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Cavalleri E, Cabri A, Soto-Gomez M, Bonfitto S, Perlasca P, Gliozzo J, Callahan TJ, Reese J, Robinson PN, Casiraghi E, Valentini G, Mesiti M. An ontology-based knowledge graph for representing interactions involving RNA molecules. Sci Data 2024; 11:906. [PMID: 39174566 PMCID: PMC11341713 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03673-7] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The "RNA world" represents a novel frontier for the study of fundamental biological processes and human diseases and is paving the way for the development of new drugs tailored to each patient's biomolecular characteristics. Although scientific data about coding and non-coding RNA molecules are constantly produced and available from public repositories, they are scattered across different databases and a centralized, uniform, and semantically consistent representation of the "RNA world" is still lacking. We propose RNA-KG, a knowledge graph (KG) encompassing biological knowledge about RNAs gathered from more than 60 public databases, integrating functional relationships with genes, proteins, and chemicals and ontologically grounded biomedical concepts. To develop RNA-KG, we first identified, pre-processed, and characterized each data source; next, we built a meta-graph that provides an ontological description of the KG by representing all the bio-molecular entities and medical concepts of interest in this domain, as well as the types of interactions connecting them. Finally, we leveraged an instance-based semantically abstracted knowledge model to specify the ontological alignment according to which RNA-KG was generated. RNA-KG can be downloaded in different formats and also queried by a SPARQL endpoint. A thorough topological analysis of the resulting heterogeneous graph provides further insights into the characteristics of the "RNA world". RNA-KG can be both directly explored and visualized, and/or analyzed by applying computational methods to infer bio-medical knowledge from its heterogeneous nodes and edges. The resource can be easily updated with new experimental data, and specific views of the overall KG can be extracted according to the bio-medical problem to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Cavalleri
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Alberto Cabri
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Mauricio Soto-Gomez
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Sara Bonfitto
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Paolo Perlasca
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Jessica Gliozzo
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Tiffany J Callahan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Justin Reese
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Peter N Robinson
- Berlin Institute of Health - Charité, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, 13353, Germany
- ELLIS, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, Munich, Germany
| | - Elena Casiraghi
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- ELLIS, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, Munich, Germany
| | - Giorgio Valentini
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
- ELLIS, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, Munich, Germany
| | - Marco Mesiti
- AnacletoLab, Computer Science Department, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy.
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Yellamaty R, Sharma S. Critical Cellular Functions and Mechanisms of Action of the RNA Helicase UAP56. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168604. [PMID: 38729260 PMCID: PMC11168752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168604] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional maturation and export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm are essential steps in the normal processing of many cellular RNAs. The RNA helicase UAP56 (U2AF associated protein 56; also known as DDX39B) has emerged as a critical player in facilitating and co-transcriptionally linking these steps. Originally identified as a helicase involved in pre-mRNA splicing, UAP56 has been shown to facilitate formation of the A complex during spliceosome assembly. Additionally, it has been found to be critical for interactions between components of the exon junction and transcription and export complexes to promote the loading of export receptors. Although it appears to be structurally similar to other helicase superfamily 2 members, UAP56's ability to interact with multiple different protein partners allows it to perform its various cellular functions. Herein, we describe the structure-activity relationship studies that identified protein interactions of UAP56 and its human paralog URH49 (UAP56-related helicase 49; also known as DDX39A) and are beginning to reveal molecular mechanisms by which interacting proteins and substrate RNAs may regulate these helicases. We also provide an overview of reports that have demonstrated less well-characterized roles for UAP56, including R-loop resolution and telomere maintenance. Finally, we discuss studies that indicate a potential pathogenic effect of UAP56 in the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer, and identify the association of somatic and genetic mutations in UAP56 with neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Yellamaty
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Shalini Sharma
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.
