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Schulte G, Scharf MM, Bous J, Voss JH, Grätz L, Kozielewicz P. Frizzleds act as dynamic pharmacological entities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:419-429. [PMID: 38594145 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The Frizzled family of transmembrane receptors (FZD1-10) belongs to the class F of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). FZDs bind to and are activated by Wingless/Int1 (WNT) proteins. The WNT/FZD signaling system regulates crucial aspects of developmental biology and stem-cell regulation. Dysregulation of WNT/FZD communication can lead to developmental defects and diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. Recent insight into the activation mechanisms of FZDs has underlined that protein dynamics and conserved microswitches are essential for FZD-mediated information flow and build the basis for targeting these receptors pharmacologically. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of FZD activation, and how novel concepts merge and collide with existing dogmas in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Schulte
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Magdalena M Scharf
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julien Bous
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Hendrik Voss
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pawel Kozielewicz
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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McKenna JK, Wu Y, Sonkusre P, Chari R, Lebensohn AM. The ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 enhances WNT signaling by antagonizing destruction complex-mediated β-catenin degradation and through a mechanism independent of β-catenin stability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578552. [PMID: 38410441 PMCID: PMC10896346 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
WNT/β-catenin signaling is mediated by the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin (CTNNB1). CTNNB1 abundance is regulated by phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation promoted by a destruction complex composed of the scaffold proteins APC and AXIN1 or AXIN2, and the kinases CSNK1A1 and GSK3A or GSK3B. Loss of CSNK1A1 increases CTNNB1 abundance, resulting in hyperactive WNT signaling. Previously, we demonstrated that the HECT domain ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 is necessary for hyperactive WNT signaling in HAP1 haploid human cells lacking CSNK1A1. Here, we investigate the mechanism underlying this requirement. In the absence of CSNK1A1, GSK3A/GSK3B still phosphorylated a fraction of CTNNB1, promoting its degradation. HUWE1 loss enhanced GSK3A/GSK3B-dependent CTNNB1 phosphorylation, further reducing CTNNB1 abundance. However, the reduction in CTNNB1 caused by HUWE1 loss was disproportionately smaller than the reduction in WNT target gene transcription. To test if the reduction in WNT signaling resulted from reduced CTNNB1 abundance alone, we engineered the endogenous CTNNB1 locus in HAP1 cells to encode a CTNNB1 variant insensitive to destruction complex-mediated phosphorylation and degradation. HUWE1 loss in these cells reduced WNT signaling with no change in CTNNB1 abundance. Genetic interaction and overexpression analyses revealed that the effects of HUWE1 on WNT signaling were not only mediated by GSK3A/GSK3B, but also by APC and AXIN1. Regulation of WNT signaling by HUWE1 required its ubiquitin ligase activity. These results suggest that in cells lacking CSNK1A1, a destruction complex containing APC, AXIN1 and GSK3A/GSK3B downregulates WNT signaling by phosphorylating and targeting CTNNB1 for degradation. HUWE1 enhances WNT signaling by antagonizing this activity. Therefore, HUWE1 enhances WNT/CTNNB1 signaling through two mechanisms, one that regulates CTNNB1 abundance and another that is independent of CTNNB1 stability. Coordinated regulation of CTNNB1 abundance and an independent signaling step by HUWE1 would be an efficient way to control WNT signaling output, enabling sensitive and robust activation of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph K. McKenna
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yalan Wu
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Praveen Sonkusre
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andres M. Lebensohn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Zhang D, Ni QQ, Wang SY, He WF, Hong ZX, Liu HY, Chen XH, Chen LJ, Han FY, Zhang LJ, Li XM, Ding YQ, Jiao HL, Ye YP. APC mutations disrupt β-catenin destruction complex condensates organized by Axin phase separation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:57. [PMID: 38279052 PMCID: PMC10817841 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is critical to maintaining cell fate decisions. Recent study showed that liquid-liquid-phase separation (LLPS) of Axin organized the β-catenin destruction complex condensates in a normal cellular state. Mutations inactivating the APC gene are found in approximately 80% of all human colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the molecular mechanism of the formation of β-catenin destruction complex condensates organized by Axin phase separation and how APC mutations impact the condensates are still unclear. Here, we report that the β-catenin destruction complex, which is constructed by Axin, was assembled condensates via a phase separation process in CRC cells. The key role of wild-type APC is to stabilize destruction complex condensates. Surprisingly, truncated APC did not affect the formation of condensates, and GSK 3β and CK1α were unsuccessfully recruited, preventing β-catenin phosphorylation and resulting in accumulation in the cytoplasm of CRCs. Besides, we propose that the phase separation ability of Axin participates in the nucleus translocation of β-catenin and be incorporated and concentrated into transcriptional condensates, affecting the transcriptional activity of Wnt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi-Qi Ni
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shu-Yang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Feng He
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ze-Xuan Hong
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui-Ye Liu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Jie Chen
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang-Yi Han
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ling-Jie Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Li
- Department of Pathology, The People's Hospital of Baoan Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yan-Qing Ding
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hong-Li Jiao
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Ye
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Zheng LW, Liu CC, Yu KD. Phase separations in oncogenesis, tumor progressions and metastasis: a glance from hallmarks of cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:123. [PMID: 38110976 PMCID: PMC10726551 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01522-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a novel principle for interpreting precise spatiotemporal coordination in living cells through biomolecular condensate (BMC) formation via dynamic aggregation. LLPS changes individual molecules into membrane-free, droplet-like BMCs with specific functions, which coordinate various cellular activities. The formation and regulation of LLPS are closely associated with oncogenesis, tumor progressions and metastasis, the specific roles and mechanisms of LLPS in tumors still need to be further investigated at present. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the conditions of LLPS and identify mechanisms involved in abnormal LLPS in cancer processes, including tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis from the perspective of cancer hallmarks. We have also reviewed the clinical applications of LLPS in oncologic areas. This systematic summary of dysregulated LLPS from the different dimensions of cancer hallmarks will build a bridge for determining its specific functions to further guide basic research, finding strategies to intervene in LLPS, and developing relevant therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le-Wei Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Cui-Cui Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ke-Da Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Oncology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Ge Y, Liu Y, Ji B, Fang Y, Xie Y, Sakurai R, Wang J, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Wang X, Rehan VK. Evidence for Wnt signaling's central involvement in perinatal nicotine exposure-induced offspring lung pathology and its modulation by electroacupuncture. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115824. [PMID: 37925937 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many factors during pregnancy can induce intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), resulting in various adverse perinatal outcomes such as low birth weight and multiple organ disorders. Among these factors, prenatal smoke/nicotine exposure is a common cause of IUGR, often associated with altered fetal lung development. The classical Wnt signaling pathway plays a vital role in lung development, and its alterations are commonly associated with developmental lung pathologies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) points protects perinatal nicotine exposure (PNE)-induced offspring lung dysplasia through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and to identify specific Wnt signaling pathway targets of EA. METHODS Following a well-established protocol, nicotine (1 mg/kg/ body weight) was administered subcutaneously to pregnant Sprague Dawley rat dams from gestational day 6 to postnatal day 21. In the EA group, dams were treated with EA at both ST 36 acupoints, while in another experimental group, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway agonist was injected subcutaneously (2 mg/kg/ body weight). Offspring body weight (PND 1, 7, 14, and 21), lung weight, Wnt signaling markers, pulmonary function, and lung morphology were determined at sacrifice on PND 21. Specifically, Western blotting and Real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA levels of critical Wnt signaling markers Wnt2, Wnt7b, FZD4, FZD7, LRP5, and LRP6 in the offspring lung. The protein levels of β-catenin in lung tissue of offspring rats were detected by ELISA that of LEF-1 by Western blotting. RESULTS Compared to the control group, the body and lung weights of the offspring rats were significantly decreased in the nicotine-only exposed group. The pulmonary function determined as FVC, PEF, TV, and Cdyn was also significantly decreased, while PIF was significantly increased. The protein levels and mRNA expression of Wnt2, Wnt7b, FZD4, FZD7, LRP5, and LRP6 in the lung tissue of the PNE offspring rats were significantly increased. With EA administration at ST 36 acupoints concomitant with nicotine administration, the body and lung weights, pulmonary function (FVC, PEF, PIF, TV, and Cdyn), protein and mRNA levels Wnt signaling pathway markers (Wnt2, Wnt7b, FZD4, FZD7, LRP5, LRP6, β-catenin, and LEF-1) normalized and were not different from the control group. Notably, Wnt agonists agonist administration blocked the protective effects of EA against PNE-induced lung morphological, molecular, and function changes, highlighting the central significance of Wnt pathway signaling in PNE-induced offspring pulmonary pathology and its modulation by EA at ST 36 acupoints. CONCLUSION Concomitant maternal EA at ST 36 acupoints from gestational day 6 to PND 21 protects against offspring PNE-induced lung phenotype. The protective effect is achieved by regulating the expression of Wnt ligand proteins (Wnt2 and Wnt7b) and receptor proteins (FZD4, FZD7, LRP5, and LRP6) upstream of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway intermediates β-catenin, and LEF-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Ge
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
| | - Yitian Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
| | - Bo Ji
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China.
