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Jash M, Ghosh S, Roy R, Mukherjee N, Sen S, Ghosh S. Next generation antimitotic β-carboline derivatives modulate microtubule dynamics and downregulate NF-κB, ERK 1/2 and phospho HSP 27. Life Sci 2024; 351:122836. [PMID: 38879159 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122836] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
AIM Exploring the efficacy of β-carboline-based molecular inhibitors in targeting microtubules for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We synthesized a series of 1-Aryl-N-substituted-β-carboline-3-carboxamide compounds and evaluated their cytotoxicity against human lung carcinoma (A549) cells using the MTT assay. Normal lung fibroblast cells (WI-38) were used to assess compound selectivity. The mechanism of action of MJ-211 was elucidated through Western blot analysis of key pro-apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory proteins. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of MJ-211 on multicellular 3D spheroid growth of A549 cells was evaluated. KEY FINDINGS Lead compound MJ-211 exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity against A549 cells with an IC50 of 4.075 μM at 24 h treatment and IC50 of 1.7 nM after 72 h of treatment, while demonstrating selectivity towards normal WI-38 cells. MJ-211 activated pro-apoptotic factors Bim and p53, and suppressed Cyclin B1, Phospho HSP 27, BubR1, Mad 2, ERK1/2, and NF-κB, indicating its potent antimitotic and pro-apoptotic effects. MJ-211 significantly suppressed the migration of cells and inhibited the growth of A549 cell-derived multicellular 3D spheroids, highlighting its efficacy in a more physiologically relevant model. SIGNIFICANCE Cytotoxic effect of MJ-211 against cancer cells, selectivity towards normal cells, and ability to modulate key regulatory proteins involved in apoptosis and cell cycle progression underscore its potential as a promising template for further anticancer lead optimization. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of MJ-211 on multicellular spheroid growth suggests its efficacy in combating tumor heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms, thereby offering a promising avenue for future anticancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Jash
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Satyajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Rajsekhar Roy
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Nabanita Mukherjee
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Samya Sen
- iHUB Drishti Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; iHUB Drishti Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
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2
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Li DZ, Yang ZY, Leng A, Zhang Q, Zhang XD, Bian YC, Xiao R, Ren JJ. Targeting AGTPBP1 inhibits pancreatic cancer progression via regulating microtubules and ERK signaling pathway. Mol Med 2024; 30:119. [PMID: 39129004 PMCID: PMC11318240 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-00892-x] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AGTPBP1 is a cytosolic carboxypeptidase that cleaves poly-glutamic acids from the C terminus or side chains of α/β tubulins. Although its dysregulated expression has been linked to the development of non-small cell lung cancer, the specific roles and mechanisms of AGTPBP1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we examined the role of AGTPBP1 on PC in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of AGTPBP1 in PC and non-cancerous tissues. Additionally, we assessed the malignant behaviors of PC cells following siRNA-mediated AGTPBP1 knockdown both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the differentially expressed genes regulated by AGTPBP1. RESULTS We determined that AGTPBP1 was overexpressed in PC tissues and the higher expression of AGTPBP1 was closely related to the location of tumors. AGTPBP1 inhibition can significantly decrease cell progression in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the knockdown of AGTPBP1 inhibited the expression of ERK1/2, P-ERK1/2, MYLK, and TUBB4B proteins via the ERK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our research indicates that AGTPBP1 may be a putative therapeutic target for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Zhong Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, #1, Tongdao North Street, Huhhot, 010051, PR China
| | - Zhe-Yu Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, #1, Tongdao North Street, Huhhot, 010051, PR China
| | - Asi Leng
- Medical Simulation Center, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, 010059, PR China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, #1, Tongdao North Street, Huhhot, 010051, PR China
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, #1, Tongdao North Street, Huhhot, 010051, PR China
| | - Yan-Chao Bian
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, #5, Xin Hua Street, Huhhot, 010059, PR China
| | - Rui Xiao
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, #5, Xin Hua Street, Huhhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Jian-Jun Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Splenic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, #1, Tongdao North Street, Huhhot, 010051, PR China.
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3
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Bagdadi N, Wu J, Delaroche J, Serre L, Delphin C, De Andrade M, Carcel M, Nawabi H, Pinson B, Vérin C, Couté Y, Gory-Fauré S, Andrieux A, Stoppin-Mellet V, Arnal I. Stable GDP-tubulin islands rescue dynamic microtubules. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202307074. [PMID: 38758215 PMCID: PMC11101955 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202307074] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are dynamic polymers that interconvert between phases of growth and shrinkage, yet they provide structural stability to cells. Growth involves hydrolysis of GTP-tubulin to GDP-tubulin, which releases energy that is stored within the microtubule lattice and destabilizes it; a GTP cap at microtubule ends is thought to prevent GDP subunits from rapidly dissociating and causing catastrophe. Here, using in vitro reconstitution assays, we show that GDP-tubulin, usually considered inactive, can itself assemble into microtubules, preferentially at the minus end, and promote persistent growth. GDP-tubulin-assembled microtubules are highly stable, displaying no detectable spontaneous shrinkage. Strikingly, islands of GDP-tubulin within dynamic microtubules stop shrinkage events and promote rescues. Microtubules thus possess an intrinsic capacity for stability, independent of accessory proteins. This finding provides novel mechanisms to explain microtubule dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassiba Bagdadi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Juliette Wu
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Julie Delaroche
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Laurence Serre
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Christian Delphin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Manon De Andrade
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Marion Carcel
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Homaira Nawabi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Benoît Pinson
- Metabolic Analyses Service, TBMCore—Université de Bordeaux—CNRS UAR 3427—INSERM US005, Bordeaux, France
| | - Claire Vérin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UA13 BGE, CNRS, FR2048, Grenoble, France
| | - Yohann Couté
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UA13 BGE, CNRS, FR2048, Grenoble, France
| | - Sylvie Gory-Fauré
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Annie Andrieux
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Virginie Stoppin-Mellet
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Arnal
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences (GIN), Grenoble, France
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4
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Xu K, Li Z, Mao L, Guo Z, Chen Z, Chai Y, Xie C, Yang X, Na J, Li W, Ou G. AlphaFold2-guided engineering of split-GFP technology enables labeling of endogenous tubulins across species while preserving function. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002615. [PMID: 39159282 PMCID: PMC11361732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002615] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic properties are essential for microtubule (MT) physiology. Current techniques for in vivo imaging of MTs present intrinsic limitations in elucidating the isotype-specific nuances of tubulins, which contribute to their versatile functions. Harnessing the power of the AlphaFold2 pipeline, we engineered a strategy for the minimally invasive fluorescence labeling of endogenous tubulin isotypes or those harboring missense mutations. We demonstrated that a specifically designed 16-amino acid linker, coupled with sfGFP11 from the split-sfGFP system and integration into the H1-S2 loop of tubulin, facilitated tubulin labeling without compromising MT dynamics, embryonic development, or ciliogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Extending this technique to human cells and murine oocytes, we visualized MTs with the minimal background fluorescence and a pathogenic tubulin isoform with fidelity. The utility of our approach across biological contexts and species set an additional paradigm for studying tubulin dynamics and functional specificity, with implications for understanding tubulin-related diseases known as tubulinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiming Xu
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Linfan Mao
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengyang Guo
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongping Chai
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Xie
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerui Yang
- School of Life Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Na
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangshuo Ou
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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5
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Wood LM, Moore JK. β3 accelerates microtubule plus end maturation through a divergent lateral interface. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.17.603993. [PMID: 39071388 PMCID: PMC11275713 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.17.603993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
β-tubulin isotypes exhibit similar sequences but different activities, suggesting that limited sequence divergence is functionally important. We investigated this hypothesis for TUBB3/β3, a β-tubulin linked to aggressive cancers and chemoresistance in humans. We created mutant yeast strains with β-tubulin alleles that mimic variant residues in β3 and find that residues at the lateral interface are sufficient to alter microtubule dynamics and response to microtubule targeting agents. In HeLa cells, β3 overexpression decreases the lifetime of microtubule growth, and this requires residues at the lateral interface. These microtubules exhibit a shorter region of EB binding at the plus end, suggesting faster lattice maturation, and resist stabilization by paclitaxel. Resistance requires the H1-S2 and H2-S3 regions at the lateral interface of β3. Our results identify the mechanistic origins of the unique activity of β3 tubulin and suggest that tubulin isotype expression may tune the rate of lattice maturation at growing microtubule plus ends in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Wood
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Moore
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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6
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Sivoria N, Mahato RR, Priyanka, Saini A, Maiti S. Enzymatic Dissociation of DNA-Histone Condensates in an Electrophoretic Setting: Modulating DNA Patterning and Hydrogel Viscoelasticity. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:13505-13514. [PMID: 38896798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Development of an energy-driven self-assembly process is a matter of interest for understanding and mimicking diverse ranges of biological and environmental patterns in a synthetic system. In this article, first we demonstrate transient and temporally controlled self-assembly of a DNA-histone condensate where trypsin (already present in the system) hydrolyzes histone, resulting in disassembly. Upon performing this dynamic self-assembly process in a gel matrix under an electric field, we observe diverse kinds of DNA patterning across the gel matrix depending on the amount of trypsin, incubation time of the reaction mixture, and gel porosity. Notably, here, the micrometer-sized DNA-histone condensate does not move through the gel and only free DNA can pass; therefore, transport and accumulation of DNA at different zones depend on the release rate of DNA by trypsin. Furthermore, we show that the viscoelasticity of the native gel increases in the presence of DNA and a pattern over gel viscoelasticity at different zones can be achieved by tuning the amount of enzyme, i.e., the dissociation rate of the DNA-histone condensate. We believe enabling spatiotemporally controlled DNA patterning by applying an electric field will be potentially important in designing different kinds of spatiotemporally distinct dynamic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetu Sivoria
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Rishi Ram Mahato
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Priyanka
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Aman Saini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Subhabrata Maiti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
