1
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Banerjee P, Mahendran TS, Wadsworth G, Singh A. Biomolecular condensates can enhance pathological RNA clustering. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4557520. [PMID: 39070659 PMCID: PMC11276000 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4557520/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular aggregation of repeat expanded RNA has been implicated in many neurological disorders. Here, we study the role of biomolecular condensates on irreversible RNA clustering. We find that physiologically relevant and disease-associated repeat RNAs spontaneously undergo an age-dependent percolation transition inside multi-component protein-nucleic acid condensates to form nanoscale clusters. Homotypic RNA clusters drive the emergence of multiphasic condensate structures with an RNA-rich solid core surrounded by an RNA-depleted fluid shell. The timescale of the RNA clustering, which drives a liquid-to-solid transition of biomolecular condensates, is determined by the sequence features, stability of RNA secondary structure, and repeat length. Importantly, G3BP1, the core scaffold of stress granules, introduces heterotypic buffering to homotypic RNA-RNA interactions and impedes intra-condensate RNA clustering in an ATP-independent manner. Our work suggests that biomolecular condensates can act as sites for RNA aggregation. It also highlights the functional role of RNA-binding proteins in suppressing aberrant RNA phase transitions.
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2
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Moldovean-Cioroianu NS. Reviewing the Structure-Function Paradigm in Polyglutamine Disorders: A Synergistic Perspective on Theoretical and Experimental Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6789. [PMID: 38928495 PMCID: PMC11204371 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126789] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the excessive expansion of CAG (cytosine, adenine, guanine) repeats within host proteins. The quest to unravel the complex diseases mechanism has led researchers to adopt both theoretical and experimental methods, each offering unique insights into the underlying pathogenesis. This review emphasizes the significance of combining multiple approaches in the study of polyQ disorders, focusing on the structure-function correlations and the relevance of polyQ-related protein dynamics in neurodegeneration. By integrating computational/theoretical predictions with experimental observations, one can establish robust structure-function correlations, aiding in the identification of key molecular targets for therapeutic interventions. PolyQ proteins' dynamics, influenced by their length and interactions with other molecular partners, play a pivotal role in the polyQ-related pathogenic cascade. Moreover, conformational dynamics of polyQ proteins can trigger aggregation, leading to toxic assembles that hinder proper cellular homeostasis. Understanding these intricacies offers new avenues for therapeutic strategies by fine-tuning polyQ kinetics, in order to prevent and control disease progression. Last but not least, this review highlights the importance of integrating multidisciplinary efforts to advancing research in this field, bringing us closer to the ultimate goal of finding effective treatments against polyQ disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastasia Sanda Moldovean-Cioroianu
- Institute of Materials Science, Bioinspired Materials and Biosensor Technologies, Kiel University, Kaiserstraße 2, 24143 Kiel, Germany;
- Faculty of Physics, Babeș-Bolyai University, Kogălniceanu 1, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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3
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Mahendran TS, Wadsworth GM, Singh A, Banerjee PR. Biomolecular Condensates Can Enhance Pathological RNA Clustering. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.11.598371. [PMID: 38915678 PMCID: PMC11195159 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.11.598371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular aggregation of repeat expanded RNA has been implicated in many neurological disorders. Here, we study the role of biomolecular condensates on irreversible RNA clustering. We find that physiologically relevant and disease-associated repeat RNAs spontaneously undergo an age-dependent percolation transition inside multi-component protein-nucleic acid condensates to form nanoscale clusters. Homotypic RNA clusters drive the emergence of multiphasic condensate structures with an RNA-rich solid core surrounded by an RNA-depleted fluid shell. The timescale of the RNA clustering, which drives a liquid-to-solid transition of biomolecular condensates, is determined by the sequence features, stability of RNA secondary structure, and repeat length. Importantly, G3BP1, the core scaffold of stress granules, introduces heterotypic buffering to homotypic RNA-RNA interactions and impedes intra-condensate RNA clustering in an ATP-independent manner. Our work suggests that biomolecular condensates can act as sites for RNA aggregation. It also highlights the functional role of RNA-binding proteins in suppressing aberrant RNA phase transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anurag Singh
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Priya R. Banerjee
- Department of Biology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
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4