| | - Yang Fang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yana Xie
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Reiko Sakurai
- Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA
| | - Jiajia Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Ziyue Zhang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Virender K Rehan
- Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA
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Krzysiek-Maczka G, Brzozowski T, Ptak-Belowska A. Helicobacter pylori-activated fibroblasts as a silent partner in gastric cancer development. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:1219-1256. [PMID: 37460910 PMCID: PMC10713772 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10122-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection of gastric mucosa leading to active chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, and MALT lymphoma laid the groundwork for understanding of the general relationship between chronic infection, inflammation, and cancer. Nevertheless, this sequence of events is still far from full understanding with new players and mediators being constantly identified. Originally, the Hp virulence factors affecting mainly gastric epithelium were proposed to contribute considerably to gastric inflammation, ulceration, and cancer. Furthermore, it has been shown that Hp possesses the ability to penetrate the mucus layer and directly interact with stroma components including fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. These cells, which are the source of biophysical and biochemical signals providing the proper balance between cell proliferation and differentiation within gastric epithelial stem cell compartment, when exposed to Hp, can convert into cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotype. The crosstalk between fibroblasts and myofibroblasts with gastric epithelial cells including stem/progenitor cell niche involves several pathways mediated by non-coding RNAs, Wnt, BMP, TGF-β, and Notch signaling ligands. The current review concentrates on the consequences of Hp-induced increase in gastric fibroblast and myofibroblast number, and their activation towards CAFs with the emphasis to the altered communication between mesenchymal and epithelial cell compartment, which may lead to inflammation, epithelial stem cell overproliferation, disturbed differentiation, and gradual gastric cancer development. Thus, Hp-activated fibroblasts may constitute the target for anti-cancer treatment and, importantly, for the pharmacotherapies diminishing their activation particularly at the early stages of Hp infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gracjana Krzysiek-Maczka
- Department of Physiology, the Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 16 Grzegorzecka Street, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Brzozowski
- Department of Physiology, the Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 16 Grzegorzecka Street, 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Agata Ptak-Belowska
- Department of Physiology, the Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 16 Grzegorzecka Street, 31-531, Kraków, Poland
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Zhang L, Adu IK, Zhang H, Wang J. The WNT/β-catenin system in chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder syndrome. Int Urol Nephrol 2023; 55:2527-2538. [PMID: 36964322 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-023-03569-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WNT/β-catenin system is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in morphogenesis and cell tissue formation during embryogenesis. Although usually suppressed in adulthood, it can be reactivated during organ damage and regeneration. Transient activation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway stimulates tissue regeneration after acute kidney injury, while persistent (uncontrolled) activation can promote the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD-MBD is a clinical syndrome that develops with systemic mineral and bone metabolism disorders caused by CKD, characterized by abnormal bone mineral metabolism and/or extraosseous calcification, as well as cardiovascular disease associated with CKD, including vascular stiffness and calcification. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to comprehensively review the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in relation to CKD-MBD, focusing on its components, regulatory molecules, and regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, this review highlights the challenges and opportunities for using small molecular compounds to target the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in CKD-MBD therapy. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive literature review using various scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify relevant articles. We searched for articles that discussed the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, CKD-MBD, and their relationship. We also reviewed articles that discussed the components of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, its regulatory molecules, and regulatory mechanisms. RESULTS The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role in CKD-MBD by promoting vascular calcification and bone mineral metabolism disorders. The pathway's components include WNT ligands, Frizzled receptors, and LRP5/6 co-receptors, which initiate downstream signaling cascades leading to the activation of β-catenin. Several regulatory molecules, including GSK-3β, APC, and Axin, modulate β-catenin activation. The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway also interacts with other signaling pathways, such as the BMP pathway, to regulate CKD-MBD. CONCLUSIONS The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target for CKD-MBD. Small molecular compounds that target the components or regulatory molecules of the pathway may provide a promising approach to treat CKD-MBD. However, more research is needed to identify safe and effective compounds and to determine the optimal dosages and treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbo Zhang
- The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Isaac Kumi Adu
- The School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jingzhou and the Affiliated Hospital of Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kings and Queens University College and Teaching Hospital, Akosombo, Ghana
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jingzhou and the Affiliated Hospital of Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiancheng Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jingzhou and the Affiliated Hospital of Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang L, Liu Z, Lu Y, Nie J, Chen Y. Phase Separation in Kidney Diseases: Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and Beyond. KIDNEY DISEASES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 9:229-238. [PMID: 37899998 PMCID: PMC10601909 DOI: 10.1159/000530250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Background The formation of biomolecular condensates via phase separation has emerged as a fundamental principle underlying the spatiotemporal coordination of biological activities in cells. Aberrant biomolecular condensates often directly regulate key cellular process involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including kidney diseases. Summary In this review, we summarize the physiological roles of phase separation and methodologies for phase separation studies. Taking autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease as an example, we discuss recent advances toward elucidating the multiple mechanisms involved in kidney pathology arising from aberrant phase separation. We suggest that dysregulation of phase separation contributes to the pathogenesis of other important kidney diseases, including kidney injury and fibrosis. Key Messages Phase separation provides a useful new concept to understand the mechanisms underlying kidney disease development. Targeting aberrant phase-separated condensates offers new therapeutic avenues for combating kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiheng Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yumei Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Nie
- Division of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yupeng Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Söderholm S, Jauregi-Miguel A, Pagella P, Ghezzi V, Zambanini G, Nordin A, Cantù C. Single-cell response to Wnt signaling activation reveals uncoupling of Wnt target gene expression. Exp Cell Res 2023:113646. [PMID: 37271249 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Wnt signaling drives nuclear translocation of β-catenin and its subsequent association with the DNA-bound TCF/LEF transcription factors, which dictate target gene specificity by recognizing Wnt responsive elements across the genome. β-Catenin target genes are therefore thought to be collectively activated upon Wnt pathway stimulation. However, this appears in contrast with the non-overlapping patterns of Wnt target gene expression in several contexts, including early mammalian embryogenesis. Here we followed Wnt target gene expression in human embryonic stem cells after Wnt pathway stimulation at a single-cell resolution. Cells changed gene expression program over time consistent with three key developmental events: i) loss of pluripotency, ii) induction of Wnt target genes, and iii) mesoderm specification. Contrary to our expectation, not all cells displayed equal amplitude of Wnt target gene activation; rather, they distributed in a continuum from strong to weak responders when ranked based on the expression of the target AXIN2. Moreover, high AXIN2 did not always correspond to elevated expression of other Wnt targets, which were activated in different proportions in individual cells. The uncoupling of Wnt target gene expression was also identified in single cell transcriptomics profiling of other Wnt-responding cell types, including HEK293T, murine developing forelimbs, and human colorectal cancer. Our finding underlines the necessity to identify additional mechanisms that explain the heterogeneity of the Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcriptional outputs in single cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Söderholm
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Amaia Jauregi-Miguel
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pierfrancesco Pagella
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Valeria Ghezzi
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Gianluca Zambanini
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Nordin
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Claudio Cantù
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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10
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Liu M, Huo Y, Cheng Y. Mechanistic Regulation of Wnt Pathway-Related Progression of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Airway Lesions. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2023; 18:871-880. [PMID: 37215745 PMCID: PMC10198175 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s391487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic disease associated with inflammation and structural changes in the airways and lungs, resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. This interaction highlights significant genes in early life, particularly those involved in lung development, such as the Wnt signaling pathway. The Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in cell homeostasis, and its abnormal activation can lead to the occurrence of related diseases such as asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. Due to the fact that the Wnt pathway is mechanically sensitive, abnormal activation of the Wnt pathway by mechanical stress contributes to the progression of chronic diseases. But in the context of COPD, it has received little attention. In this review, we aim to summarize the important current evidence on mechanical stress through the Wnt pathway in airway inflammation and structural changes in COPD and to provide potential targets for COPD treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minrong Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yating Huo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanxiong Cheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People’s Republic of China
