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1.
Cell ; 170(1): 48-60.e11, 2017 Jun 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28666122

RESUMO

Type I CRISPR systems feature a sequential dsDNA target searching and degradation process, by crRNA-displaying Cascade and nuclease-helicase fusion enzyme Cas3, respectively. Here we present two cryo-EM snapshots of the Thermobifida fusca type I-E Cascade: (1) unwinding 11 bp of dsDNA at the seed-sequence region to scout for sequence complementarity, and (2) further unwinding of the entire protospacer to form a full R-loop. These structures provide the much-needed temporal and spatial resolution to resolve key mechanistic steps leading to Cas3 recruitment. In the early steps, PAM recognition causes severe DNA bending, leading to spontaneous DNA unwinding to form a seed-bubble. The full R-loop formation triggers conformational changes in Cascade, licensing Cas3 to bind. The same process also generates a bulge in the non-target DNA strand, enabling its handover to Cas3 for cleavage. The combination of both negative and positive checkpoints ensures stringent yet efficient target degradation in type I CRISPR-Cas systems.


Assuntos
Actinobacteria/genética , Actinobacteria/ultraestrutura , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Hibridização de Ácido Nucleico , Actinobacteria/química , Actinobacteria/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/ultraestrutura , Sequência de Bases , Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/química , Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/metabolismo , Proteínas Associadas a CRISPR/ultraestrutura , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Modelos Moleculares , RNA Bacteriano/química , RNA Bacteriano/metabolismo , Pequeno RNA não Traduzido/química , Pequeno RNA não Traduzido/metabolismo
2.
Nature ; 621(7980): 830-839, 2023 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37674079

RESUMO

The immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment represents a major obstacle to effective immunotherapy1,2. Pathologically activated neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), are a critical component of the tumour microenvironment and have crucial roles in tumour progression and therapy resistance2-4. Identification of the key molecules on PMN-MDSCs is required to selectively target these cells for tumour treatment. Here, we performed an in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screen in a tumour mouse model and identified CD300ld as a top candidate of tumour-favouring receptors. CD300ld is specifically expressed in normal neutrophils and is upregulated in PMN-MDSCs upon tumour-bearing. CD300ld knockout inhibits the development of multiple tumour types in a PMN-MDSC-dependent manner. CD300ld is required for the recruitment of PMN-MDSCs into tumours and their function to suppress T cell activation. CD300ld acts via the STAT3-S100A8/A9 axis, and knockout of Cd300ld reverses the tumour immune-suppressive microenvironment. CD300ld is upregulated in human cancers and shows an unfavourable correlation with patient survival. Blocking CD300ld activity inhibits tumour development and has synergistic effects with anti-PD1. Our study identifies CD300ld as a critical immune suppressor present on PMN-MDSCs, being required for tumour immune resistance and providing a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.


Assuntos
Células Supressoras Mieloides , Neoplasias , Neutrófilos , Receptores Imunológicos , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas , Progressão da Doença , Edição de Genes , Imunoterapia , Células Supressoras Mieloides/imunologia , Células Supressoras Mieloides/patologia , Neoplasias/imunologia , Neoplasias/patologia , Neutrófilos/imunologia , Neutrófilos/patologia , Receptores Imunológicos/imunologia , Análise de Sobrevida , Linfócitos T/citologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/patologia , Microambiente Tumoral , Ativação Linfocitária
3.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(25): e2316551121, 2024 Jun 18.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38865260

RESUMO

The NLRP3 inflammasome, a pivotal component of innate immunity, has been implicated in various inflammatory disorders. The ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 is well known to regulate inflammation and maintain homeostasis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which A20 modulates the NLRP3 inflammasome remain poorly understood. Here, our study revealed that macrophages deficient in A20 exhibit increased protein abundance and elevated mRNA level of NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7). Importantly, A20 directly binds with NEK7, mediating its K48-linked ubiquitination, thereby targeting NEK7 for proteasomal degradation. Our results demonstrate that A20 enhances the ubiquitination of NEK7 at K189 and K293 ubiquitinated sites, with K189 playing a crucial role in the binding of NEK7 to A20, albeit not significantly influencing the interaction between NEK7 and NLRP3. Furthermore, A20 disrupts the association of NEK7 with the NLRP3 complex, potentially through the OTU domain and/or synergistic effect of ZnF4 and ZnF7 motifs. Significantly, NEK7 deletion markedly attenuates the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in A20-deficient conditions, both in vitro and in vivo. This study uncovers a mechanism by which A20 inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome.