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3
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Riabov Bassat D, Visanpattanasin S, Vorländer MK, Fin L, Phillips AW, Plaschka C. Structural basis of human U5 snRNP late biogenesis and recycling. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:747-751. [PMID: 38467876 PMCID: PMC7616108 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01243-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing by the spliceosome requires the biogenesis and recycling of its small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complexes, which are consumed in each round of splicing. The human U5 snRNP is the ~1 MDa 'heart' of the spliceosome and is recycled through an unknown mechanism involving major architectural rearrangements and the dedicated chaperones CD2BP2 and TSSC4. Late steps in U5 snRNP biogenesis similarly involve these chaperones. Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of four human U5 snRNP-CD2BP2-TSSC4 complexes, revealing how a series of molecular events primes the U5 snRNP to generate the ~2 MDa U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, the largest building block of the spliceosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Riabov Bassat
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Laura Fin
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander W Phillips
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Plaschka
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
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Miskin RP, DiPersio CM. Roles for epithelial integrin α3β1 in regulation of the microenvironment during normal and pathological tissue remodeling. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C1308-C1319. [PMID: 38497112 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00128.2024] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Integrin receptors for the extracellular matrix activate intracellular signaling pathways that are critical for tissue development, homeostasis, and regeneration/repair, and their loss or dysregulation contributes to many developmental defects and tissue pathologies. This review will focus on tissue remodeling roles for integrin α3β1, a receptor for laminins found in the basement membranes (BMs) that underlie epithelial cell layers. As a paradigm, we will discuss literature that supports a role for α3β1 in promoting ability of epidermal keratinocytes to modify their tissue microenvironment during skin development, wound healing, or tumorigenesis. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that this role depends largely on ability of α3β1 to govern the keratinocyte's repertoire of secreted proteins, or the "secretome," including 1) matrix proteins and proteases involved in matrix remodeling and 2) paracrine-acting growth factors/cytokines that stimulate other cells with important tissue remodeling functions (e.g., endothelial cells, fibroblasts, inflammatory cells). Moreover, α3β1 signaling controls gene expression that helps epithelial cells carry out these functions, including genes that encode secreted matrix proteins, proteases, growth factors, or cytokines. We will review what is known about α3β1-dependent gene regulation through both transcription and posttranscriptional mRNA stability. Regarding the latter, we will discuss examples of α3β1-dependent alternative splicing (AS) or alternative polyadenylation (APA) that prevents inclusion of cis-acting mRNA sequences that would otherwise target the transcript for degradation via nonsense-mediated decay or destabilizing AU-rich elements (AREs) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Finally, we will discuss prospects and anticipated challenges of exploiting α3β1 as a clinical target for the treatment of cancer or wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Michael DiPersio
- Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, United States
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Akter M, Cui H, Hosain MA, Liu J, Duan Y, Ding B. RANBP17 Overexpression Restores Nucleocytoplasmic Transport and Ameliorates Neurodevelopment in Induced DYT1 Dystonia Motor Neurons. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1728232024. [PMID: 38438257 PMCID: PMC11007476 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1728-23.2024] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
DYT1 dystonia is a debilitating neurological movement disorder, and it represents the most frequent and severe form of hereditary primary dystonia. There is currently no cure for this disease due to its unclear pathogenesis. In our previous study utilizing patient-specific motor neurons (MNs), we identified distinct cellular deficits associated with the disease, including a deformed nucleus, disrupted neurodevelopment, and compromised nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) functions. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular impairments have remained elusive. In this study, we revealed the genome-wide changes in gene expression in DYT1 MNs through transcriptomic analysis. We found that those dysregulated genes are intricately involved in neurodevelopment and various biological processes. Interestingly, we identified that the expression level of RANBP17, a RAN-binding protein crucial for NCT regulation, exhibited a significant reduction in DYT1 MNs. By manipulating RANBP17 expression, we further demonstrated that RANBP17 plays an important role in facilitating the nuclear transport of both protein and transcript cargos in induced human neurons. Excitingly, the overexpression of RANBP17 emerged as a substantial mitigating factor, effectively restoring impaired NCT activity and rescuing neurodevelopmental deficits observed in DYT1 MNs. These findings shed light on the intricate molecular underpinnings of impaired NCT in DYT1 neurons and provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of DYT1 dystonia, potentially leading to the development of innovative treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuma Akter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
| | - Haochen Cui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
| | - Md Abir Hosain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
| | - Jinmei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
| | - Yuntian Duan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
| | - Baojin Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932
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Beck M, Covino R, Hänelt I, Müller-McNicoll M. Understanding the cell: Future views of structural biology. Cell 2024; 187:545-562. [PMID: 38306981 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.017] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Determining the structure and mechanisms of all individual functional modules of cells at high molecular detail has often been seen as equal to understanding how cells work. Recent technical advances have led to a flush of high-resolution structures of various macromolecular machines, but despite this wealth of detailed information, our understanding of cellular function remains incomplete. Here, we discuss present-day limitations of structural biology and highlight novel technologies that may enable us to analyze molecular functions directly inside cells. We predict that the progression toward structural cell biology will involve a shift toward conceptualizing a 4D virtual reality of cells using digital twins. These will capture cellular segments in a highly enriched molecular detail, include dynamic changes, and facilitate simulations of molecular processes, leading to novel and experimentally testable predictions. Transferring biological questions into algorithms that learn from the existing wealth of data and explore novel solutions may ultimately unveil how cells work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Beck