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7
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Di Gregorio E, Staelens M, Hosseinkhah N, Karimpoor M, Liburd J, Lim L, Shankar K, Tuszyński JA. Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Photobiomodulation-Induced α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Tubulins: Potential Implications for Alzheimer's and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:1093. [PMID: 38998698 PMCID: PMC11243591 DOI: 10.3390/nano14131093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
In small clinical studies, the application of transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM), which typically delivers low-intensity near-infrared (NIR) to treat the brain, has led to some remarkable results in the treatment of dementia and several neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite the extensive literature detailing the mechanisms of action underlying PBM outcomes, the specific mechanisms affecting neurodegenerative diseases are not entirely clear. While large clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings, evidence of the mechanisms can explain and thus provide credible support for PBM as a potential treatment for these diseases. Tubulin and its polymerized state of microtubules have been known to play important roles in the pathology of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we investigated the effects of PBM on these cellular structures in the quest for insights into the underlying therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we employed a Raman spectroscopic analysis of the amide I band of polymerized samples of tubulin exposed to pulsed low-intensity NIR radiation (810 nm, 10 Hz, 22.5 J/cm2 dose). Peaks in the Raman fingerprint region (300-1900 cm-1)-in particular, in the amide I band (1600-1700 cm-1)-were used to quantify the percentage of protein secondary structures. Under this band, hidden signals of C=O stretching, belonging to different structures, are superimposed, producing a complex signal as a result. An accurate decomposition of the amide I band is therefore required for the reliable analysis of the conformation of proteins, which we achieved through a straightforward method employing a Voigt profile. This approach was validated through secondary structure analyses of unexposed control samples, for which comparisons with other values available in the literature could be conducted. Subsequently, using this validated method, we present novel findings of statistically significant alterations in the secondary structures of polymerized NIR-exposed tubulin, characterized by a notable decrease in α-helix content and a concurrent increase in β-sheets compared to the control samples. This PBM-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition connects to reduced microtubule stability and the introduction of dynamism to allow for the remodeling and, consequently, refreshing of microtubule structures. This newly discovered mechanism could have implications for reducing the risks associated with brain aging, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, through the introduction of an intervention following this transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Di Gregorio
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin, 10129 Turin, Italy
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Instituto de Física Corpuscular, CSIC–Universitat de València, Carrer Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Lew Lim
- Vielight Inc., Toronto, ON M4Y 2G8, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Jack A. Tuszyński
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin, 10129 Turin, Italy
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
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8
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Brito C, Serna M, Guerra P, Llorca O, Surrey T. Transition of human γ-tubulin ring complex into a closed conformation during microtubule nucleation. Science 2024; 383:870-876. [PMID: 38305685 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk6160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Microtubules are essential for intracellular organization and chromosome segregation. They are nucleated by the γ-tubulin ring complex (γTuRC). However, isolated vertebrate γTuRC adopts an open conformation that deviates from the microtubule structure, raising the question of the nucleation mechanism. In this study, we determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of human γTuRC bound to a nascent microtubule. Structural changes of the complex into a closed conformation ensure that γTuRC templates the 13-protofilament microtubules that exist in human cells. Closure is mediated by a latch that interacts with incorporating tubulin, making it part of the closing mechanism. Further rearrangements involve all γTuRC subunits and the removal of the actin-containing luminal bridge. Our proposed mechanism of microtubule nucleation by human γTuRC relies on large-scale structural changes that are likely the target of regulation in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Brito
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Serna
- Structural Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Guerra
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Platform-IBMB CSIC, Joint Electron Microscopy Center at ALBA (JEMCA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oscar Llorca
- Structural Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas Surrey
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Sen A, Chowdhury D, Kunwar A. Coordination, cooperation, competition, crowding and congestion of molecular motors: Theoretical models and computer simulations. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2024; 141:563-650. [PMID: 38960486 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Cytoskeletal motor proteins are biological nanomachines that convert chemical energy into mechanical work to carry out various functions such as cell division, cell motility, cargo transport, muscle contraction, beating of cilia and flagella, and ciliogenesis. Most of these processes are driven by the collective operation of several motors in the crowded viscous intracellular environment. Imaging and manipulation of the motors with powerful experimental probes have been complemented by mathematical analysis and computer simulations of the corresponding theoretical models. In this article, we illustrate some of the key theoretical approaches used to understand how coordination, cooperation and competition of multiple motors in the crowded intra-cellular environment drive the processes that are essential for biological function of a cell. In spite of the focus on theory, experimentalists will also find this article as an useful summary of the progress made so far in understanding multiple motor systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritra Sen
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Debashish Chowdhury
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ambarish Kunwar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
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10
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Rao VK, Ashtam A, Panda D, Guchhait SK. Natural-Product-Inspired Discovery of Trimethoxyphenyl-1,2,4-triazolosulfonamides as Potent Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300562. [PMID: 37975190 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300562] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
An approach of natural product-inspired strategy and incorporation of an NP-privileged motif has been investigated for the discovery of new tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Two series, N-Arylsulfonyl-3-arylamino-5-amino-1,2,4-triazole derivatives, and their isomers were considered. The compounds were synthesized by construction of the N-aryl-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diamine motif and sulfonylation. Although the chemo- and regioselectivity in sulfonylation were challenging due to multiple ring-tautomerizable-NH and exocyclic NH2 functionalities present in the molecular motifs, the developed synthetic method enabled the preparation of designed molecular skeletons with biologically important motifs. The approach also led to explore interesting molecular regio- and stereochemical aspects valuable for activity. The X-ray crystallography study indicated that the hydrogen bonding between the arylamine-NH and the arylsulfonyl-"O" unit and appropriate molecular-functionality topology allowed the cis-locking of two aryls, which is important for tubulin-binding and antiproliferative properties. All synthesized compounds majorly showed characteristic antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and four compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative activity. One compound potently bound to tubulin at the colchicine site and inhibited tubulin polymerization in vitro. The compound significantly depolymerized microtubules in MCF-7 cells, arrested the cells at the G2/M phase, and induced cell death. This study represents the importance of the design strategy in medicinal chemistry and the molecular structural features relevant to anticancer anti-tubulin properties. The explored molecules have the potential for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vajja Krishna Rao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), 160062, S.A.S. Nagar, India
| | - Anvesh Ashtam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, 400076, Mumbai, India
| | - Dulal Panda
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), 160062, S.A.S. Nagar, India
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, 400076, Mumbai, India
| | - Sankar K Guchhait
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), 160062, S.A.S. Nagar, India
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11
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Bakota L, Brandt R. Why kiss-and-hop explains that tau does not stabilize microtubules and does not interfere with axonal transport (at physiological conditions). Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:47-52. [PMID: 37694806 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21787] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that is enriched in the axonal process of neurons. Post-translational modifications of tau have been implicated in the development of tauopathies characterized by defects in axonal transport, neuronal atrophy, and microtubule disassembly. Although tau is almost quantitatively bound to microtubules under physiological conditions, it does not significantly affect axonal transport. Furthermore, acute or chronic tau deficiency does not result in significant destabilization of neuronal microtubules, challenging the classical view that disease-related tau modifications directly cause axonal microtubule collapse. Here, we discuss how the rapid interaction kinetics of the tau-microtubule interaction, which we previously termed the kiss-and-hop interaction, explains why tau does not affect microtubule-dependent axonal transport but still allows tau to modulate microtubule polymerization. In contrast, tau modifications that slow down the kinetics of the tau-microtubule interaction and increase the residence time of tau at a microtubule interaction site can disrupt axonal transport and cause dendritic atrophy. We discuss the consequences of such a gain-of-toxicity mechanism in terms of the development of disease-modulating drugs that target the tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
- Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Science, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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12
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Tang J, Cheng Y, Ding M, Wang C. Bio-Inspired Far-From-Equilibrium Hydrogels: Design Principles and Applications. Chempluschem 2023; 88:e202300449. [PMID: 37787015 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Inspired from dynamic living systems that operate under out-of-equilibrium conditions in biology, developing supramolecular hydrogels with self-regulating and autonomously dynamic properties to further advance adaptive hydrogels with life-like behavior is important. This review presents recent progress of bio-inspired supramolecular hydrogels out-of-equilibrium. The principle of out-of-equilibrium self-assembly for creating bio-inspired hydrogels is discussed. Various design strategies have been identified, such as chemical-driven reaction cycles with feedback control and physically oscillatory systems. These strategies can be coupled with hydrogels to achieve temporal and spatial control over structural and mechanical properties as well as programmable lifetime. These studies open up huge opportunities for potential applications, such as fluidic guidance, information storage, drug delivery, actuators and more. Finally, we address the challenges ahead of us in the coming years, and future possibilities and prospects are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Tang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
| | - Yibo Cheng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Muhua Ding
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Chen Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
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13