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11
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Wang X, Zhang X, Sun J, Sun Y, Zhang Y, He L, Wang P, Li F, Sun C. Guanine nucleotide exchange factor T exerts the cancer-promoting function in cholangiocarcinoma by enhancing the Wnt-GSK-3β-β-catenin cascade via regulation of Rac1/Cdc42. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 467:116492. [PMID: 36977438 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Guanine nucleotide exchange factor T (GEFT), which is frequently overexpressed in cancers, is closely related to tumorigenicity and metastasis. Up to now, little is known about the relationship between GEFT and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The work explored the expression and function of GEFT in CCA and revealed the underlying mechanisms. Both CCA clinical tissues and cell lines expressed higher levels of GEFT than normal controls. High GEFT levels were correlated with a low overall survival rate in CCA patients. A decrease in GEFT by RNA interference caused remarkable anticancer effects in CCA cells, including retarded proliferation, delayed cell cycle progression, subdued metastatic potential and enhanced chemosensitivity. Mechanistically, GEFT mediated the Wnt-GSK-3β-β-catenin cascade associated with the regulation of Rac1/Cdc42. The inhibition of Rac1/Cdc42 markedly diminished the enhancing effect of GEFT on the Wnt-GSK-3β-β-catenin and reversed GEFT-mediated cancer-promoting effects in CCA. Moreover, the reactivation of β-catenin diminished GEFT-reduction-induced anticancer effects. Critically, CCA cells with decreasing GEFT had a weakened ability to form xenografts in mouse models. Collectively, this work illustrates that GEFT-mediated Wnt-GSK-3β-β-catenin cascade represents a novel mechanism underlying CCA progression and propose a decrease in GEFT as a potential path for treatment in CCA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xifang Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi'an 710100, China
| | - Jingying Sun
- Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious and Immunological Diseases, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Data Center, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, s 710068, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Li He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Pathology and Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
| | - Chao Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
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12
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Carr HS, Zuo Y, Frost JA. The Wnt pathway protein Dvl1 targets somatostatin receptor 2 for lysosome-dependent degradation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104645. [PMID: 36965619 PMCID: PMC10164914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Somatostatin receptor 2 (Sstr2) is a heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptor that is highly expressed in neuroendocrine tumors and is a common pharmacological target for intervention. Unfortunately, not all neuroendocrine tumors express Sstr2, and Sstr2 expression can be downregulated with prolonged agonist use. Sstr2 is rapidly internalized following agonist stimulation and, in the short term, is quantitatively recycled back to the plasma membrane. However, mechanisms controlling steady state expression of Sstr2 in the absence of agonist are less well described. Here, we show that Sstr2 interacts with the Wnt pathway protein Dvl1 in a ligand-independent manner to target Sstr2 for lysosomal degradation. Interaction of Sstr2 with Dvl1 does not affect receptor internalization, recycling, or signaling to adenylyl cyclase but does suppress agonist-stimulated ERK1/2 activation. Importantly, Dvl1-dependent degradation of Sstr2 can be stimulated by overexpression of Wnts and treatment of cells with Wnt pathway inhibitors can boost Sstr2 expression in neuroendocrine tumor cells. Taken together, this study identifies for the first time a mechanism that targets Sstr2 for lysosomal degradation that is independent of Sstr2 agonist and can be potentiated by Wnt ligand. Intervention in this signaling mechanism has the potential to elevate Sstr2 expression in neuroendocrine tumors and enhance Sstr2-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather S Carr
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yan Zuo
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Frost
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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13
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Bonello TT, Cai D, Fletcher GC, Wiengartner K, Pengilly V, Lange KS, Liu Z, Lippincott‐Schwartz J, Kavran JM, Thompson BJ. Phase separation of Hippo signalling complexes. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112863. [PMID: 36807601 PMCID: PMC10015380 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hippo pathway was originally discovered to control tissue growth in Drosophila and includes the Hippo kinase (Hpo; MST1/2 in mammals), scaffold protein Salvador (Sav; SAV1 in mammals) and the Warts kinase (Wts; LATS1/2 in mammals). The Hpo kinase is activated by binding to Crumbs-Expanded (Crb-Ex) and/or Merlin-Kibra (Mer-Kib) proteins at the apical domain of epithelial cells. Here we show that activation of Hpo also involves the formation of supramolecular complexes with properties of a biomolecular condensate, including concentration dependence and sensitivity to starvation, macromolecular crowding, or 1,6-hexanediol treatment. Overexpressing Ex or Kib induces formation of micron-scale Hpo condensates in the cytoplasm, rather than at the apical membrane. Several Hippo pathway components contain unstructured low-complexity domains and purified Hpo-Sav complexes undergo phase separation in vitro. Formation of Hpo condensates is conserved in human cells. We propose that apical Hpo kinase activation occurs in phase separated "signalosomes" induced by clustering of upstream pathway components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa T Bonello
- EMBL Australia, John Curtin School of Medical ResearchAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Danfeng Cai
- HHMI Janelia Research CampusAshburnVAUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | | | - Kyler Wiengartner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Victoria Pengilly
- EMBL Australia, John Curtin School of Medical ResearchAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Kimberly S Lange
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Zhe Liu
- HHMI Janelia Research CampusAshburnVAUSA
| | | | - Jennifer M Kavran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, and Department of OncologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Barry J Thompson
- EMBL Australia, John Curtin School of Medical ResearchAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
- Epithelial Biology LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
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14
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Balatskyi VV, Sowka A, Dobrzyn P, Piven OO. WNT/β-catenin pathway is a key regulator of cardiac function and energetic metabolism. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2023; 237:e13912. [PMID: 36599355 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The WNT/β-catenin pathway is a master regulator of cardiac development and growth, and its activity is low in healthy adult hearts. However, even this low activity is essential for maintaining normal heart function. Acute activation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling cascade is considered to be cardioprotective after infarction through the upregulation of prosurvival genes and reprogramming of metabolism. Chronically high WNT/β-catenin pathway activity causes profibrotic and hypertrophic effects in the adult heart. New data suggest more complex functions of β-catenin in metabolic maturation of the perinatal heart, establishing an adult pattern of glucose and fatty acid utilization. Additionally, low basal activity of the WNT/β-catenin cascade maintains oxidative metabolism in the adult heart, and this pathway is reactivated by physiological or pathological stimuli to meet the higher energy needs of the heart. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the organization of canonical WNT signaling and its function in cardiogenesis, heart maturation, adult heart function, and remodeling. We also discuss the role of the WNT/β-catenin pathway in cardiac glucose, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr V Balatskyi
- Laboratory of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrian Sowka
- Laboratory of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Dobrzyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Oksana O Piven
- Laboratory of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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15
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Novel Insights into the Role of Kras in Myeloid Differentiation: Engaging with Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020322. [PMID: 36672256 PMCID: PMC9857056 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells of the HL-60 myeloid leukemia cell line can be differentiated into neutrophil-like cells by treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The molecular mechanisms involved in this differentiation process, however, remain unclear. This review focuses on the differentiation of HL-60 cells. Although the Ras proteins, a group of small GTP-binding proteins, are ubiquitously expressed and highly homologous, each has specific molecular functions. Kras was shown to be essential for normal mouse development, whereas Hras and Nras are not. Kras knockout mice develop profound hematopoietic defects, indicating that Kras is required for hematopoiesis in adults. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating the homeostasis of hematopoietic cells. The protein β-catenin is a key player in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. A great deal of evidence shows that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is deregulated in malignant tumors, including hematological malignancies. Wild-type Kras acts as a tumor suppressor during DMSO-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells. Upon DMSO treatment, Kras translocates to the plasma membrane, and its activity is enhanced. Inhibition of Kras attenuates CD11b expression. DMSO also elevates levels of GSK3β phosphorylation, resulting in the release of unphosphorylated β-catenin from the β-catenin destruction complex and its accumulation in the cytoplasm. The accumulated β-catenin subsequently translocates into the nucleus. Inhibition of Kras attenuates Lef/Tcf-sensitive transcription activity. Thus, upon treatment of HL-60 cells with DMSO, wild-type Kras reacts with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby regulating the granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. Wild-type Kras and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway are activated sequentially, increasing the levels of expression of C/EBPα, C/EBPε, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor.
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16
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Abstract
WNT/CTNNB1 signaling plays a critical role in the development of all multicellular animals. Here, we include both the embryonic stages, during which tissue morphogenesis takes place, and the postnatal stages of development, during which tissue homeostasis occurs. Thus, embryonic development concerns lineage development and cell fate specification, while postnatal development involves tissue maintenance and regeneration. Multiple tools are available to researchers who want to investigate, and ideally visualize, the dynamic and pleiotropic involvement of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling in these processes. Here, we discuss and evaluate the decisions that researchers need to make in identifying the experimental system and appropriate tools for the specific question they want to address, covering different types of WNT/CTNNB1 reporters in cells and mice. At a molecular level, advanced quantitative imaging techniques can provide spatio-temporal information that cannot be provided by traditional biochemical assays. We therefore also highlight some recent studies to show their potential in deciphering the complex and dynamic mechanisms that drive WNT/CTNNB1 signaling.
