TCF7L2 regulates postmitotic differentiation programmes and excitability patterns in the thalamus.

Neuronal phenotypes are controlled by terminal selector transcription factors in invertebrates, but only a few examples of such regulators have been provided in vertebrates. We hypothesised that TCF7L2 regulates different stages of postmitotic differentiation in the thalamus, and functions as a thalamic terminal selector. To investigate this hypothesis, we used complete and conditional knockouts of Tcf7l2 in mice. The connectivity and clustering of neurons were disrupted in the thalamo-habenular region in Tcf7l2-/- embryos. The expression of subregional thalamic and habenular transcription factors was lost and region-specific cell migration and axon guidance genes were downregulated. In mice with a postnatal Tcf7l2 knockout, the induction of genes that confer thalamic terminal electrophysiological features was impaired. Many of these genes proved to be direct targets of TCF7L2. The role of TCF7L2 in terminal selection was functionally confirmed by impaired firing modes in thalamic neurons in the mutant mice. These data corroborate the existence of master regulators in the vertebrate brain that control stage-specific genetic programmes and regional subroutines, maintain regional transcriptional network during embryonic development, and induce terminal selection postnatally.

The nuclear structural protein NuMA is a negative regulator of 53BP1 in DNA double-strand break repair.

P53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) mediates DNA repair pathway choice and promotes checkpoint activation. Chromatin marks induced by DNA double-strand breaks and recognized by 53BP1 enable focal accumulation of this multifunctional repair factor at damaged chromatin. Here, we unveil an additional level of regulation of 53BP1 outside repair foci. 53BP1 movements are constrained throughout the nucleoplasm and increase in response to DNA damage. 53BP1 interacts with the structural protein NuMA, which controls 53BP1 diffusion. This interaction, and colocalization between the two proteins in vitro and in breast tissues, is reduced after DNA damage. In cell lines and breast carcinoma NuMA prevents 53BP1 accumulation at DNA breaks, and high NuMA expression predicts better patient outcomes. Manipulating NuMA expression alters PARP inhibitor sensitivity of BRCA1-null cells, end-joining activity, and immunoglobulin class switching that rely on 53BP1. We propose a mechanism involving the sequestration of 53BP1 by NuMA in the absence of DNA damage. Such a mechanism may have evolved to disable repair functions and may be a decisive factor for tumor responses to genotoxic treatments.

Rewiring of the promoter-enhancer interactome and regulatory landscape in glioblastoma orchestrates gene expression underlying neurogliomal synaptic communication.

Chromatin organization controls transcription by modulating 3D-interactions between enhancers and promoters in the nucleus. Alterations in epigenetic states and 3D-chromatin organization result in gene expression changes contributing to cancer. Here, we map the promoter-enhancer interactome and regulatory landscape of glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumour. Our data reveals profound rewiring of promoter-enhancer interactions, chromatin accessibility and redistribution of histone marks in glioblastoma. This leads to loss of long-range regulatory interactions and overall activation of promoters, which orchestrate changes in the expression of genes associated to glutamatergic synapses, axon guidance, axonogenesis and chromatin remodelling. SMAD3 and PITX1 emerge as major transcription factors controlling genes related to synapse organization and axon guidance. Inhibition of SMAD3 and neuronal activity stimulation cooperate to promote proliferation of glioblastoma cells in co-culture with glutamatergic neurons, and in mice bearing patient-derived xenografts. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into the regulatory networks that mediate neurogliomal synaptic communication.

Genoarchitecture of the Early Postmitotic Pretectum and the Role of Wnt Signaling in Shaping Pretectal Neurochemical Anatomy in Zebrafish.

The pretectum has a distinct nuclear arrangement and complex neurochemical anatomy. While previous genoarchitectural studies have described rostrocaudal and dorsoventral progenitor domains and subdomains in different species, the relationship between these early partitions and its later derivatives in the mature anatomy is less understood. The signals and transcription factors that control the establishment of pretectal anatomy are practically unknown. We investigated the possibility that some aspects of the development of pretectal divisions are controlled by Wnt signaling, focusing on the transitional stage between neurogenesis and histogenesis in zebrafish. Using several molecular markers and following the prosomeric model, we identified derivatives from each rostrocaudal pretectal progenitor domain and described the localization of gad1b-positive GABAergic and vglut2.2-positive glutamatergic cell clusters. We also attempted to relate these clusters to pretectal nuclei in the mature brain. Then, we examined the influence of Wnt signaling on the size of neurochemically distinctive pretectal areas, using a chemical inhibitor of the Wnt pathway and the CRISPR/Cas9 approach to knock out genes that encode the Wnt pathway mediators, Lef1 and Tcf7l2. The downregulation of the Wnt pathway led to a decrease in two GABAergic clusters and an expansion of a glutamatergic subregion in the maturing pretectum. This revealed an instructive role of the Wnt signal in the development of the pretectum during neurogenesis. The molecular anatomy presented here improves our understanding of pretectal development during early postmitotic stages and support the hypothesis that Wnt signaling is involved in shaping the neurochemical organization of the pretectum.