Assuntos
Inflamassomos , Quinases Relacionadas a NIMA , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR , Proteína 3 Induzida por Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa , Ubiquitinação , Quinases Relacionadas a NIMA/metabolismo , Quinases Relacionadas a NIMA/genética , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/metabolismo , Proteína 3 que Contém Domínio de Pirina da Família NLR/genética , Inflamassomos/metabolismo , Animais , Camundongos , Proteína 3 Induzida por Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismo , Proteína 3 Induzida por Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/genética , Humanos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/imunologia , Células HEK293 , Camundongos Knockout , Ligação Proteica
4.
PLoS Pathog ; 20(4): e1012141, 2024 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38626263

RESUMO

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a double-stranded DNA virus etiologically associated with multiple malignancies. Both latency and sporadic lytic reactivation contribute to KSHV-associated malignancies, however, the specific roles of many KSHV lytic gene products in KSHV replication remain elusive. In this study, we report that ablation of ORF55, a late gene encoding a tegument protein, does not impact KSHV lytic reactivation but significantly reduces the production of progeny virions. We found that cysteine 10 and 11 (C10 and C11) of pORF55 are palmitoylated, and the palmytoilation is essential for its Golgi localization and secondary envelope formation. Palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants are unstable and undergo proteasomal degradation. Notably, introduction of a putative Golgi localization sequence to these palmitoylation-defective pORF55 mutants restores Golgi localization and fully reinstates KSHV progeny virion production. Together, our study provides new insight into the critical role of pORF55 palmitoylation in KSHV progeny virion production and offers potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of related malignancies.


Assuntos
Complexo de Golgi , Herpesvirus Humano 8 , Lipoilação , Proteínas Virais , Vírion , Replicação Viral , Herpesvirus Humano 8/fisiologia , Herpesvirus Humano 8/metabolismo , Complexo de Golgi/metabolismo , Complexo de Golgi/virologia , Humanos , Vírion/metabolismo , Proteínas Virais/metabolismo , Proteínas Virais/genética , Replicação Viral/fisiologia , Células HEK293
5.
Nature ; 586(7830): 572-577, 2020 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32726802

RESUMO

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a respiratory disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the spread of which has led to a pandemic. An effective preventive vaccine against this virus is urgently needed. As an essential step during infection, SARS-CoV-2 uses the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein to engage with the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells1,2. Here we show that a recombinant vaccine that comprises residues 319-545 of the RBD of the spike protein induces a potent functional antibody response in immunized mice, rabbits and non-human primates (Macaca mulatta) as early as 7 or 14 days after the injection of a single vaccine dose. The sera from the immunized animals blocked the binding of the RBD to ACE2, which is expressed on the cell surface, and neutralized infection with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Notably, vaccination also provided protection in non-human primates to an in vivo challenge with SARS-CoV-2. We found increased levels of RBD-specific antibodies in the sera of patients with COVID-19. We show that several immune pathways and CD4 T lymphocytes are involved in the induction of the vaccine antibody response. Our findings highlight the importance of the RBD domain in the design of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provide a rationale for the development of a protective vaccine through the induction of antibodies against the RBD domain.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/imunologia , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Humanos , Macaca mulatta/imunologia , Macaca mulatta/virologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Modelos Animais , Modelos Moleculares , Domínios Proteicos , SARS-CoV-2 , Soro/imunologia , Baço/citologia , Baço/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Vacinação
6.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(21): e2301897120, 2023 05 23.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37186861

