C-TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE 1 promotes flowering with TAF15b by repressing the floral repressor gene FLOWERING LOCUS C.

Arabidopsis TATA-BINDING PROTEIN-ASSOCIATED FACTOR15b (TAF15b) is a plant-specific component of the transcription factor IID complex. TAF15b is involved in the autonomous pathway for flowering and represses the transcription of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a major floral repressor in Arabidopsis. While components of the autonomous flowering pathway have been extensively studied, scant attention has been directed toward elucidating the direct transcriptional regulators responsible for repressing FLC transcription. Here, we demonstrate that C-TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE 1 (CPL1) is a physical and functional partner of TAF15b, playing a role in FLC repression. CPL1 is a protein phosphatase that dephosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Through the immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry technique, we identified CPL1 as an interacting partner of TAF15b. Similar to taf15b, the cpl1 mutant showed a late-flowering phenotype caused by an increase in FLC levels. Additionally, the increase in cpl1 was correlated with the enrichment of phosphorylated Pol II in the FLC chromatin, as expected. We also discovered that CPL1 and TAF15b share additional common target genes through transcriptome analysis. These results suggest that TAF15b and CPL1 cooperatively repress transcription through the dephosphorylation of Pol II, especially at the FLC locus.

Proteome-wide Characterization and Pathophysiology Correlation in Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the clinical consequences of advanced heart failure (HF) may be similar across different etiologies of cardiomyopathies, their proteomic expression may show substantial differences in relation to underlying pathophysiology. We aimed to identify myocardial tissue-based proteomic characteristics and the underlying molecular pathophysiology in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with different etiologies. METHODS: Comparative extensive proteomic analysis of the myocardium was performed in nine patients with biopsy-proven non-ischemic cardiomyopathies (3 dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM], 2 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy [HCM], and 4 myocarditis) as well as five controls using tandem mass tags combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Differential protein expression analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were performed to identify proteomic differences and molecular mechanisms in each cardiomyopathy type compared to the control. Proteomic characteristics were further evaluated in accordance with clinical and pathological findings. RESULTS: The principal component analysis score plot showed that the controls, DCM, and HCM clustered well. However, myocarditis samples exhibited scattered distribution. IPA revealed the downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and upregulation of the sirtuin signaling pathway in both DCM and HCM. Various inflammatory pathways were upregulated in myocarditis with the downregulation of Rho GDP dissociation inhibitors. The molecular pathophysiology identified by extensive proteomic analysis represented the clinical and pathological properties of each cardiomyopathy with abundant proteomes. CONCLUSIONS: Different etiologies of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies in advanced HF exhibit distinct proteomic expression despite shared pathologic findings. The benefit of tailored management strategies considering the different proteomic expressions in non-ischemic advanced HF requires further investigation.

Super-resolution proximity labeling with enhanced direct identification of biotinylation sites.

Promiscuous labeling enzymes, such as APEX2 or TurboID, are commonly used in in situ biotinylation studies of subcellular proteomes or protein-protein interactions. Although the conventional approach of enriching biotinylated proteins is widely implemented, in-depth identification of specific biotinylation sites remains challenging, and current approaches are technically demanding with low yields. A novel method to systematically identify specific biotinylation sites for LC-MS analysis followed by proximity labeling showed excellent performance compared with that of related approaches in terms of identification depth with high enrichment power. The systematic identification of biotinylation sites enabled a simpler and more efficient experimental design to identify subcellular localized proteins within membranous organelles. Applying this method to the processing body (PB), a non-membranous organelle, successfully allowed unbiased identification of PB core proteins, including novel candidates. We anticipate that our newly developed method will replace the conventional method for identifying biotinylated proteins labeled by promiscuous labeling enzymes.

Abundance of the Membrane Proteome in Yeast Cells Lacking Spc1, a Non-catalytic Subunit of the Signal Peptidase Complex.