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Romeiro Motta M, Biswas S, Schaedel L. Beyond uniformity: Exploring the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the microtubule lattice. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151370. [PMID: 37922811 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151370] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A fair amount of research on microtubules since their discovery in 1963 has focused on their dynamic tips. In contrast, the microtubule lattice was long believed to be highly regular and static, and consequently received far less attention. Yet, as it turned out, the microtubule lattice is neither as regular, nor as static as previously believed: structural studies uncovered the remarkable wealth of different conformations the lattice can accommodate. In the last decade, the microtubule lattice was shown to be labile and to spontaneously undergo renovation, a phenomenon that is intimately linked to structural defects and was called "microtubule self-repair". Following this breakthrough discovery, further recent research provided a deeper understanding of the lattice self-repair mechanism, which we review here. Instrumental to these discoveries were in vitro microtubule reconstitution assays, in which microtubules are grown from the minimal components required for their dynamics. In this review, we propose a shift from the term "lattice self-repair" to "lattice dynamics", since this phenomenon is an inherent property of microtubules and can happen without microtubule damage. We focus on how in vitro microtubule reconstitution assays helped us learn (1) which types of structural variations microtubules display, (2) how these structural variations influence lattice dynamics and microtubule damage caused by mechanical stress, (3) how lattice dynamics impact tip dynamics, and (4) how microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) can play a role in structuring the lattice. Finally, we discuss the unanswered questions about lattice dynamics and how technical advances will help us tackle these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Romeiro Motta
- Department of Physics, Center for Biophysics, Campus A2 4, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany; Laboratoire Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Université de Lyon, École normale supérieure de Lyon, Lyon 69364, France
| | - Subham Biswas
- Department of Physics, Center for Biophysics, Campus A2 4, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Laura Schaedel
- Department of Physics, Center for Biophysics, Campus A2 4, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
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14
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Hussain A, Nguyen VT, Reigan P, McMurray M. Evolutionary degeneration of septins into pseudoGTPases: impacts on a hetero-oligomeric assembly interface. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1296657. [PMID: 38125875 PMCID: PMC10731463 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1296657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The septin family of eukaryotic proteins comprises distinct classes of sequence-related monomers that associate in a defined order into linear hetero-oligomers, which are capable of polymerizing into cytoskeletal filaments. Like actin and ⍺ and β tubulin, most septin monomers require binding of a nucleotide at a monomer-monomer interface (the septin "G" interface) for assembly into higher-order structures. Like ⍺ and β tubulin, where GTP is bound by both subunits but only the GTP at the ⍺-β interface is subject to hydrolysis, the capacity of certain septin monomers to hydrolyze their bound GTP has been lost during evolution. Thus, within septin hetero-oligomers and filaments, certain monomers remain permanently GTP-bound. Unlike tubulins, loss of septin GTPase activity-creating septin "pseudoGTPases"-occurred multiple times in independent evolutionary trajectories, accompanied in some cases by non-conservative substitutions in highly conserved residues in the nucleotide-binding pocket. Here, we used recent septin crystal structures, AlphaFold-generated models, phylogenetics and in silico nucleotide docking to investigate how in some organisms the septin G interface evolved to accommodate changes in nucleotide occupancy. Our analysis suggests that yeast septin monomers expressed only during meiosis and sporulation, when GTP is scarce, are evolving rapidly and might not bind GTP or GDP. Moreover, the G dimerization partners of these sporulation-specific septins appear to carry compensatory changes in residues that form contacts at the G interface to help retain stability despite the absence of bound GDP or GTP in the facing subunit. During septin evolution in nematodes, apparent loss of GTPase activity was also accompanied by changes in predicted G interface contacts. Overall, our observations support the conclusion that the primary function of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis by septins is to ensure formation of G interfaces that impose the proper subunit-subunit order within the hetero-oligomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alya Hussain
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Vu T. Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Philip Reigan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Michael McMurray
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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15
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Ventura Santos C, Rogers SL, Carter AP. CryoET shows cofilactin filaments inside the microtubule lumen. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57264. [PMID: 37702953 PMCID: PMC10626427 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357264] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic microtubules are tubular polymers that can harbor small proteins or filaments inside their lumen. The identities of these objects and mechanisms for their accumulation have not been conclusively established. Here, we used cryogenic electron tomography of Drosophila S2 cell protrusions and found filaments inside the microtubule lumen, which resemble those reported recently in human HAP1 cells. The frequency of these filaments increased upon inhibition of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase with the small molecule drug thapsigargin. Subtomogram averaging showed that the luminal filaments adopt a helical structure reminiscent of cofilin-bound actin (cofilactin). Consistent with this, we observed cofilin dephosphorylation, an activating modification, in cells under the same conditions that increased luminal filament occurrence. Furthermore, RNA interference knock-down of cofilin reduced the frequency of luminal filaments with cofilactin morphology. These results suggest that cofilin activation stimulates its accumulation on actin filaments inside the microtubule lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen L Rogers
- Department of Biology and Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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16
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Wang H, Zuo S, Zheng J, Peng Z, Yao X, Wang J, Weber HC, Qin X, Xiang Y, Liu C, Ji M, Liu H, Pan L, Qu X. Knockout of the BRAP homolog in mice leads to abnormal tracheal cilia. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2626-2642. [PMID: 37715941 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14734] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Both bombesin receptor-activated protein (BRAP) and its mouse homolog have been found to be expressed in bronchial epithelia but with unclear functions. Using electron microscopy combined with histological assays, we found that BRAP homolog deficiency in mice led to abnormal tracheal cilia. Rab-3A-interacting protein (Rabin8), a protein that might play a role in cilia development, was screened by yeast two-hybrid and further verified to have interaction with human BRAP by co-immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays. The expression levels of Rabin8, together with acetylated α-tubulin, a marker of cilia, were either downregulated by knockdown of BRAP or upregulated by overexpression of BRAP in cultured immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells. These results reveal a role for BRAP in airway cilia formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Suhui Zuo
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaoyun Zheng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi Peng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xueping Yao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Functional Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Horst Christian Weber
- Section of Gastroenterology, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoqun Qin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chi Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Ji
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huijun Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lang Pan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangping Qu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
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17
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Diao L, Zheng W, Zhao Q, Liu M, Fu Z, Zhang X, Bao L, Cong Y. Cryo-EM of α-tubulin isotype-containing microtubules revealed a contracted structure of α4A/β2A microtubules. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1551-1560. [PMID: 37439022 PMCID: PMC10577476 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023130] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are hollow α/β-tubulin heterodimeric polymers that play critical roles in cells. In vertebrates, both α- and β-tubulins have multiple isotypes encoded by different genes, which are intrinsic factors in regulating microtubule functions. However, the structures of microtubules composed of different tubulin isotypes, especially α-tubulin isotypes, remain largely unknown. Here, we purify recombinant tubulin heterodimers composed of different mouse α-tubulin isotypes, including α1A, α1C and α4A, with the β-tubulin isotype β2A. We further assemble and determine the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of α1A/β2A, α1C/β2A, and α4A/β2A microtubules. Our structural analysis demonstrates that α4A/β2A microtubules exhibit longitudinal contraction between tubulin interdimers compared with α1A/β2A and α1C/β2A microtubules. Collectively, our findings reveal that α-tubulin isotype composition can tune microtubule structures, and also provide evidence for the "tubulin code" hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Wei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Qiaoyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Mingyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
| | - Zhenglin Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Xu Zhang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
- Shanghai Advanced Research InstituteChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
| | - Lan Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
| | - Yao Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
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18
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Yamane T, Nakayama T, Ekimoto T, Inoue M, Ikezaki K, Sekiguchi H, Kuramochi M, Terao Y, Judai K, Saito M, Ikeguchi M, Sasaki YC. Comparison of the Molecular Motility of Tubulin Dimeric Isoforms: Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Diffracted X-ray Tracking Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15423. [PMID: 37895101 PMCID: PMC10607685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015423] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tubulin has been recently reported to form a large family consisting of various gene isoforms; however, the differences in the molecular features of tubulin dimers composed of a combination of these isoforms remain unknown. Therefore, we attempted to elucidate the physical differences in the molecular motility of these tubulin dimers using the method of measurable pico-meter-scale molecular motility, diffracted X-ray tracking (DXT) analysis, regarding characteristic tubulin dimers, including neuronal TUBB3 and ubiquitous TUBB5. We first conducted a DXT analysis of neuronal (TUBB3-TUBA1A) and ubiquitous (TUBB5-TUBA1B) tubulin dimers and found that the molecular motility around the vertical axis of the neuronal tubulin dimer was lower than that of the ubiquitous tubulin dimer. The results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation suggest that the difference in motility between the neuronal and ubiquitous tubulin dimers was probably caused by a change in the major contact of Gln245 in the T7 loop of TUBB from Glu11 in TUBA to Val353 in TUBB. The present study is the first report of a novel phenomenon in which the pico-meter-scale molecular motility between neuronal and ubiquitous tubulin dimers is different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Yamane
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (T.E.); (M.I.); (M.I.)
- HPC- and AI-Driven Drug Development Platform Division, Riken Center for Computational Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nakayama
- Department of Medical Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka 181-8611, Japan; (T.N.); (Y.T.)
| | - Toru Ekimoto
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (T.E.); (M.I.); (M.I.)
| | - Masao Inoue
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (T.E.); (M.I.); (M.I.)
| | - Keigo Ikezaki
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8568, Japan; (K.I.); (M.K.)
| | - Hiroshi Sekiguchi
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5198, Japan;
| | - Masahiro Kuramochi
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8568, Japan; (K.I.); (M.K.)
| | - Yasuo Terao
- Department of Medical Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka 181-8611, Japan; (T.N.); (Y.T.)
| | - Ken Judai
- Department of Physics, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Sakurajosui 3-25-40, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan;
| | - Minoru Saito
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan;
| | - Mitsunori Ikeguchi
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (T.E.); (M.I.); (M.I.)
