1
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Wan L, Zhu Y, Zhang W, Mu W. Recent advances in design and application of synthetic membraneless organelles. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 73:108355. [PMID: 38588907 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108355] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) have been extensively studied due to their spatiotemporal control of biochemical and cellular processes in living cells. These findings have provided valuable insights into the physicochemical principles underlying the formation and functionalization of biomolecular condensates, which paves the way for the development of versatile phase-separating systems capable of addressing a variety of application scenarios. Here, we highlight the potential of constructing synthetic MLOs with programmable and functional properties. Notably, we organize how these synthetic membraneless compartments have been capitalized to manipulate enzymatic activities and metabolic reactions. The aim of this review is to inspire readerships to deeply comprehend the widespread roles of synthetic MLOs in the regulation enzymatic reactions and control of metabolic processes, and to encourage the rational design of controllable and functional membraneless compartments for a broad range of bioengineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yingying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Wenli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Wanmeng Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
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2
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Ramisetty S, Subbalakshmi AR, Pareek S, Mirzapoiazova T, Do D, Prabhakar D, Pisick E, Shrestha S, Achuthan S, Bhattacharya S, Malhotra J, Mohanty A, Singhal SS, Salgia R, Kulkarni P. Leveraging Cancer Phenotypic Plasticity for Novel Treatment Strategies. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3337. [PMID: 38893049 PMCID: PMC11172618 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells, like all other organisms, are adept at switching their phenotype to adjust to the changes in their environment. Thus, phenotypic plasticity is a quantitative trait that confers a fitness advantage to the cancer cell by altering its phenotype to suit environmental circumstances. Until recently, new traits, especially in cancer, were thought to arise due to genetic factors; however, it is now amply evident that such traits could also emerge non-genetically due to phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, phenotypic plasticity of cancer cells contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity in the population, which is a major impediment in treating the disease. Finally, plasticity also impacts the group behavior of cancer cells, since competition and cooperation among multiple clonal groups within the population and the interactions they have with the tumor microenvironment also contribute to the evolution of drug resistance. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that cancer cells exploit to tailor their phenotypes at a systems level can aid the development of novel cancer therapeutics and treatment strategies. Here, we present our perspective on a team medicine-based approach to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon to develop new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sravani Ramisetty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Ayalur Raghu Subbalakshmi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Siddhika Pareek
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Tamara Mirzapoiazova
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Dana Do
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Dhivya Prabhakar
- City of Hope Atlanta, 600 Celebrate Life Parkway, Newnan, GA 30265, USA;
| | - Evan Pisick
- City of Hope Chicago, 2520 Elisha Avenue, Zion, IL 60099, USA;
| | - Sagun Shrestha
- City of Hope Phoenix, 14200 West Celebrate Life Way, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USA;
| | - Srisairam Achuthan
- Center for Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Integrative Genomics Core, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Jyoti Malhotra
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Sharad S. Singhal
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (S.R.); (A.R.S.); (S.P.); (T.M.); (D.D.); (J.M.); (A.M.); (S.S.S.)
- Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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3
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Ashraf HN, Uversky VN. Intrinsic Disorder in the Host Proteins Entrapped in Rabies Virus Particles. Viruses 2024; 16:916. [PMID: 38932209 PMCID: PMC11209445 DOI: 10.3390/v16060916] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A proteomics analysis of purified rabies virus (RABV) revealed 47 entrapped host proteins within the viral particles. Out of these, 11 proteins were highly disordered. Our study was particularly focused on five of the RABV-entrapped mouse proteins with the highest levels of disorder: Neuromodulin, Chmp4b, DnaJB6, Vps37B, and Wasl. We extensively utilized bioinformatics tools, such as FuzDrop, D2P2, UniProt, RIDAO, STRING, AlphaFold, and ELM, for a comprehensive analysis of the intrinsic disorder propensity of these proteins. Our analysis suggested that these disordered host proteins might play a significant role in facilitating the rabies virus pathogenicity, immune system evasion, and the development of antiviral drug resistance. Our study highlighted the complex interaction of the virus with its host, with a focus on how the intrinsic disorder can play a crucial role in virus pathogenic processes, and suggested that these intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and disorder-related host interactions can also be a potential target for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiza Nimra Ashraf
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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Yang Y, Ahmad E, Premkumar V, Liu A, Ashikur Rahman SM, Nikolovska‐Coleska Z. Structural studies of intrinsically disordered MLL-fusion protein AF9 in complex with peptidomimetic inhibitors. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5019. [PMID: 38747396 PMCID: PMC11094776 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
AF9 (MLLT3) and its paralog ENL(MLLT1) are members of the YEATS family of proteins with important role in transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory complexes. These proteins are two common MLL fusion partners in MLL-rearranged leukemias. The oncofusion proteins MLL-AF9/ENL recruit multiple binding partners, including the histone methyltransferase DOT1L, leading to aberrant transcriptional activation and enhancing the expression of a characteristic set of genes that drive leukemogenesis. The interaction between AF9 and DOT1L is mediated by an intrinsically disordered C-terminal ANC1 homology domain (AHD) in AF9, which undergoes folding upon binding of DOT1L and other partner proteins. We have recently reported peptidomimetics that disrupt the recruitment of DOT1L by AF9 and ENL, providing a proof-of-concept for targeting AHD and assessing its druggability. Intrinsically disordered proteins, such as AF9 AHD, are difficult to study and characterize experimentally on a structural level. In this study, we present a successful protein engineering strategy to facilitate structural investigation of the intrinsically disordered AF9 AHD domain in complex with peptidomimetic inhibitors by using maltose binding protein (MBP) as a crystallization chaperone connected with linkers of varying flexibility and length. The strategic incorporation of disulfide bonds provided diffraction-quality crystals of the two disulfide-bridged MBP-AF9 AHD fusion proteins in complex with the peptidomimetics. These successfully determined first series of 2.1-2.6 Å crystal complex structures provide high-resolution insights into the interactions between AHD and its inhibitors, shedding light on the role of AHD in recruiting various binding partner proteins. We show that the overall complex structures closely resemble the reported NMR structure of AF9 AHD/DOT1L with notable difference in the conformation of the β-hairpin region, stabilized through conserved hydrogen bonds network. These first series of AF9 AHD/peptidomimetics complex structures are providing insights of the protein-inhibitor interactions and will facilitate further development of novel inhibitors targeting the AF9/ENL AHD domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Yang
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Vidhya Premkumar
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Alicen Liu
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - S. M. Ashikur Rahman
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Zaneta Nikolovska‐Coleska
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- Rogel Cancer CenterUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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5