The signal peptidase complex (SPC) mediates processing of signal peptides of secretory precursors. But, recent studies show that the eukaryotic SPC also cleaves internal transmembrane segments of some membrane proteins, and its non-catalytic subunit, Spc1/SPCS1 plays a critical role in this process. To assess the impact of Spc1 on membrane proteostasis, we carried out quantitative proteomics of yeast cells with and without Spc1. Our data show that the abundance of the membrane proteome in yeast cells lacking Spc1 is in general reduced compared to that in wild-type cells, implicating its role in controlling the cellular levels of membrane proteins.

Time-resolved profiling of RNA binding proteins throughout the mRNA life cycle.

mRNAs continually change their protein partners throughout their lifetimes, yet our understanding of mRNA-protein complex (mRNP) remodeling is limited by a lack of temporal data. Here, we present time-resolved mRNA interactome data by performing pulse metabolic labeling with photoactivatable ribonucleoside in human cells, UVA crosslinking, poly(A)+ RNA isolation, and mass spectrometry. This longitudinal approach allowed the quantification of over 700 RNA binding proteins (RBPs) across ten time points. Overall, the sequential order of mRNA binding aligns well with known functions, subcellular locations, and molecular interactions. However, we also observed RBPs with unexpected dynamics: the transcription-export (TREX) complex recruited posttranscriptionally after nuclear export factor 1 (NXF1) binding, challenging the current view of transcription-coupled mRNA export, and stress granule proteins prevalent in aged mRNPs, indicating roles in late stages of the mRNA life cycle. To systematically identify mRBPs with unknown functions, we employed machine learning to compare mRNA binding dynamics with Gene Ontology (GO) annotations. Our data can be explored at chronology.rna.snu.ac.kr.

Mitochondrial matrix RTN4IP1/OPA10 is an oxidoreductase for coenzyme Q synthesis.

Targeting proximity-labeling enzymes to specific cellular locations is a viable strategy for profiling subcellular proteomes. Here, we generated transgenic mice (MAX-Tg) expressing a mitochondrial matrix-targeted ascorbate peroxidase. Comparative analysis of matrix proteomes from the muscle tissues showed differential enrichment of mitochondrial proteins. We found that reticulon 4-interacting protein 1 (RTN4IP1), also known as optic atrophy-10, is enriched in the mitochondrial matrix of muscle tissues and is an NADPH oxidoreductase. Interactome analysis and in vitro enzymatic assays revealed an essential role for RTN4IP1 in coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis by regulating the O-methylation activity of COQ3. Rtn4ip1-knockout myoblasts had markedly decreased CoQ9 levels and impaired cellular respiration. Furthermore, muscle-specific knockdown of dRtn4ip1 in flies resulted in impaired muscle function, which was reversed by dietary supplementation with soluble CoQ. Collectively, these results demonstrate that RTN4IP1 is a mitochondrial NAD(P)H oxidoreductase essential for supporting mitochondrial respiration activity in the muscle tissue.

Super-resolution proximity labeling reveals anti-viral protein network and its structural changes against SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replicates in human cells by interacting with host factors following infection. To understand the virus and host interactome proximity, we introduce a super-resolution proximity labeling (SR-PL) method with a "plug-and-playable" PL enzyme, TurboID-GBP (GFP-binding nanobody protein), and we apply it for interactome mapping of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a and membrane protein (M), which generates highly perturbed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structures. Through SR-PL analysis of the biotinylated interactome, 224 and 272 peptides are robustly identified as ORF3a and M interactomes, respectively. Within the ORF3a interactome, RNF5 co-localizes with ORF3a and generates ubiquitin modifications of ORF3a that can be involved in protein degradation. We also observe that the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate is efficiently reduced by the overexpression of RNF5 in host cells. The interactome data obtained using the SR-PL method are presented at https://sarscov2.spatiomics.org. We hope that our method will contribute to revealing virus-host interactions of other viruses in an efficient manner.

Development of a comfort suit-type soft-wearable robot with flexible artificial muscles for walking assistance.