- HPC- and AI-Driven Drug Development Platform Division, Riken Center for Computational Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yuji C. Sasaki
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8568, Japan; (K.I.); (M.K.)
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5198, Japan;
- AIST-UTokyo Advanced Operando-Measurement Technology Open Innovation Laboratory (OPERANDO-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 6-2-3 Kashiwanoha, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
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19
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McKenna ED, Sarbanes SL, Cummings SW, Roll-Mecak A. The Tubulin Code, from Molecules to Health and Disease. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2023; 39:331-361. [PMID: 37843925 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-030123-032748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules are essential dynamic polymers composed of α/β-tubulin heterodimers. They support intracellular trafficking, cell division, cellular motility, and other essential cellular processes. In many species, both α-tubulin and β-tubulin are encoded by multiple genes with distinct expression profiles and functionality. Microtubules are further diversified through abundant posttranslational modifications, which are added and removed by a suite of enzymes to form complex, stereotyped cellular arrays. The genetic and chemical diversity of tubulin constitute a tubulin code that regulates intrinsic microtubule properties and is read by cellular effectors, such as molecular motors and microtubule-associated proteins, to provide spatial and temporal specificity to microtubules in cells. In this review, we synthesize the rapidly expanding tubulin code literature and highlight limitations and opportunities for the field. As complex microtubule arrays underlie essential physiological processes, a better understanding of how cells employ the tubulin code has important implications for human disease ranging from cancer to neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth D McKenna
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Stephanie L Sarbanes
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Steven W Cummings
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Antonina Roll-Mecak
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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20
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Eren E, Watts NR, Randazzo D, Palmer I, Sackett DL, Wingfield PT. Structural basis of microtubule depolymerization by the kinesin-like activity of HIV-1 Rev. Structure 2023; 31:1233-1246.e5. [PMID: 37572662 PMCID: PMC10592302 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.07.009] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
HIV-1 Rev is an essential regulatory protein that transports unspliced and partially spliced viral mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for the expression of viral structural proteins. During its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, Rev interacts with several host proteins to use the cellular machinery for the advantage of the virus. Here, we report the 3.5 Å cryo-EM structure of a 4.8 MDa Rev-tubulin ring complex. Our structure shows that Rev's arginine-rich motif (ARM) binds to both the acidic surfaces and the C-terminal tails of α/β-tubulin. The Rev-tubulin interaction is functionally homologous to that of kinesin-13, potently destabilizing microtubules at sub-stoichiometric levels. Expression of Rev in astrocytes and HeLa cells shows that it can modulate the microtubule cytoskeleton within the cellular environment. These results show a previously undefined regulatory role of Rev.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Eren
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Norman R Watts
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Davide Randazzo
- Light Imaging Section, Office of Science and Technology, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ira Palmer
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dan L Sackett
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul T Wingfield
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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21
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Chew YM, Cross RA. Taxol acts differently on different tubulin isotypes. Commun Biol 2023; 6:946. [PMID: 37717119 PMCID: PMC10505170 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05306-y] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Taxol is a small molecule effector that allosterically locks tubulin into the microtubule lattice. We show here that taxol has different effects on different single-isotype microtubule lattices. Using in vitro reconstitution, we demonstrate that single-isotype α1β4 GDP-tubulin lattices are stabilised and expanded by 10 µM taxol, as reported by accelerated microtubule gliding in kinesin motility assays, whereas single-isotype α1β3 GDP-tubulin lattices are stabilised but not expanded. This isotype-specific action of taxol drives gliding of segmented-isotype GDP-taxol microtubules along convoluted, sinusoidal paths, because their expanded α1β4 segments try to glide faster than their compacted α1β3 segments. In GMPCPP, single-isotype α1β3 and α1β4 lattices both show accelerated gliding, indicating that both can in principle be driven to expand. We therefore propose that taxol-induced lattice expansion requires a higher taxol occupancy than taxol-induced stabilisation, and that higher taxol occupancies are accessible to α1β4 but not α1β3 single-isotype lattices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yean Ming Chew
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, CV4 7LA, UK
| | - Robert A Cross
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, CV4 7LA, UK.
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22
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Maksudov F, Kliuchnikov E, Marx KA, Purohit PK, Barsegov V. Mechanical fatigue testing in silico: Dynamic evolution of material properties of nanoscale biological particles. Acta Biomater 2023; 166:326-345. [PMID: 37142109 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.042] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Biological particles have evolved to possess mechanical characteristics necessary to carry out their functions. We developed a computational approach to "fatigue testing in silico", in which constant-amplitude cyclic loading is applied to a particle to explore its mechanobiology. We used this approach to describe dynamic evolution of nanomaterial properties and low-cycle fatigue in the thin spherical encapsulin shell, thick spherical Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) capsid, and thick cylindrical microtubule (MT) fragment over 20 cycles of deformation. Changing structures and force-deformation curves enabled us to describe their damage-dependent biomechanics (strength, deformability, stiffness), thermodynamics (released and dissipated energies, enthalpy, and entropy) and material properties (toughness). Thick CCMV and MT particles experience material fatigue due to slow recovery and damage accumulation over 3-5 loading cycles; thin encapsulin shells show little fatigue due to rapid remodeling and limited damage. The results obtained challenge the existing paradigm: damage in biological particles is partially reversible owing to particle's partial recovery; fatigue crack may or may not grow with each loading cycle and may heal; and particles adapt to deformation amplitude and frequency to minimize the energy dissipated. Using crack size to quantitate damage is problematic as several cracks might form simultaneously in a particle. Dynamic evolution of strength, deformability, and stiffness, can be predicted by analyzing the cycle number (N) dependent damage, [Formula: see text] , where α is a power law and Nf is fatigue life. Fatigue testing in silico can now be used to explore damage-induced changes in the material properties of other biological particles. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Biological particles possess mechanical characteristics necessary to perform their functions. We developed "fatigue testing in silico" approach, which employes Langevin Dynamics simulations of constant-amplitude cyclic loading of nanoscale biological particles, to explore dynamic evolution of the mechanical, energetic, and material properties of the thin and thick spherical particles of encapsulin and Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus, and the microtubule filament fragment. Our study of damage growth and fatigue development challenge the existing paradigm. Damage in biological particles is partially reversible as fatigue crack might heal with each loading cycle. Particles adapt to deformation amplitude and frequency to minimize energy dissipation. The evolution of strength, deformability, and stiffness, can be accurately predicted by analyzing the damage growth in particle structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farkhad Maksudov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Evgenii Kliuchnikov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Kenneth A Marx
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Prashant K Purohit
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States
| | - Valeri Barsegov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States.
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23
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Lawrence EJ, Chatterjee S, Zanic M. CLASPs stabilize the pre-catastrophe intermediate state between microtubule growth and shrinkage. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202107027. [PMID: 37184584 PMCID: PMC10195879 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202107027] [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: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic linker-associated proteins (CLASPs) regulate microtubules in fundamental cellular processes. CLASPs stabilize dynamic microtubules by suppressing microtubule catastrophe and promoting rescue, the switch-like transitions between growth and shrinkage. How CLASPs specifically modulate microtubule transitions is not understood. Here, we investigate the effects of CLASPs on the pre-catastrophe intermediate state of microtubule dynamics, employing distinct microtubule substrates to mimic the intermediate state. Surprisingly, we find that CLASP1 promotes the depolymerization of stabilized microtubules in the presence of GTP, but not in the absence of nucleotide. This activity is also observed for CLASP2 family members and a minimal TOG2-domain construct. Conversely, we find that CLASP1 stabilizes unstable microtubules upon tubulin dilution in the presence of GTP. Strikingly, our results reveal that CLASP1 drives microtubule substrates with vastly different inherent stabilities into the same slowly depolymerizing state in a nucleotide-dependent manner. We interpret this state as the pre-catastrophe intermediate state. Therefore, we conclude that CLASPs suppress microtubule catastrophe by stabilizing the intermediate state between growth and shrinkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Lawrence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Saptarshi Chatterjee
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Marija Zanic
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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24
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Zhao Y, Yang J, Liu M, Zhao J. Switchable Double Inversion of Chirality in a Helical Polyelectrolyte. ACS Macro Lett 2023:667-672. [PMID: 37156738 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Switchable inversion of chirality between opposite handedness by varying pH is discovered for a histidine pendant polymer, polymethyl (4-vinylbenzoyl) histidinate (PBHis), as demonstrated by the circular dichroism as well as the changes of hydrodynamic radius measured by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy at the single molecular level. The polyelectrolyte is found to take an M-helicity below pH 8.0 and change into P-helicity above pH 8.0. Such helicity further inverses into M-chirality above pH 10.6. All these helical structures with opposite handedness can be switched using pH variations. The mechanism of such a unique phenomenon is attributed to the protonation and deprotonation of the imidazole group and the hydroxide-ion-mediated hydrogen bonding, which determine the mutual orientation between the adjacent side groups under the hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking and therefore the handedness of the helical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingfa Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Minghua Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiang Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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25
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Beckett D, Voth GA. Unveiling the Catalytic Mechanism of GTP Hydrolysis in Microtubules. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.01.538927. [PMID: 37205601 PMCID: PMC10187240 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.01.538927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) are large cytoskeletal polymers, composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, capable of stochastically converting from polymerizing to depolymerizing states and vice-versa. Depolymerization is coupled with hydrolysis of GTP within β-tubulin. Hydrolysis is favored in the MT lattice compared to free heterodimer with an experimentally observed rate increase of 500 to 700 fold, corresponding to an energetic barrier lowering of 3.8 to 4.0 kcal/mol. Mutagenesis studies have implicated α-tubulin residues, α:E254 and α:D251, as catalytic residues completing the β-tubulin active site of the lower heterodimer in the MT lattice. The mechanism for GTP hydrolysis in the free heterodimer, however, is not understood. Additionally, there has been debate concerning whether the GTP-state lattice is expanded or compacted relative to the GDP-state and whether a "compacted" GDP-state lattice is required for hydrolysis. In this work, extensive QM/MM simulations with transition-tempered metadynamics free energy sampling of compacted and expanded inter-dimer complexes, as well as free heterodimer, have been carried out to provide clear insight into the GTP hydrolysis mechanism. α:E254 was found to be the catalytic residue in a compacted lattice, while in the expanded lattice disruption of a key salt bridge interaction renders α:E254 less effective. The simulations reveal a barrier decrease of 3.8 ± 0.5 kcal/mol for the compacted lattice compared to free heterodimer, in good agreement with experimental kinetic measurements. Additionally, the expanded lattice barrier was found to be 6.3 ± 0.5 kcal/mol higher than compacted, demonstrating that GTP hydrolysis is variable with lattice state and slower at the MT tip. Significance Statement Microtubules (MTs) are large and dynamic components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton with the ability to stochastically convert from a polymerizing to a depolymerizing state and vice-versa. Depolymerization is coupled to the hydrolysis of guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP), which is orders of magnitude faster in the MT lattice than in free tubulin heterodimers. Our results computationally ascertain the catalytic residue contacts in the MT lattice that accelerate GTP hydrolysis compared to the free heterodimer as well as confirm that a compacted MT lattice is necessary for hydrolysis while a more expanded lattice is unable to form the necessary contacts and thereby hydrolyze GTP.