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17
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Babcock RL, Pruitt K. Letting go: Dishevelled phase separation recruits Axin to stabilize β-catenin. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:e202211001. [PMID: 36383195 PMCID: PMC9674272 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202211001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dishevelled exerts a molecular force that guides cell fate, but how it does so remains enigmatic. In this issue, Kang et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202205069) show Dvl2 undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation to stabilize β-catenin by pulling Axin into its biomolecular condensate at the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L. Babcock
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
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18
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Philippi M, Richter CP, Kappen M, Watrinet I, Miao Y, Runge M, Jorde L, Korneev S, Holtmannspötter M, Kurre R, Holthuis JCM, Garcia KC, Plückthun A, Steinhart M, Piehler J, You C. Biofunctional Nanodot Arrays in Living Cells Uncover Synergistic Co-Condensation of Wnt Signalodroplets. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2203723. [PMID: 36266931 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202203723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) are developed to spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at the nanoscale. High-contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of ≈300 nm are obtained by capillary nanostamping of bovine serum albumin bioconjugates, which are subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti-green fluorescence protein (GFP) clamp fusions. Spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes is achieved at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co-receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, co-recruitment is observed of co-receptor Frizzled-8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin-1 and Disheveled-2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-driven assembly of Wnt "signalodroplets" at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects of LLPS for Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Philippi
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Christian P Richter
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Marie Kappen
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Isabelle Watrinet
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Yi Miao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Mercedes Runge
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Lara Jorde
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Sergej Korneev
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Michael Holtmannspötter
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Rainer Kurre
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Joost C M Holthuis
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Martin Steinhart
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Jacob Piehler
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Changjiang You
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
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19
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Kang K, Shi Q, Wang X, Chen YG. Dishevelled phase separation promotes Wnt signalosome assembly and destruction complex disassembly. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:213667. [PMID: 36342472 PMCID: PMC9811998 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202205069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The amplitude of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is precisely controlled by the assembly of the cell surface-localized Wnt receptor signalosome and the cytosolic β-catenin destruction complex. How these two distinct complexes are coordinately controlled remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the signalosome scaffold protein Dishevelled 2 (Dvl2) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Dvl2 LLPS is mediated by an intrinsically disordered region and facilitated by components of the signalosome, such as the receptor Fzd5. Assembly of the signalosome is initiated by rapid recruitment of Dvl2 to the membrane, followed by slow and dynamic recruitment of Axin1. Axin LLPS mediates assembly of the β-catenin destruction complex, and Dvl2 attenuates LLPS of Axin. Compared with the destruction complex, Axin partitions into the signalosome at a lower concentration and exhibits a higher mobility. Together, our results revealed that Dvl2 LLPS is crucial for controlling the assembly of the Wnt receptor signalosome and disruption of the phase-separated β-catenin destruction complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Kang
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoni Shi
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China,Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China,School of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China,Correspondence to Ye-Guang Chen:
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20
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To condense or not to condense: Wnt regulation by centrosome-nucleated biomolecular condensates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2213905119. [PMID: 36179040 PMCID: PMC9565305 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213905119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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21
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Masciullo V, Susini T, Corrado G, Stepanova M, Baroni A, Renda I, Castiglione F, Minimo C, Bellacosa A, Chiofalo B, Vizza E, Scambia G. Nuclear Expression of β-Catenin Is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Endometrial Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12102401. [PMID: 36292090 PMCID: PMC9600744 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12102401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Beta-catenin is involved in intercellular adhesion and participates in the Wnt signaling pathway. This study evaluated the expression pattern and prognostic value of β-catenin in a series of endometrial carcinoma patients. Immunohistochemical analyses were used to assess the expression and subcellular localization of β-catenin from tissue sections of 74 patients with endometrial carcinoma. No correlation was found between beta-catenin expression and clinicopathological parameters. Patients expressing nuclear β-catenin (n = 13; 16%) showed a more favorable prognosis than patients expressing membranous β-catenin; the 5-year disease-related survival rate was 100% for cases expressing nuclear β-catenin, compared with 73.8% (SE 0.08) of cases expressing membranous β-catenin (p = 0.04). Although statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.15), cases expressing nuclear β-catenin showed a 5-year disease-free survival rate of 90.9% (SE 0.08) compared with 67.4% (SE 0.08) of cases expressing membranous β-catenin. Univariate Cox analysis revealed that membranous β-catenin expression was found to be associated with a relative risk of death of 33.9 (p = 0.04). The stage of disease (p = 0.0006), histology (p = 0.003), and grading (p = 0.008) were also significantly correlated with disease-free survival according to univariate Cox analyses. Determining β-catenin expression and localization patterns may predict survival in patients with endometrial cancer and, therefore, should be considered a potential prognostic marker of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Masciullo
- Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Susini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Giacomo Corrado
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Stepanova
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program and Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Alessandro Baroni
- Division of Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Renda
- Department of Pathology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | | | - Corrado Minimo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Alfonso Bellacosa
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program and Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Benito Chiofalo
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-5266-2433
| | - Enrico Vizza
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Woman, Child and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
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22
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Boligala GP, Yang MV, van Wunnik JC, Pruitt K. Nuclear Dishevelled: An enigmatic role in governing cell fate and Wnt signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119305. [PMID: 35688346 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Dishevelled gene was first identified in Drosophila mutants with disoriented hair and bristle polarity and subsequent work has now demonstrated its importance in critical and diverse aspects of biology. Since those early discoveries, Dishevelled has been shown to coordinate a plethora of developmental and cellular processes that range from controlling cell polarity during gastrulation to partnering with chromatin modifying enzymes to regulate histone methylation at genomic loci. While the role of DVL in development is well-respected and the cytosolic function of DVL has been studied more extensively, its nuclear role continues to remain murky. In this review we highlight some of the seminal discoveries that have contributed to the field, but the primary focus is to discuss recent advances with respect to the nuclear role of Dishevelled. This nuclear function of Dishevelled is a dimension which is proving to be increasingly important yet remains enigmatic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetha Priya Boligala
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Mingxiao V Yang
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Jenna C van Wunnik
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
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23
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Wang H, Segersvärd H, Siren J, Perttunen S, Immonen K, Kosonen R, Chen YC, Tolva J, Laivuori M, Mäyränpää MI, Kovanen PT, Sinisalo J, Laine M, Tikkanen I, Lakkisto P. Tankyrase Inhibition Attenuates Cardiac Dilatation and Dysfunction in Ischemic Heart Failure. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710059. [PMID: 36077457 PMCID: PMC9456217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperactive poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) promote ischemic heart failure (IHF) after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the role of tankyrases (TNKSs), members of the PARP family, in pathogenesis of IHF remains unknown. We investigated the expression and activation of TNKSs in myocardium of IHF patients and MI rats. We explored the cardioprotective effect of TNKS inhibition in an isoproterenol-induced zebrafish HF model. In IHF patients, we observed elevated TNKS2 and DICER and concomitant upregulation of miR-34a-5p and miR-21-5p in non-infarcted myocardium. In a rat MI model, we found augmented TNKS2 and DICER in the border and infarct areas at the early stage of post-MI. We also observed consistently increased TNKS1 in the border and infarct areas and destabilized AXIN in the infarct area from 4 weeks onward, which in turn triggered Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In an isoproterenol-induced HF zebrafish model, inhibition of TNKS activity with XAV939, a TNKSs-specific inhibitor, protected against ventricular dilatation and cardiac dysfunction and abrogated overactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and dysregulation of miR-34a-5p induced by isoproterenol. Our study unravels a potential role of TNKSs in the pathogenesis of IHF by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and possibly modulating miRNAs and highlights the pharmacotherapeutic potential of TNKS inhibition for prevention of IHF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-504487011
| | - Heli Segersvärd
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juuso Siren
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanni Perttunen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katariina Immonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Kosonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yu-Chia Chen
- Zebrafish Unit, HiLIFE and Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Tolva
- Transplantation Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mirjami Laivuori
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko I. Mäyränpää
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petri T. Kovanen