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Sutovsky P, Hamilton LE, Zigo M, Ortiz D’Avila Assumpção ME, Jones A, Tirpak F, Agca Y, Kerns K, Sutovsky M. Biomarker-based human and animal sperm phenotyping: the good, the bad and the ugly†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1135-1156. [PMID: 38640912 PMCID: PMC11180624 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae061] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Conventional, brightfield-microscopic semen analysis provides important baseline information about sperm quality of an individual; however, it falls short of identifying subtle subcellular and molecular defects in cohorts of "bad," defective human and animal spermatozoa with seemingly normal phenotypes. To bridge this gap, it is desirable to increase the precision of andrological evaluation in humans and livestock animals by pursuing advanced biomarker-based imaging methods. This review, spiced up with occasional classic movie references but seriously scholastic at the same time, focuses mainly on the biomarkers of altered male germ cell proteostasis resulting in post-testicular carryovers of proteins associated with ubiquitin-proteasome system. Also addressed are sperm redox homeostasis, epididymal sperm maturation, sperm-seminal plasma interactions, and sperm surface glycosylation. Zinc ion homeostasis-associated biomarkers and sperm-borne components, including the elements of neurodegenerative pathways such as Huntington and Alzheimer disease, are discussed. Such spectrum of biomarkers, imaged by highly specific vital fluorescent molecular probes, lectins, and antibodies, reveals both obvious and subtle defects of sperm chromatin, deoxyribonucleic acid, and accessory structures of the sperm head and tail. Introduction of next-generation image-based flow cytometry into research and clinical andrology will soon enable the incorporation of machine and deep learning algorithms with the end point of developing simple, label-free methods for clinical diagnostics and high-throughput phenotyping of spermatozoa in humans and economically important livestock animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
| | - Lauren E Hamilton
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
| | - Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
| | - Mayra E Ortiz D’Avila Assumpção
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexis Jones
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
| | - Filip Tirpak
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
| | - Yuksel Agca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Karl Kerns
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Miriam Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO, USA
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5
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Diana D, Pirone L, Russo L, D'Abrosca G, Madheswaran M, Benfante R, Di Lascio S, Caldinelli L, Fornasari D, Acconcia C, Corvino A, Ventserova N, Pollegioni L, Isernia C, Di Gaetano S, Malgieri G, Pedone EM, Fattorusso R. Structural characterization of PHOX2B and its DNA interaction shed light on the molecular basis of the +7Ala variant pathogenicity in CCHS. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8858-8872. [PMID: 38873078 PMCID: PMC11168103 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06427a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
An expansion of poly-alanine up to +13 residues in the C-terminus of the transcription factor PHOX2B underlies the onset of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). Recent studies demonstrated that the alanine tract expansion influences PHOX2B folding and activity. Therefore, structural information on PHOX2B is an important target for obtaining clues to elucidate the insurgence of the alanine expansion-related syndrome and also for defining a viable therapy. Here we report by NMR spectroscopy the structural characterization of the homeodomain (HD) of PHOX2B and HD + C-terminus PHOX2B protein, free and in the presence of the target DNA. The obtained structural data are then exploited to obtain a structural model of the PHOX2B-DNA interaction. In addition, the variant +7Ala, responsible for one of the most frequent forms of the syndrome, was analysed, showing different conformational proprieties in solution and a strong propensity to aggregation. Our data suggest that the elongated poly-alanine tract would be related to disease onset through a loss-of-function mechanism. Overall, this study paves the way for the future rational design of therapeutic drugs, suggesting as a possible therapeutic route the use of specific anti-aggregating molecules capable of preventing variant aggregation and possibly restoring the DNA-binding activity of PHOX2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Diana
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Luciano Pirone
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine - University of Foggia Viale Luigi Pinto 71122 Foggia Italy
| | - Manoj Madheswaran
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Roberta Benfante
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
- CNR - Institute of Neuroscience Vedano Al Lambro (MB) Italy
- NeuroMi - Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca Milan Italy
| | - Simona Di Lascio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
| | - Laura Caldinelli
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria Via J.H. Dunant 3 21100 Varese Italy
| | - Diego Fornasari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
| | - Clementina Acconcia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Andrea Corvino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Nataliia Ventserova
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Loredano Pollegioni
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria Via J.H. Dunant 3 21100 Varese Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Emilia M Pedone
- CNR - Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging Via Pietro Castellino 111 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies - University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
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Reed JM, Wolfe BE, Romero LM. Is resilience a unifying concept for the biological sciences? iScience 2024; 27:109478. [PMID: 38660410 PMCID: PMC11039332 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109478] [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: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in applying resilience concepts at different scales of biological organization to address major interdisciplinary challenges from cancer to climate change. It is unclear, however, whether resilience can be a unifying concept consistently applied across the breadth of the biological sciences, or whether there is limited capacity for integration. In this review, we draw on literature from molecular biology to community ecology to ascertain commonalities and shortcomings in how resilience is measured and interpreted. Resilience is studied at all levels of biological organization, although the term is often not used. There is a suite of resilience mechanisms conserved across biological scales, and there are tradeoffs that affect resilience. Resilience is conceptually useful to help diverse researchers think about how biological systems respond to perturbations, but we need a richer lexicon to describe the diversity of perturbations, and we lack widely applicable metrics of resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Michael Reed