Anchoring components are added to wearable robots to ensure a stable interaction between the suits and the human body and to minimize the displacement of the suits. However, these components can apply pressure to the body and can cause user dissatisfaction, which can decrease willingness to use the suits. Therefore, this study aims to develop a suit-type soft-wearable robot platform for walking assistance by providing comfortable garment pressure to ensure user satisfaction. The first prototype of a wearable robot suit was developed with anchoring components on the shoulders, waist, and thighs based on previous research results. Wear tests were conducted to measure garment pressure depending on posture using pressure sensors, and satisfaction surveys were conducted. The second prototype design was then developed, and performance tests with flexible artificial muscles and a satisfaction survey were conducted. Regarding the first prototype, the participants felt more than normal pressure in the shoulders and relatively less pressure in the thighs and calves. Thus, compared to the first design, the second design ensured a decreased garment pressure and resulted in an improvement of overall user satisfaction. These results can help provide guidance in the development of wearable robots by taking pressure comfort and user satisfaction into consideration.

In vivo profiling of the Zucchini proximal proteome in the Drosophila ovary.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small RNAs that play a conserved role in genome defense. The piRNA processing pathway is dependent on the sequestration of RNA precursors and protein factors in specific subcellular compartments. Therefore, a highly resolved spatial proteomics approach can help identify the local interactions and elucidate the unknown aspects of piRNA biogenesis. Herein, we performed TurboID proximity labeling to investigate the interactome of Zucchini (Zuc), a key factor of piRNA biogenesis in germline cells and somatic follicle cells of the Drosophila ovary. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of biotinylated proteins defined the Zuc-proximal proteome, including the well-known partners of Zuc. Many of these were enriched in the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), where Zuc was specifically localized. The proximal proteome of Zuc showed a distinct set of proteins compared with that of Tom20, a representative OMM protein, indicating that chaperone function-related and endomembrane system/vesicle transport proteins are previously unreported interacting partners of Zuc. The functional relevance of several candidates in piRNA biogenesis was validated by derepression of transposable elements after knockdown. Our results present potential Zuc-interacting proteins, suggesting unrecognized biological processes.

Functional and molecular dissection of HCMV long non-coding RNAs.

Small, compact genomes confer a selective advantage to viruses, yet human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) expresses the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs); RNA1.2, RNA2.7, RNA4.9, and RNA5.0. Little is known about the function of these lncRNAs in the virus life cycle. Here, we dissected the functional and molecular landscape of HCMV lncRNAs. We found that HCMV lncRNAs occupy ~ 30% and 50-60% of total and poly(A)+viral transcriptome, respectively, throughout virus life cycle. RNA1.2, RNA2.7, and RNA4.9, the three abundantly expressed lncRNAs, appear to be essential in all infection states. Among these three lncRNAs, depletion of RNA2.7 and RNA4.9 results in the greatest defect in maintaining latent reservoir and promoting lytic replication, respectively. Moreover, we delineated the global post-transcriptional nature of HCMV lncRNAs by nanopore direct RNA sequencing and interactome analysis. We revealed that the lncRNAs are modified with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and interact with m6A readers in all infection states. In-depth analysis demonstrated that m6A machineries stabilize HCMV lncRNAs, which could account for the overwhelming abundance of viral lncRNAs. Our study lays the groundwork for understanding the viral lncRNA-mediated regulation of host-virus interaction throughout the HCMV life cycle.

Hepatic GSK3ß-Dependent CRY1 Degradation Contributes to Diabetic Hyperglycemia.

Excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP) is a key factor promoting hyperglycemia in diabetes. Hepatic cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) plays an important role in maintaining glucose homeostasis by suppressing forkhead box O1 (FOXO1)-mediated HGP. Although downregulation of hepatic CRY1 appears to be associated with increased HGP, the mechanism(s) by which hepatic CRY1 dysregulation confers hyperglycemia in subjects with diabetes is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that a reduction in hepatic CRY1 protein is stimulated by elevated E3 ligase F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (FBXL3)-dependent proteasomal degradation in diabetic mice. In addition, we found that GSK3ß-induced CRY1 phosphorylation potentiates FBXL3-dependent CRY1 degradation in the liver. Accordingly, in diabetic mice, GSK3ß inhibitors effectively decreased HGP by facilitating the effect of CRY1-mediated FOXO1 degradation on glucose metabolism. Collectively, these data suggest that tight regulation of hepatic CRY1 protein stability is crucial for maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis.

