Distinguishing bipolar depression, bipolar mania, and major depressive disorder by gut microbial characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbial disturbance has been widely confirmed in mood disorders. However, little is known about whether gut microbial characteristics can distinguish major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar depression (BP-D), and bipolar mania (BP-M). METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study. The composition of gut microbiota was profiled using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing of fecal samples and compared between healthy controls (HC; n = 46), MDD (n = 51), BP-D (n = 44), and patients with BP-M (n = 45). RESULTS: Gut microbial compositions were remarkably changed in the patients with MDD, BP-D, and BP-M. Compared to HC, distinct gut microbiome signatures were found in MDD, BP-D, and BP-M, and some gut microbial changes were overlapping between the three mood disorders. Furthermore, we identified a signature of 7 operational taxonomic units (OUT; Prevotellaceae-related OUT22, Prevotellaceae-related OUT31, Prevotellaceae-related OTU770, Ruminococcaceae-related OUT70, Bacteroidaceae-related OTU1536, Propionibacteriaceae-related OTU97, Acidaminococcaceae-related OTU34) that can distinguish patients with MDD from those with BP-D, BP-M, or HC, with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.910 to 0.996. CONCLUSION: Our results provide the clinical rationale for the discriminative diagnosis of MDD, BP-D, and BP-M by characteristic gut microbial features.

DNA looping mediates cooperative transcription activation.

Transcription factors respond to multilevel stimuli and co-occupy promoter regions of target genes to activate RNA polymerase (RNAP) in a cooperative manner. To decipher the molecular mechanism, here we report two cryo-electron microscopy structures of Anabaena transcription activation complexes (TACs): NtcA-TAC composed of RNAP holoenzyme, promoter and a global activator NtcA, and NtcA-NtcB-TAC comprising an extra context-specific regulator, NtcB. Structural analysis showed that NtcA binding makes the promoter DNA bend by ∼50°, which facilitates RNAP to contact NtcB at the distal upstream NtcB box. The sequential binding of NtcA and NtcB induces looping back of promoter DNA towards RNAP, enabling the assembly of a fully activated TAC bound with two activators. Together with biochemical assays, we propose a 'DNA looping' mechanism of cooperative transcription activation in bacteria.

Childhood trauma and social support affect symptom profiles through cortical thickness abnormalities in major depressive disorder: A structural equation modeling analysis.

BACKGROUND: Childhood trauma, low social support, and alexithymia are recognized as risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the mechanisms of risk factors, symptoms, and corresponding structural brain abnormalities in MDD are not fully understood. Structural equation modeling (SEM) has advantages in studying multivariate interrelationships. We aim to illustrate their relationships using SEM. METHODS: 313 MDD patients (213 female; mean age 42.49 years) underwent magnetic resonance imaging and completed assessments. We integrated childhood trauma, alexithymia, social support, anhedonia, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and cortical thickness into a multivariate SEM. RESULTS: We first established the risk factors-clinical phenotype SEM with an adequate fit. Cortical thickness results show a negative correlation of childhood trauma with the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) (p = 0.012), and social support was negatively correlated with the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (p < 0.001). The final good fit SEM (χ2 = 32.92, df = 21, χ2/df = 1.57, CFI = 0.962, GFI = 0.978, RMSEA = 0.043) suggested two pathways, with left PCC thickness mediating the relationship between social support and suicidal ideation, and left MTG thickness mediating between childhood trauma and anhedonia/anxiety. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence for the impact of risk factor variables on the brain structure and clinical phenotype of MDD patients. Insufficient social support and childhood trauma might lead to corresponding cortical abnormalities in PCC and MTG, affecting the patient's mood and suicidal ideation. Future interventions should aim at these nodes.

An SI3-σ arch stabilizes cyanobacteria transcription initiation complex.

Multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) associate with initiation factors (σ in bacteria) to start transcription. The σ factors are responsible for recognizing and unwinding promoter DNA in all bacterial RNAPs. Here, we report two cryo-EM structures of cyanobacterial transcription initiation complexes at near-atomic resolutions. The structures show that cyanobacterial RNAP forms an "SI3-σ" arch interaction between domain 2 of σA (σ2) and sequence insertion 3 (SI3) in the mobile catalytic domain Trigger Loop (TL). The "SI3-σ" arch facilitates transcription initiation from promoters of different classes through sealing the main cleft and thereby stabilizing the RNAP-promoter DNA open complex. Disruption of the "SI3-σ" arch disturbs cyanobacteria growth and stress response. Our study reports the structure of cyanobacterial RNAP and a unique mechanism for its transcription initiation. Our data suggest functional plasticity of SI3 and provide the foundation for further research into cyanobacterial and chloroplast transcription.

Common susceptibility variants of KDR and IGF-1R are associated with poststroke depression in the Chinese population.

Background: Depression, one of the most frequent complications after stroke, increases the disease's burden and physical disability. Poststroke depression (PSD) is a multifactorial disease with genetic, environmental and biological factors involved in its occurrence. Genetic studies on PSD to date have mainly focused on the monoamine system and brain-derived neurotrophic factors. However, understanding is still limited about the influence of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of other neurotrophic factors on PSD. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between seven vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family gene variants that occur with PSD. Methods: A multicentre candidate gene study from five hospitals in Jiangsu Province from June 2013 to December 2014 involved 121 patients with PSD and 131 patients with non-PSD. Demographic characteristics and neuropsychological assessments were collected. The χ2 test was used to evaluate categorical variables, while the independent t-test was applied to continuous variables. SNPs in seven genes (VEGFA, VEGFB, KDR, FLT-1, IGF-1, IGF-1R and PlGF) were genotyped. Single-marker association for PSD was analysed by χ2 tests and logistic regression using SPSS and PLINK software. Results: Patients with PSD included more women and those with lower education levels, lower body mass indexes, lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores, and higher scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale than non-PSD patients. Ninety-two SNPs with seven genes were genotyped and passed quality control. The rs7692791 CC genotypes, the C allele of KDR and the rs9282715 T allele of IGF-1R increased the risk for PSD (χ2=7.881, p=0.019; χ2=4.259, p=0.039; χ2=4.222, p=0.040, respectively). In addition, the SNP rs7692791 of KDR was significantly associated with PSD by the logistic regression of an additive model (p=0.015, OR=9.584, 95% CI: 1.549 to 59.31). Conclusions: Patients with rs7692791 C allele carriers or the CC genotype of KDR and the rs9282715 T allele of IGF-1R may have PSD susceptibility. Findings such as these may help clinicians to identify the high-risk population for PSD earlier and, thus, enable them to provide more timely interventions. Trial registration number: ChiCTR-OCH-13003133.

Structural basis for intrinsic transcription termination.

Efficient and accurate termination is required for gene transcription in all living organisms1,2. Cellular RNA polymerases in both bacteria and eukaryotes can terminate their transcription through a factor-independent termination pathway3,4-called intrinsic termination transcription in bacteria-in which RNA polymerase recognizes terminator sequences, stops nucleotide addition and releases nascent RNA spontaneously. Here we report a set of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of Escherichia coli transcription intrinsic termination complexes representing key intermediate states of the event. The structures show how RNA polymerase pauses at terminator sequences, how the terminator RNA hairpin folds inside RNA polymerase, and how RNA polymerase rewinds the transcription bubble to release RNA and then DNA. These macromolecular snapshots define a structural mechanism for bacterial intrinsic termination and a pathway for RNA release and DNA collapse that is relevant for factor-independent termination by all RNA polymerases.

Serum metabolomic profiling revealed potential diagnostic biomarkers in patients with panic disorder.