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26
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Kubo S, Black CS, Joachimiak E, Yang SK, Legal T, Peri K, Khalifa AAZ, Ghanaeian A, McCafferty CL, Valente-Paterno M, De Bellis C, Huynh PM, Fan Z, Marcotte EM, Wloga D, Bui KH. Native doublet microtubules from Tetrahymena thermophila reveal the importance of outer junction proteins. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2168. [PMID: 37061538 PMCID: PMC10105768 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37868-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cilia are ubiquitous eukaryotic organelles responsible for cellular motility and sensory functions. The ciliary axoneme is a microtubule-based cytoskeleton consisting of two central singlets and nine outer doublet microtubules. Cryo-electron microscopy-based studies have revealed a complex network inside the lumen of both tubules composed of microtubule-inner proteins (MIPs). However, the functions of most MIPs remain unknown. Here, we present single-particle cryo-EM-based analyses of the Tetrahymena thermophila native doublet microtubule and identify 42 MIPs. These data shed light on the evolutionarily conserved and diversified roles of MIPs. In addition, we identified MIPs potentially responsible for the assembly and stability of the doublet outer junction. Knockout of the evolutionarily conserved outer junction component CFAP77 moderately diminishes Tetrahymena swimming speed and beat frequency, indicating the important role of CFAP77 and outer junction stability in cilia beating generation and/or regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shintaroh Kubo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Corbin S Black
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ewa Joachimiak
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Shun Kai Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Thibault Legal
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Katya Peri
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ahmad Abdelzaher Zaki Khalifa
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Avrin Ghanaeian
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Caitlyn L McCafferty
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Melissa Valente-Paterno
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chelsea De Bellis
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Phuong M Huynh
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zhe Fan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Edward M Marcotte
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Dorota Wloga
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Khanh Huy Bui
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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27
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Küppers M, Albrecht D, Kashkanova AD, Lühr J, Sandoghdar V. Confocal interferometric scattering microscopy reveals 3D nanoscopic structure and dynamics in live cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1962. [PMID: 37029107 PMCID: PMC10081331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37497-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bright-field light microscopy and related phase-sensitive techniques play an important role in life sciences because they provide facile and label-free insights into biological specimens. However, lack of three-dimensional imaging and low sensitivity to nanoscopic features hamper their application in many high-end quantitative studies. Here, we demonstrate that interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy operated in the confocal mode provides unique label-free solutions for live-cell studies. We reveal the nanometric topography of the nuclear envelope, quantify the dynamics of the endoplasmic reticulum, detect single microtubules, and map nanoscopic diffusion of clathrin-coated pits undergoing endocytosis. Furthermore, we introduce the combination of confocal and wide-field iSCAT modalities for simultaneous imaging of cellular structures and high-speed tracking of nanoscopic entities such as single SARS-CoV-2 virions. We benchmark our findings against simultaneously acquired fluorescence images. Confocal iSCAT can be readily implemented as an additional contrast mechanism in existing laser scanning microscopes. The method is ideally suited for live studies on primary cells that face labeling challenges and for very long measurements beyond photobleaching times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Küppers
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Albrecht
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna D Kashkanova
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Lühr
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vahid Sandoghdar
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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28
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Carmona B, Marinho HS, Matos CL, Nolasco S, Soares H. Tubulin Post-Translational Modifications: The Elusive Roles of Acetylation. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040561. [PMID: 37106761 PMCID: PMC10136095 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules (MTs), dynamic polymers of α/β-tubulin heterodimers found in all eukaryotes, are involved in cytoplasm spatial organization, intracellular transport, cell polarity, migration and division, and in cilia biology. MTs functional diversity depends on the differential expression of distinct tubulin isotypes and is amplified by a vast number of different post-translational modifications (PTMs). The addition/removal of PTMs to α- or β-tubulins is catalyzed by specific enzymes and allows combinatory patterns largely enriching the distinct biochemical and biophysical properties of MTs, creating a code read by distinct proteins, including microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), which allow cellular responses. This review is focused on tubulin-acetylation, whose cellular roles continue to generate debate. We travel through the experimental data pointing to α-tubulin Lys40 acetylation role as being a MT stabilizer and a typical PTM of long lived MTs, to the most recent data, suggesting that Lys40 acetylation enhances MT flexibility and alters the mechanical properties of MTs, preventing MTs from mechanical aging characterized by structural damage. Additionally, we discuss the regulation of tubulin acetyltransferases/desacetylases and their impacts on cell physiology. Finally, we analyze how changes in MT acetylation levels have been found to be a general response to stress and how they are associated with several human pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Carmona
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Av. D. João II, Lote 4.69.01, 1990-096 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - H Susana Marinho
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Lopes Matos
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia Nolasco
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Av. D. João II, Lote 4.69.01, 1990-096 Lisboa, Portugal
- CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Helena Soares
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Av. D. João II, Lote 4.69.01, 1990-096 Lisboa, Portugal
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29
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Nogales E. The tubulin structure, a quarter of a century later. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:rt2. [PMID: 36913319 PMCID: PMC10092645 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-01-0005] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This retrospective on the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first structure of tubulin is shaped by my own personal experiences rather than being a strict and complete historical account of the event. It is a reflection on how working in science felt many years ago, on the struggles and the joys of reaching for the high-hanging fruit, and, ultimately, on how relevant or not our personal scientific contributions are to the broader scientific community. Writing it brought back memories of my unique and sadly lost postdoctoral advisor Ken Downing, who dreamt of this structure and brought it to fruition against all odds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Nogales
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3220
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30
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Santos CV, Rogers SL, Carter AP. CryoET shows cofilactin filaments inside the microtubule lumen. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.31.535077. [PMID: 37034688 PMCID: PMC10081314 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.31.535077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic microtubules are tubular polymers that can harbor small proteins or filaments inside their lumen. The identity of these objects and what causes their accumulation has not been conclusively established. Here, we used cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) of Drosophila S2 cell protrusions and found filaments inside the microtubule lumen, which resemble those reported recently in human HAP1 cells. The frequency of these filaments increased upon inhibition of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase (SERCA) with the small-molecule drug thapsigargin. Subtomogram averaging showed that the luminal filaments adopt a helical structure reminiscent of cofilin-bound actin (cofilactin). Consistent with this, cofilin was activated in cells under the same conditions that increased luminal filament occurrence. Furthermore, RNAi knock-down of cofilin reduced the frequency of luminal filaments with cofilactin morphology. These results suggest that cofilin activation stimulates its accumulation on actin filaments inside the microtubule lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen L. Rogers
- Department of Biology and Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Andrew P. Carter
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Ave, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
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31
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Río-Bergé C, Cong Y, Reggiori F. Getting on the right track: Interactions between viruses and the cytoskeletal motor proteins. Traffic 2023; 24:114-130. [PMID: 35146839 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton is an essential component of the cell and it is involved in multiple physiological functions, including intracellular organization and transport. It is composed of three main families of proteinaceous filaments; microtubules, actin filaments and intermediate filaments and their accessory proteins. Motor proteins, which comprise the dynein, kinesin and myosin superfamilies, are a remarkable group of accessory proteins that mainly mediate the intracellular transport of cargoes along with the cytoskeleton. Like other cellular structures and pathways, viruses can exploit the cytoskeleton to promote different steps of their life cycle through associations with motor proteins. The complexity of the cytoskeleton and the differences among viruses, however, has led to a wide diversity of interactions, which in most cases remain poorly understood. Unveiling the details of these interactions is necessary not only for a better comprehension of specific infections, but may also reveal new potential drug targets to fight dreadful diseases such as rabies disease and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this review, we describe a few examples of the mechanisms that some human viruses, that is, rabies virus, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus, influenza A virus and papillomavirus, have developed to hijack dyneins, kinesins and myosins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clàudia Río-Bergé
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Molecular Cell Biology Section, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yingying Cong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Molecular Cell Biology Section, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fulvio Reggiori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Molecular Cell Biology Section, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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32
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Rosito M, Sanchini C, Gosti G, Moreno M, De Panfilis S, Giubettini M, Debellis D, Catalano F, Peruzzi G, Marotta R, Indrieri A, De Leonibus E, De Stefano ME, Ragozzino D, Ruocco G, Di Angelantonio S, Bartolini F. Microglia reactivity entails microtubule remodeling from acentrosomal to centrosomal arrays. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112104. [PMID: 36787220 PMCID: PMC10423306 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia reactivity entails a large-scale remodeling of cellular geometry, but the behavior of the microtubule cytoskeleton during these changes remains unexplored. Here we show that activated microglia provide an example of microtubule reorganization from a non-centrosomal array of parallel and stable microtubules to a radial array of more dynamic microtubules. While in the homeostatic state, microglia nucleate microtubules at Golgi outposts, and activating signaling induces recruitment of nucleating material nearby the centrosome, a process inhibited by microtubule stabilization. Our results demonstrate that a hallmark of microglia reactivity is a striking remodeling of the microtubule cytoskeleton and suggest that while pericentrosomal microtubule nucleation may serve as a distinct marker of microglia activation, inhibition of microtubule dynamics may provide a different strategy to reduce microglia reactivity in inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosito
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Sanchini
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gosti
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy; Soft and Living Matter Laboratory, Institute of Nanotechnology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Moreno
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Simone De Panfilis
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Doriana Debellis
