Depletion of autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1 enhances the efficiency of gene delivery in mammalian cells

TBK1 inhibitors enhance transfection efficiency by suppressing p62/SQSTM1 phosphorylation

DNA transfection is an essential technique in the life sciences. Non-viral transfection reagents are widely used for transfection in basic science. However, low transfection efficiency is a problem in some cell types. This low efficiency can be primarily attributed to the intracellular degradation of transfected DNA by p62-dependent selective autophagy, specifically by p62 phosphorylated at the S403 residue (p62-S403-P). To achieve efficient DNA transfection, we focused on a phosphorylation process that generates p62-S403-P and investigated whether inhibition of this process affects transfection efficiency. One of the kinases that phosphorylate p62 is TBK1. The TBK1 gene depletion in murine embryonic fibroblast cells by genome editing caused a significant reduction or loss of p62-S405-P (equivalent to human S403-P) and enhanced transfection efficiency, suggesting that TBK1 is a major kinase that phosphorylates p62 at S403. Therefore, TBK1 is a viable target for drug treatment to increase transfection efficiency. Transfection efficiency was enhanced when cells were treated with one of the following TBK1 inhibitors BX795, MRT67307, or amlexanox. This effect was synergistically improved when the two inhibitors were used in combination. Our results indicate that TBK1 inhibitors enhanced transfection efficiency by suppressing p62 phosphorylation.

Transfected plasmid DNA is incorporated into the nucleus via nuclear envelope reformation at telophase

DNA transfection is an important technology in life sciences, wherein nuclear entry of DNA is necessary to express exogenous DNA. Non-viral vectors and their transfection reagents are useful as safe transfection tools. However, they have no effect on the transfection of non-proliferating cells, the reason for which is not well understood. This study elucidates the mechanism through which transfected DNA enters the nucleus for gene expression. To monitor the behavior of transfected DNA, we introduce plasmid bearing lacO repeats and RFP-coding sequences into cells expressing GFP-LacI and observe plasmid behavior and RFP expression in living cells. RFP expression appears only after mitosis. Electron microscopy reveals that plasmids are wrapped with nuclear envelope (NE)‒like membranes or associated with chromosomes at telophase. The depletion of BAF, which is involved in NE reformation, delays plasmid RFP expression. These results suggest that transfected DNA is incorporated into the nucleus during NE reformation at telophase.

Microtubule inhibitors identified through nonbiased screening enhance DNA transfection efficiency by delaying p62-dependent ubiquitin recruitment

Ectopic gene expression is an indispensable tool in biology and medicine, but is often limited by the low efficiency of DNA transfection. We previously reported that depletion of the autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1 enhances DNA transfection efficiency by preventing the degradation of transfected DNA. Therefore, p62 is a potential target for drugs to increase transfection efficiency. To identify such drugs, a nonbiased high-throughput screening was applied to over 4,000 compounds from the Osaka University compound library, and their p62 dependency was evaluated. The top-scoring drugs were mostly microtubule inhibitors, such as colchicine and vinblastine, and all of them showed positive effects only in the presence of p62. To understand the p62-dependent mechanisms, the time required for p62-dependent ubiquitination, which is required for autophagosome formation, was examined using polystyrene beads that were introduced into cells as materials that mimicked transfected DNA. Microtubule inhibitors caused a delay in ubiquitination. Furthermore, the level of phosphorylated p62 at S405 was markedly decreased in the drug-treated cells. These results suggest that microtubule inhibitors inhibit p62-dependent autophagosome formation. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that microtubule inhibitors suppress p62 activation as a mechanism for increasing DNA transfection efficiency and provide solutions to increase efficiency.