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Viegas RG, Martins IBS, Leite VBP. Understanding the Energy Landscape of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Ensembles. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4149-4157. [PMID: 38713459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
A substantial portion of various organisms' proteomes comprises intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that lack a defined three-dimensional structure. These IDPs exhibit a diverse array of conformations, displaying remarkable spatiotemporal heterogeneity and exceptional conformational flexibility. Characterizing the structure or structural ensemble of IDPs presents significant conceptual and methodological challenges owing to the absence of a well-defined native structure. While databases such as the Protein Ensemble Database (PED) provide IDP ensembles obtained through a combination of experimental data and molecular modeling, the absence of reaction coordinates poses challenges in comprehensively understanding pertinent aspects of the system. In this study, we leverage the energy landscape visualization method (JCTC, 6482, 2019) to scrutinize four IDP ensembles sourced from PED. ELViM, a methodology that circumvents the need for a priori reaction coordinates, aids in analyzing the ensembles. The specific IDP ensembles investigated are as follows: two fragments of nucleoporin (NUL: 884-993 and NUS: 1313-1390), yeast sic 1 N-terminal (1-90), and the N-terminal SH3 domain of Drk (1-59). Utilizing ELViM enables the comprehensive validation of ensembles, facilitating the detection of potential inconsistencies in the sampling process. Additionally, it allows for identifying and characterizing the most prevalent conformations within an ensemble. Moreover, ELViM facilitates the comparative analysis of ensembles obtained under diverse conditions, thereby providing a powerful tool for investigating the functional mechanisms of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael G Viegas
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo (IFSP), Catanduva, São Paulo 15.808-305, Brazil
- Department of Physics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Ingrid B S Martins
- Department of Physics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Vitor B P Leite
- Department of Physics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
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6
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Argudo PG. Lipids and proteins: Insights into the dynamics of assembly, recognition, condensate formation. What is still missing? Biointerphases 2024; 19:038501. [PMID: 38922634 DOI: 10.1116/6.0003662] [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: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipid membranes and proteins, which are part of us throughout our lives, have been studied for decades. However, every year, new discoveries show how little we know about them. In a reader-friendly manner for people not involved in the field, this paper tries to serve as a bridge between physicists and biologists and new young researchers diving into the field to show its relevance, pointing out just some of the plethora of lines of research yet to be unraveled. It illustrates how new ways, from experimental to theoretical approaches, are needed in order to understand the structures and interactions that take place in a single lipid, protein, or multicomponent system, as we are still only scratching the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo G Argudo
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Mainz 55128, Germany
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7
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Yu Q, Wang Z, Tu Y, Cao Y, Zhu H, Shao J, Zhuang R, Zhou Y, Zhang J. Proteasome activation: A novel strategy for targeting undruggable intrinsically disordered proteins. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107217. [PMID: 38368657 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107217] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are characterized by their inability to adopt well-defined tertiary structures under physiological conditions. Nonetheless, they often play pivotal roles in the progression of various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular ailments. Owing to their inherent dynamism, conventional drug design approaches based on structural considerations encounter substantial challenges when applied to IDPs. Consequently, the pursuit of therapeutic interventions directed towards IDPs presents a complex endeavor. While there are indeed existing methodologies for targeting IDPs, they are encumbered by noteworthy constrains. Hence, there exists an imminent imperative to investigate more efficacious and universally applicable strategies for modulating IDPs. Here, we present an overview of the latest advancements in the research pertaining to IDPs, along with the indirect regulation approach involving the modulation of IDP degradation through proteasome. By comprehending these advancements in research, novel insights can be generated to facilitate the development of new drugs targeted at addressing the accumulation of IDPs in diverse pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yutong Tu
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou, 310023, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Huajian Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiaan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Rangxiao Zhuang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Preparation, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou, 310023, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Yubo Zhou
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Jiankang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang Province, China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang Province, China.
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8
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Shang B, Li C, Zhang X. How intrinsically disordered proteins order plant gene silencing. Trends Genet 2024; 40:260-275. [PMID: 38296708 PMCID: PMC10932933 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.12.009] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) possess low sequence complexity of amino acids and display non-globular tertiary structures. They can act as scaffolds, form regulatory hubs, or trigger biomolecular condensation to control diverse aspects of biology. Emerging evidence has recently implicated critical roles of IDPs and IDR-contained proteins in nuclear transcription and cytoplasmic post-transcriptional processes, among other molecular functions. We here summarize the concepts and organizing principles of IDPs. We then illustrate recent progress in understanding the roles of key IDPs in machineries that regulate transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in plants, aiming at highlighting new modes of action of IDPs in controlling biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoshuan Shang
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization (Henan University), State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Changhao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Xiuren Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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9
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Lv H, Duan X, Han Z, Yu H, Liu B. Quencher-free fluorescent assays by controlled DNA partitioning in the aqueous two-phase system with crowding-enhanced kinetics. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 246:115864. [PMID: 38039730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115864] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescent DNA assays are promising in disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and drug screening, encompassing both heterogeneous and homogeneous assay types. Nevertheless, heterogeneous assays suffer from tedious washing steps and slow reaction kinetics, whereas homogenous assays require well-designed fluorophore pairs to modulate signal off/on. Herein, we developed a cost-effective and efficient quencher-free fluorescent DNA assay using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). Using a strand-displacement reaction, we showed that similar sensing performance could be achieved at a much lower cost. Furthermore, the unique crowding environment in ATPS accelerated strand-displacement reactions by up to six-fold and reduced DNA amplification time from 120 min to 30 min. Our assay demonstrated robust sensing in serum environments and successful detection of miRNA extracted from cells. This innovative assay format has the potential for biosensor development with both heterogeneous readout and rapid reaction kinetics in various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Lv
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, PR China
| | - Xiaoman Duan
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, PR China
| | - Zhaoyu Han
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, PR China
| | - Haozhen Yu
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, PR China
| | - Biwu Liu
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, PR China.