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Catalano
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Marotta
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Alessia Indrieri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Research Council, 20090 Milan, Italy
| | - Elvira De Leonibus
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; Institute of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Research Council, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Egle De Stefano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia), 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy; Department of Physics, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; D-Tails s.r.l, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Bartolini
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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33
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Song Q, Gao W, Du C, Wang J, Zuo K. Cotton microtubule-associated protein GhMAP20L5 mediates fiber elongation through the interaction with the tubulin GhTUB13. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 327:111545. [PMID: 36464024 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Targeting proteins for Xklp2 (TPX2s) comprise a class of MAPs that are essential for plant growth and development by regulating the dynamic changes of microtubules (MTs) and proper formation of cytoskeleton. However, the function of TPX2 proteins in cotton fiber development remains poorly understood. Here, we identified the function of a fiber elongation-specific TPX2 protein, GhMAP20L5, in cotton. Suppressed GhMAP20L5 gene expression in cotton (GhMAP20L5i) significantly reduced fiber elongation rate, fiber length and lint percentage. GhMAP20L5i fibers had thinner and looser secondary cell walls (SCW), and incompact helix twists. GhMAP20L5 specifically interacted with the tubulin GhTUB13 on the cytoskeleton. Gene coexpression analysis showed that GhMAP20L5 involved in multiple pathways related to cytoskeleton establishment and fiber cell wall formation and affected cellulase genes expressions. In summary, our results revealed that GhMAP20L5 is important for fiber development by regulating cytoskeleton establishment and the cellulose deposition in cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwei Song
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wanting Gao
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chuanhui Du
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Kaijing Zuo
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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34
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Pereira R, Sousa M. Morphological and Molecular Bases of Male Infertility: A Closer Look at Sperm Flagellum. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020383. [PMID: 36833310 PMCID: PMC9956255 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a major health problem worldwide without an effective therapy or cure. It is estimated to affect 8-12% of couples in the reproductive age group, equally affecting both genders. There is no single cause of infertility, and its knowledge is still far from complete, with about 30% of infertile couples having no cause identified (named idiopathic infertility). Among male causes of infertility, asthenozoospermia (i.e., reduced sperm motility) is one of the most observed, being estimated that more than 20% of infertile men have this condition. In recent years, many researchers have focused on possible factors leading to asthenozoospermia, revealing the existence of many cellular and molecular players. So far, more than 4000 genes are thought to be involved in sperm production and as regulators of different aspects of sperm development, maturation, and function, and all can potentially cause male infertility if mutated. In this review, we aim to give a brief overview of the typical sperm flagellum morphology and compile some of the most relevant information regarding the genetic factors involved in male infertility, with a focus on sperm immotility and on genes related to sperm flagellum development, structure, or function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rute Pereira
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- UMIB-Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ITR-Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +35-1918-127-817
| | - Mário Sousa
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- UMIB-Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ITR-Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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35
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Oliva M, Gago F, Kamimura S, Díaz JF. Alternative Approaches to Understand Microtubule Cap Morphology and Function. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:3540-3550. [PMID: 36743020 PMCID: PMC9893253 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) are essential cellular machines built from concatenated αβ-tubulin heterodimers. They are responsible for two central and opposite functions from the dynamic point of view: scaffolding (static filaments) and force generation (dynamic MTs). These roles engage multiple physiological processes, including cell shape, polarization, division and movement, and intracellular long-distance transport. At the most basic level, the MT regulation is chemical because GTP binding and hydrolysis have the ability to promote assembly and disassembly in the absence of any other constraint. Due to the stochastic GTP hydrolysis, a chemical gradient from GTP-bound to GDP-bound tubulin is created at the MT growing end (GTP cap), which is translated into a cascade of structural regulatory changes known as MT maturation. This is an area of intense research, and several models have been proposed based on information mostly gathered from macromolecular crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy studies. However, these classical structural biology methods lack temporal resolution and can be complemented, as shown in this mini-review, by other approaches such as time-resolved fiber diffraction and computational modeling. Together with studies on structurally similar tubulins from the prokaryotic world, these inputs can provide novel insights on MT assembly, dynamics, and the GTP cap.
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Affiliation(s)
- María
Ángela Oliva
- Unidad
de Desarrollo de Fármacos Biológicos, Inmunológicos
y Químicos, Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Gago
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and IQM-UAH Associate Unit, University of Alcalá, E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Shinji Kamimura
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 112-8551 Tokyo, Japan
| | - J. Fernando Díaz
- Unidad
de Desarrollo de Fármacos Biológicos, Inmunológicos
y Químicos, Centro de Investigaciones
Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
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36
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Tsuji C, Dodding MP. Lumenal components of cytoplasmic microtubules. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:1953-1962. [PMID: 36524962 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The lumen of cytoplasmic microtubules is a poorly explored expanse of intracellular space. Although typically represented in textbooks as a hollow tube, studies over several decades have shown that the microtubule lumen is occupied by a range of morphologically diverse components. These are predominantly globular particles of varying sizes which appear to exist either in isolation, bind to the microtubule wall, or form discontinuous columns that extend through the lumenal space. Actin filaments with morphologies distinct from the canonical cytoplasmic forms have also now been found within the microtubule lumen. In this review, we examine the historic literature that observed these lumenal components in tissues from diverse species and integrate it with recent cryo-electron tomography studies that have begun to identify lumenal proteins. We consider their cell and tissue distribution, possible mechanisms of incorporation, and potential functions. It is likely that continuing work in this area will open a new frontier in cytoskeletal biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chisato Tsuji
- School of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Mark P Dodding
- School of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
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37
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Turner KA, Kluczynski DF, Hefner RJ, Moussa RB, Slogar JN, Thekkethottiyil JB, Prine HD, Crossley ER, Flanagan LJ, LaBoy MM, Moran MB, Boyd TG, Kujawski BA, Ruble K, Pap JM, Jaiswal A, Shah TA, Sindhwani P, Avidor-Reiss T. Tubulin posttranslational modifications modify the atypical spermatozoon centriole. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000678. [PMID: 36444375 PMCID: PMC9700210 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Sperm cells are transcriptionally and translationally silent. Therefore, they may use one of the remaining mechanisms to respond to stimuli in their environment, the post-translational modification of their proteins. Here we examined three post-translational modifications, acetylation, glutamylation, and glycylation of the protein tubulin in human and cattle sperm. Tubulin is the monomer that makes up microtubules, and microtubules constitute the core component of both the sperm centrioles and the axoneme. We found that the sperm of both species were labeled by antibodies against acetylated tubulin and glutamylated tubulin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
,
Correspondence to: Tomer Avidor-Reiss (
)
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38
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Hoff KJ, Neumann AJ, Moore JK. The molecular biology of tubulinopathies: Understanding the impact of variants on tubulin structure and microtubule regulation. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1023267. [PMID: 36406756 PMCID: PMC9666403 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1023267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous, missense mutations in both α- and β-tubulin genes have been linked to an array of neurodevelopment disorders, commonly referred to as "tubulinopathies." To date, tubulinopathy mutations have been identified in three β-tubulin isotypes and one α-tubulin isotype. These mutations occur throughout the different genetic domains and protein structures of these tubulin isotypes, and the field is working to address how this molecular-level diversity results in different cellular and tissue-level pathologies. Studies from many groups have focused on elucidating the consequences of individual mutations; however, the field lacks comprehensive models for the molecular etiology of different types of tubulinopathies, presenting a major gap in diagnosis and treatment. This review highlights recent advances in understanding tubulin structural dynamics, the roles microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) play in microtubule regulation, and how these are inextricably linked. We emphasize the value of investigating interactions between tubulin structures, microtubules, and MAPs to understand and predict the impact of tubulinopathy mutations at the cell and tissue levels. Microtubule regulation is multifaceted and provides a complex set of controls for generating a functional cytoskeleton at the right place and right time during neurodevelopment. Understanding how tubulinopathy mutations disrupt distinct subsets of those controls, and how that ultimately disrupts neurodevelopment, will be important for establishing mechanistic themes among tubulinopathies that may lead to insights in other neurodevelopment disorders and normal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffrey K. Moore
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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39
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Radwitz J, Hausrat TJ, Heisler FF, Janiesch PC, Pechmann Y, Rübhausen M, Kneussel M. Tubb3 expression levels are sensitive to neuronal activity changes and determine microtubule growth and kinesin-mediated transport. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:575. [DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04607-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMicrotubules are dynamic polymers of α/β-tubulin. They regulate cell structure, cell division, cell migration, and intracellular transport. However, functional contributions of individual tubulin isotypes are incompletely understood. The neuron-specific β-tubulin Tubb3 displays highest expression around early postnatal periods characterized by exuberant synaptogenesis. Although Tubb3 mutations are associated with neuronal disease, including abnormal inhibitory transmission and seizure activity in patients, molecular consequences of altered Tubb3 levels are largely unknown. Likewise, it is unclear whether neuronal activity triggers Tubb3 expression changes in neurons. In this study, we initially asked whether chemical protocols to induce long-term potentiation (cLTP) affect microtubule growth and the expression of individual tubulin isotypes. We found that growing microtubules and Tubb3 expression are sensitive to changes in neuronal activity and asked for consequences of Tubb3 downregulation in neurons. Our data revealed that reduced Tubb3 levels accelerated microtubule growth in axons and dendrites. Remarkably, Tubb3 knockdown induced a specific upregulation of Tubb4 gene expression, without changing other tubulin isotypes. We further found that Tubb3 downregulation reduces tubulin polyglutamylation, increases KIF5C motility and boosts the transport of its synaptic cargo N-Cadherin, which is known to regulate synaptogenesis and long-term potentiation. Due to the large number of tubulin isotypes, we developed and applied a computational model based on a Monte Carlo simulation to understand consequences of tubulin expression changes in silico. Together, our data suggest a feedback mechanism with neuronal activity regulating tubulin expression and consequently microtubule dynamics underlying the delivery of synaptic cargoes.