- Atherosclerosis Research Laboratory, Wihuri Research Institute, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Sinisalo
- Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mika Laine
- Heart and Lung Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Tikkanen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Abdominal Center, Nephrology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Lakkisto
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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24
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Small Molecule Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances and Challenges. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175537. [PMID: 36080304 PMCID: PMC9457820 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
According to data provided by World Health Organization, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of deaths due to cancer worldwide. Tremendous progress has been achieved over the last 10 years developing novel agents for HCC treatment, including small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Several small molecule inhibitors currently form the core of HCC treatment due to their versatility since they would be more easily absorbed and have higher oral bioavailability, thus easier to formulate and administer to patients. In addition, they can be altered structurally to have greater volumes of distribution, allowing them to block extravascular molecular targets and to accumulate in a high concentration in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, they can be designed to have shortened half-lives to control for immune-related adverse events. Most importantly, they would spare patients, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole from the burden of high drug costs. The present review provides an overview of the pharmaceutical compounds that are licensed for HCC treatment and other emerging compounds that are still investigated in preclinical and clinical trials. These molecules are targeting different molecular targets and pathways that are proven to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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25
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Mukherjee S, Luedeke DM, McCoy L, Iwafuchi M, Zorn AM. SOX transcription factors direct TCF-independent WNT/β-catenin responsive transcription to govern cell fate in human pluripotent stem cells. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111247. [PMID: 36001974 PMCID: PMC10123531 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
WNT/β-catenin signaling controls gene expression across biological contexts from development and stem cell homeostasis to diseases including cancer. How β-catenin is recruited to distinct enhancers to activate context-specific transcription is unclear, given that most WNT/ß-catenin-responsive transcription is thought to be mediated by TCF/LEF transcription factors (TFs). With time-resolved multi-omic analyses, we show that SOX TFs can direct lineage-specific WNT-responsive transcription during the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into definitive endoderm and neuromesodermal progenitors. We demonstrate that SOX17 and SOX2 are required to recruit β-catenin to lineage-specific WNT-responsive enhancers, many of which are not occupied by TCFs. At TCF-independent enhancers, SOX TFs establish a permissive chromatin landscape and recruit a WNT-enhanceosome complex to activate SOX/ß-catenin-dependent transcription. Given that SOX TFs and the WNT pathway are critical for specification of most cell types, these results have broad mechanistic implications for the specificity of WNT responses across developmental and disease contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyasi Mukherjee
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - David M Luedeke
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Leslie McCoy
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Makiko Iwafuchi
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aaron M Zorn
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Superresolution microscopy localizes endogenous Dvl2 to Wnt signaling-responsive biomolecular condensates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122476119. [PMID: 35867833 PMCID: PMC9335300 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122476119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling governs cell fate and tissue polarity across species. The Dishevelled proteins are central to Wnt signaling cascades. Wnt-mediated multiprotein complexes such as the “signalosome” and the “destruction complex” have been proposed to represent biomolecular condensates. These nonmembranous, specialized compartments have been suggested to form through liquid–liquid phase separation and ensure correctly proceeding physiological reactions. Although biomolecular condensates have increasingly been studied, key questions remain regarding, for example, their architecture and physiological regulation. Here, superresolution microscopy after endogenous labeling of Dishevelled-2 gives insights into protein functions and Wnt signaling at physiological levels. It reveals the distinct molecular architecture of endogenous Wnt condensates at single-molecule resolution and illustrates close interactions at the centrosome. During organismal development, homeostasis, and disease, Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins act as key signaling factors in beta-catenin–dependent and beta-catenin–independent Wnt pathways. While their importance for signal transmission has been genetically demonstrated in many organisms, our mechanistic understanding is still limited. Previous studies using overexpressed proteins showed Dvl localization to large, punctate-like cytoplasmic structures that are dependent on its DIX domain. To study Dvl’s role in Wnt signaling, we genome engineered an endogenously expressed Dvl2 protein tagged with an mEos3.2 fluorescent protein for superresolution imaging. First, we demonstrate the functionality and specificity of the fusion protein in beta-catenin–dependent and beta-catenin–independent signaling using multiple independent assays. We performed live-cell imaging of Dvl2 to analyze the dynamic formation of the supramolecular cytoplasmic Dvl2_mEos3.2 condensates. While overexpression of Dvl2_mEos3.2 mimics the previously reported formation of abundant large “puncta,” supramolecular condensate formation at physiological protein levels is only observed in a subset of cells with approximately one per cell. We show that, in these condensates, Dvl2 colocalizes with Wnt pathway components at gamma-tubulin and CEP164-positive centrosomal structures and that the localization of Dvl2 to these condensates is Wnt dependent. Single-molecule localization microscopy using photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) of mEos3.2 in combination with DNA-PAINT demonstrates the organization and repetitive patterns of these condensates in a cell cycle–dependent manner. Our results indicate that the localization of Dvl2 in supramolecular condensates is coordinated dynamically and dependent on cell state and Wnt signaling levels. Our study highlights the formation of endogenous and physiologically regulated biomolecular condensates in the Wnt pathways at single-molecule resolution.
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27
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Liquid-liquid phase separation in tumor biology. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:221. [PMID: 35803926 PMCID: PMC9270353 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a novel principle for explaining the precise spatial and temporal regulation in living cells. LLPS compartmentalizes proteins and nucleic acids into micron-scale, liquid-like, membraneless bodies with specific functions, which were recently termed biomolecular condensates. Biomolecular condensates are executors underlying the intracellular spatiotemporal coordination of various biological activities, including chromatin organization, genomic stability, DNA damage response and repair, transcription, and signal transduction. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a key event in the initiation and/or evolution of cancer, and emerging evidence has linked the formation and regulation of LLPS to malignant transformations in tumor biology. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the detailed mechanisms of biomolecular condensate formation and biophysical function and review the recent major advances toward elucidating the multiple mechanisms involved in cancer cell pathology driven by aberrant LLPS. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic perspectives of LLPS in cancer research and the most recently developed drug candidates targeting LLPS modulation that can be used to combat tumorigenesis.
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28
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Mieszczanek J, Strutt H, Rutherford TJ, Strutt D, Bienz M, Gammons MV. Selective function of the PDZ domain of Dishevelled in noncanonical Wnt signalling. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259547. [PMID: 35542970 PMCID: PMC9234668 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dishevelled is a cytoplasmic hub that transduces Wnt signals to cytoplasmic effectors, which can be broadly characterised as canonical (β-catenin dependent) and noncanonical, to specify cell fates and behaviours during development. To transduce canonical Wnt signals, Dishevelled binds to the intracellular face of Frizzled through its DEP domain and polymerises through its DIX domain to assemble dynamic signalosomes. Dishevelled also contains a PDZ domain, whose function remains controversial. Here, we use genome editing to delete the PDZ domain-encoding region from Drosophila dishevelled. Canonical Wingless signalling is entirely normal in these deletion mutants; however, they show defects in multiple contexts controlled by noncanonical Wnt signalling, such as planar polarity. We use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify bona fide PDZ-binding motifs at the C termini of different polarity proteins. Although deletions of these motifs proved aphenotypic in adults, we detected changes in the proximodistal distribution of the polarity protein Flamingo (also known as Starry night) in pupal wings that suggest a modulatory role of these motifs in polarity signalling. We also provide new genetic evidence that planar polarity relies on the DEP-dependent recruitment of Dishevelled to the plasma membrane by Frizzled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliusz Mieszczanek
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Helen Strutt
- University of Sheffield, School of Biosciences,Firth Court,Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Trevor J. Rutherford
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - David Strutt
- University of Sheffield, School of Biosciences,Firth Court,Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Mariann Bienz
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Melissa V. Gammons
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
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29
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Wnt/β-Catenin Signalling and Its Cofactor BCL9L Have an Oncogenic Effect in Bladder Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105319. [PMID: 35628130 PMCID: PMC9141496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is characterised by a high recurrence and progression rate. However, the molecular mechanisms of BC progression remain poorly understood. BCL9L, a coactivator of β-catenin was mutated in the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs). We assessed the influence of UTRs mutations on BCL9L, and the role of BCL9L and Wnt/β-catenin signalling in BC cells. UTR mutations were analysed by a luciferase reporter. BCL9L protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry in BC tissues. Cell proliferation was examined by crystal violet staining and by the spheroid model. Moreover, migration and invasion were analysed in real-time using the xCelligence RTCA system. The A > T mutation at 3′ UTR of BCL9L reduces the luciferase reporter mRNA expression and activity. BCL9L is predominantly increased in dysplastic urothelial cells and muscle-invasive BC. Knockdown of BCL9L and inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signalling significantly repress the proliferation, migration and invasion of Cal29 and T24. In addition, BCL9L knockdown reduces mRNA level of Wnt/β-catenin target genes in Cal29 but not in T24 cells. BCL9L and Wnt/β-catenin signalling play an oncogenic role in bladder cancer cells and seems to be associated with BC progression. Nevertheless, the involvement of BCL9L in Wnt/β-catenin signalling is cell-line specific.