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10
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Ghosh C, Nagpal S, Muñoz V. Molecular simulations integrated with experiments for probing the interaction dynamics and binding mechanisms of intrinsically disordered proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 84:102756. [PMID: 38118365 PMCID: PMC11242915 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102756] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) exploit their plasticity to deploy a rich panoply of soft interactions and binding phenomena. Advances in tailoring molecular simulations for IDPs combined with experimental cross-validation offer an atomistic view of the mechanisms that control IDP binding, function, and dysfunction. The emerging theme is that unbound IDPs autonomously form transient local structures and self-interactions that determine their binding behavior. Recent results have shed light on whether and how IDPs fold, stay disordered or drive condensation upon binding; how they achieve binding specificity and select among competing partners. The disorder-binding paradigm is now being proactively used by researchers to target IDPs for rational drug design and engineer molecular responsive elements for biosensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Ghosh
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM), University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA. https://twitter.com/cat_ghosh
| | - Suhani Nagpal
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM), University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA; OpenEye, Cadence Molecular Sciences, Boston, 02114 MA, USA
| | - Victor Muñoz
- NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM), University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Merced, Merced, 95343 CA, USA.
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11
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de Raffele D, Ilie IM. Unlocking novel therapies: cyclic peptide design for amyloidogenic targets through synergies of experiments, simulations, and machine learning. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:632-645. [PMID: 38131333 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc04630c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Existing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's address only their symptoms and do not prevent disease onset. Common therapeutic agents, such as small molecules and antibodies struggle with insufficient selectivity, stability and bioavailability, leading to poor performance in clinical trials. Peptide-based therapeutics are emerging as promising candidates, with successful applications for cardiovascular diseases and cancers due to their high bioavailability, good efficacy and specificity. In particular, cyclic peptides have a long in vivo stability, while maintaining a robust antibody-like binding affinity. However, the de novo design of cyclic peptides is challenging due to the lack of long-lived druggable pockets of the target polypeptide, absence of exhaustive conformational distributions of the target and/or the binder, unknown binding site, methodological limitations, associated constraints (failed trials, time, money) and the vast combinatorial sequence space. Hence, efficient alignment and cooperation between disciplines, and synergies between experiments and simulations complemented by popular techniques like machine-learning can significantly speed up the therapeutic cyclic-peptide development for neurodegenerative diseases. We review the latest advancements in cyclic peptide design against amyloidogenic targets from a computational perspective in light of recent advancements and potential of machine learning to optimize the design process. We discuss the difficulties encountered when designing novel peptide-based inhibitors and we propose new strategies incorporating experiments, simulations and machine learning to design cyclic peptides to inhibit the toxic propagation of amyloidogenic polypeptides. Importantly, these strategies extend beyond the mere design of cyclic peptides and serve as template for the de novo generation of (bio)materials with programmable properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria de Raffele
- University of Amsterdam, van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, Science Park 904, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ioana M Ilie
- University of Amsterdam, van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, Science Park 904, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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Pacios LF, Sánchez F, Ponz F. Intrinsic disorder in the dynamic evolution of structure, stability, and flexibility of potyviral VLP assemblies: A computational study. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127798. [PMID: 37924902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127798] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
An all-atom Molecular Dynamics (MD) study was applied to three viral nanoparticles (VLPs) of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), a potyvirus: the particles genetically functionalized with two peptides, VIP (human vasoactive intestinal peptide) and VEGFR (peptide derived from the human receptor 3 of the vascular endothelial growth factor), and the non-functionalized VLP. Previous experimental results showed that VIP-VLP was the only construct of the three that was not viable. VLPs subjected to our MD study were modeled by four complete turns of the particle involving 35 subunits of the coat protein (CP). The MD simulations showed differences in structures and interaction energies associated to the crucial contribution of the disordered N-terminal arms of CP to the global stability of the particle. These differences suggested an overall stability greater in VEGFR-VLP and smaller in VIP-VLP as compared to the unfunctionalized VLP. Our novel MD study of potyviral VLPs revealed essential clues about structure and interactions of these assembled protein particles and suggests that the computational prediction of the viability of VLPs can be a valuable contribution in the field of viral nanobiotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F Pacios
- Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Flora Sánchez
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Ponz
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
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13
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Schröder JM. Discovery of natural bispecific antibodies: Is psoriasis induced by a toxigenic Corynebacterium simulans and maintained by CIDAMPs as autoantigens? Exp Dermatol 2024; 33:e15014. [PMID: 38284202 DOI: 10.1111/exd.15014] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The high abundance of Corynebacterium simulans in psoriasis skin suggests a contribution to the psoriasis aetiology. This hypothesis was tested in an exploratory study, where western blot (WB) analyses with extracts of heat-treated C. simulans and psoriasis serum-derived IgG exhibited a single 16 kDa-WB-band. Proteomic analyses revealed ribosomal proteins as candidate C. s.-antigens. A peptidomic analysis unexpectedly showed that psoriasis serum-derived IgG already contained 31 immunopeptides of Corynebacteria ssp., suggesting the presence of natural bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). Moreover, peptidomic analyses gave 372 DECOY-peptides with similarity to virus- and phage proteins, including Corynebacterium diphtheriae phage, and similarity to diphtheria toxin. Strikingly, a peptidomic analysis for human peptides revealed 64 epitopes of major psoriasis autoantigens such as the spacer region of filaggrin, hornerin repeats and others. Most identified immunopeptides represent potential cationic intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides (CIDAMPs), which are generated within the epidermis. These may form complexes with bacterial disordered protein regions, representing chimeric antigens containing discontinuous epitopes. In addition, among 128 low-abundance immunopeptides, 48 are putatively psoriasis-relevant such as epitope peptides of PGE2-, vitamin D3- and IL-10-receptors. Further, 47 immunopeptides originated from tumour antigens, and the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K. I propose that persistent infection with a toxigenic C. simulans initiates psoriasis, which is exacerbated as an autoimmune disease by CIDAMPs as autoantigens. The discovery of natural BsAbs allows the identification of antigen epitopes from microbes, viruses, autoantigens and tumour-antigens, and may help to develop epitope-specific peptide-vaccines and therapeutic approaches with antigen-specific regulatory T cells to improve immune tolerance in an autoimmune disease-specific-manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens-Michael Schröder