BACKGROUND: Currently, specific metabolites and diagnostic biomarkers of panic disorder (PD) patients have not been identified in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to explore metabolites and metabolic pathways in serum through a metabolomics method. METHODS: Fifty-five PD patients who completed 2 weeks of inpatient treatment and 55 healthy control subjects (HCs) matched for age, sex and BMI were recruited. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to detect metabolites in serum. Multivariate Statistical Analysis was used to identify differential metabolites. The relevant biometabolic pathways were further identified by the online tool MetaboAnalyst 5.0. RESULTS: 43 different metabolites in PD patients compared to HCs (P < 0.05) were screened. Pathway analysis showed that these small molecules were mainly associated with amino acid metabolism. 14 metabolites were significantly changed after 2 weeks of drug treatment (P < 0.05), which were mainly associated with tryptophan metabolism. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our analysis of metabolomics of PD patients at baseline and two weeks after treatment screened for differential metabolites that could be potential diagnostic biomarkers involved in PD pathogenesis and influence some biometabolic pathways such as phenylalanine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. In the future, we can summarize and observe the dynamic changes of differential metabolites that appear more frequently in similar studies to further explore the underlying mechanisms of PD evolution.

[Research progress in the evaluation of post-intensive care syndrome].

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is the most common complication in patients discharged from intensive care unit (ICU), which seriously affects the life quality of the patients. At present, there is still lack of standardevaluation methods for PICS. Continuous and dynamic assessment can earlyidentify PICS, moreover, early identification and intervention of PICS can improve the life quality of patients those patients, which is critical to improve the long-term outcome of the patients. In this paper, we reviewed the current research states of evaluation timing, contents, tools and modalities of PICS domestic and abroad, analyzed the problems and prospects of the existing evaluation methods, aiming to provide a reference for clinical staff to effectively and comprehensively evaluate PICS.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa SutA wedges RNAP lobe domain open to facilitate promoter DNA unwinding.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae) SutA adapts bacteria to hypoxia and nutrition-limited environment during chronic infection by increasing transcription activity of an RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme comprising the stress-responsive σ factor σS (RNAP-σS). SutA shows no homology to previously characterized RNAP-binding proteins. The structure and mode of action of SutA remain unclear. Here we determined cryo-EM structures of Pae RNAP-σS holoenzyme, Pae RNAP-σS holoenzyme complexed with SutA, and Pae RNAP-σS transcription initiation complex comprising SutA. The structures show SutA pinches RNAP-ß protrusion and facilitates promoter unwinding by wedging RNAP-ß lobe open. Our results demonstrate that SutA clears an energetic barrier to facilitate promoter unwinding of RNAP-σS holoenzyme.

Clinical Efficacy of the Chinese Herbal Medicine Shumian Capsule for Insomnia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Shumian capsule (SMC) is a patent Chinese herbal medicine that can soothe the liver and relieves depression, quiet the spirit. Here, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of SMC for treating insomnia using both scales and polysomnography (PSG). Patients and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed. Twenty-six insomnia patients randomly received SMC (n = 11) or placebo (n = 15) for four weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), 9-items Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-items Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) were applied at the baseline and the 2nd, 4th week after treatment. Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale was used to assess adverse reactions. We used PSG to record and analyze sleep features at baseline and after four weeks. Results: PSQI, ISI, PHQ-9, HAMD-17, and HAMA scores decreased significantly after SMC treatment. Also, the total sleep time, rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep latency, stage 2 sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, and sleep efficiency improved significantly after SMC treatment. In the placebo group, the only significant change was the decrease of PHQ-9 at week-2. Furthermore, both SMC and placebo reported no adverse events. Conclusion: SMC could safely improve sleep quality with depression and anxiety remission in insomnia patients.

Pol IV and RDR2: A two-RNA-polymerase machine that produces double-stranded RNA.