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30
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Franco CN, Noe MM, Albrecht LV. Metabolism and Endocrine Disorders: What Wnt Wrong? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:887037. [PMID: 35600583 PMCID: PMC9120667 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.887037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question in cell biology underlies how nutrients are regenerated to maintain and renew tissues. Physiologically, the canonical Wnt signaling is a vital pathway for cell growth, tissue remodeling, and organ formation; pathologically, Wnt signaling contributes to the development of myriad human diseases such as cancer. Despite being the focus of intense research, how Wnt intersects with the metabolic networks to promote tissue growth and remodeling has remained mysterious. Our understanding of metabolism has been revolutionized by technological advances in the fields of chemical biology, metabolomics, and live microscopy that have now made it possible to visualize and manipulate metabolism in living cells and tissues. The application of these toolsets to innovative model systems have propelled the Wnt field into new realms at the forefront answering the most pressing paradigms of cell metabolism in health and disease states. Elucidating the basis of Wnt signaling and metabolism in a cell-type and tissue-specific manner will provide a powerful base of knowledge for both basic biomedical fields and clinician scientists, and has the promise to generate new, transformative therapies in disease and even processes of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina N. Franco
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - May M. Noe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Lauren V. Albrecht
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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31
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zheng G, Liu Y, Li J, Huang H, Xu C, Zeng Y, Zhang X, Qin J, Dai C, Hambrock HO, Hartmann U, Feng B, Mak KK, Liu Y, Lan HY, Huang Y, Zheng ZH, Xia Y. Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) interacts with Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors to enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in obstructed kidneys in vivo. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102010. [PMID: 35525270 PMCID: PMC9234244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Follistatin (FS)-like 1 (FSTL1) is a member of the FS-SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) family of secreted and extracellular matrix proteins. The functions of FSTL1 have been studied in heart and lung injury as well as in wound healing; however, the role of FSTL1 in the kidney is largely unknown. Here, we show using single-cell RNA-Seq that Fstl1 was enriched in stromal cells in obstructed mouse kidneys. In addition, immunofluorescence demonstrated that FSTL1 expression was induced in fibroblasts during kidney fibrogenesis in mice and human patients. We demonstrate that FSTL1 overexpression increased renal fibrosis and activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, known to promote kidney fibrosis, but not the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), Notch, Hedgehog, or Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathways in obstructed mouse kidneys, whereas inhibition of FSTL1 lowered Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Importantly, we show that FSTL1 interacted with Wnt ligands and the Frizzled (FZD) receptors but not the coreceptor lipoprotein receptor–related protein 6 (LRP6). Specifically, we found FSTL1 interacted with Wnt3a through its extracellular calcium–binding (EC) domain and von Willebrand factor type C–like (VWC) domain, and with FZD4 through its EC domain. Furthermore, we show that FSTL1 increased the association of Wnt3a with FZD4 and promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling and fibrogenesis. The EC domain interacting with both Wnt3a and FZD4 also enhanced Wnt3a signaling. Therefore, we conclude that FSTL1 is a novel extracellular enhancer of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoxun Zheng
- iHuman Institute, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinhong Li
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huihui Huang
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Chunhua Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yelin Zeng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinzhong Qin
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study of Ministry of Education, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunsun Dai
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Harald O Hambrock
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ursula Hartmann
- Center for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kingston Kinglun Mak
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GRMH-GDL), Guangzhou, China
| | - Youhua Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhi-Hua Zheng
- Department of Nephrology, Center of Nephrology and Urology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yin Xia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immune and Genetic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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32
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Hayat R, Manzoor M, Hussain A. Wnt Signaling Pathway: A Comprehensive Review. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:863-877. [PMID: 35297539 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is an evolutionary cell-to-cell coordination mechanism and it is highly critical for a variety of physiological processes of an organism's body, including stem cell regeneration, proliferation, division, migration, polarity of a cell, determining fate of the cell and specification of neural crest, neural symmetry and morphogenesis. Wnts are extracellular secreted glycol proteins, consisted of a family of 19 human proteins that represent the complex nature of the regulatory structure and physiological efficiency of signaling. Moreover, a Wnt/β-catenin-dependent pathway and the β-catenin-independent pathway that is further classified into the Planar Cell Polarity and Wnt/Ca2+ pathways have been established as key signaling nodes downstream of the frizzled (Fz/Fzd) receptor, and these nodes are extensively analyzed at biochemical and molecular levels. Genetic and epigenetic activities that ultimately characterize the pathway and its subsequent responses contribute to Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway hypo or hyper-activation and is associated with the variety of human disorders progression most significantly cancers. Recognizing how this mechanism operates is crucial to the advancement of cancer prevention therapies or regenerative medicine methods. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Hayat
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean university of China, Qingdao
| | - Maleeha Manzoor
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad
| | - Ali Hussain
- Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
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33
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Lebensohn AM, Bazan JF, Rohatgi R. Receptor control by membrane-tethered ubiquitin ligases in development and tissue homeostasis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 150:25-89. [PMID: 35817504 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Paracrine cell-cell communication is central to all developmental processes, ranging from cell diversification to patterning and morphogenesis. Precise calibration of signaling strength is essential for the fidelity of tissue formation during embryogenesis and tissue maintenance in adults. Membrane-tethered ubiquitin ligases can control the sensitivity of target cells to secreted ligands by regulating the abundance of signaling receptors at the cell surface. We discuss two examples of this emerging concept in signaling: (1) the transmembrane ubiquitin ligases ZNRF3 and RNF43 that regulate WNT and bone morphogenetic protein receptor abundance in response to R-spondin ligands and (2) the membrane-recruited ubiquitin ligase MGRN1 that controls Hedgehog and melanocortin receptor abundance. We focus on the mechanistic logic of these systems, illustrated by structural and protein interaction models enabled by AlphaFold. We suggest that membrane-tethered ubiquitin ligases play a widespread role in remodeling the cell surface proteome to control responses to extracellular ligands in diverse biological processes.
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Dietrich B, Haider S, Meinhardt G, Pollheimer J, Knöfler M. WNT and NOTCH signaling in human trophoblast development and differentiation. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:292. [PMID: 35562545 PMCID: PMC9106601 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04285-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Correct development of the human placenta and its differentiated epithelial cells, syncytial trophoblasts (STBs) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), is crucial for a successful pregnancy outcome. STBs develop by cell fusion of mononuclear cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) in placental floating villi, whereas migratory EVTs originate from specialized villi anchoring to the maternal decidua. Defects in trophoblast differentiation have been associated with severe pregnancy disorders such as early-onset preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. However, the evolutionary pathways underlying normal and adverse placentation are poorly understood. Herein, we discuss Wingless (WNT) and NOTCH signaling, two pathways that play pivotal roles in human placenta and trophoblast development. Whereas WNT is necessary for expansion of trophoblast progenitors and stem cells, NOTCH1 is required for proliferation and survival of EVT precursors. Differentiation of the latter is orchestrated by a switch in NOTCH receptor expression as well as by changes in WNT ligands and their downstream effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Dietrich
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Placental Development Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 5Q, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandra Haider
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Placental Development Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 5Q, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gudrun Meinhardt
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Placental Development Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 5Q, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Pollheimer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Maternal-Fetal Immunology Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 5Q, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Knöfler
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Placental Development Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Biology Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 5Q, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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35
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Ettensohn CA. Embryonic polarity: Focusing on Dishevelled. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R1582-R1585. [PMID: 34932969 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The early polarity of animal embryos is typically established by molecules that are asymmetrically localized in the oocyte. A new study reveals that the Wnt signaling effector Dishevelled, an evolutionarily conserved, maternal regulator of embryonic polarity, is dynamically redistributed during oogenesis in a process regulated by the cell cycle and by the Wnt receptor Frizzled 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Ettensohn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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36
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Wu YFO, Bryant AT, Nelson NT, Madey AG, Fernandes GF, Goodson HV. Overexpression of the microtubule-binding protein CLIP-170 induces a +TIP network superstructure consistent with a biomolecular condensate. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260401. [PMID: 34890409 PMCID: PMC8664194 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper regulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics is critical for cellular processes including cell division and intracellular transport. Plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) dynamically track growing MTs and play a key role in MT regulation. +TIPs participate in a complex web of intra- and inter- molecular interactions known as the +TIP network. Hypotheses addressing the purpose of +TIP:+TIP interactions include relieving +TIP autoinhibition and localizing MT regulators to growing MT ends. In addition, we have proposed that the web of +TIP:+TIP interactions has a physical purpose: creating a dynamic scaffold that constrains the structural fluctuations of the fragile MT tip and thus acts as a polymerization chaperone. Here we examine the possibility that this proposed scaffold is a biomolecular condensate (i.e., liquid droplet). Many animal +TIP network proteins are multivalent and have intrinsically disordered regions, features commonly found in biomolecular condensates. Moreover, previous studies have shown that overexpression of the +TIP CLIP-170 induces large “patch” structures containing CLIP-170 and other +TIPs; we hypothesized that these structures might be biomolecular condensates. To test this hypothesis, we used video microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP). Our data show that the CLIP-170-induced patches have hallmarks indicative of a biomolecular condensate, one that contains +TIP proteins and excludes other known condensate markers. Moreover, bioinformatic studies demonstrate that the presence of intrinsically disordered regions is conserved in key +TIPs, implying that these regions are functionally significant. Together, these results indicate that the CLIP-170 induced patches in cells are phase-separated liquid condensates and raise the possibility that the endogenous +TIP network might form a liquid droplet at MT ends or other +TIP locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueh-Fu O. Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Annamarie T. Bryant
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Nora T. Nelson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Alexander G. Madey
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Gail F. Fernandes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Holly V. Goodson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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37
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Marcetteau J, Matusek T, Luton F, Thérond PP. Arf6 is necessary for senseless expression in response to wingless signalling during Drosophila wing development. Biol Open 2021; 10:273443. [PMID: 34779478 PMCID: PMC8656404 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling is a core pathway involved in a wide range of developmental processes throughout the metazoa. In vitro studies have suggested that the small GTP binding protein Arf6 regulates upstream steps of Wnt transduction, by promoting the phosphorylation of the Wnt co-receptor, LRP6, and the release of β-catenin from the adherens junctions. To assess the relevance of these previous findings in vivo, we analysed the consequence of the absence of Arf6 activity on Drosophila wing patterning, a developmental model of Wnt/Wingless signalling. We observed a dominant loss of wing margin bristles and Senseless expression in Arf6 mutant flies, phenotypes characteristic of a defect in high level Wingless signalling. In contrast to previous findings, we show that Arf6 is required downstream of Armadillo/β-catenin stabilisation in Wingless signal transduction. Our data suggest that Arf6 modulates the activity of a downstream nuclear regulator of Pangolin activity in order to control the induction of high level Wingless signalling. Our findings represent a novel regulatory role for Arf6 in Wingless signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Marcetteau
- Université Côte d'Azur; UMR7277 CNRS; Inserm 1091; Institut de Biologie de Valrose (iBV); Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice cedex 2, Nice, France
| | - Tamàs Matusek
- Université Côte d'Azur; UMR7277 CNRS; Inserm 1091; Institut de Biologie de Valrose (iBV); Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice cedex 2, Nice, France
| | - Frédéric Luton