Dynamic tracking and identification of tissue-specific secretory proteins in the circulation of live mice.

Secretory proteins are an essential component of interorgan communication networks that regulate animal physiology. Current approaches for identifying secretory proteins from specific cell and tissue types are largely limited to in vitro or ex vivo models which often fail to recapitulate in vivo biology. As such, there is mounting interest in developing in vivo analytical tools that can provide accurate information on the origin, identity, and spatiotemporal dynamics of secretory proteins. Here, we describe iSLET (in situ Secretory protein Labeling via ER-anchored TurboID) which selectively labels proteins that transit through the classical secretory pathway via catalytic actions of Sec61b-TurboID, a proximity labeling enzyme anchored in the ER lumen. To validate iSLET in a whole-body system, we express iSLET in the mouse liver and demonstrate efficient labeling of liver secretory proteins which could be tracked and identified within circulating blood plasma. Furthermore, proteomic analysis of the labeled liver secretome enriched from liver iSLET mouse plasma is highly consistent with previous reports of liver secretory protein profiles. Taken together, iSLET is a versatile and powerful tool for studying spatiotemporal dynamics of secretory proteins, a valuable class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Proposal of a New Prognostic Model for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer with TERT Promoter Mutations.

The role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations as an independent poor prognostic factor in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients is well known, but there is no prognostic system that combines the TERT promoter mutation status with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS). A total of 393 patients with pathologically confirmed DTC after thyroidectomy were enrolled. After incorporating wild-type TERT and mutant TERT with stages I, II, and III/IV of the AJCC TNM system 8th edition (TNM-8), we generated six combinations and calculated 10-year and 15-year CSS and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer-related death using Cox regression. Then, a new mortality prediction model termed TNM-8T was derived based on the CSS and HR of each combination in the four groups. Of the 393 patients, there were 27 (6.9%) thyroid cancer-related deaths during a median follow-up of 14 years. Patients with a more advanced stage had a lower survival rate (10-year CSS for TNM-8T stage 1, 2, 3, and 4: 98.7%, 93.5%, 77.3%, and 63.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). TNM-8T showed a better spread of CSS (p < 0.001) than TNM-8 (p = 0.002) in the adjusted survival curves. The C-index for mortality risk predictability was 0.880 (95% CI, 0.665-0.957) in TNM-8T and 0.827 (95% CI, 0.622-0.930) in TNM-8 (p < 0.001). TNM-8T, a new prognostic system that incorporates the TERT mutational status into TNM-8, showed superior predictability to TNM-8 in the long-term survival of DTC patients.

A quantitative map of human primary microRNA processing sites.

Maturation of canonical microRNA (miRNA) is initiated by DROSHA that cleaves the primary transcript (pri-miRNA). More than 1,800 miRNA loci are annotated in humans, but it remains largely unknown whether and at which sites pri-miRNAs are cleaved by DROSHA. Here, we performed in vitro processing on a full set of human pri-miRNAs (miRBase version 21) followed by sequencing. This comprehensive profiling enabled us to classify miRNAs on the basis of DROSHA dependence and map their cleavage sites with respective processing efficiency measures. Only 758 pri-miRNAs are confidently processed by DROSHA, while the majority may be non-canonical or false entries. Analyses of the DROSHA-dependent pri-miRNAs show key cis-elements for processing. We observe widespread alternative processing and unproductive cleavage events such as "nick" or "inverse" processing. SRSF3 is a broad-acting auxiliary factor modulating alternative processing and suppressing unproductive processing. The profiling data and methods developed in this study will allow systematic analyses of miRNA regulation.

Spc1 regulates the signal peptidase-mediated processing of membrane proteins.