RESUMO

The peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall produced by the bacterial division machinery is initially shared between the daughters and must be split to promote cell separation and complete division. In gram-negative bacteria, enzymes that cleave PG called amidases play major roles in the separation process. To prevent spurious cell wall cleavage that can lead to cell lysis, amidases like AmiB are autoinhibited by a regulatory helix. Autoinhibition is relieved at the division site by the activator EnvC, which is in turn regulated by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-like complex called FtsEX. EnvC is also known to be autoinhibited by a regulatory helix (RH), but how its activity is modulated by FtsEX and the mechanism by which it activates the amidases have remained unclear. Here, we investigated this regulation by determining the structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FtsEX alone with or without bound ATP, in complex with EnvC, and in a FtsEX-EnvC-AmiB supercomplex. In combination with biochemical studies, the structures reveal that ATP binding is likely to activate FtsEX-EnvC and promote its association with AmiB. Furthermore, the AmiB activation mechanism is shown to involve a RH rearrangement. In the activated state of the complex, the inhibitory helix of EnvC is released, freeing it to associate with the RH of AmiB, which liberates its active site for PG cleavage. These regulatory helices are found in many EnvC proteins and amidases throughout gram-negative bacteria, suggesting that the activation mechanism is broadly conserved and a potential target for lysis-inducing antibiotics that misregulate the complex.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli , Hidrólise , N-Acetil-Muramil-L-Alanina Amidase/metabolismo , Amidoidrolases/metabolismo , Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/genética , Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/metabolismo , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Peptidoglicano/metabolismo , Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo
7.
PLoS Pathog ; 19(2): e1011166, 2023 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36753521

RESUMO

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection causes severe damage to the fetal brain, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Cytokine signaling is delicately controlled in the fetal central nervous system to ensure proper development. Here we show that suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), a negative feedback regulator of the IL-6 cytokine family signaling, was upregulated during HCMV infection in primary neural progenitor cells (NPCs) with a biphasic expression pattern. From viral protein screening, pUL97 emerged as the viral factor responsible for prolonged SOCS3 upregulation. Further, by proteomic analysis of the pUL97-interacting host proteins, regulatory factor X 7 (RFX7) was identified as the transcription factor responsible for the regulation. Depletion of either pUL97 or RFX7 prevented the HCMV-induced SOCS3 upregulation in NPCs. With a promoter-luciferase activity assay, we demonstrated that the pUL97 kinase activity and RFX7 were required for SOCS3 upregulation. Moreover, the RFX7 phosphorylation level was increased by either UL97-expressing or HCMV-infection in NPCs, suggesting that pUL97 induces RFX7 phosphorylation to drive SOCS3 transcription. We further revealed that elevated SOCS3 expression impaired NPC proliferation and migration in vitro and caused NPCs migration defects in vivo. Taken together, these findings uncover a novel regulatory mechanism of sustained SOCS3 expression in HCMV-infected NPCs, which perturbs IL-6 cytokine family signaling, leads to NPCs proliferation and migration defects, and consequently affects fetal brain development.


Assuntos
Infecções por Citomegalovirus , Citomegalovirus , Humanos , Citomegalovirus/fisiologia , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Proteômica , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Células-Tronco , Proteína 3 Supressora da Sinalização de Citocinas/metabolismo
8.
PLoS Pathog ; 19(5): e1011304, 2023 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37146061

RESUMO

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with human glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, but the underlying infection mechanism has not been fully demonstrated. Here, we show that EphA2 was upregulated in glioblastoma and correlated with the poor prognosis of the patients. EphA2 silencing inhibits, whereas overexpression promotes HCMV infection, establishing EphA2 as a crucial cell factor for HCMV infection of glioblastoma cells. Mechanistically, EphA2 binds to HCMV gH/gL complex to mediate membrane fusion. Importantly, the HCMV infection was inhibited by the treatment of inhibitor or antibody targeting EphA2 in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, HCMV infection was also impaired in optimal glioblastoma organoids by EphA2 inhibitor. Taken together, we propose EphA2 as a crucial cell factor for HCMV infection in glioblastoma cells and a potential target for intervention.