- Department of Dermatology, University-Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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14
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Nussinov R, Liu Y, Zhang W, Jang H. Protein conformational ensembles in function: roles and mechanisms. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:850-864. [PMID: 37920394 PMCID: PMC10619138 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00114h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sequence-structure-function paradigm has dominated twentieth century molecular biology. The paradigm tacitly stipulated that for each sequence there exists a single, well-organized protein structure. Yet, to sustain cell life, function requires (i) that there be more than a single structure, (ii) that there be switching between the structures, and (iii) that the structures be incompletely organized. These fundamental tenets called for an updated sequence-conformational ensemble-function paradigm. The powerful energy landscape idea, which is the foundation of modernized molecular biology, imported the conformational ensemble framework from physics and chemistry. This framework embraces the recognition that proteins are dynamic and are always interconverting between conformational states with varying energies. The more stable the conformation the more populated it is. The changes in the populations of the states are required for cell life. As an example, in vivo, under physiological conditions, wild type kinases commonly populate their more stable "closed", inactive, conformations. However, there are minor populations of the "open", ligand-free states. Upon their stabilization, e.g., by high affinity interactions or mutations, their ensembles shift to occupy the active states. Here we discuss the role of conformational propensities in function. We provide multiple examples of diverse systems, including protein kinases, lipid kinases, and Ras GTPases, discuss diverse conformational mechanisms, and provide a broad outlook on protein ensembles in the cell. We propose that the number of molecules in the active state (inactive for repressors), determine protein function, and that the dynamic, relative conformational propensities, rather than the rigid structures, are the hallmark of cell life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Frederick MD 21702 USA
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 69978 Israel
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute Frederick MD 21702 USA
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute Frederick MD 21702 USA
| | - Wengang Zhang
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute Frederick MD 21702 USA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research Frederick MD 21702 USA
- Cancer Innovation Laboratory, National Cancer Institute Frederick MD 21702 USA
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15
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Ghorbani A, Ngunjiri JM, Rendon G, Brooke CB, Kenney SP, Lee CW. Diversity and Complexity of Internally Deleted Viral Genomes in Influenza A Virus Subpopulations with Enhanced Interferon-Inducing Phenotypes. Viruses 2023; 15:2107. [PMID: 37896883 PMCID: PMC10612045 DOI: 10.3390/v15102107] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) populations harbor large subpopulations of defective-interfering particles characterized by internally deleted viral genomes. These internally deleted genomes have demonstrated the ability to suppress infectivity and boost innate immunity, rendering them promising for therapeutic and immunogenic applications. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diversity and complexity of the internally deleted IAV genomes within a panel of plaque-purified avian influenza viruses selected for their enhanced interferon-inducing phenotypes. Our findings unveiled that the abundance and diversity of internally deleted viral genomes were contingent upon the viral subculture and plaque purification processes. We observed a heightened occurrence of internally deleted genomes with distinct junctions in viral clones exhibiting enhanced interferon-inducing phenotypes, accompanied by additional truncation in the nonstructural 1 protein linker region (NS1Δ76-86). Computational analyses suggest the internally deleted IAV genomes can encode a broad range of carboxy-terminally truncated and intrinsically disordered proteins with variable lengths and amino acid composition. Further research is imperative to unravel the underlying mechanisms driving the increased diversity of internal deletions within the genomes of viral clones exhibiting enhanced interferon-inducing capacities and to explore their potential for modulating cellular processes and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Ghorbani
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Center for Food Animal Health, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - John M. Ngunjiri
- Center for Food Animal Health, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Gloria Rendon
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA (C.B.B.)
| | - Christopher B. Brooke
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA (C.B.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Scott P. Kenney
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Center for Food Animal Health, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Chang-Won Lee
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, US National Poultry Research Center, USDA, ARS, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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16
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Hu X, Xu Y, Wang C, Liu Y, Zhang L, Zhang J, Wang W, Chen Q, Liu H. Combined prediction and design reveals the target recognition mechanism of an intrinsically disordered protein interaction domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305603120. [PMID: 37722056 PMCID: PMC10523638 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305603120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of protein interaction domains and their targets are being found to be intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). The corresponding target recognition mechanisms are mostly elusive because of challenges in performing detailed structural analysis of highly dynamic IDP-IDP complexes. Here, we show that by combining recently developed computational approaches with experiments, the structure of the complex between the intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain (CTD) of protein 4.1G and its target IDP region in NuMA can be dissected at high resolution. First, we carry out systematic mutational scanning using dihydrofolate reductase-based protein complementarity analysis to identify essential interaction regions and key residues. The results are found to be highly consistent with an α/β-type complex structure predicted by AlphaFold2 (AF2). We then design mutants based on the predicted structure using a deep learning protein sequence design method. The solved crystal structure of one mutant presents the same core structure as predicted by AF2. Further computational prediction and experimental assessment indicate that the well-defined core structure is conserved across complexes of 4.1G CTD with other potential targets. Thus, we reveal that an intrinsically disordered protein interaction domain uses an α/β-type structure module formed through synergistic folding to recognize broad IDP targets. Moreover, we show that computational prediction and experiment can be jointly applied to segregate true IDP regions from the core structural domains of IDP-IDP complexes and to uncover the structure-dependent mechanisms of some otherwise elusive IDP-IDP interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhong Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230001, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230001, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Yufeng Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230001, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230001, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Jiahai Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Wenning Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai200438, China