Signal peptidase (SPase) cleaves the signal sequences (SSs) of secretory precursors. It contains an evolutionarily conserved membrane protein subunit, Spc1, that is dispensable for the catalytic activity of SPase and whose role remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of yeast Spc1. First, we set up an in vivo SPase cleavage assay using variants of the secretory protein carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) with SSs modified in the N-terminal and hydrophobic core regions. When comparing the SS cleavage efficiencies of these variants in cells with or without Spc1, we found that signal-anchored sequences became more susceptible to cleavage by SPase without Spc1. Furthermore, SPase-mediated processing of model membrane proteins was enhanced in the absence of Spc1 and was reduced upon overexpression of Spc1. Spc1 co-immunoprecipitated with proteins carrying uncleaved signal-anchored or transmembrane (TM) segments. Taken together, these results suggest that Spc1 protects TM segments from SPase action, thereby sharpening SPase substrate selection and acting as a negative regulator of the SPase-mediated processing of membrane proteins.

The SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome.

SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus whose success as a pathogen relies on its abilities to repurpose host RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and to evade antiviral RBPs. To uncover the SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome, we here develop a robust ribonucleoprotein (RNP) capture protocol and identify 109 host factors that directly bind to SARS-CoV-2 RNAs. Applying RNP capture on another coronavirus, HCoV-OC43, revealed evolutionarily conserved interactions between coronaviral RNAs and host proteins. Transcriptome analyses and knockdown experiments delineated 17 antiviral RBPs, including ZC3HAV1, TRIM25, PARP12, and SHFL, and 8 proviral RBPs, such as EIF3D and CSDE1, which are responsible for co-opting multiple steps of the mRNA life cycle. This also led to the identification of LARP1, a downstream target of the mTOR signaling pathway, as an antiviral host factor that interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 RNAs. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive list of RBPs regulating coronaviral replication and opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions.

Effectiveness and dissemination of computer-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depressed adolescents: Effective and accessible to whom?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a Computer-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CCBT) and identify the characteristics of depressed adolescents that participated in the CCBT program. METHODS: Screening tests for depression and help-seeking variables were conducted in school-aged Korean adolescents (n= 376, mean age=15.71 years, 53.7% female). The number of adolescents that scored above the threshold for mild depression (PHQ-9, CES-D) was 139. Fifty adolescents agreed to participate in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of CCBT program. Twenty-five adolescents were randomly assigned to the treatment group, and the other 25 to the waitlist control group. The treatment group engaged in CCBT with therapeutic support. To identify variables affecting the outcomes, the quality of their homework compliance also was assessed. RESULTS: Participants (n=50) who agreed to participate in the CCBT program demonstrated different help-seeking attitudes - a greater recognition of the need for help and lower interpersonal openness - compared to the adolescents (n=87) who did not participate (t = -2.93, p < .01; t = 3.50, p < .001). The treatment group showed significant improvements in depression, self-esteem, and quality of life compared to the waitlist group. Adolescents with high homework compliance showed a significant decrease in the depression scores compared to adolescents with low homework compliance. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, no follow-up assessments. CONCLUSION: CCBT could be an effective alternative for depressed adolescents, especially those who tend to have low interpersonal openness. To improve the effects of CCBT, therapeutic support needs to be provided.

Dual conformational recognition by Z-DNA binding protein is important for the B-Z transition process.

Left-handed Z-DNA is radically different from the most common right-handed B-DNA and can be stabilized by interactions with the Zα domain, which is found in a group of proteins, such as human ADAR1 and viral E3L proteins. It is well-known that most Zα domains bind to Z-DNA in a conformation-specific manner and induce rapid B-Z transition in physiological conditions. Although many structural and biochemical studies have identified the detailed interactions between the Zα domain and Z-DNA, little is known about the molecular basis of the B-Z transition process. In this study, we successfully converted the B-Z transition-defective Zα domain, vvZαE3L, into a B-Z converter by improving B-DNA binding ability, suggesting that B-DNA binding is involved in the B-Z transition. In addition, we engineered the canonical B-DNA binding protein GH5 into a Zα-like protein having both Z-DNA binding and B-Z transition activities by introducing Z-DNA interacting residues. Crystal structures of these mutants of vvZαE3L and GH5 complexed with Z-DNA confirmed the significance of conserved Z-DNA binding interactions. Altogether, our results provide molecular insight into how Zα domains obtain unusual conformational specificity and induce the B-Z transition.