Corrigendum to "Cholesterol-Lowering Probiotics as Potential Biotherapeutics for Metabolic Diseases".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2012/902917.].

Inhibition of dual leucine zipper kinase prevents chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and cognitive impairments.

ABSTRACT: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments (CICI) are common, often severe neurotoxic side effects of cancer treatment that greatly reduce quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. Currently, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved agents for the prevention or curative treatment of CIPN or CICI. The dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) is a key mediator of axonal degeneration that is localized to axons and coordinates the neuronal response to injury. We developed a novel brain-penetrant DLK inhibitor, IACS'8287, which demonstrates potent and highly selective inhibition of DLK in vitro and in vivo. Coadministration of IACS'8287 with the platinum derivative cisplatin prevents mechanical allodynia, loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers in the hind paws, cognitive deficits, and impairments in brain connectivity in mice, all without interfering with the antitumor activity of cisplatin. The protective effects of IACS'8287 are associated with preservation of mitochondrial function in dorsal root ganglion neurons and in brain synaptosomes. In addition, RNA sequencing analysis of dorsal root ganglia reveals modulation of genes involved in neuronal activity and markers for immune cell infiltration by DLK inhibition. These data indicate that CIPN and CICI require DLK signaling in mice, and DLK inhibitors could become an attractive treatment in the clinic when coadministered with cisplatin, and potentially other chemotherapeutic agents, to prevent neurotoxicities as a result of cancer treatment.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in brain development and mental disorders: keeping TCF7L2 in mind.

Canonical Wnt signaling, which is transduced by ß-catenin and lymphoid enhancer factor 1/T cell-specific transcription factors (LEF1/TCFs), regulates many aspects of metazoan development and tissue renewal. Although much evidence has associated canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling with mood disorders, the mechanistic links are still unknown. Many components of the canonical Wnt pathway are involved in cellular processes that are unrelated to classical canonical Wnt signaling, thus further blurring the picture. The present review critically evaluates the involvement of classical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in developmental processes that putatively underlie the pathology of mental illnesses. Particular attention is given to the roles of LEF1/TCFs, which have been discussed surprisingly rarely in this context. Highlighting recent discoveries, we propose that alterations in the activity of LEF1/TCFs, and particularly of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), result in defects previously associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including imbalances in neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis, the functional disruption of thalamocortical circuitry and dysfunction of the habenula.

Stress susceptibility in Trypanosoma brucei lacking the RNA-binding protein ZC3H30.

Trypanosomes rely on post-transcriptional mechanisms and mRNA-binding proteins for control of gene expression. Trypanosoma brucei ZC3H30 is an mRNA-binding protein that is expressed in both the bloodstream form (which grows in mammals) and the procyclic form (which grows in the tsetse fly midgut). Attachment of ZC3H30 to an mRNA causes degradation of that mRNA. Cells lacking ZC3H30 showed no growth defect under normal culture conditions; but they were more susceptible than wild-type cells to heat shock, starvation, and treatment with DTT, arsenite or ethanol. Transcriptomes of procyclic-form trypanosomes lacking ZC3H30 were indistinguishable from those of cells in which ZC3H30 had been re-expressed, but un-stressed bloodstream forms lacking ZC3H30 had about 2-fold more HSP70 mRNA. Results from pull-downs suggested that ZC3H30 mRNA binding may not be very specific. ZC3H30 was found in stress-induced granules and co-purified with another stress granule protein, Tb927.8.3820; but RNAi targeting Tb927.8.3820 did not affect either ZC3H30 granule association or stress resistance. The conservation of the ZC3H30 gene in both monogenetic and digenetic kinetoplastids, combined with the increased stress susceptibility of cells lacking it, suggests that ZC3H30 confers a selective advantage in the wild, where the parasites are subject to temperature fluctuations and immune attack in both the insect and mammalian hosts.

Synthesis of 1-deoxy-1-hydroxymethyl- and 1-deoxy-1-epi-hydroxymethyl castanospermine as new potential immunomodulating agents.

Two new C-1 epimeric hydroxymethyl castanospermine congeners 2a and 2b, synthesized by stereocontrolled intramolecular double reductive amination of D-glucose derived beta-keto ester as a key step, showed impressive immuno-potentiating property. The bioactivity was mediated through up-regulation of T(H1)/T(H2) cytokine ratio. The finding suggested that immunmodulatory activity of polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids can be tuned by minor structural/stereochemical alterations.

Short and efficient synthesis of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-tetrahydroxyazepanes via the Henry reaction.

The Henry reaction with the easily available alpha-d-xylo-pentodialdose afforded a diastereomeric mixture of nitroaldoses with the alpha-d-gluco- and beta-l-ido-configuration, respectively, in good yield. When n-BuLi was used as the base, the reaction afforded the alpha-d-gluco-nitroaldose as the only product. The reduction of the nitro group in the alpha-d-gluco- and beta-l-ido-nitroaldoses, removal of the protecting groups and intramolecular reductive cyclo-amination afforded the corresponding (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S) tetrahydroxyazepanes.