Assuntos
Infecções por Citomegalovirus , Glioblastoma , Receptor EphA2 , Humanos , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/metabolismo , Glioblastoma/genética , Citomegalovirus/fisiologia , Receptor EphA2/genética
9.
PLoS Pathog ; 19(4): e1011316, 2023 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37058447

RESUMO

The presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in glioblastoma (GBM) and improved outcomes of GBM patients receiving therapies targeting the virus have implicated HCMV in GBM progression. However, a unifying mechanism that accounts for the contribution of HCMV to the malignant phenotype of GBM remains incompletely defined. Here we have identified SOX2, a marker of glioma stem cells (GSCs), as a key determinant of HCMV gene expression in gliomas. Our studies demonstrated that SOX2 downregulated promyelocytic leukemia (PML) and Sp100 and consequently facilitated viral gene expression by decreasing the amount of PML nuclear bodies in HCMV-infected glioma cells. Conversely, the expression of PML antagonized the effects of SOX2 on HCMV gene expression. Furthermore, this regulation of SOX2 on HCMV infection was demonstrated in a neurosphere assay of GSCs and in a murine xenograft model utilizing xenografts from patient-derived glioma tissue. In both cases, SOX2 overexpression facilitated the growth of neurospheres and xenografts implanted in immunodeficient mice. Lastly, the expression of SOX2 and HCMV immediate early 1 (IE1) protein could be correlated in tissues from glioma patients, and interestingly, elevated levels of SOX2 and IE1 were predictive of a worse clinical outcome. These studies argue that HCMV gene expression in gliomas is regulated by SOX2 through its regulation of PML expression and that targeting molecules in this SOX2-PML pathway could identify therapies for glioma treatment.


Assuntos
Glioma , Proteínas Imediatamente Precoces , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Citomegalovirus/fisiologia , Regulação para Baixo , Expressão Gênica , Glioma/genética , Glioma/patologia , Proteínas Imediatamente Precoces/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição SOXB1/genética , Fatores de Transcrição SOXB1/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo
10.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 119(49): e2209256119, 2022 12 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36454752

RESUMO

Auxin inactivation is critical for plant growth and development. To develop plant growth regulators functioning in auxin inactivation pathway, we performed a phenotype-based chemical screen in Arabidopsis and identified a chemical, nalacin, that partially mimicked the effects of auxin. Genetic, pharmacological, and biochemical approaches demonstrated that nalacin exerts its auxin-like activities by inhibiting indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) conjugation that is mediated by Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) acyl acid amido synthetases. The crystal structure of Arabidopsis GH3.6 in complex with D4 (a derivative of nalacin) together with docking simulation analysis revealed the molecular basis of the inhibition of group II GH3 by nalacin. Sequence alignment analysis indicated broad bioactivities of nalacin and D4 as inhibitors of GH3s in vascular plants, which were confirmed, at least, in tomato and rice. In summary, our work identifies nalacin as a potent inhibitor of IAA conjugation mediated by group II GH3 that plays versatile roles in hormone-regulated plant development and has potential applications in both basic research and agriculture.


Assuntos
Arabidopsis , Ligases , Arabidopsis/genética , Ácidos Indolacéticos/farmacologia , Fenômenos Químicos , Reguladores de Crescimento de Plantas/farmacologia , Testes Genéticos
11.
Nano Lett ; 24(27): 8343-8350, 2024 Jul 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38923939

RESUMO

The shrinkage and collapse of wood cell walls during carbonization make it challenging to control the size and shape of carbonized wood (CW) through pre- or postprocessing (e.g., sawing, cutting, and milling). Herein, a shape-adaptive MXene shell (MS) is created on the surface of the wood cell walls. The MS limits the deformation of wood cell walls by spatial confinement and traction effects, which is supported by the inherent dimensional stability of the MS and the formation of new C-O-Ti covalent bonds between the wood cell wall and MS. Consequently, the volumetric shrinkage ratio of CW encapsulated by the MS (CW-MS) is significantly reduced from 54.8% for CW to 2.6% for CW-MS even at 800 °C. The harnessing of this collapse enables the production of CW-MS with prolonged stability and high electric conductivity (384 S m-1). These properties make CW-MS suitable for energy storage devices with various designed shapes, matching the increasingly compact and complex structures of electronic devices.