| | - Quan Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230001, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- School of Data Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
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17
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Shi C, Kaffy J, Ha-Duong T, Gallard JF, Pruvost A, Mabondzo A, Ciccone L, Ongeri S, Tonali N. Proteolytically Stable Diaza-Peptide Foldamers Mimic Helical Hot Spots of Protein-Protein Interactions and Act as Natural Chaperones. J Med Chem 2023; 66:12005-12017. [PMID: 37632446 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
A novel class of peptidomimetic foldamers based on diaza-peptide units are reported. Circular dichroism, attenuated total reflection -Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and molecular dynamics studies demonstrate that unlike the natural parent nonapeptide, the specific incorporation of one diaza-peptide unit at the N-terminus allows helical folding in water, which is further reinforced by the introduction of a second unit at the C-terminus. The ability of these foldamers to resist proteolysis, to mimic the small helical hot spot of transthyretin-amyloid β (Aβ) cross-interaction, and to decrease pathological Aβ aggregation demonstrates that the introduction of diaza-peptide units is a valid approach for designing mimics or inhibitors of protein-protein interaction and other therapeutic peptidomimetics. This study also reveals that small peptide foldamers can play the same role as physiological chaperone proteins and opens a new way to design inhibitors of amyloid protein aggregation, a hallmark of more than 20 serious human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Shi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Julia Kaffy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Tâp Ha-Duong
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Jean-François Gallard
- Equipe Biologie et Chimie Structurales, Dept Chimie et Biologie Structurales et Analytiques, ICSN CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, 1 avenue de la terrasse, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Alain Pruvost
- CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé, Université Paris-Saclay, SPI 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Aloise Mabondzo
- CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé, Université Paris-Saclay, SPI 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandrine Ongeri
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Nicolo Tonali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
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18
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Manyilov VD, Ilyinsky NS, Nesterov SV, Saqr BMGA, Dayhoff GW, Zinovev EV, Matrenok SS, Fonin AV, Kuznetsova IM, Turoverov KK, Ivanovich V, Uversky VN. Chaotic aging: intrinsically disordered proteins in aging-related processes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:269. [PMID: 37634152 PMCID: PMC11073068 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04897-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The development of aging is associated with the disruption of key cellular processes manifested as well-established hallmarks of aging. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) have no stable tertiary structure that provide them a power to be configurable hubs in signaling cascades and regulate many processes, potentially including those related to aging. There is a need to clarify the roles of IDPs/IDRs in aging. The dataset of 1702 aging-related proteins was collected from established aging databases and experimental studies. There is a noticeable presence of IDPs/IDRs, accounting for about 36% of the aging-related dataset, which is however less than the disorder content of the whole human proteome (about 40%). A Gene Ontology analysis of the used here aging proteome reveals an abundance of IDPs/IDRs in one-third of aging-associated processes, especially in genome regulation. Signaling pathways associated with aging also contain IDPs/IDRs on different hierarchical levels, revealing the importance of "structure-function continuum" in aging. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that IDPs present in different clusters associated with different aging hallmarks. Protein cluster with IDPs enrichment has simultaneously high liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) probability, "nuclear" localization and DNA-associated functions, related to aging hallmarks: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, and stem cells exhaustion. Intrinsic disorder, LLPS, and aggregation propensity should be considered as features that could be markers of pathogenic proteins. Overall, our analyses indicate that IDPs/IDRs play significant roles in aging-associated processes, particularly in the regulation of DNA functioning. IDP aggregation, which can lead to loss of function and toxicity, could be critically harmful to the cell. A structure-based analysis of aging and the identification of proteins that are particularly susceptible to disturbances can enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aging and open up new avenues for slowing it down.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir D Manyilov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Nikolay S Ilyinsky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
| | - Semen V Nesterov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Baraa M G A Saqr
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Guy W Dayhoff
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Egor V Zinovev
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Simon S Matrenok
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Alexander V Fonin
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | - Irina M Kuznetsova
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, 194064, Russia
| | | | - Valentin Ivanovich
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy Pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC07, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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19
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Kulkarni P, Salgia R, Rangarajan G. Intrinsically disordered proteins and conformational noise: The hypothesis a decade later. iScience 2023; 26:107109. [PMID: 37408690 PMCID: PMC10319216 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of individual genotypes to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental perturbations. We previously postulated how conformational noise emanating from conformational dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which is distinct from transcriptional noise, can contribute to phenotypic switching by rewiring the cellular protein interaction network. Since most transcription factors are IDPs, we posited that conformational noise is an integral component of transcriptional noise implying that IDPs may amplify total noise in the system either stochastically or in response to environmental changes. Here, we review progress in elucidating the details of the hypothesis. We highlight empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis, discuss conceptual advances that underscore its fundamental importance and implications, and identify areas for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Govindan Rangarajan
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Center for Neuroscience, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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20