DNA methylation affects gene expression and maintains genome integrity. The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), together with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase RDR2, produces double-stranded small interfering RNA precursors essential for establishing and maintaining DNA methylation in plants. We determined the cryo­electron microscopy structures of the Pol IV­RDR2 holoenzyme and the backtracked transcription elongation complex. These structures reveal that Pol IV and RDR2 form a complex with their active sites connected by an interpolymerase channel, through which the Pol IV­generated transcript is handed over to the RDR2 active site after being backtracked, where it is used as the template for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) synthesis. Our results describe a 'backtracking-triggered RNA channeling' mechanism underlying dsRNA synthesis and also shed light on the evolutionary trajectory of eukaryotic RNA polymerases.

Mycobacterial fatty acid catabolism is repressed by FdmR to sustain lipogenesis and virulence.

Host-derived fatty acids are an important carbon source for pathogenic mycobacteria during infection. How mycobacterial cells regulate the catabolism of fatty acids to serve the pathogenicity, however, remains unknown. Here, we identified a TetR-family transcriptional factor, FdmR, as the key regulator of fatty acid catabolism in the pathogen Mycobacterium marinum by combining use of transcriptomics, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing, dynamic 13C-based flux analysis, metabolomics, and lipidomics. An M. marinum mutant deficient in FdmR was severely attenuated in zebrafish larvae and adult zebrafish. The mutant showed defective growth but high substrate consumption on fatty acids. FdmR was identified as a long-chain acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA)-responsive repressor of genes involved in fatty acid degradation and modification. We demonstrated that FdmR functions as a valve to direct the flux of exogenously derived fatty acids away from ß-oxidation toward lipid biosynthesis, thereby avoiding the overactive catabolism and accumulation of biologically toxic intermediates. Moreover, we found that FdmR suppresses degradation of long-chain acyl-CoAs endogenously synthesized through the type I fatty acid synthase. By modulating the supply of long-chain acyl-CoAs for lipogenesis, FdmR controls the abundance and chain length of virulence-associated lipids and mycolates and plays an important role in the impermeability of the cell envelope. These results reveal that despite the fact that host-derived fatty acids are used as an important carbon source, overactive catabolism of fatty acids is detrimental to mycobacterial cell growth and pathogenicity. This study thus presents FdmR as a potentially attractive target for chemotherapy.

The bacterial multidrug resistance regulator BmrR distorts promoter DNA to activate transcription.

The MerR-family proteins represent a unique family of bacteria transcription factors (TFs), which activate transcription in a manner distinct from canonical ones. Here, we report a cryo-EM structure of a B. subtilis transcription activation complex comprising B. subtilis six-subunit (2αßß'ωε) RNA Polymerase (RNAP) core enzyme, σA, a promoter DNA, and the ligand-bound B. subtilis BmrR, a prototype of MerR-family TFs. The structure reveals that RNAP and BmrR recognize the upstream promoter DNA from opposite faces and induce four significant kinks from the -35 element to the -10 element of the promoter DNA in a cooperative manner, which restores otherwise inactive promoter activity by shortening the length of promoter non-optimal -35/-10 spacer. Our structure supports a DNA-distortion and RNAP-non-contact paradigm of transcriptional activation by MerR TFs.

Structural basis of Mfd-dependent transcription termination.

Mfd-dependent transcription termination plays an important role in transcription-coupled DNA repair, transcription-replication conflict resolution, and antimicrobial resistance development. Despite extensive studies, the molecular mechanism of Mfd-dependent transcription termination in bacteria remains unclear, with several long-standing puzzles. How Mfd is activated by stalled RNA polymerase (RNAP) and how activated Mfd translocates along the DNA are unknown. Here, we report the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of T. thermophilus Mfd-RNAP complex with and without ATPγS. The structures reveal that Mfd undergoes profound conformational changes upon activation, contacts the RNAP ß1 domain and its clamp, and pries open the RNAP clamp. These structures provide a foundation for future studies aimed at dissecting the precise mechanism of Mfd-dependent transcription termination and pave the way for rational drug design targeting Mfd for the purpose of tackling the antimicrobial resistance crisis.