12.
Nano Lett ; 24(33): 10210-10218, 2024 Aug 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39105760

RESUMO

Assembling active materials into dense electrodes is a promising way to obtain high-volumetric-capacitance supercapacitors, but insufficient ion channels in the dense structure lead to a low rate capability. Herein, a dense and robust wood electrode with a large MXene volumetric mass loading (1.25 g cm-3) and abundant ion diffusion channels is designed via a facile capillary-force-driven self-densification strategy. Specifically, MXene is assembled onto a wood cell wall, endowing the wood electrode with good electrical conductivity (86 S cm-1) and high electrochemical activity (5.9 F cm-2 at 1 mA cm-2). Notably, the oriented channels along with spaces between adjacent microfibrils recast after densification ensure efficient ion transport for the wood electrode, achieving an excellent rate capability with a high capacitance retention of 77% from 1 to 20 mA cm-2. Meanwhile, the capillary force induces self-densification on the softened wood cell wall, resulting in a highly compact and robust structure for the wood electrode.

13.
BMC Plant Biol ; 24(1): 279, 2024 Apr 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38609850

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Climate change is expected to alter the factors that drive changes in adaptive variation. This is especially true for species with long life spans and limited dispersal capabilities. Rapid climate changes may disrupt the migration of beneficial genetic variations, making it challenging for them to keep up with changing environments. Understanding adaptive genetic variations in tree species is crucial for conservation and effective forest management. Our study used landscape genomic analyses and phenotypic traits from a thorough sampling across the entire range of Quercus longinux, an oak species native to Taiwan, to investigate the signals of adaptation within this species. RESULTS: Using ecological data, phenotypic traits, and 1,933 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 205 individuals, we classified three genetic groups, which were also phenotypically and ecologically divergent. Thirty-five genes related to drought and freeze resistance displayed signatures of natural selection. The adaptive variation was driven by diverse environmental pressures such as low spring precipitation, low annual temperature, and soil grid sizes. Using linear-regression-based methods, we identified isolation by environment (IBE) as the optimal model for adaptive SNPs. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further revealed a substantial joint influence of demography, geology, and environments, suggesting a covariation between environmental gradients and colonization history. Lastly, we utilized adaptive signals to estimate the genetic offset for each individual under diverse climate change scenarios. The required genetic changes and migration distance are larger in severe climates. Our prediction also reveals potential threats to edge populations in northern and southeastern Taiwan due to escalating temperatures and precipitation reallocation. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the intricate influence of ecological heterogeneity on genetic and phenotypic adaptation of an oak species. The adaptation is also driven by some rarely studied environmental factors, including wind speed and soil features. Furthermore, the genetic offset analysis predicted that the edge populations of Q. longinux in lower elevations might face higher risks of local extinctions under climate change.


Assuntos
Quercus , Humanos , Quercus/genética , Mudança Climática , Genômica , Temperatura Baixa , Solo
14.
Small ; 20(2): e2305479, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37658510

RESUMO

Although proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE) are considered as a promising technique for green hydrogen production, it remains crucial to develop intrinsically effective oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts with high activity and durability. Here, a flexible self-supporting electrode with nanoporous Ir/Ta2O5 electroactive surface is reported for acidic OER via dealloying IrTaCoB metallic glass ribbons. The catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic OER performance with an overpotential of 218 mV for a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a small Tafel slope of 46.1 mV dec-1 in acidic media, superior to most electrocatalysts. More impressively, the assembled PEMWE with nanoporous Ir/Ta2 O5 as an anode shows exceptional performance of electrocatalytic hydrogen production and can operate steadily for 260 h at 100 mA cm-2 . In situ spectroscopy characterizations and density functional theory calculations reveal that the modest adsorption of OOH* intermediates to active Ir sites lower the OER energy barrier, while the electron donation behavior of Ta2 O5 to stabilize the high-valence states of Ir during the OER process extended catalyst's durability.