The CAF1-NOT complex of trypanosomes.

In African trypanosomes, there is no control of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II at the level of individual protein-coding genes. Transcription is polycistronic, and individual mRNAs are excised by trans-splicing and polyadenylation. As a consequence, trypanosomes are uniquely reliant on post-transcriptional mechanisms for control of gene expression. Rates of mRNA decay vary over up to two orders of magnitude, making these organisms an excellent model system for the study of mRNA degradation processes. The trypanosome CAF1-NOT complex is simpler than that of other organisms, with no CCR4 or NOT4 homolog: it consists of CAF1, NOT1, NOT2, NOT5 NOT9, NOT10, and NOT11. It is important for the initiation of degradation of most, although not all, mRNAs. There is no homolog of NOT4, and Tho and TREX complexes are absent. Functions of the trypanosome NOT complex are therefore likely to be restricted mainly to deadenylation. Mechanisms that cause the NOT complex to deadenylate some mRNAs faster than others must exist, but have not yet been described.

Effect of microwave and enzymatic treatment on the recovery of protein from Indian defatted rice bran meal.

Defatted rice bran meal is an important source of protein along with other micronutrients. Rice bran meal has been utilized to produce protein isolates for potential application in various food products. Attempt has been made to increase the protein solubility by physical means like microwave digestion as well as by microwave digestion followed by homogenization. Simple 40 sec microwave treatment could give the protein recovery of 78.4% as against 28.9% after 1 min of conventional boiling and 40 sec is taken as optimum time for microwave treatment. The protein recovery is further increased by microwave treatment followed by homogenization. Defatted rice bran meal has also been treated with enzyme papain and viscozyme separately to increase the protein solubility. The yield of protein isolate (RPI), prepared by alkaline extraction followed by acidic precipitation is 10.2%, which is further increased to 14.5 & 22.4% by papain, viscozyme modification and 21.1 & 22.3% by microwave treatment and microwave treatment followed by homogenization respectively. A maximum of 82.5 and 82.6% protein has been recovered as soluble protein from de-oiled bran by viscozyme treatment and by 40 sec microwave treatment followed by 10 min of homogenization. So, microwave treatment along with homogenization is a suitable alternative processes in extracting protein from rice bran meal.

Cholesterol-lowering probiotics as potential biotherapeutics for metabolic diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of deaths in adults in the western world. Elevated levels of certain blood lipids have been reported to be the principal cause of cardiovascular disease and other disabilities in developed countries. Several animal and clinical trials have shown a positive association between cholesterol levels and the risks of coronary heart disease. Current dietary strategies for the prevention of cardiovascular disease advocate adherence to low-fat/low-saturated-fat diets. Although there is no doubt that, in experimental conditions, low-fat diets offer an effective means of reducing blood cholesterol concentrations on a population basis, these appear to be less effective, largely due to poor compliance, attributed to low palatability and acceptability of these diets to the consumers. Due to the low consumer compliance, attempts have been made to identify other dietary components that can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Supplementation of diet with fermented dairy products or lactic acid bacteria containing dairy products has shown the potential to reduce serum cholesterol levels. Various approaches have been used to alleviate this issue, including the use of probiotics, especially Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.. Probiotics, the living microorganisms that confer health benefits on the host when administered in adequate amounts, have received much attention on their proclaimed health benefits which include improvement in lactose intolerance, increase in natural resistance to infectious disease in gastrointestinal tract, suppression of cancer, antidiabetic, reduction in serum cholesterol level, and improved digestion. In addition, there are numerous reports on cholesterol removal ability of probiotics and their hypocholesterolemic effects. Several possible mechanisms for cholesterol removal by probiotics are assimilation of cholesterol by growing cells, binding of cholesterol to cellular surface, incorporation of cholesterol into the cellular membrane, deconjugation of bile via bile salt hydrolase, coprecipitation of cholesterol with deconjugated bile, binding action of bile by fibre, and production of short-chain fatty acids by oligosaccharides. The present paper reviews the mechanisms of action of anti-cholesterolemic potential of probiotic microorganisms and probiotic food products, with the aim of lowering the risks of cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor induces accelerated senescence in irradiated breast cancer cells and tumors.

Persistent DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) may determine the antitumor effects of ionizing radiation (IR) by inducing apoptosis, necrosis, mitotic catastrophe, or permanent growth arrest. IR induces rapid modification of megabase chromatin domains surrounding DSBs via poly-ADP-ribosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, and protein assembly. The dynamics of these IR-induced foci (IRIF) have been implicated in DNA damage signaling and DNA repair. As an IRIF reporter, we tracked the relocalization of green fluorescent protein fused to a chromatin binding domain of the checkpoint adapter protein 53BP1 after IR of breast cancer cells and tumors. To block DSB repair in breast cancer cells and tumors, we targeted poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) with ABT-888 (veliparib), one of several PARP inhibitors currently in clinical trials. PARP inhibition markedly enhanced IRIF persistence and increased breast cancer cell senescence both in vitro and in vivo, arguing for targeting IRIF resolution as a novel therapeutic strategy.