- Université Côte d'Azur; UMR7275 CNRS; Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Pascal P Thérond
- Université Côte d'Azur; UMR7277 CNRS; Inserm 1091; Institut de Biologie de Valrose (iBV); Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice cedex 2, Nice, France
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38
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Su Q, Mehta S, Zhang J. Liquid-liquid phase separation: Orchestrating cell signaling through time and space. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4137-4146. [PMID: 34619090 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell signaling is a complex process. The faithful transduction of information into specific cellular actions depends on the synergistic effects of many regulatory molecules, nurtured by their strict spatiotemporal regulation. Over the years, we have gained copious insights into the subcellular architecture supporting this spatiotemporal control, including the roles of membrane-bound organelles and various signaling nanodomains. Recently, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has been recognized as another potentially ubiquitous framework for organizing signaling molecules with high specificity and precise spatiotemporal control in cells. Here, we review the pervasive role of LLPS in signal transduction, highlighting several key pathways that intersect with LLPS, including examples in which LLPS is controlled by signaling events. We also examine how LLPS orchestrates signaling by compartmentalizing signaling molecules, amplifying signals non-linearly, and moderating signaling dynamics. We focus on the specific molecules that drive LLPS and highlight the known functional and pathological consequences of LLPS in each pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Su
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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39
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Sharma M, Castro-Piedras I, Rodgers AD, Pruitt K. Genomic profiling of DVL-1 and its nuclear role as a transcriptional regulator in triple negative breast cancer. Genes Cancer 2021; 12:77-95. [PMID: 34659647 PMCID: PMC8513712 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dishevelled-1 (DVL-1) mediates Wnt signals critical for development and cellular homeostasis. DVL-1 is also linked with tumorigenesis, however its association with specific breast cancer (BC) subtypes and how it contributes to tumorigenicity remains poorly studied. Herein, using bioinformatics and genomics analyses, we investigate the role of DVL-1 in different molecular subtypes of BC. Our results demonstrate that DVL-1 is highly expressed in triple-negative BC compared to non-cancer tissues and associated with various clinical factors that may contribute to poor prognosis and survival rate. Another critical knowledge gap which remains poorly investigated involves the role of DVL-1 in the nucleus. While the cytoplasmic role of DVL-1 as a signaling hub has been extensively studied, the nuclear role of DVL-1 remains virtually unexplored. Herein for the first time, we have performed ChIP-Seq analyses to identify genomic regions targeted and regulated by DVL-1, thus highlighting its potential role as a regulator of transcription. Furthermore, we observed that DVL-1 peaks co-localize with H3K27me3 and EZH2, a repressive epigenetic mark and a histone methyltransferase respectively. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of DVL-1 with TNBC-related pathology and identified unexpected gene targets of DVL-1, that may help explain the complexity of aberrant Wnt signaling in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Sharma
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Isabel Castro-Piedras
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Austin Dwight Rodgers
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
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40
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Hu J, Wang Z, Chen J, Yu Z, Zhang J, Li W, Lin M, Yang X, Liu H. Overexpression of ICAT Inhibits the Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Binding with β-Catenin in the Cytoplasm. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2021; 20:15330338211041253. [PMID: 34569368 PMCID: PMC8485569 DOI: 10.1177/15330338211041253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitor of β-catenin and T-cell factor (ICAT) was first found as a polypeptide that blocks β-catenin–TCF interaction. Abundant evidence has shown that ICAT has different functions in diverse cancers’ progression. Nevertheless, the roles it plays in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been described. Here, we documented that ICAT expression was higher in CRC tissue than in the adjacent normal tissue and that prognosis was better in high-ICAT expression patients. The overexpression of ICAT inhibited CRC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Wnt pathway transcriptional activity was suppressed in the CRC cells with ICAT overexpression, where the CCND1 and MYC expression, which occurs downstream of the Wnt signaling pathway, was inhibited. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that ICAT bound with β-catenin in stable overexpression cell lines; immunofluorescence showed the co-localization of ICAT and β-catenin in the cytoplasm. Overall, our study reveals that ICAT inhibits CRC cell proliferation by binding to cytoplasm-located β-catenin, and prevents its translocation, which results in Wnt signaling pathway inactivation. It may provide a scientific foundation for focusing on ICAT in treatments for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancong Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junxiong Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaoliang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingdan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiqian Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengmeng Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangling Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huanliang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Huanliang Liu, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 26 Yuancun Erheng Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 26 Yuancun Erheng Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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41
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Nong J, Kang K, Shi Q, Zhu X, Tao Q, Chen YG. Phase separation of Axin organizes the β-catenin destruction complex. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:211840. [PMID: 33651074 PMCID: PMC7931644 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202012112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the β-catenin protein level is deliberately controlled by the assembly of the multiprotein β-catenin destruction complex composed of Axin, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), casein kinase 1α (CK1α), and others. Here we provide compelling evidence that formation of the destruction complex is driven by protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Axin. An intrinsically disordered region in Axin plays an important role in driving its LLPS. Phase-separated Axin provides a scaffold for recruiting GSK3β, CK1α, and β-catenin. APC also undergoes LLPS in vitro and enhances the size and dynamics of Axin phase droplets. The LLPS-driven assembly of the destruction complex facilitates β-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3β and is critical for the regulation of β-catenin protein stability and thus Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxiu Nong
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Kang
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoni Shi
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuechen Zhu
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghua Tao
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,The Max-Planck Center for Tissue Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
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42
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Sompel K, Elango A, Smith AJ, Tennis MA. Cancer chemoprevention through Frizzled receptors and EMT. Discov Oncol 2021; 12:32. [PMID: 34604862 PMCID: PMC8429367 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-021-00429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled (FZD) transmembrane receptors are well known for their role in β-catenin signaling and development and now understanding of their role in the context of cancer is growing. FZDs are often associated with the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) through β-catenin, but some also influence EMT through non-canonical pathways. With ten different FZDs, there is a wide range of activity from oncogenic to tumor suppressive depending on the tissue context. Alterations in FZD signaling can occur during development of premalignant lesions, supporting their potential as targets of chemoprevention agents. Agonizing or antagonizing FZD activity may affect EMT, which is a key process in lesion progression often targeted by chemoprevention agents. Recent studies identified a specific FZD as important for activity of an EMT inhibiting chemopreventive agent and other studies have highlighted the previously unrecognized potential for targeting small molecules to FZD receptors. This work demonstrates the value of investigating FZDs in chemoprevention and here we provide a review of FZDs in cancer EMT and their potential as chemoprevention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Sompel
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - A. Elango
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - A. J. Smith
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - M. A. Tennis
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19th AVE, RC2 Box C272, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
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43
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Shi Q, Chen YG. Regulation of Dishevelled protein activity and stability by post-translational modifications and autophagy. Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 46:1003-1016. [PMID: 34433516 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
As a key component of Wnt signaling, Dishevelled (Dvl/Dsh) plays essential roles in development processes and adult tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms, and its deregulation results in human development disorders and other diseases. Dvl integrates and relays complex Wnt signals by acting as a branch-point of β-catenin-dependent canonical and β-catenin-independent noncanonical pathways. It dynamically interacts with multiple proteins to modulate Wnt signaling, while its activity and stability are tightly controlled by other proteins. This Review summarizes the current understanding of regulation of Dvl activity, localization, and stability by post-translational modifications, aggregation, and autophagy, and the impacts on Dvl function in both Wnt signaling and biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoni Shi
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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44
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Telias M, Ben-Yosef D. Pharmacological Manipulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Human Neural Precursor Cells Alters Their Differentiation Potential and Neuronal Yield. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:680018. [PMID: 34421534 PMCID: PMC8371257 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.680018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a master-regulator of cell fate during embryonic and adult neurogenesis and is therefore a major pharmacological target in basic and clinical research. Chemical manipulation of Wnt signaling during in vitro neuronal differentiation of stem cells can alter both the quantity and the quality of the derived neurons. Accordingly, the use of Wnt activators and blockers has become an integral part of differentiation protocols applied to stem cells in recent years. Here, we investigated the effects of the glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitor CHIR99021, which upregulates β-catenin agonizing Wnt; and the tankyrase-1/2 inhibitor XAV939, which downregulates β-catenin antagonizing Wnt. Both drugs and their potential neurogenic and anti-neurogenic effects were studied using stable lines human neural precursor cells (hNPCs), derived from embryonic stem cells, which can be induced to generate mature neurons by chemically-defined conditions. We found that Wnt-agonism by CHIR99021 promotes induction of neural differentiation, while also reducing cell proliferation and survival. This effect was not synergistic with those of pro-neural growth factors during long-term neuronal differentiation. Conversely, antagonism of Wnt by XAV939 consistently prevented neuronal progression of hNPCs. We show here how these two drugs can be used to manipulate cell fate and how self-renewing hNPCs can be used as reliable human in vitro drug-screening platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Telias
- Wolfe PGD-SC Lab, Racine IVF Unit, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dalit Ben-Yosef
- Wolfe PGD-SC Lab, Racine IVF Unit, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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45
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Shi Q, Kang K, Chen YG. Liquid-liquid phase separation drives the β-catenin destruction complex formation. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100138. [PMID: 34418117 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular multiprotein complex β-catenin destruction complex plays a key role in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Wnt stimulation induces the assembly of the receptor-associated signalosome and the inactivation of the destruction complex, leading to β-catenin accumulation and transcriptional activation of the target genes. The core components of the destruction complex include Axin, APC, GSK3β, CK1α and other proteins. Recent studies demonstrated that Axin and APC undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which is critical for their function to regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Here, we discuss the possible roles of LLPS in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and regulation of Axin LLPS by post-translational modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoni Shi
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Kang
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Ranes M, Zaleska M, Sakalas S, Knight R, Guettler S. Reconstitution of the destruction complex defines roles of AXIN polymers and APC in β-catenin capture, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation. Mol Cell 2021; 81:3246-3261.e11. [PMID: 34352208 PMCID: PMC8403986 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a highly conserved, frequently mutated developmental and cancer pathway. Its output is defined mainly by β-catenin's phosphorylation- and ubiquitylation-dependent proteasomal degradation, initiated by the multi-protein β-catenin destruction complex. The precise mechanisms underlying destruction complex function have remained unknown, largely because of the lack of suitable in vitro systems. Here we describe the in vitro reconstitution of an active human β-catenin destruction complex from purified components, recapitulating complex assembly, β-catenin modification, and degradation. We reveal that AXIN1 polymerization and APC promote β-catenin capture, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation. APC facilitates β-catenin's flux through the complex by limiting ubiquitylation processivity and directly interacts with the SCFβ-TrCP E3 ligase complex in a β-TrCP-dependent manner. Oncogenic APC truncation variants, although part of the complex, are functionally impaired. Nonetheless, even the most severely truncated APC variant promotes β-catenin recruitment. These findings exemplify the power of biochemical reconstitution to interrogate the molecular mechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ranes
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK; Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Mariola Zaleska
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK; Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Saira Sakalas
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK; Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Ruth Knight
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Sebastian Guettler
- Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK; Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK.