15.
J Virol ; 97(5): e0031323, 2023 05 31.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37097169

RESUMO

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of congenital birth defects. Though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized, mouse models of congenital CMV infection have demonstrated that the neuronal migration process is damaged. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HCMV infection on connexin 43 (Cx43), a crucial adhesion molecule mediating neuronal migration. We show in multiple cellular models that HCMV infection downregulated Cx43 posttranslationally. Further analysis identified the immediate early protein IE1 as the viral protein responsible for the reduction of Cx43. IE1 was found to bind the Cx43 C terminus and promote Cx43 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Deletion of the Cx43-binding site in IE1 rendered it incapable of inducing Cx43 degradation. We validated the IE1-induced loss of Cx43 in vivo by introducing IE1 into the fetal mouse brain. Noteworthily, ectopic IE1 expression induced cortical atrophy and neuronal migration defects. Several lines of evidence suggest that these damages result from decreased Cx43, and restoration of Cx43 levels partially rescued IE1-induced interruption of neuronal migration. Taken together, the results of our investigation reveal a novel mechanism of HCMV-induced neural maldevelopment and identify a potential intervention target. IMPORTANCE Congenital CMV (cCMV) infection causes neurological sequelae in newborns. Recent studies of cCMV pathogenesis in animal models reveal ventriculomegaly and cortical atrophy associated with impaired neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and migration. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying these NPC abnormalities. We show that Cx43, a critical adhesion molecule mediating NPC migration, is downregulated by HCMV infection in vitro and HCMV-IE1 in vivo. We provide evidence that IE1 interacts with the C terminus of Cx43 to promote its ubiquitination and consequent degradation through the proteasome. Moreover, we demonstrate that introducing IE1 into mouse fetal brains led to neuronal migration defects, which was associated with Cx43 reduction. Deletion of the Cx43-binding region in IE1 or ectopic expression of Cx43 rescued the IE1-induced migration defects in vivo. Our study provides insight into how cCMV infection impairs neuronal migration and reveals a target for therapeutic interventions.


Assuntos
Conexina 43 , Infecções por Citomegalovirus , Citomegalovirus , Proteínas Imediatamente Precoces , Animais , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Camundongos , Conexina 43/genética , Conexina 43/metabolismo , Citomegalovirus/fisiologia , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/metabolismo , Proteínas Imediatamente Precoces/genética , Proteínas Imediatamente Precoces/metabolismo , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/metabolismo
16.
J Transl Med ; 22(1): 872, 2024 Sep 27.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39334479

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a rare genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. The most common type of HSP is caused by pathogenic variants in the SPAST gene. Various hypotheses regarding the pathogenic mechanisms of HSP-SPAST have been proposed. However, a single hypothesis may not be sufficient to explain HSP-SPAST. OBJECTIVE: To determine the causative gene of autosomal dominant HSP-SPAST in a pure pedigree and to study its underlying pathogenic mechanism. METHODS: A four-generation Chinese family was investigated. Genetic testing was performed for the causative gene, and a splice site variant was identified. In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted separately. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed after transient transfection of cells with the wild-type (WT) or mutated plasmid. The developmental expression pattern of zebrafish spasts was assessed via whole-mount in situ hybridization. The designed guide RNA (gRNA) and an antisense oligo spast-MO were microinjected into Tg(hb9:GFP) zebrafish embryos, spinal cord motor neurons were observed, and a swimming behavioral analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous intron variant, c.1004 + 5G > A, was identified in a pure HSP-SPAST pedigree and shown to cosegregate with the disease phenotypes. This intron splice site variant skipped exon 6, causing a frameshift mutation that resulted in a premature termination codon. In vitro, the truncated protein was evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm, formed filamentous accumulations around the nucleus, and colocalized with microtubules. Truncated proteins diffusing in the cytoplasm appeared denser. No abnormal microtubule structures were observed, and the expression levels of α-tubulin remained unchanged. In vivo, zebrafish larvae with this mutation displayed axon pathfinding defects, impaired outgrowth, and axon loss. Furthermore, spast-MO larvae exhibited unusual behavioral preferences and increased acceleration. CONCLUSION: The adverse effects of premature stop codon mutations in SPAST result in insufficient levels of functional protein, and the potential toxicity arising from the intracellular accumulation of spastin serves as a contributing factor to HSP-SPAST.