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Roberto Covino
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Inga Hänelt
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Cheng J, Li G, Wang W, Stovall DB, Sui G, Li D. Circular RNAs with protein-coding ability in oncogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188909. [PMID: 37172651 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
As ubiquitously expressed transcripts in eukaryotes, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed and lack a 5'-cap and 3'-polyadenylation (poly (A)) tail. Initially, circRNAs were considered non-coding RNA (ncRNA), and their roles as sponging molecules to adsorb microRNAs have been extensively reported. However, in recent years, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that circRNAs could encode functional polypeptides through the initiation of translation mediated by internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) or N6-methyladenosine (m6A). In this review, we collectively discuss the biogenesis, cognate mRNA products, regulatory mechanisms, aberrant expression and biological phenotypes or clinical relevance of all currently reported, cancer-relevant protein-coding circRNAs. Overall, we provide a comprehensive overview of circRNA-encoded proteins and their physiological and pathological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Cheng
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Guangyue Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Wenmeng Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Daniel B Stovall
- College of Arts and Sciences, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733, United States
| | - Guangchao Sui
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Dangdang Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
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Patil SS, Panchal V, Røstbø T, Romanyuk S, Hollås H, Brenk R, Grindheim AK, Vedeler A. RNA-binding is an ancient trait of the Annexin family. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1161588. [PMID: 37397259 PMCID: PMC10311354 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1161588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The regulation of intracellular functions in mammalian cells involves close coordination of cellular processes. During recent years it has become evident that the sorting, trafficking and distribution of transport vesicles and mRNA granules/complexes are closely coordinated to ensure effective simultaneous handling of all components required for a specific function, thereby minimizing the use of cellular energy. Identification of proteins acting at the crossroads of such coordinated transport events will ultimately provide mechanistic details of the processes. Annexins are multifunctional proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes associated with Ca2+-regulation and lipid binding, linked to the operation of both the endocytic and exocytic pathways. Furthermore, certain Annexins have been implicated in the regulation of mRNA transport and translation. Since Annexin A2 binds specific mRNAs via its core structure and is also present in mRNP complexes, we speculated whether direct association with RNA could be a common property of the mammalian Annexin family sharing a highly similar core structure. Methods and results: Therefore, we performed spot blot and UV-crosslinking experiments to assess the mRNA binding abilities of the different Annexins, using annexin A2 and c-myc 3'UTRs as well as c-myc 5'UTR as baits. We supplemented the data with immunoblot detection of selected Annexins in mRNP complexes derived from the neuroendocrine rat PC12 cells. Furthermore, biolayer interferometry was used to determine the KD of selected Annexin-RNA interactions, which indicated distinct affinities. Amongst these Annexins, Annexin A13 and the core structures of Annexin A7, Annexin A11 bind c-myc 3'UTR with KDs in the nanomolar range. Of the selected Annexins, only Annexin A2 binds the c-myc 5'UTR indicating some selectivity. Discussion: The oldest members of the mammalian Annexin family share the ability to associate with RNA, suggesting that RNA-binding is an ancient trait of this protein family. Thus, the combined RNA- and lipid-binding properties of the Annexins make them attractive candidates to participate in coordinated long-distance transport of membrane vesicles and mRNAs regulated by Ca2+. The present screening results can thus pave the way for studies of the multifunctional Annexins in a novel cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudarshan S. Patil
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Vipul Panchal
- Biorecognition Unit, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Trude Røstbø
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sofya Romanyuk
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hanne Hollås
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ruth Brenk
- Biorecognition Unit, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ann Kari Grindheim
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anni Vedeler
- Neurotargeting Group, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Wen X, Yang Q, Sun D, Jiang ZY, Wang T, Liu HR, Han Z, Wang L, Liang CG. Cumulus Cells Accelerate Postovulatory Oocyte Aging through IL1-IL1R1 Interaction in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043530. [PMID: 36834943 PMCID: PMC9959314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The oocytes of female mammals will undergo aging after ovulation, also known as postovulatory oocyte aging (POA). Until now, the mechanisms of POA have not been fully understood. Although studies have shown that cumulus cells accelerate POA over time, the exact relationship between the two is still unclear. In the study, by employing the methods of mouse cumulus cells and oocytes transcriptome sequencing and experimental verification, we revealed the unique characteristics of cumulus cells and oocytes through ligand-receptor interactions. The results indicate that cumulus cells activated NF-κB signaling in oocytes through the IL1-IL1R1 interaction. Furthermore, it promoted mitochondrial dysfunction, excessive ROS accumulation, and increased early apoptosis, ultimately leading to a decline in the oocyte quality and the appearance of POA. Our results indicate that cumulus cells have a role in accelerating POA, and this result lays a foundation for an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of POA. Moreover, it provides clues for exploring the relationship between cumulus cells and oocytes.
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