Crl activates transcription by stabilizing active conformation of the master stress transcription initiation factor.

σS is a master transcription initiation factor that protects bacterial cells from various harmful environmental stresses including antibiotic pressure. Although its mechanism remains unclear, it is known that full activation of σS-mediated transcription requires a σS-specific activator, Crl. In this study, we determined a 3.80 Å cryo-EM structure of an Escherichia coli transcription activation complex (E. coli Crl-TAC) comprising E. coli σS-RNA polymerase (σS-RNAP) holoenzyme, Crl, and a nucleic-acid scaffold. The structure reveals that Crl interacts with domain 2 of σS (σS2) and the RNAP core enzyme, but does not contact promoter DNA. Results from subsequent hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) indicate that Crl stabilizes key structural motifs within σS2 to promote the assembly of the σS-RNAP holoenzyme and also to facilitate formation of an RNA polymerase-promoter DNA open complex (RPo). Our study demonstrates a unique DNA contact-independent mechanism of transcription activation, thereby defining a previously unrecognized mode of transcription activation in cells.

Structural basis of σ appropriation.

Bacteriophage T4 middle promoters are activated through a process called σ appropriation, which requires the concerted effort of two T4-encoded transcription factors: AsiA and MotA. Despite extensive biochemical and genetic analyses, puzzle remains, in part, because of a lack of precise structural information for σ appropriation complex. Here, we report a single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of an intact σ appropriation complex, comprising AsiA, MotA, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP), σ70 and a T4 middle promoter. As expected, AsiA binds to and remodels σ region 4 to prevent its contact with host promoters. Unexpectedly, AsiA undergoes a large conformational change, takes over the job of σ region 4 and provides an anchor point for the upstream double-stranded DNA. Because σ region 4 is conserved among bacteria, other transcription factors may use the same strategy to alter the landscape of transcription immediately. Together, the structure provides a foundation for understanding σ appropriation and transcription activation.

Structural basis of Q-dependent transcription antitermination.

Bacteriophage Q protein engages σ-dependent paused RNA polymerase (RNAP) by binding to a DNA site embedded in late gene promoter and renders RNAP resistant to termination signals. Here, we report a single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of an intact Q-engaged arrested complex. The structure reveals key interactions responsible for σ-dependent pause, Q engagement, and Q-mediated transcription antitermination. The structure shows that two Q protomers (QI and QII) bind to a direct-repeat DNA site and contact distinct elements of the RNA exit channel. Notably, QI forms a narrow ring inside the RNA exit channel and renders RNAP resistant to termination signals by prohibiting RNA hairpin formation in the RNA exit channel. Because the RNA exit channel is conserved among all multisubunit RNAPs, it is likely to serve as an important contact site for regulators that modify the elongation properties of RNAP in other organisms, as well.

Structural basis for transcription antitermination at bacterial intrinsic terminator.

Bacteriophages typically hijack the host bacterial transcriptional machinery to regulate their own gene expression and that of the host bacteria. The structural basis for bacteriophage protein-mediated transcription regulation-in particular transcription antitermination-is largely unknown. Here we report the 3.4 Å and 4.0 Å cryo-EM structures of two bacterial transcription elongation complexes (P7-NusA-TEC and P7-TEC) comprising the bacteriophage protein P7, a master host-transcription regulator encoded by bacteriophage Xp10 of the rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae (Xoo) and discuss the mechanisms by which P7 modulates the host bacterial RNAP. The structures together with biochemical evidence demonstrate that P7 prevents transcription termination by plugging up the RNAP RNA-exit channel and impeding RNA-hairpin formation at the intrinsic terminator. Moreover, P7 inhibits transcription initiation by restraining RNAP-clamp motions. Our study reveals the structural basis for transcription antitermination by phage proteins and provides insights into bacterial transcription regulation.