Assuntos
Neurônios Motores , Mutação , Linhagem , Sítios de Splice de RNA , Espastina , Peixe-Zebra , Espastina/genética , Espastina/metabolismo , Animais , Peixe-Zebra/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Mutação/genética , Neurônios Motores/metabolismo , Neurônios Motores/patologia , Sítios de Splice de RNA/genética , Paraplegia Espástica Hereditária/genética , Paraplegia Espástica Hereditária/patologia , Sequência de Bases , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto , Íntrons/genética , Heterozigoto
17.
J Transl Med ; 22(1): 814, 2024 Sep 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39223625

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer, with its high morbidity and mortality rates, is a significant global health burden. Traditional treatments-surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy-are widely used but come with drawbacks such as recurrence, metastasis, and significant side effects, including damage to healthy tissues. To address these limitations, new therapeutic strategies are being developed. Peroxidases (POD) can catalyze excess H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce cancer cell apoptosis by disrupting redox homeostasis and modulating apoptosis-related proteins. However, natural enzymes face challenges like poor stability, high cost, and sensitivity to environmental conditions, limiting their application in breast cancer treatment. Nanozymes, nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity, offer a promising alternative by overcoming these limitations. METHODS: In this study, we successfully prepared Au@Pd nanozymes with peroxidase activity by depositing metallic Pd on Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesized using a trisodium citrate reduction method and ascorbic acid reduction. The in vitro validation was conducted through a series of experiments, including ROS detection, flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, DNA damage assessment, live/dead cell staining, Western blot (WB), and qPCR. Tumor treatment was performed via tail vein injection of the drug, followed by HE staining of the treated tissues and biochemical analysis of the blood. RESULTS: Au@Pd nanozymes can effectively accumulate at the tumor site through the EPR effect and exert peroxidase-like activity, catalyzing the excess H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment to produce ROS. This triggers apoptosis pathways and DNA damage, leading to the downregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and induction of apoptosis-related genes, demonstrating strong anti-tumor effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed an efficient nanozyme-mediated catalytic therapy strategy targeting the tumor microenvironment for the treatment of breast cancer cells.


Assuntos
Apoptose , Ouro , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Paládio , Microambiente Tumoral , Microambiente Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Ouro/química , Humanos , Catálise , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Nanopartículas Metálicas/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Paládio/uso terapêutico , Paládio/química , Paládio/farmacologia , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patologia , Camundongos Nus
18.
Nat Immunol ; 13(8): 761-9, 2012 Jul 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22772404

RESUMO

Thymopoiesis depends on the recruitment and expansion of bone marrow-derived progenitor populations; tight regulation of these processes is required for maintenance of the homeostasis of the T lineage. Lyl-1, a transcription factor that regulates hematopoietic progenitors, is expressed in thymocyte progenitors until T cell commitment. Here we demonstrate a requirement for Lyl-1 in lymphoid specification and the maintenance of early T lineage progenitors (ETPs). Lyl-1 deficiency resulted in profound defects in the generation of lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors (LMPPs), common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and ETPs. Lyl-1-deficient ETPs and thymocyte progenitors at the CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative 2 (DN2) stage showed more apoptosis, blocked differentiation and impaired population expansion. We identified Gfi1 as a critical transcriptional target of Lyl-1-mediated lymphopoiesis of T cells. Thus, Lyl-1 is a pivotal component of a transcriptional program that controls the lymphoid specification and maintenance of ETPs.


Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Células Progenitoras Linfoides/fisiologia , Linfopoese , Proteínas de Neoplasias/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Apoptose/imunologia , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/deficiência , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Células da Medula Óssea/fisiologia , Antígenos CD4/biossíntese , Antígenos CD8/biossíntese , Linhagem da Célula , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/metabolismo , Células Progenitoras Linfoides/citologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Proteínas de Neoplasias/deficiência , Proteínas de Neoplasias/genética , Linfócitos T/fisiologia , Timócitos/fisiologia , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo
19.
Ann Surg Oncol ; 31(1): 178-191, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37751117

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: A recurrence-free survival (RFS) prediction model was developed and validated for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in combination with surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 282 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) combined with surgery, constructed three models incorporating pathological factors, investigated the discrimination and calibration of each model, and compared the clinical utility of each model using the net reclassification index (NRI) and the integrated discrimination index (IDI). RESULTS: Multivariable analysis showed that pathologic complete response (pCR) and lymph node tumor regression grading (LN-TRG) (p < 0.05) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. LASSO regression screened six correlates of LN-TRG, vascular invasion, nerve invasion, degree of differentiation, platelet grade, and a total diameter of residual cancer in lymph nodes to build model three, which was consistent in terms of efficacy in the training set and validation set. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves showed that all three models were able to distinguish well between high- and low-risk groups (p < 0.01). The NRI and IDI showed that the clinical utility of model 2 was slightly better than that of model 1 (p > 0.05), and model 3 was significantly better than that of model 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical prediction models incorporating LN-TRG factors have high predictive efficacy, can help identify patients at high risk of recurrence after neoadjuvant therapy, and can be used as a supplement to the  AJCC/TNM staging system while offering a scientific rationale for early postoperative intervention.


Assuntos
Neoplasias Esofágicas , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas do Esôfago , Humanos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas do Esôfago/terapia , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas do Esôfago/patologia , Terapia Neoadjuvante , Neoplasias Esofágicas/patologia , Quimiorradioterapia , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Estudos Retrospectivos , Prognóstico
20.
Acc Chem Res ; 56(21): 3099-3109, 2023 Nov 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37889615

RESUMO

ConspectusThe invention of the laser is a pivotal milestone in the evolution of modern science and technology. Second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals, which possess the ability to convert frequencies, have found widespread applications in laser science, information transmission, industrial Internet, and other cutting-edge fields within materials and optics. As modern science and technology continue to advance at a rapid pace, existing ultraviolet (UV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) NLO crystals struggle to meet the ever-growing demands of various applications. Consequently, the development of novel UV and DUV NLO crystals has become an urgent necessity. For a UV NLO crystal to be considered outstanding in the UV/DUV range, it must exhibit three fundamental yet crucial properties: large second-order NLO coefficients, suitable birefringence, and short UV cutoff edge corresponding to a wide band gap. However, these key factors often conflict with one another, making it challenging to achieve a harmonious balance within a single crystal. It is widely believed that these mutually constrained optical properties are codetermined by microscopic NLO-active units and macroscopic structure features. Therefore, how to design high performance UV NLO-active groups to balance these three key properties is an essential scientifically question and serious challenge. In this Account, we present three strategies for designing high-performance UV NLO-active groups: (1) The "tetrahedron partial substitution" strategy by employing various substituents to replace one or more atoms in the traditional nonpolar tetrahedral groups, might achieve the aim of increasing the polarizability anisotropy and hyperpolarizability of the newly formed polar tetrahedral functional groups, such as from SO4 to SO3NH2 or SO3CH3 groups. (2) The "structure-analogue" strategy to develop a range of organic functional groups exhibiting more strong polarizability anisotropy and hyperpolarizability by using inorganic π-conjugated groups, such as BO3 and B3O6 groups, as templates. (3) The "two in one" strategy for integrating groups featuring planar triangle configurations and tetrahedrons to create NLO-active functional groups possessing large band gaps, strong hyperpolarizability, and moderate polarizability anisotropy. These three strategies successfully guide us to design and explore various kinds of organic-inorganic composite NLO crystal materials with excellent performances, like Ba(SO3CH3)2, M(SO3NH2)2 (M = Sr, Ba), C(NH2)3SO3F, KLi(HC3N3O3)·2H2O, KLi(C3H2O4)·H2O, and so on. Finally, we briefly conclude these strategies and propose some prospects for exploring new excellent UV/DUV NLO materials with practical applications. These findings could inspire novel thoughts for researchers designing new UV/DUV NLO materials and providing abundant materials used in UV/DUV regions.

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