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Erenpreisa J, Vainshelbaum NM, Lazovska M, Karklins R, Salmina K, Zayakin P, Rumnieks F, Inashkina I, Pjanova D, Erenpreiss J. The Price of Human Evolution: Cancer-Testis Antigens, the Decline in Male Fertility and the Increase in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11660. [PMID: 37511419 PMCID: PMC10380301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing frequency of general and particularly male cancer coupled with the reduction in male fertility seen worldwide motivated us to seek a potential evolutionary link between these two phenomena, concerning the reproductive transcriptional modules observed in cancer and the expression of cancer-testis antigens (CTA). The phylostratigraphy analysis of the human genome allowed us to link the early evolutionary origin of cancer via the reproductive life cycles of the unicellulars and early multicellulars, potentially driving soma-germ transition, female meiosis, and the parthenogenesis of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), with the expansion of the CTA multi-families, very late during their evolution. CTA adaptation was aided by retrovirus domestication in the unstable genomes of mammals, for protecting male fertility in stress conditions, particularly that of humans, as compensation for the energy consumption of a large complex brain which also exploited retrotransposition. We found that the early and late evolutionary branches of human cancer are united by the immunity-proto-placental network, which evolved in the Cambrian and shares stress regulators with the finely-tuned sex determination system. We further propose that social stress and endocrine disruption caused by environmental pollution with organic materials, which alter sex determination in male foetuses and further spermatogenesis in adults, bias the development of PGCC-parthenogenetic cancer by default.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marija Lazovska
- Molecular Genetics Scientific Laboratory, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Roberts Karklins
- Molecular Genetics Scientific Laboratory, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Kristine Salmina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1-1k, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Pawel Zayakin
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1-1k, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Felikss Rumnieks
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1-1k, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Inna Inashkina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1-1k, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Dace Pjanova
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites 1-1k, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
- Molecular Genetics Scientific Laboratory, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Juris Erenpreiss
- Molecular Genetics Scientific Laboratory, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Clinic iVF-Riga, Zala 1, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia
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21
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Kulkarni P, Brocca S, Dunker AK, Longhi S. Per Aspera ad Chaos: Vladimir Uversky's Odyssey through the Strange World of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1015. [PMID: 37371595 DOI: 10.3390/biom13061015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Until the late 1990s, we believed that protein function required a unique, well-defined 3D structure encrypted in the amino acid sequence [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - A Keith Dunker
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Sonia Longhi
- Architecture and Function of Biological Macromolecules (AFMB), UMR 7257, Aix Marseille University and CNRS, 13288 Marseille, France
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22
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Padmanabhan S, Manjithaya R. Leaderless secretory proteins of the neurodegenerative diseases via TNTs: a structure-function perspective. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:983108. [PMID: 37396786 PMCID: PMC10308029 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.983108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease-causing proteins such as alpha-synuclein, tau, and huntingtin are known to traverse across cells via exosomes, extracellular vesicles and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). There seems to be good synergy between exosomes and TNTs in intercellular communication. Interestingly, many of the known major neurodegenerative proteins/proteolytic products are leaderless and are also reported to be secreted out of the cell via unconventional protein secretion. Such classes contain intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDRs) within them. The dynamic behavior of these proteins is due to their heterogenic conformations that is exhibited owing to various factors that occur inside the cells. The amino acid sequence along with the chemical modifications has implications on the functional roles of IDRs inside the cells. Proteins that form aggregates resulting in neurodegeneration become resistant to degradation by the processes of autophagy and proteasome system thus leading to Tunneling nanotubes, TNT formation. The proteins that traverse across TNTs may or may not be dependent on the autophagy machinery. It is not yet clear whether the conformation of the protein plays a crucial role in its transport from one cell to another without getting degraded. Although there is some experimental data, there are many grey areas which need to be revisited. This review provides a different perspective on the structural and functional aspects of these leaderless proteins that get secreted outside the cell. In this review, attention has been focused on the characteristic features that lead to aggregation of leaderless secretory proteins (from structural-functional aspect) with special emphasis on TNTs.
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23
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Paladino A, Vitagliano L, Graziano G. The Action of Chemical Denaturants: From Globular to Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050754. [PMID: 37237566 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Proteins perform their many functions by adopting either a minimal number of strictly similar conformations, the native state, or a vast ensemble of highly flexible conformations. In both cases, their structural features are highly influenced by the chemical environment. Even though a plethora of experimental studies have demonstrated the impact of chemical denaturants on protein structure, the molecular mechanism underlying their action is still debated. In the present review, after a brief recapitulation of the main experimental data on protein denaturants, we survey both classical and more recent interpretations of the molecular basis of their action. In particular, we highlight the differences and similarities of the impact that denaturants have on different structural classes of proteins, i.e., globular, intrinsically disordered (IDP), and amyloid-like assemblies. Particular attention has been given to the IDPs, as recent studies are unraveling their fundamental importance in many physiological processes. The role that computation techniques are expected to play in the near future is illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Paladino
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Graziano
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via Francesco de Sanctis snc, 82100 Benevento, Italy
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24
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Mínguez-Toral M, Pacios LF, Sánchez F, Ponz F. Structural intrinsic disorder in a functionalized potyviral coat protein as a main viability determinant of its assembled nanoparticles. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 236:123958. [PMID: 36906197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The viability of viral-derived nanoparticles (virions and VLPs) aimed to nanobiotechnological functionalizations of the coat protein (CP) of turnip mosaic virus has been studied by means of advanced computational methodologies that include molecular dynamics. The study has allowed to model the structure of the complete CP and its functionalization with three different peptides and obtain essential structural features such as order/disorder, interactions, and electrostatic potentials of their constituent domains. The results provide for the first time a dynamic view of a complete potyvirus CP, since experimental available structures so far obtained lack N- and C-terminal segments. The relevance of disorder in the most distal N-terminal subdomain, and the interaction of the less distal N-terminal subdomain with the highly ordered CP core, stand out as crucial characteristic for a viable CP. Preserving them proved of outmost importance to obtain viable potyviral CPs presenting peptides at their N-terminus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Mínguez-Toral
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CIB-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis F Pacios
- Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Flora Sánchez
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Ponz
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.