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford 02155, MA, USA
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7
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Su C, Chandradoss KR, Malachowski T, Boya R, Ryu HS, Brennand KJ, Phillips-Cremins JE. MASTR-seq: Multiplexed Analysis of Short Tandem Repeats with sequencing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.591790. [PMID: 38746155 PMCID: PMC11092654 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.591790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
More than 60 human disorders have been linked to unstable expansion of short tandem repeat (STR) tracts. STR length and the extent of DNA methylation is linked to disease pathology and can be mosaic in a cell type-specific manner in several repeat expansion disorders. Mosaic phenomenon have been difficult to study to date due to technical bias intrinsic to repeat sequences and the need for multi-modal measurements at single-allele resolution. Nanopore long-read sequencing accurately measures STR length and DNA methylation in the same single molecule but is cost prohibitive for studies assessing a target locus across multiple experimental conditions or patient samples. Here, we describe MASTR-seq, M ultiplexed A nalysis of S hort T andem R epeats, for cost-effective, high-throughput, accurate, multi-modal measurements of DNA methylation and STR genotype at single-allele resolution. MASTR-seq couples long-read sequencing, Cas9-mediated target enrichment, and PCR-free multiplexed barcoding to achieve a >ten-fold increase in on-target read mapping for 8-12 pooled samples in a single MinION flow cell. We provide a detailed experimental protocol and computational tools and present evidence that MASTR-seq quantifies tract length and DNA methylation status for CGG and CAG STR loci in normal-length and mutation-length human cell lines. The MASTR-seq protocol takes approximately eight days for experiments and one additional day for data processing and analyses. Key points We provide a protocol for MASTR-seq: M ultiplexed A nalysis of S hort T andem R epeats using Cas9-mediated target enrichment and PCR-free, multiplexed nanopore sequencing. MASTR-seq achieves a >10-fold increase in on-target read proportion for highly repetitive, technically inaccessible regions of the genome relevant for human health and disease.MASTR-seq allows for high-throughput, efficient, accurate, and cost-effective measurement of STR length and DNA methylation in the same single allele for up to 8-12 samples in parallel in one Nanopore MinION flow cell.
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8
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Lee KH, Kim J, Kim JH. 3D epigenomics and 3D epigenopathies. BMB Rep 2024; 57:216-231. [PMID: 38627948 PMCID: PMC11139681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian genomes are intricately compacted to form sophisticated 3-dimensional structures within the tiny nucleus, so called 3D genome folding. Despite their shapes reminiscent of an entangled yarn, the rapid development of molecular and next-generation sequencing technologies (NGS) has revealed that mammalian genomes are highly organized in a hierarchical order that delicately affects transcription activities. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that 3D genome folding is implicated in diseases, giving us a clue on how to identify novel therapeutic approaches. In this review, we will study what 3D genome folding means in epigenetics, what types of 3D genome structures there are, how they are formed, and how the technologies have developed to explore them. We will also discuss the pathological implications of 3D genome folding. Finally, we will discuss how to leverage 3D genome folding and engineering for future studies. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(5): 216-231].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Hwan Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Jungyu Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Ji Hun Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
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9
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Kovachka S, Tong Y, Childs-Disney JL, Disney MD. Heterobifunctional small molecules to modulate RNA function. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:449-463. [PMID: 38641489 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.03.006] [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: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
RNA has diverse cellular functionality, including regulating gene expression, protein translation, and cellular response to stimuli, due to its intricate structures. Over the past decade, small molecules have been discovered that target functional structures within cellular RNAs and modulate their function. Simple binding, however, is often insufficient, resulting in low or even no biological activity. To overcome this challenge, heterobifunctional compounds have been developed that can covalently bind to the RNA target, alter RNA sequence, or induce its cleavage. Herein, we review the recent progress in the field of RNA-targeted heterobifunctional compounds using representative case studies. We identify critical gaps and limitations and propose a strategic pathway for future developments of RNA-targeted molecules with augmented functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Kovachka
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Yuquan Tong
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Jessica L Childs-Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Matthew D Disney
- Department of Chemistry, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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10
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Wang Y, Wang J, Yan Z, Hou J, Wan L, Yang Y, Liu Y, Yi J, Guo P, Han D. Structural investigation of pathogenic RFC1 AAGGG pentanucleotide repeats reveals a role of G-quadruplex in dysregulated gene expression in CANVAS. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2698-2710. [PMID: 38266156 PMCID: PMC10954463 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae032] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
