recently discovered CRISPR-Cas13 has been explored as a means of editing due to its RNA-targeting capabilities. Specifically, there has been a recent interest in identifying and functionally characterizing biochemical RNA modifications, which has spurred a new field of research known as "epitranscriptomics". As one of the most frequently occurring transcriptome modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has generated much interest. The presence of m6A modifications is under the tight control of a series of regulators, and the ability of fusing these proteins or demethylases to catalytically inactive CRISPR proteins have resulted in a new wave of programmable RNA methylation tools. In addition, studies have been conducted to develop different CRISPR/Cas and base editor systems capable of more efficient editing, and some have explored the effects of in vivo editing for certain diseases. As well, the application of CRISPR and base editors for screening shows promise in revealing the phenotypic outcomes from m6A modification, many of which are linked to physiological, and pathological effects. Thus, the therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas and base editors for not only m6A related, but other RNA and DNA related disease has also garnered insight. In this review, we summarize/discuss the recent findings on RNA editing with CRISPR, base editors and non-CRISPR related tools and offer a perspective regarding future applications for basic and clinical research.
RESUMO
Chlamydia trachomatis infections cause severe and irreversible damage that can lead to infertility and blindness in both males and females. Following infection of epithelial cells, Chlamydia induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unconventionally, Chlamydiae use ROS to their advantage by activating caspase-1, which contributes to chlamydial growth. NLRX1, a member of the Nod-like receptor family that translocates to the mitochondria, can augment ROS production from the mitochondria following Shigella flexneri infections. However, in general, ROS can also be produced by membrane-bound NADPH oxidases. Given the importance of ROS-induced caspase-1 activation in growth of the chlamydial vacuole, we investigated the sources of ROS production in epithelial cells following infection with C. trachomatis. In this study, we provide evidence that basal levels of ROS are generated during chlamydial infection by NADPH oxidase, but ROS levels, regardless of their source, are enhanced by an NLRX1-dependent mechanism. Significantly, the presence of NLRX1 is required for optimal chlamydial growth.