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25
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Kulkarni P, Wiley HS, Levine H, Sauro H, Anderson A, Wong STC, Meyer AS, Iyengar P, Corlette K, Swanson K, Mohanty A, Bhattacharya S, Patel A, Jain V, Salgia R. Addressing the genetic/nongenetic duality in cancer with systems biology. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:185-187. [PMID: 36635119 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The dogma that cancer is a genetic disease is being questioned. Recent findings suggest that genetic/nongenetic duality is necessary for cancer progression. A think tank organized by the Shraman Foundation's Institute for Theoretical Biology compiled key challenges and opportunities that theoreticians, experimentalists, and clinicians can explore from a systems biology perspective to provide a better understanding of the disease as well as help discover new treatment options and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA; Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - H Steven Wiley
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Herbert Sauro
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexander Anderson
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Stephen T C Wong
- T.T. and W.F. Chao Center for BRAIN Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA; Department of Neurosciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Aaron S Meyer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Bioinformatics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Puneeth Iyengar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Corlette
- Department of Mathematics, University of Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kristin Swanson
- Mathematical Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Precision Neurotherapeutics Innovation Program, Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Integrative Genomics Core, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Amit Patel
- Shraman Foundation, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vinay Jain
- Shraman Foundation, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
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26
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Leube RE, Quinlan RA. Editorial: The wetware credentials of intermediate filaments involves coordinating, organising and networking in cells and tissues. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1146618. [PMID: 36861037 PMCID: PMC9969193 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1146618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf E. Leube
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany,*Correspondence: Rudolf E. Leube, ; Roy A. Quinlan,
| | - Roy A. Quinlan
- Department of Biosciences, University of Durham, Upper Mountjoy Science Site, Durham, United Kingdom,Biophysical Sciences Institute, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom,Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States,*Correspondence: Rudolf E. Leube, ; Roy A. Quinlan,
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27
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Gupta MN, Uversky VN. Pre-Molten, Wet, and Dry Molten Globules en Route to the Functional State of Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032424. [PMID: 36768742 PMCID: PMC9916686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Transitions between the unfolded and native states of the ordered globular proteins are accompanied by the accumulation of several intermediates, such as pre-molten globules, wet molten globules, and dry molten globules. Structurally equivalent conformations can serve as native functional states of intrinsically disordered proteins. This overview captures the characteristics and importance of these molten globules in both structured and intrinsically disordered proteins. It also discusses examples of engineered molten globules. The formation of these intermediates under conditions of macromolecular crowding and their interactions with nanomaterials are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munishwar Nath Gupta
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-813-494-5816
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28
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Evans R, Ramisetty S, Kulkarni P, Weninger K. Illuminating Intrinsically Disordered Proteins with Integrative Structural Biology. Biomolecules 2023; 13:124. [PMID: 36671509 PMCID: PMC9856150 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Intense study of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) did not begin in earnest until the late 1990s when a few groups, working independently, convinced the community that these 'weird' proteins could have important functions. Over the past two decades, it has become clear that IDPs play critical roles in a multitude of biological phenomena with prominent examples including coordination in signaling hubs, enabling gene regulation, and regulating ion channels, just to name a few. One contributing factor that delayed appreciation of IDP functional significance is the experimental difficulty in characterizing their dynamic conformations. The combined application of multiple methods, termed integrative structural biology, has emerged as an essential approach to understanding IDP phenomena. Here, we review some of the recent applications of the integrative structural biology philosophy to study IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Evans
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sravani Ramisetty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Keith Weninger
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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29
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Cai X, Orsi M, Capecchi A, Köhler T, van Delden C, Javor S, Reymond JL. An intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptide dendrimer from stereorandomized virtual screening. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2022; 3:101161. [PMID: 36632208 PMCID: PMC9780108 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2022.101161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-disruptive amphiphilic antimicrobial peptides behave as intrinsically disordered proteins by being unordered in water and becoming α-helical in contact with biological membranes. We recently discovered that synthesizing the α-helical antimicrobial peptide dendrimer L-T25 ((KL)8(KKL)4(KLL)2 KKLL) using racemic amino acids to form stereorandomized sr-T25, an analytically pure mixture of all possible diastereoisomers of L-T25, preserved antibacterial activity but abolished hemolysis and cytotoxicity, pointing to an intrinsically disordered antibacterial conformation and an α-helical cytotoxic conformation. In this study, to identify non-toxic intrinsically disordered homochiral antimicrobial peptide dendrimers (AMPDs), we surveyed sixty-three sr-analogs of sr-T25 selected by virtual screening. One of the analogs, sr-X18 ((KL)8(KLK)4(KLL)2 KLLL), lost antibacterial activity as L-enantiomer and became hemolytic due to α-helical folding. By contrast, the L- and D-enantiomers of sr-X22 ((KL)8(KL)4(KKLL)2 KLKK) were equally antibacterial, non-hemolytic, and non-toxic, implying an intrinsically disordered bioactive conformation. Screening stereorandomized libraries may be generally useful to identify or optimize intrinsically disordered bioactive peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguang Cai
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Orsi
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alice Capecchi
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thilo Köhler
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian van Delden
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sacha Javor
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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30
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Biological soft matter: intrinsically disordered proteins in liquid-liquid phase separation and biomolecular condensates. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:831-847. [PMID: 36350034 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The facts that many proteins with crucial biological functions do not have unique structures and that many biological processes are compartmentalized into the liquid-like biomolecular condensates, which are formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and are not surrounded by the membrane, are revolutionizing the modern biology. These phenomena are interlinked, as the presence of intrinsic disorder represents an important requirement for a protein to undergo LLPS that drives biogenesis of numerous membrane-less organelles (MLOs). Therefore, one can consider these phenomena as crucial constituents of a new IDP-LLPS-MLO field. Furthermore, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), LLPS, and MLOs represent a clear link between molecular and cellular biology and soft matter and condensed soft matter physics. Both IDP and LLPS/MLO fields are undergoing explosive development and generate the ever-increasing mountain of crucial data. These new data provide answers to so many long-standing questions that it is difficult to imagine that in the very recent past, protein scientists and cellular biologists operated without taking these revolutionary concepts into account. The goal of this essay is not to deliver a comprehensive review of the IDP-LLPS-MLO field but to provide a brief and rather subjective outline of some of the recent developments in these exciting fields.
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31
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A Study on the Nature of SARS-CoV-2 Using the Shell Disorder Models: Reproducibility, Evolution, Spread, and Attenuation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101353. [PMID: 36291562 PMCID: PMC9599796 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The basic tenets of the shell disorder model (SDM) as applied to COVID-19 are that the harder outer shell of the virus shell (lower PID—percentage of intrinsic disorder—of the membrane protein M, PIDM) and higher flexibility of the inner shell (higher PID of the nucleocapsid protein N, PIDN) are correlated with the contagiousness and virulence, respectively. M protects the virion from the anti-microbial enzymes in the saliva and mucus. N disorder is associated with the rapid replication of the virus. SDM predictions are supported by two experimental observations. The first observation demonstrated lesser and greater presence of the Omicron particles in the lungs and bronchial tissues, respectively, as there is a greater level of mucus in the bronchi. The other observation revealed that there are lower viral loads in 2017-pangolin-CoV, which is predicted to have similarly low PIDN as Omicron. The abnormally hard M, which is very rarely seen in coronaviruses, arose from the fecal–oral behaviors of pangolins via exposure to buried feces. Pangolins provide an environment for coronavirus (CoV) attenuation, which is seen in Omicron. Phylogenetic study using M shows that COVID-19-related bat-CoVs from Laos and Omicron are clustered in close proximity to pangolin-CoVs, which suggests the recurrence of interspecies transmissions. Hard M may have implications for long COVID-19, with immune systems having difficulty degrading viral proteins/particles.