An expansion of AAGGG pentanucleotide repeats in the replication factor C subunit 1 (RFC1) gene is the genetic cause of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS), and it also links to several other neurodegenerative diseases including the Parkinson's disease. However, the pathogenic mechanism of RFC1 AAGGG repeat expansion remains enigmatic. Here, we report that the pathogenic RFC1 AAGGG repeats form DNA and RNA parallel G-quadruplex (G4) structures that play a role in impairing biological processes. We determine the first high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of a bimolecular parallel G4 formed by d(AAGGG)2AA and reveal how AAGGG repeats fold into a higher-order structure composed of three G-tetrad layers, and further demonstrate the formation of intramolecular G4s in longer DNA and RNA repeats. The pathogenic AAGGG repeats, but not the nonpathogenic AAAAG repeats, form G4 structures to stall DNA replication and reduce gene expression via impairing the translation process in a repeat-length-dependent manner. Our results provide an unprecedented structural basis for understanding the pathogenic mechanism of AAGGG repeat expansion associated with CANVAS. In addition, the high-resolution structures resolved in this study will facilitate rational design of small-molecule ligands and helicases targeting G4s formed by AAGGG repeats for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Junyan Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Zhenzhen Yan
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Jianing Hou
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Liqi Wan
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Yingquan Yang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Jie Yi
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Pei Guo
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Da Han
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
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11
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Ji R, Wang L, Shang Y, Du S, Xiao Y, Dong W, Cui L, Gao R, Ren K. RNA Condensate as a Versatile Platform for Improving Fluorogenic RNA Aptamer Properties and Cell Imaging. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:4402-4411. [PMID: 38329936 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09162] [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: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Fluorogenic RNA aptamers are valuable tools for cell imaging, but they still suffer from shortcomings such as easy degradation, limited photostability, and low fluorescence enhancement. Molecular crowding conditions enable the stabilization of the structure, promotion of folding, and improvement of activity of functional RNA. Based on artificial RNA condensates, here we present a versatile platform to improve fluorogenic RNA aptamer properties and develop sensors for target analyte imaging in living cells. Using the CUG repeat as a general tag to drive phase separation, various fluorogenic aptamer-based RNA condensates (FLARE) were prepared. We show that the molecular crowding of FLARE can improve the enzymatic resistance, thermostability, photostability, and binding affinity of fluorogenic RNA aptamers. Moreover, the FLARE systems can be modularly engineered into sensors (FLARES), which demonstrate enhanced brightness and sensitivity compared to free sensors dispersed in homogeneous solution. This scalable design principle provides new insights into RNA aptamer property regulation and cellular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyang Ji
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Long Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Yuzhe Shang
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Songyuan Du
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Yang Xiao
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Wei Dong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Lin Cui
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, P.R. China
| | - Ruru Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
| | - Kewei Ren
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P.R. China
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12
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He D, Xu Y, Liu M, Cui L. The Inflammatory Puzzle: Piecing together the Links between Neuroinflammation and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Aging Dis 2024; 15:96-114. [PMID: 37307819 PMCID: PMC10796096 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0519] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that has a complex genetic basis. Through advancements in genetic screening, researchers have identified more than 40 mutant genes associated with ALS, some of which impact immune function. Neuroinflammation, with abnormal activation of immune cells and excessive production of inflammatory cytokines in the central nervous system, significantly contributes to the pathophysiology of ALS. In this review, we examine recent evidence on the involvement of ALS-associated mutant genes in immune dysregulation, with a specific focus on the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway and N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-mediated immune regulation in the context of neurodegeneration. We also discuss the perturbation of immune cell homeostasis in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues in ALS. Furthermore, we explore the advancements made in the emerging genetic and cell-based therapies for ALS. This review underscores the complex relationship between ALS and neuroinflammation, highlighting the potential to identify modifiable factors for therapeutic intervention. A deeper understanding of the connection between neuroinflammation and the risk of ALS is crucial for advancing effective treatments for this debilitating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di He
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Liying Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
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13
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Wang S, Xu Y. RNA structure promotes liquid-to-solid phase transition of short RNAs in neuronal dysfunction. Commun Biol 2024; 7:137. [PMID: 38287096 PMCID: PMC10824717 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05828-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