Current standards and pitfalls associated with the transfection of primary fibroblast cells

Cultured fibroblast cells, especially dermal cells, are used for various types of scientific research, particularly within the medical field. Desirable features of the cells include their ease of isolation, rapid cellular growth, and high degree of robustness. Currently, fibroblasts are mainly used to obtain pluripotent cells via a reprogramming process. Dermal fibroblasts, are particularly useful for gene therapies used for promoting wound healing or minimizing skin aging. In recent years, fibroblast transfection efficiencies have significantly improved. In order to introduce molecules (most often DNA or RNA) into cells, viral-based systems (transduction) or non-viral methods (transfection) that include physical/mechanical processes or lipid reagents may be used. In this article, we describe critical points that should be considered when selecting a method for transfecting fibroblasts. The most effective methods used for the transfection of fibroblasts include both viral-based and non-viral nucleofection systems. These methods result in a high level of transgene expression and are superior in terms of transfection efficacy and viability.

Understanding In Vivo Fate of Nucleic Acid and Gene Medicines for the Rational Design of Drugs

Nucleic acid and genetic medicines are increasingly being developed, owing to their potential to treat a variety of intractable diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the in vivo fate of these agents is vital for the rational design, discovery, and fast and straightforward development of the drugs. In case of intravascular administration of nucleic acids and genetic medicines, interaction with blood components, especially plasma proteins, is unavoidable. However, on the flip side, such interaction can be utilized wisely to manipulate the pharmacokinetics of the agents. In other words, plasma protein binding can help in suppressing the elimination of nucleic acids from the blood stream and deliver naked oligonucleotides and gene carriers into target cells. To control the distribution of these agents in the body, the ligand conjugation method is widely applied. It is also important to understand intracellular localization. In this context, endocytosis pathway, endosomal escape, and nuclear transport should be considered and discussed. Encapsulated nucleic acids and genes must be dissociated from the carriers to exert their activity. In this review, we summarize the in vivo fate of nucleic acid and gene medicines and provide guidelines for the rational design of drugs.

Redirecting Vesicular Transport to Improve Nonviral Delivery of Molecular Cargo

Cell engineering relies heavily on viral vectors for the delivery of molecular cargo into cells due to their superior efficiency compared to nonviral ones. However, viruses are immunogenic and expensive to manufacture, and have limited delivery capacity. Nonviral delivery approaches avoid these limitations but are currently inefficient for clinical applications. This work demonstrates that the efficiency of nonviral delivery of plasmid DNA, mRNA, Sleeping Beauty transposon, and ribonucleoprotein can be significantly enhanced through pretreatment of cells with the nondegradable sugars (NDS), such as sucrose, trehalose, and raffinose. The enhancement is mediated by the incorporation of the NDS into cell membranes, causing enlargement of lysosomes and formation of large (>500 nm) amphisome-like bodies (ALBs). The changes in subcellular structures redirect transport of cargo to ALBs rather than to lysosomes, reducing cargo degradation in cells. The data indicate that pretreatment of cells with NDS is a promising approach to improve nonviral cargo delivery in biomedical applications.

Development of a multiple-gene-loading method by combining multi-integration system-equipped mouse artificial chromosome vector and CRISPR-Cas9

Mouse artificial chromosome (MAC) vectors have several advantages as gene delivery vectors, such as stable and independent maintenance in host cells without integration, transferability from donor cells to recipient cells via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer (MMCT), and the potential for loading a megabase-sized DNA fragment. Previously, a MAC containing a multi-integrase platform (MI-MAC) was developed to facilitate the transfer of multiple genes into desired cells. Although the MI system can theoretically hold five gene-loading vectors (GLVs), there are a limited number of drugs available for the selection of multiple-GLV integration. To overcome this issue, we attempted to knock out and reuse drug resistance genes (DRGs) using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. In this study, we developed new methods for multiple-GLV integration. As a proof of concept, we introduced five GLVs in the MI-MAC by these methods, in which each GLV contained a gene encoding a fluorescent or luminescent protein (EGFP, mCherry, BFP, Eluc, and Cluc). Genes of interest (GOI) on the MI-MAC were expressed stably and functionally without silencing in the host cells. Furthermore, the MI-MAC carrying five GLVs was transferred to other cells by MMCT, and the resultant recipient cells exhibited all five fluorescence/luminescence signals. Thus, the MI-MAC was successfully used as a multiple-GLV integration vector using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The MI-MAC employing these methods may resolve bottlenecks in developing multiple-gene humanized models, multiple-gene monitoring models, disease models, reprogramming, and inducible gene expression systems.