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40
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Adak A, Das G, Gupta V, Khan J, Mukherjee N, Mondal P, Roy R, Barman S, Gharai PK, Ghosh S. Evolution of Potential Antimitotic Stapled Peptides from Multiple Helical Peptide Stretches of the Tubulin Heterodimer Interface: Helix-Mimicking Stapled Peptide Tubulin Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13866-13878. [PMID: 36240440 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions play a crucial role in microtubule dynamics. Microtubules are considered as a key target for the design and development of anticancer therapeutics, where inhibition of tubulin-tubulin interactions plays a crucial role. Here, we focused on a few key helical stretches at the interface of α,β-tubulin heterodimers and developed a structural mimic of these helical peptides, which can serve as potent inhibitors of microtubule polymerization. To induce helicity, we have made stapled analogues of these sequences. Thereafter, we modified the lead sequences of the antimitotic stapled peptides with halo derivatives. It is observed that halo-substituted stapled peptides follow an interesting trend for the electronegativity of halogen atoms in interaction patterns with tubulin and a correlation in the toxicity profile. Remarkably, we found that para-fluorophenylalanine-modified stapled peptide is the most potent inhibitors, which perturbs microtubule dynamics, induces apoptotic death, and inhibits the growth of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindyasundar Adak
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Gaurav Das
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Varsha Gupta
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Juhee Khan
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Nabanita Mukherjee
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Prasenjit Mondal
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Rajsekhar Roy
- Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Surajit Barman
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Prabir Kumar Gharai
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 032, India.,Department of Bioscience & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India.,Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Surpura Bypass Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
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41
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Ariga K, Tashiro M. Change in the graphics of journal articles in the life sciences field: analysis of figures and tables in the journal "Cell". HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 44:33. [PMID: 35918565 PMCID: PMC9345845 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-022-00516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine how trends in the use of images in modern life science journals have changed since the spread of computer-based visual and imaging technology. To this end, a new classification system was constructed to analyze how the graphics of a scientific journal have changed over the years. The focus was on one international peer-reviewed journal in life sciences, Cell, which was founded in 1974, whereby 1725 figures and 160 tables from the research articles in Cell were sampled. The unit of classification was defined as a graphic and the figures and tables were divided into 5952 graphics. These graphics were further classified into hierarchical categories, and the data in each category were aggregated every five years. The following categories were observed: (1) data graphics, (2) explanation graphics, and (3) hybrid graphics. Data graphics increased by more than sixfold between 1974 and 2014, and some types of data graphics including mechanical reproduction images and bar charts displayed notable changes. The representation of explanatory graphics changed from hand-painted illustrations to diagrams of Bezier-curves. It is suggested that in addition to the development of experimental technologies such as fluorescent microscopy and big data analysis, continuously evolving application software for image creation and researchers' motivation to convince reviewers and editors have influenced these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kana Ariga
- Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
- LAIMAN, Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
- College of Arts and Sciences, J. F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Manabu Tashiro
- Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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42
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Alpízar-Pedraza D, Veulens ADLN, Araujo EC, Piloto-Ferrer J, Sánchez-Lamar Á. Microtubules destabilizing agents binding sites in tubulin. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.132723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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43
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Lam NT, McCluskey JB, Glover DJ. Harnessing the Structural and Functional Diversity of Protein Filaments as Biomaterial Scaffolds. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:4668-4686. [PMID: 35766918 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The natural ability of many proteins to polymerize into highly structured filaments has been harnessed as scaffolds to align functional molecules in a diverse range of biomaterials. Protein-engineering methodologies also enable the structural and physical properties of filaments to be tailored for specific biomaterial applications through genetic engineering or filaments built from the ground up using advances in the computational prediction of protein folding and assembly. Using these approaches, protein filament-based biomaterials have been engineered to accelerate enzymatic catalysis, provide routes for the biomineralization of inorganic materials, facilitate energy production and transfer, and provide support for mammalian cells for tissue engineering. In this review, we describe how the unique structural and functional diversity in natural and computationally designed protein filaments can be harnessed in biomaterials. In addition, we detail applications of these protein assemblies as material scaffolds with a particular emphasis on applications that exploit unique properties of specific filaments. Through the diversity of protein filaments, the biomaterial engineer's toolbox contains many modular protein filaments that will likely be incorporated as the main structural component of future biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nga T Lam
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Joshua B McCluskey
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Dominic J Glover
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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44
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Imasaki T, Kikkawa S, Niwa S, Saijo-Hamano Y, Shigematsu H, Aoyama K, Mitsuoka K, Shimizu T, Aoki M, Sakamoto A, Tomabechi Y, Sakai N, Shirouzu M, Taguchi S, Yamagishi Y, Setsu T, Sakihama Y, Nitta E, Takeichi M, Nitta R. CAMSAP2 organizes a γ-tubulin-independent microtubule nucleation centre through phase separation. eLife 2022; 11:77365. [PMID: 35762204 PMCID: PMC9239687 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77365] [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: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are dynamic polymers consisting of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. The initial polymerization process, called microtubule nucleation, occurs spontaneously via αβ-tubulin. Since a large energy barrier prevents microtubule nucleation in cells, the γ-tubulin ring complex is recruited to the centrosome to overcome the nucleation barrier. However, a considerable number of microtubules can polymerize independently of the centrosome in various cell types. Here, we present evidence that the minus-end-binding calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 2 (CAMSAP2) serves as a strong nucleator for microtubule formation by significantly reducing the nucleation barrier. CAMSAP2 co-condensates with αβ-tubulin via a phase separation process, producing plenty of nucleation intermediates. Microtubules then radiate from the co-condensates, resulting in aster-like structure formation. CAMSAP2 localizes at the co-condensates and decorates the radiating microtubule lattices to some extent. Taken together, these in vitro findings suggest that CAMSAP2 supports microtubule nucleation and growth by organizing a nucleation centre as well as by stabilizing microtubule intermediates and growing microtubules. Cells are able to hold their shape thanks to tube-like structures called microtubules that are made of hundreds of tubulin proteins. Microtubules are responsible for maintaining the uneven distribution of molecules throughout the cell, a phenomenon known as polarity that allows cells to differentiate into different types with various roles. A protein complex called the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) is necessary for microtubules to form. This protein helps bind the tubulin proteins together and stabilises microtubules. However, recent research has found that in highly polarized cells such as neurons, which have highly specialised regions, microtubules can form without γ-TuRC. Searching for the proteins that could be filling in for γ-TuRC in these cells some evidence has suggested that a group known as CAMSAPs may be involved, but it is not known how. To characterize the role of CAMSAPs, Imasaki, Kikkawa et al. studied how one of these proteins, CAMSAP2, interacts with tubulins. To do this, they reconstituted both CAMSAP2 and tubulins using recombinant biotechnology and mixed them in solution. These experiments showed that CAMSAP2 can help form microtubules by bringing together their constituent proteins so that they can bind to each other more easily. Once microtubules start to form, CAMSAP2 continues to bind to them, stabilizing them and enabling them to grow to full size. These results shed light on how polarity is established in cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and epithelial cells. Additionally, the ability to observe intermediate structures during microtubule formation can provide insights into the processes that these structures are involved in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Imasaki
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,JST, PRESTO, Saitama, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kikkawa
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Niwa
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saijo-Hamano
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hideki Shigematsu
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan.,Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Aoyama
- Materials and Structural Analysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kaoru Mitsuoka
- Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shimizu
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mari Aoki
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayako Sakamoto
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuri Tomabechi
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naoki Sakai
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan.,Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Hyogo, Japan
| | - Mikako Shirouzu
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shinya Taguchi
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yamagishi
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tomiyoshi Setsu
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Sakihama
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Eriko Nitta
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Nitta
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
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45