In nucleotide expansion disorders, RNA foci are reportedly associated with neurodegenerative disease pathogeneses. Characteristically, these RNAs exhibit long poly-RNA repeats, such as 47 × CAG, 47 × CUG, or 29 × GGGGCC, usually becoming abnormal pathological aggregations above a critical number of nucleotide repeats. However, it remains unclear whether short, predominantly cellular RNA molecules can cause phase transitions to induce RNA foci. Herein, we demonstrated that short RNAs even with only two repeats can aggregate into a solid-like state via special RNA G-quadruplex structures. In human cells, these solid RNA foci could not dissolve even when using agents that disrupt RNA gelation. The aggregation of shorter RNAs can be clearly observed in vivo. Furthermore, we found that RNA foci induce colocalization of the RNA-binding protein Sam68, a protein commonly found in patients with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, suppressing cell clonogenicity and eventually causing cell death. Our results suggest that short RNA gelation promoted by specific RNA structures contribute to the neurological diseases, which disturb functional cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wang
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan
| | - Yan Xu
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan.
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14
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Lu J, Toro C, Adams DR, Moreno CAM, Lee WP, Leung YY, Harms MB, Vardarajan B, Heinzen EL. LUSTR: a new customizable tool for calling genome-wide germline and somatic short tandem repeat variants. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:115. [PMID: 38279154 PMCID: PMC10811831 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09935-9] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short tandem repeats (STRs) are widely distributed across the human genome and are associated with numerous neurological disorders. However, the extent that STRs contribute to disease is likely under-estimated because of the challenges calling these variants in short read next generation sequencing data. Several computational tools have been developed for STR variant calling, but none fully address all of the complexities associated with this variant class. RESULTS Here we introduce LUSTR which is designed to address some of the challenges associated with STR variant calling by enabling more flexibility in defining STR loci, allowing for customizable modules to tailor analyses, and expanding the capability to call somatic and multiallelic STR variants. LUSTR is a user-friendly and easily customizable tool for targeted or unbiased genome-wide STR variant screening that can use either predefined or novel genome builds. Using both simulated and real data sets, we demonstrated that LUSTR accurately infers germline and somatic STR expansions in individuals with and without diseases. CONCLUSIONS LUSTR offers a powerful and user-friendly approach that allows for the identification of STR variants and can facilitate more comprehensive studies evaluating the role of pathogenic STR variants across human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Lu
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- The Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, The New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Camilo Toro
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - David R Adams
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | - Wan-Ping Lee
- Penn Neurodegeneration Genomics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicinePerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yuk Yee Leung
- Penn Neurodegeneration Genomics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicinePerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mathew B Harms
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Badri Vardarajan
- The Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, The New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Erin L Heinzen
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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15
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Salomone J, Farrow E, Gebelein B. Homeodomain complex formation and biomolecular condensates in Hox gene regulation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 152-153:93-100. [PMID: 36517343 PMCID: PMC10258226 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hox genes are a family of homeodomain transcription factors that regulate specialized morphological structures along the anterior-posterior axis of metazoans. Over the past few decades, researchers have focused on defining how Hox factors with similar in vitro DNA binding activities achieve sufficient target specificity to regulate distinct cell fates in vivo. In this review, we highlight how protein interactions with other transcription factors, many of which are also homeodomain proteins, result in the formation of transcription factor complexes with enhanced DNA binding specificity. These findings suggest that Hox-regulated enhancers utilize distinct combinations of homeodomain binding sites, many of which are low-affinity, to recruit specific Hox complexes. However, low-affinity sites can only yield reproducible responses with high transcription factor concentrations. To overcome this limitation, recent studies revealed how transcription factors, including Hox factors, use intrinsically disordered domains (IDRs) to form biomolecular condensates that increase protein concentrations. Moreover, Hox factors with altered IDRs have been associated with altered transcriptional activity and human disease states, demonstrating the importance of IDRs in mediating essential Hox output. Collectively, these studies highlight how Hox factors use their DNA binding domains, protein-protein interaction domains, and IDRs to form specific transcription factor complexes that yield accurate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Salomone
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Medical-Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Edward Farrow
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Medical-Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Brian Gebelein
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 7007, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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16