Ess2 bridges transcriptional regulators and spliceosomal complexes via distinct interacting domains

Transcription and pre-mRNA splicing are complex, coupled processes that involve transcriptional co-regulators. Ess2 (also termed Dgcr14) is a nuclear protein that enhances the transcriptional activity of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma/gamma-t (Rorγ/γt). Ess2 is also a component of the spliceosomal C complex (containing U2, U5 and U6 snRNAs). However, the domains in Ess2 that function in splicing and transcription have not been identified. To elucidate the roles of Ess2 in splicing and transcription, we performed RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays to detect Ess2-interacting snRNAs. We found that Ess2 associated with U6 snRNA as well as U1 and U4 snRNAs. Experiments using Ess2 deletion mutants showed that a C-terminus deletion mutant of Ess2 (1-399 a. a.) lost its ability to associate with snRNAs, whereas the N-terminus domain of Ess2 (1-200 a. a.) associated with Rorγ/γt, but not with snRNAs. Interestingly, experiments using anti-ROR common antibody showed that Rors also associated with U4 and U6 snRNAs. Ess2 knockdown in a T cell hybridoma (68-41 cells) abrogated the interaction between spliceosomes and Rors. An Ess2-dependent association was also found between an lncRNA (Rmrp) and Rors. We thus propose that Ess2 associates with both transcriptional factors and spliceosomal complexes and modulates splicing reactions coupled with transcription factors.

p62/SQSTM1 promotes rapid ubiquitin conjugation to target proteins after endosome rupture during xenophagy

Autophagy is a bulk degradation pathway, and selective autophagy to remove foreign entities is called xenophagy. The conjugation of ubiquitin to target pathogens is an important process in xenophagy but when and where this ubiquitination occurs remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the temporal sequence and subcellular location of ubiquitination during xenophagy using time‐lapse observations, with polystyrene beads mimicking invading pathogens. Results revealed accumulation of a ubiquitination marker around the beads within 3 min after endosome rupture. Recruitment of ubiquitin to the beads was significantly delayed in p62‐knockout murine embryonic fibroblast cells, and this delay was rescued by ectopic p62 expression. Ectopic expression of a phosphorylation‐mimicking p62 mutated at serine residue 405 (equivalent to human serine residue 403) rescued this delay, but its unphosphorylated form did not. These results indicate that ubiquitination mainly occurs after endosome rupture and suggest that p62, specifically the phosphorylated form, promotes ubiquitin conjugation to target proteins in xenophagy.

Comparative Analysis of Non-viral Transfection Methods in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cells

Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells are an important in vitro model for developmental biology, disease, and reprogramming studies. However, as with other primary cells, they are challenging to transfect. Although viral gene-delivery methods achieve high gene-delivery efficiency, challenges with cell mutagenesis and safety among others have led to the use and improvement of non-viral gene-delivery methods in MEF cells. Despite the importance of gene delivery in MEF cells, there is limited comparison of method/reagent efficacy. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of different gene-delivery methods and several reagents currently available in MEF cells by introducing a plasmid containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We analyze transfection efficiency by EGFP fluorescence. Our results suggest that two gene-delivery methods-electroporation and magnetofection in combination with a lipid reagent, are the most efficient transfection methods in MEF cells. This study provides a foundation for the selection of transfection methods or reagents when using MEF cells.

p62/SQSTM1-Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that prevents oxidative stress but promotes liver cancer

p62/SQSTM1 is a multifunctional signaling hub and autophagy adaptor with many binding partners, which allow it to activate mTORC1-dependent nutrient sensing, NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses, and the NRF2-activated antioxidant defense. p62 recognizes polyubiquitin chains via its C-terminal domain and binds to LC3 via its LIR motif, thereby promoting the autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated cargos. p62 accumulates in many human liver diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where it is a component of Mallory-Denk bodies and intracellular hyaline bodies. Chronic p62 elevation contributes to HCC development by preventing oncogene-induced senescence and death of cancer-initiating cells and enhancing their proliferation. In this review, we discuss p62-mediated signaling pathways and their roles in liver pathophysiology, especially NASH and HCC.