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Hameroff S. Consciousness, Cognition and the Neuronal Cytoskeleton - A New Paradigm Needed in Neuroscience. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:869935. [PMID: 35782391 PMCID: PMC9245524 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.869935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Viewing the brain as a complex computer of simple neurons cannot account for consciousness nor essential features of cognition. Single cell organisms with no synapses perform purposeful intelligent functions using their cytoskeletal microtubules. A new paradigm is needed to view the brain as a scale-invariant hierarchy extending both upward from the level of neurons to larger and larger neuronal networks, but also downward, inward, to deeper, faster quantum and classical processes in cytoskeletal microtubules inside neurons. Evidence shows self-similar patterns of conductive resonances repeating in terahertz, gigahertz, megahertz, kilohertz and hertz frequency ranges in microtubules. These conductive resonances apparently originate in terahertz quantum dipole oscillations and optical interactions among pi electron resonance clouds of aromatic amino acid rings of tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine within each tubulin, the component subunit of microtubules, and the brain's most abundant protein. Evidence from cultured neuronal networks also now shows that gigahertz and megahertz oscillations in dendritic-somatic microtubules regulate specific firings of distal axonal branches, causally modulating membrane and synaptic activities. The brain should be viewed as a scale-invariant hierarchy, with quantum and classical processes critical to consciousness and cognition originating in microtubules inside neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Hameroff
- Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Psychology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center for Consciousness Studies, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Xiao H, He H, Wu T, Ni X, Liu F, Yin F, Peng J. Functional Investigation of TUBB4A Variants Associated with Different Clinical Phenotypes. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:5056-5069. [PMID: 35668344 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02900-9] [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: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Dominant TUBB4A variants result in different phenotypes, including hypomyelination with atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum (H-ABC), dystonia type 4 (DYT4), and isolated hypomyelination. Here, we report four new patients with a novel TUBB4A variant (p.K324T) and three new patients with previously reported variants (p.Q292K, p.V255I, p.E410K). The individual carrying the novel p.K324T variant exhibits epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), while the other three have isolated hypomyelination phenotype. We also present a study of the cellular effects of TUBB4A variants responsible for H-ABC (p.D249N), DYT4 (p.R2G), a severe combined phenotype with combination of hypomyelination and EIMFS (p.K324T), and isolated hypomyelination (p.Q292K and p.E410K) on microtubule stability and dynamics, neurite outgrowth, dendritic spine development, and kinesin binding. Cellular-based assays reveal that all variants except p.R2G increase microtubule stability, decrease microtubule polymerization rates, reduce axonal outgrowth, and alter the density and shape of dendritic spines. We also find that the p.K324T and p.E410K variants perturb the binding of TUBB4A to KIF1A, a neuron-specific kinesin required for transport of synaptic vesicle precursors. Taken together, our data suggest that impaired microtubule stability and dynamics, defected axonal growth, and dendritic spine development form the common molecular basis of TUBB4A-related leukodystrophy. Impairment of TUBB4A binding to KIF1A is more likely to be involved in the isolated hypomyelination phenotype, which suggests that alterations in kinesin binding may cause different phenotypes. In conclusion, our study extends the spectrum of TUBB4A mutations and related phenotypes and provides insight into why different TUBB4A variants cause distinct clinical phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Hailan He
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Tenghui Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Ni
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Fangyun Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Fei Yin
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410005, Hunan, China.
- Hunan Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Changsha, 410005, China.
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Mallet A, Bastin P. Restriction of intraflagellar transport to some microtubule doublets: An opportunity for cilia diversification? Bioessays 2022; 44:e2200031. [PMID: 35638546 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cilia are unique eukaryotic organelles and exhibit remarkable conservation across evolution. Nevertheless, very different types of configurations are encountered, raising the question of their evolution. Cilia are constructed by intraflagellar transport (IFT), the movement of large protein complexes or trains that deliver cilia components to the distal tip for assembly. Recent data revealed that IFT trains are restricted to some but not all nine doublet microtubules in the protist Trypanosoma brucei. Here, we propose that restricted positioning of IFT trains could offer potent options for cilia to evolve towards more complex (addition of new structural elements like in spermatozoa) or simpler configuration (loss of some elements like in primary cilia), and therefore be a driver of cilia diversification. We present two hypotheses to explain how IFT trains could be restricted to some doublets, either by a triage process taking place at the basal body level or by the development of molecular differences between ciliary microtubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Mallet
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Paris, F-75015, France.,Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, Université de Paris Sorbonne, Ultrastructural Bioimaging Unit, Paris, F-75015, France
| | - Philippe Bastin
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1201, Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, Paris, F-75015, France
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Joshi FM, Viar GA, Pigino G, Drechsler H, Diez S. Fabrication of High Aspect Ratio Gold Nanowires within the Microtubule Lumen. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:3659-3667. [PMID: 35446032 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gold nanowires have great potential use as interconnects in electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic devices. To date, there are various fabrication strategies for gold nanowires, each one associated with particular drawbacks as they utilize high temperatures, toxic chemicals, or expensive compounds to produce nanowires of suboptimal quality. Inspired by nanowire fabrication strategies that used higher-order biopolymer structures as molds for electroless deposition of gold, we here report a strategy for the growth of gold nanowires from seed nanoparticles within the lumen of microtubules. Luminal targeting of seed particles occurs through covalently linked Fab fragments of an antibody recognizing the acetylated lysine 40 on the luminal side of α-tubulin. Gold nanowires grown by electroless deposition within the microtubule lumen exhibit a homogeneous morphology and high aspect ratios with a mean diameter of 20 nm. Our approach is fast, simple, and inexpensive and does not require toxic chemicals or other harsh conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foram M Joshi
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Alvarez Viar
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gaia Pigino
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Human Technopole, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Hauke Drechsler
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Diez
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Kulkarni R, Thakur A, Kumar H. Microtubule Dynamics Following Central and Peripheral Nervous System Axotomy. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1358-1369. [PMID: 35451811 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Disturbance in the neuronal network leads to instability in the microtubule (MT) railroad of axons, causing hindrance in the intra-axonal transport and making it difficult to re-establish the broken network. Peripheral nervous system (PNS) neurons can stabilize their MTs, leading to the formation of regeneration-promoting structures called "growth cones". However, central nervous system (CNS) neurons lack this intrinsic reparative capability and, instead, form growth-incompetent structures called "retraction bulbs", which have a disarrayed MT network. It is evident from various studies that although axonal regeneration depends on both cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic factors, any therapy that aims at axonal regeneration ultimately converges onto MTs. Understanding the neuronal MT dynamics will help develop effective therapeutic strategies in diseases where the MT network gets disrupted, such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is also essential to know the factors that aid or inhibit MT stabilization. In this review, we have discussed the MT dynamics postaxotomy in the CNS and PNS, and factors that can directly influence MT stability in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Kulkarni
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ahmedabad, Opposite Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Akshata Thakur
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ahmedabad, Opposite Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Hemant Kumar
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ahmedabad, Opposite Air Force Station, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
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Ludueña RF. Possible Roles of Specific Amino Acids in β-Tubulin Isotypes in the Growth and Maintenance of Neurons: Novel Insights From Cephalopod Mollusks. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:838393. [PMID: 35493322 PMCID: PMC9048481 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.838393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules, are formed of the protein tubulin, which is a heterodimer of α- and β-tubulin subunits. Both α- and β-tubulin exist as numerous isotypes, differing in amino acid sequence and tissue distribution. Among the vertebrate β isotypes, βIII has a very narrow distribution, being found primarily in neurons and in advanced cancers. The places in the amino acid sequence where βIII differs from the other β isotypes are highly conserved in evolution. βIII appears to be highly resistant to reactive oxygen species and it forms highly dynamic microtubules. The first property would be very useful in neurons, which have high concentrations of free radicals, and the high dynamicity would aid neurite outgrowth. The same properties make βIII useful in cancers. Examination of the amino acid sequences indicates a cysteine cluster at positions 124-129 in βIII (CXXCXC). This occurs in all βIII isotypes but not in βI, βII, or βIV. βIII also lacks the easily oxidized C239. Both features could play roles in free radical resistance. Many aggressive tumors over-express βIII. However, a recent study of breast cancer patients showed that many of them mutated their βI, βII, and βIV at particular places to change the residues to those found at the corresponding sites in βIII; these are all sites that are highly conserved in vertebrate βIII. It is possible that these residues are important, not only in the resistance to free radicals, but also in the high dynamicity of βIII. The cephalopod mollusks are well known to be highly intelligent and can remodel their own brains. Interestingly, several cephalopods contain the cysteine cluster as well as up to 7 of the 17 residues that are highly conserved in vertebrate βIII, but are not found in βI, βII, or βIV. In short, it is possible that we are looking at a case of convergent evolution, that a βIII-like isotype may be required for neuronal growth and function and that a structure-function study of the particular residues conserved between vertebrate βIII and cephalopod tubulin isotypes could greatly increase our understanding of the role of the various tubulin isotypes in neuronal growth and function and could aid in the development of novel anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard F. Ludueña
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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