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Malachowski T, Chandradoss KR, Boya R, Zhou L, Cook AL, Su C, Pham K, Haws SA, Kim JH, Ryu HS, Ge C, Luppino JM, Nguyen SC, Titus KR, Gong W, Wallace O, Joyce EF, Wu H, Rojas LA, Phillips-Cremins JE. Spatially coordinated heterochromatinization of long synaptic genes in fragile X syndrome. Cell 2023; 186:5840-5858.e36. [PMID: 38134876 PMCID: PMC10794044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Short tandem repeat (STR) instability causes transcriptional silencing in several repeat expansion disorders. In fragile X syndrome (FXS), mutation-length expansion of a CGG STR represses FMR1 via local DNA methylation. Here, we find megabase-scale H3K9me3 domains on autosomes and encompassing FMR1 on the X chromosome in FXS patient-derived iPSCs, iPSC-derived neural progenitors, EBV-transformed lymphoblasts, and brain tissue with mutation-length CGG expansion. H3K9me3 domains connect via inter-chromosomal interactions and demarcate severe misfolding of TADs and loops. They harbor long synaptic genes replicating at the end of S phase, replication-stress-induced double-strand breaks, and STRs prone to stepwise somatic instability. CRISPR engineering of the mutation-length CGG to premutation length reverses H3K9me3 on the X chromosome and multiple autosomes, refolds TADs, and restores gene expression. H3K9me3 domains can also arise in normal-length iPSCs created with perturbations linked to genome instability, suggesting their relevance beyond FXS. Our results reveal Mb-scale heterochromatinization and trans interactions among loci susceptible to instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Malachowski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Keerthivasan Raanin Chandradoss
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ravi Boya
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Linda Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ashley L Cook
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chuanbin Su
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth Pham
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Spencer A Haws
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ji Hun Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Han-Seul Ryu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chunmin Ge
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Luppino
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Son C Nguyen
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katelyn R Titus
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wanfeng Gong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Owen Wallace
- Fulcrum Therapeutics Incorporated, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric F Joyce
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Fulcrum Therapeutics Incorporated, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer E Phillips-Cremins
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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17
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Pan Y, Lu J, Feng X, Lu S, Yang Y, Yang G, Tan S, Wang L, Li P, Luo S, Lu B. Gelation of cytoplasmic expanded CAG RNA repeats suppresses global protein synthesis. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1372-1383. [PMID: 37592155 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
RNA molecules with the expanded CAG repeat (eCAGr) may undergo sol-gel phase transitions, but the functional impact of RNA gelation is completely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the eCAGr RNA may form cytoplasmic gel-like foci that are rapidly degraded by lysosomes. These RNA foci may significantly reduce the global protein synthesis rate, possibly by sequestering the translation elongation factor eEF2. Disrupting the eCAGr RNA gelation restored the global protein synthesis rate, whereas enhanced gelation exacerbated this phenotype. eEF2 puncta were significantly enhanced in brain slices from a knock-in mouse model and from patients with Huntington's disease, which is a CAG expansion disorder expressing eCAGr RNA. Finally, neuronal expression of the eCAGr RNA by adeno-associated virus injection caused significant behavioral deficits in mice. Our study demonstrates the existence of RNA gelation inside the cells and reveals its functional impact, providing insights into repeat expansion diseases and functional impacts of RNA phase transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyin Pan
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junmei Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinran Feng
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengyi Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Guang Yang
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shudan Tan
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Pilong Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shouqing Luo
- Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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18
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Bennett CL, Dastidar S, Arnold FJ, McKinstry SU, Stockford C, Freibaum BD, Sopher BL, Wu M, Seidner G, Joiner W, Taylor JP, West RJH, La Spada AR. Senataxin helicase, the causal gene defect in ALS4, is a significant modifier of C9orf72 ALS G4C2 and arginine-containing dipeptide repeat toxicity. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:164. [PMID: 37845749 PMCID: PMC10580588 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01665-z] [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] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying genetic modifiers of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may reveal targets for therapeutic modulation with potential application to sporadic ALS. GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene underlie the most common form of familial ALS, and generate toxic arginine-containing dipeptide repeats (DPRs), which interfere with membraneless organelles, such as the nucleolus. Here we considered senataxin (SETX), the genetic cause of ALS4, as a modifier of C9orf72 ALS, because SETX is a nuclear helicase that may regulate RNA-protein interactions involved in ALS dysfunction. After documenting that decreased SETX expression enhances arginine-containing DPR toxicity and C9orf72 repeat expansion toxicity in HEK293 cells and primary neurons, we generated SETX fly lines and evaluated the effect of SETX in flies expressing either (G4C2)58 repeats or glycine-arginine-50 [GR(50)] DPRs. We observed dramatic suppression of disease phenotypes in (G4C2)58 and GR(50) Drosophila models, and detected a striking relocalization of GR(50) out of the nucleolus in flies co-expressing SETX. Next-generation GR(1000) fly models, that show age-related motor deficits in climbing and movement assays, were similarly rescued with SETX co-expression. We noted that the physical interaction between SETX and arginine-containing DPRs is partially RNA-dependent. Finally, we directly assessed the nucleolus in cells expressing GR-DPRs, confirmed reduced mobility of proteins trafficking to the nucleolus upon GR-DPR expression, and found that SETX dosage modulated nucleolus liquidity in GR-DPR-expressing cells and motor neurons. These findings reveal a hitherto unknown connection between SETX function and cellular processes contributing to neuron demise in the most common form of familial ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig L Bennett