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Abstract
Wnt signaling has multiple functions beyond the transcriptional effects of β-catenin stabilization. We review recent investigations that uncover new cell physiological effects through the regulation of Wnt receptor endocytosis, Wnt-induced stabilization of proteins (Wnt-STOP), macropinocytosis, increase in lysosomal activity, and metabolic changes. Many of these growth-promoting effects of canonical Wnt occur within minutes and are independent of new protein synthesis. A key element is the sequestration of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inside multivesicular bodies and lysosomes. Twenty percent of human proteins contain consecutive GSK3 phosphorylation motifs, which in the absence of Wnt can form phosphodegrons for polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Wnt signaling by either the pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 or the loss of tumor-suppressor proteins, such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and Axin1, increases lysosomal acidification, anabolic metabolites, and macropinocytosis, which is normally repressed by the GSK3-Axin1-APC destruction complex. The combination of these cell physiological effects drives cell growth. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, Volume 37 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren V Albrecht
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1662, USA;
| | - Nydia Tejeda-Muñoz
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1662, USA;
| | - Edward M De Robertis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1662, USA;
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48
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Guillermin O, Angelis N, Sidor CM, Ridgway R, Baulies A, Kucharska A, Antas P, Rose MR, Cordero J, Sansom O, Li VSW, Thompson BJ. Wnt and Src signals converge on YAP-TEAD to drive intestinal regeneration. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105770. [PMID: 33950519 PMCID: PMC8246259 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling induces a gradient of stem/progenitor cell proliferation along the crypt-villus axis of the intestine, which becomes expanded during intestinal regeneration or tumour formation. The YAP transcriptional co-activator is known to be required for intestinal regeneration, but its mode of regulation remains controversial. Here we show that the YAP-TEAD transcription factor is a key downstream effector of Wnt signalling in the intestine. Loss of YAP activity by Yap/Taz conditional knockout results in sensitivity of crypt stem cells to apoptosis and reduced cell proliferation during regeneration. Gain of YAP activity by Lats1/2 conditional knockout is sufficient to drive a crypt hyperproliferation response. In particular, Wnt signalling acts transcriptionally to induce YAP and TEAD1/2/4 expression. YAP normally localises to the nucleus only in crypt base stem cells, but becomes nuclear in most intestinal epithelial cells during intestinal regeneration after irradiation, or during organoid growth, in a Src family kinase-dependent manner. YAP-driven crypt expansion during regeneration involves an elongation and flattening of the Wnt signalling gradient. Thus, Wnt and Src-YAP signals cooperate to drive intestinal regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriane Guillermin
- Epithelial Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Nikolaos Angelis
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Clara M Sidor
- Epithelial Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Rachel Ridgway
- Colorectal Cancer and Wnt signalling LaboratoryCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Anna Baulies
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Anna Kucharska
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Pedro Antas
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Melissa R Rose
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Julia Cordero
- Institute of Cancer SciencesWolfson Wohl Cancer Research CentreBearsdenUK
| | - Owen Sansom
- Colorectal Cancer and Wnt signalling LaboratoryCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Vivian S W Li
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Barry J Thompson
- Epithelial Biology LaboratoryFrancis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- EMBL Australia ACRF Department of Cancer Biology & TherapeuticsJohn Curtin School of Medical ResearchThe Australian National UniversityActonACTAustralia
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49
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de Man SMA, Zwanenburg G, van der Wal T, Hink MA, van Amerongen R. Quantitative live-cell imaging and computational modeling shed new light on endogenous WNT/CTNNB1 signaling dynamics. eLife 2021; 10:e66440. [PMID: 34190040 PMCID: PMC8341982 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT/CTNNB1 signaling regulates tissue development and homeostasis in all multicellular animals, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains incompletely understood. Specifically, quantitative insight into endogenous protein behavior is missing. Here, we combine CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and quantitative live-cell microscopy to measure the dynamics, diffusion characteristics and absolute concentrations of fluorescently tagged, endogenous CTNNB1 in human cells under both physiological and oncogenic conditions. State-of-the-art imaging reveals that a substantial fraction of CTNNB1 resides in slow-diffusing cytoplasmic complexes, irrespective of the activation status of the pathway. This cytoplasmic CTNNB1 complex undergoes a major reduction in size when WNT/CTNNB1 is (hyper)activated. Based on our biophysical measurements, we build a computational model of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling. Our integrated experimental and computational approach reveals that WNT pathway activation regulates the dynamic distribution of free and complexed CTNNB1 across different subcellular compartments through three regulatory nodes: the destruction complex, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, and nuclear retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia MA de Man
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Gooitzen Zwanenburg
- Biosystems Data Analysis, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Tanne van der Wal
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Mark A Hink
- Molecular Cytology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- van Leeuwenhoek Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Renée van Amerongen
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
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50
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Beitia GJ, Rutherford TJ, Freund SMV, Pelham HR, Bienz M, Gammons MV. Regulation of Dishevelled DEP domain swapping by conserved phosphorylation sites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2103258118. [PMID: 34155117 PMCID: PMC8256032 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103258118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signals bind to Frizzled receptors to trigger canonical and noncanonical signaling responses that control cell fates during animal development and tissue homeostasis. All Wnt signals are relayed by the hub protein Dishevelled. During canonical (β-catenin-dependent) signaling, Dishevelled assembles signalosomes via dynamic head-to-tail polymerization of its Dishevelled and Axin (DIX) domain, which are cross-linked by its Dishevelled, Egl-10, and Pleckstrin (DEP) domain through a conformational switch from monomer to domain-swapped dimer. The domain-swapped conformation of DEP masks the site through which Dishevelled binds to Frizzled, implying that DEP domain swapping results in the detachment of Dishevelled from Frizzled. This would be incompatible with noncanonical Wnt signaling, which relies on long-term association between Dishevelled and Frizzled. It is therefore likely that DEP domain swapping is differentially regulated during canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling. Here, we use NMR spectroscopy and cell-based assays to uncover intermolecular contacts in the DEP dimer that are essential for its stability and for Dishevelled function in relaying canonical Wnt signals. These contacts are mediated by an intrinsically structured sequence spanning a conserved phosphorylation site upstream of the DEP domain that serves to clamp down the swapped N-terminal α-helix onto the structural core of a reciprocal DEP molecule in the domain-swapped configuration. Mutations of this phosphorylation site and its cognate surface on the reciprocal DEP core attenuate DEP-dependent dimerization of Dishevelled and its canonical signaling activity in cells without impeding its binding to Frizzled. We propose that phosphorylation of this crucial residue could be employed to switch off canonical Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo J Beitia
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Trevor J Rutherford
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan M V Freund
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Hugh R Pelham
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Mariann Bienz
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa V Gammons
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
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