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32
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Teixeira JMC, Liu ZH, Namini A, Li J, Vernon RM, Krzeminski M, Shamandy AA, Zhang O, Haghighatlari M, Yu L, Head-Gordon T, Forman-Kay JD. IDPConformerGenerator: A Flexible Software Suite for Sampling the Conformational Space of Disordered Protein States. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:5985-6003. [PMID: 36030416 PMCID: PMC9465686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c03726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The power of structural information for informing biological
mechanisms
is clear for stable folded macromolecules, but similar structure–function
insight is more difficult to obtain for highly dynamic systems such
as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which must be described
as structural ensembles. Here, we present IDPConformerGenerator, a
flexible, modular open-source software platform for generating large
and diverse ensembles of disordered protein states that builds conformers
that obey geometric, steric, and other physical restraints on the
input sequence. IDPConformerGenerator samples backbone phi (φ),
psi (ψ), and omega (ω) torsion angles of relevant sequence
fragments from loops and secondary structure elements extracted from
folded protein structures in the RCSB Protein Data Bank and builds
side chains from robust Monte Carlo algorithms using expanded rotamer
libraries. IDPConformerGenerator has many user-defined options enabling
variable fractional sampling of secondary structures, supports Bayesian
models for assessing the agreement of IDP ensembles for consistency
with experimental data, and introduces a machine learning approach
to transform between internal and Cartesian coordinates with reduced
error. IDPConformerGenerator will facilitate the characterization
of disordered proteins to ultimately provide structural insights into
these states that have key biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João M. C. Teixeira
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Zi Hao Liu
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ashley Namini
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | | | - Robert M. Vernon
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Mickaël Krzeminski
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Alaa A. Shamandy
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E4, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Julie D. Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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33
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Intrinsically disordered BMP4 morphogen and the beak of the finch: Co-option of an ancient axial patterning system. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:366-373. [PMID: 35931296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.203] [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] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Darwin's finches, with the primary diversity in the shape and size of their beaks, represent an excellent model system to study speciation and adaptive evolution. It is generally held that evolution depends on the natural selection of heritable phenotypic variations originating from the genetic mutations. However, it is now increasingly evident that epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic variation can also guide evolutionary change. Several studies have shown that the bone morphogenetic protein BMP4 is a major driver of beak morphology. A recent study explored variability of the morphological, genetic, and epigenetic differences in the adjacent "urban" and "rural" populations of two species of ground Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands and revealed significant changes in methylation patterns in several genes including those involved in the BMP/TGFß pathway in the sperm DNA compared to erythrocyte DNA. These observations indicated that epigenetic changes caused by environmental fluctuations can be passed on to the offspring. Nonetheless, the mechanism by which dysregulated expression of BMP4 impacts beak morphology remains poorly understood. Here, we show that BMP4 is an intrinsically disordered protein and present a causal a link between epigenetic changes, BMP4 dysregulation and the evolution of the beak of the finch by natural selection.
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34
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Mignon J, Mottet D, Leyder T, Uversky VN, Perpète EA, Michaux C. Structural characterisation of amyloidogenic intrinsically disordered zinc finger protein isoforms DPF3b and DPF3a. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 218:57-71. [PMID: 35863661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Double PHD fingers 3 (DPF3) is a zinc finger protein, found in the BAF chromatin remodelling complex, and is involved in the regulation of gene expression. Two DPF3 isoforms have been identified, respectively named DPF3b and DPF3a. Very limited structural information is available for these isoforms, and their specific functionality still remains poorly studied. In a previous work, we have demonstrated the first evidence of DPF3a being a disordered protein sensitive to amyloid fibrillation. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) lack a defined tertiary structure, existing as a dynamic conformational ensemble, allowing them to act as hubs in protein-protein interaction networks. In the present study, we have more thoroughly characterised DPF3a in vitro behaviour, as well as unravelled and compared the structural properties of the DPF3b isoform, using an array of predictors and biophysical techniques. Predictions, spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering have revealed a high content in disorder: prevalence of random coil, aromatic residues partially to fully exposed to the solvent, and large hydrodynamic diameters. DPF3a appears to be more disordered than DPF3b, and exhibits more expanded conformations. Furthermore, we have shown that they both time-dependently aggregate into amyloid fibrils, as revealed by typical circular dichroism, deep-blue autofluorescence, and amyloid-dye binding assay fingerprints. Although spectroscopic and microscopic analyses have unveiled that they share a similar aggregation pathway, DPF3a fibrillates at a faster rate, likely through reordering of its C-terminal domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Mignon
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, UCPTS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium; Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium; Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium.
| | - Denis Mottet
- University of Liège, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, Gene Expression and Cancer Laboratory, B34, Avenue de l'Hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Tanguy Leyder
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, UCPTS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium.
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.
| | - Eric A Perpète
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, UCPTS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium; Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium; Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium.
| | - Catherine Michaux
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique des Biomolécules, UCPTS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium; Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium; Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium.
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Uversky VN. State without borders: Membrane-less organelles and liquid-liquid phase transitions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119251. [PMID: 35245612 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
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Kulkarni P, Salgia R, Uversky VN. Intrinsic disorder, extraterrestrial peptides, and prebiotic life on the earth. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-5. [PMID: 35723592 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2088619] [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: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of mechanisms for the synthesis of homo-polymeric oligopeptides, such as polyglycine under conditions relevant to the astrophysical environment as well as in scenarios resembling primordial conditions that prevailed soon after Earth was formed, raises hopes in the search of extraterrestrial life. It also raises the possibility of extraterrestrial contribution to origin of life on Earth in the form of simple polypeptides. Bioinformatics analyses strongly predict such homo-polymeric peptides to be intrinsically disordered underscoring the potential involvement of IDPs in the origin of life which, even in its simplest form, could emerge spontaneously by autocatalysis of the primordial IDPs in self-organizing systems that evolved over time following natural selection.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.,Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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