- Departments of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, and Biological Chemistry, UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Somasish Dastidar
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Center for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Frederick J Arnold
- Departments of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, and Biological Chemistry, UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Spencer U McKinstry
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Cameron Stockford
- Departments of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, and Biological Chemistry, UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Brian D Freibaum
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Bryce L Sopher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Meilin Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Glen Seidner
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - William Joiner
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Ryan J H West
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK.
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Departments of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Neurology, and Biological Chemistry, UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine School of Biosciences, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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19
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Smirnov D, Konstantinovskiy N, Prokisch H. Integrative omics approaches to advance rare disease diagnostics. J Inherit Metab Dis 2023; 46:824-838. [PMID: 37553850 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade high-throughput DNA sequencing approaches, namely whole exome and whole genome sequencing became a standard procedure in Mendelian disease diagnostics. Implementation of these technologies greatly facilitated diagnostics and shifted the analysis paradigm from variant identification to prioritisation and evaluation. The diagnostic rates vary widely depending on the cohort size, heterogeneity and disease and range from around 30% to 50% leaving the majority of patients undiagnosed. Advances in omics technologies and computational analysis provide an opportunity to increase these unfavourable rates by providing evidence for disease-causing variant validation and prioritisation. This review aims to provide an overview of the current application of several omics technologies including RNA-sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics and DNA-methylation profiling for diagnostics of rare genetic diseases in general and inborn errors of metabolism in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii Smirnov
- School of Medicine, Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nikita Konstantinovskiy
- School of Medicine, Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Holger Prokisch
- School of Medicine, Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
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20
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Liu H, Tsai H, Yang M, Li G, Bian Q, Ding G, Wu D, Dai J. Three-dimensional genome structure and function. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e326. [PMID: 37426677 PMCID: PMC10329473 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Linear DNA undergoes a series of compression and folding events, forming various three-dimensional (3D) structural units in mammalian cells, including chromosomal territory, compartment, topologically associating domain, and chromatin loop. These structures play crucial roles in regulating gene expression, cell differentiation, and disease progression. Deciphering the principles underlying 3D genome folding and the molecular mechanisms governing cell fate determination remains a challenge. With advancements in high-throughput sequencing and imaging techniques, the hierarchical organization and functional roles of higher-order chromatin structures have been gradually illuminated. This review systematically discussed the structural hierarchy of the 3D genome, the effects and mechanisms of cis-regulatory elements interaction in the 3D genome for regulating spatiotemporally specific gene expression, the roles and mechanisms of dynamic changes in 3D chromatin conformation during embryonic development, and the pathological mechanisms of diseases such as congenital developmental abnormalities and cancer, which are attributed to alterations in 3D genome organization and aberrations in key structural proteins. Finally, prospects were made for the research about 3D genome structure, function, and genetic intervention, and the roles in disease development, prevention, and treatment, which may offer some clues for precise diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
- School of StomatologyWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Hsiangyu Tsai
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Maoquan Yang
- School of Clinical MedicineWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Guozhi Li
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Qian Bian
- Shanghai Institute of Precision MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Gang Ding
- School of StomatologyWeifang Medical UniversityWeifangChina
| | - Dandan Wu
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
| | - Jiewen Dai
- Department of Oral and Cranio‐Maxillofacial SurgeryShanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineCollege of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityNational Center for StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShanghai Key Laboratory of StomatologyShanghaiChina
