LINC00116 codes for a mitochondrial peptide linking respiration and lipid metabolism.

Genes coding for small peptides have been frequently misannotated as long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes. Here we have demonstrated that one such transcript is translated into a 56-amino-acid-long peptide conserved in chordates, corroborating the work published while this manuscript was under review. The Mtln peptide could be detected in mitochondria of mouse cell lines and tissues. In line with its mitochondrial localization, lack of the Mtln decreases the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. Unlike the integral components and assembly factors of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, Mtln does not alter its enzymatic activity directly. Interaction of Mtln with NADH-dependent cytochrome b5 reductase stimulates complex I functioning most likely by providing a favorable lipid composition of the membrane. Study of Mtln illuminates the importance of small peptides, whose genes might frequently be misannotated as lncRNAs, for the control of vitally important cellular processes.

Application of Fiber Bragg Gratings as a Sensor of Pulsed Mechanical Action.

The pulsed elongation of fiber Bragg gratings is considered in order to be used to measure the displacement or deformation rate of objects. Optimal measurement modes were determined, numerical simulation of the output signal was performed during pulsed elongation or compression of the fiber grating, and the main patterns were analyzed. The results of the application of the Bragg gratings for the experimental determination of the deformation rate of materials under pulsed magnetic action are presented. Experimentally obtained and theoretical dependencies are compared. The dependencies of the change in the grating parameters-the coefficient and the half-width of the reflection spectrum with successive shortening of the grating-are given.

IFT cargo and motors associate sequentially with IFT trains to enter cilia of C. elegans.

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) orchestrates entry of proteins into primary cilia. At the ciliary base, assembled IFT trains, driven by kinesin-2 motors, can transport cargo proteins into the cilium, across the crowded transition zone. How trains assemble at the base and how proteins associate with them is far from understood. Here, we use single-molecule imaging in the cilia of C. elegans chemosensory neurons to directly visualize the entry of kinesin-2 motors, kinesin-II and OSM-3, as well as anterograde cargo proteins, IFT dynein and tubulin. Single-particle tracking shows that IFT components associate with trains sequentially, both in time and space. Super-resolution maps of IFT components in wild-type and mutant worms reveal ciliary ultrastructure and show that kinesin-II is essential for axonemal organization. Finally, imaging cilia lacking kinesin-II and/or transition zone function uncovers the interplay of kinesin-II and OSM-3 in driving efficient transport of IFT trains across the transition zone.

RNA Interference Effectors Selectively Silence the Pathogenic Variant GNAO1 c.607 G > A In Vitro.

RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics hold the potential for dominant genetic disorders, enabling sequence-specific inhibition of pathogenic gene products. We aimed to direct RNAi for the selective suppression of the heterozygous GNAO1 c.607 G > A variant causing GNAO1 encephalopathy. By screening short interfering RNA (siRNA), we showed that GNAO1 c.607G>A is a druggable target for RNAi. The si1488 candidate achieved at least twofold allelic discrimination and downregulated mutant protein to 35%. We created vectorized RNAi by incorporating the si1488 sequence into the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. The shRNA stem and loop were modified to improve the transcription, processing, and guide strand selection. All tested shRNA constructs demonstrated selectivity toward mutant GNAO1, while tweaking hairpin structure only marginally affected the silencing efficiency. The selectivity of shRNA-mediated silencing was confirmed in the context of AAV vector transduction. To conclude, RNAi effectors ranging from siRNA to AAV-RNAi achieve suppression of the pathogenic GNAO1 c.607G>A and discriminate alleles by the single-nucleotide substitution. For gene therapy development, it is crucial to demonstrate the benefit of these RNAi effectors in patient-specific neurons and animal models of the GNAO1 encephalopathy.

Cutting off ciliary protein import: intraflagellar transport after dendritic femtosecond-laser ablation.

Primary cilia, organelles protruding from the surface of eukaryotic cells, act as cellular antennae to detect and transmit signals from the extracellular environment. They are built and maintained by continuous cycles of intraflagellar transport (IFT), where ciliary proteins are transported between the ciliary base and tip. These proteins originate from the cell body because cilia lack protein synthesis machinery. How input from the cell body affects IFT and ciliary function is not well understood. Here, we use femtosecond-laser ablation to perturb the dendritic input of proteins to chemosensory cilia in living Caenorhabditis elegans. Using fluorescence microscopy, we visualize and quantify the real-time response of ciliary proteins to dendritic ablation. We find that the response occurs in three distinct stages. First, IFT dynein is activated within seconds, redistributing IFT components toward the ciliary base; second, the ciliary axoneme shortens and motors slow down; and third, motors leave the cilium. Depletion of ATP by adding azide also results in IFT slowdown and IFT components leaving the cilium, but not in activation of retrograde IFT. These results indicate that laser ablation triggers a specific mechanism important for IFT regulation that allows the cilium to rapidly adapt to changes in the outside environment.