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21
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Zhang S, Pei G, Li B, Li P, Lin Y. Abnormal phase separation of biomacromolecules in human diseases. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1133-1152. [PMID: 37475546 PMCID: PMC10423695 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-less organelles (MLOs) formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are associated with numerous important biological functions, but the abnormal phase separation will also dysregulate the physiological processes. Emerging evidence points to the importance of LLPS in human health and diseases. Nevertheless, despite recent advancements, our knowledge of the molecular relationship between LLPS and diseases is frequently incomplete. In this review, we outline our current understanding about how aberrant LLPS affects developmental disorders, tandem repeat disorders, cancers and viral infection. We also examine disease mechanisms driven by aberrant condensates, and highlight potential treatment approaches. This study seeks to expand our understanding of LLPS by providing a valuable new paradigm for understanding phase separation and human disorders, as well as to further translate our current knowledge regarding LLPS into therapeutic discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Frontier Research Center for Biological StructureTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Boya Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Frontier Research Center for Biological StructureTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Yi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane BiologyTsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life SciencesSchool of Life SciencesTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research at Tsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
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22
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Singh AK, Amar I, Ramadasan H, Kappagantula KS, Chavali S. Proteins with amino acid repeats constitute a rapidly evolvable and human-specific essentialome. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112811. [PMID: 37453061 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112811] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein products of essential genes, indispensable for organismal survival, are highly conserved and bring about fundamental functions. Interestingly, proteins that contain amino acid homorepeats that tend to evolve rapidly are enriched in eukaryotic essentialomes. Why are proteins with hypermutable homorepeats enriched in conserved and functionally vital essential proteins? We solve this functional versus evolutionary paradox by demonstrating that human essential proteins with homorepeats bring about crosstalk across biological processes through high interactability and have distinct regulatory functions affecting expansive global regulation. Importantly, essential proteins with homorepeats rapidly diverge with the amino acid substitutions frequently affecting functional sites, likely facilitating rapid adaptability. Strikingly, essential proteins with homorepeats influence human-specific embryonic and brain development, implying that the presence of homorepeats could contribute to the emergence of human-specific processes. Thus, we propose that homorepeat-containing essential proteins affecting species-specific traits can be potential intervention targets across pathologies, including cancers and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali K Singh
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Ishita Amar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Harikrishnan Ramadasan
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Keertana S Kappagantula
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Sreenivas Chavali
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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23
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Liu Y, Li J, Wu Q. Short Tandem Repeats of Human Genome Are Intrinsically Unstable in Cultured Cells in vivo. Gene 2023:147539. [PMID: 37279866 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147539] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Short tandem repeats (STRs) are a class of abundant structural or functional elements in the human genome and exhibit a polymorphic nature of repeat length and genetic variation within human populations. Interestingly, STR expansions underlie about 60 neurological disorders. However, "stutter" artifacts or noises render it difficult to investigate the pathogenesis of STR expansions. Here, we systematically investigated STR instability in cultured human cells using GC-rich CAG and AT-rich ATTCT tandem repeats as examples. We found that triplicate bidirectional Sanger sequencing with PCR amplification under proper conditions can reliably assess STR length. In addition, we found that next-generation sequencing with paired-end reads bidirectionally covering STR regions can accurately and reliably assay STR length. Finally, we found that STRs are intrinsically unstable in cultured human cell populations and during single-cell cloning. Our data suggest a general method for accurately and reliably assessing STR length and have important implications in investigating pathogenesis of STR expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhe Liu
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; WLA Laboratory, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinhuan Li
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; WLA Laboratory, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Center for Comparative Biomedicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; WLA Laboratory, Shanghai 201203, China.
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24
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Sousa A, Rocha S, Vieira J, Reboiro-Jato M, López-Fernández H, Vieira CP. On the identification of potential novel therapeutic targets for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) neurodegenerative disease using EvoPPI3. J Integr Bioinform 2023; 20:jib-2022-0056. [PMID: 36848492 PMCID: PMC10561075 DOI: 10.1515/jib-2022-0056] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
EvoPPI (http://evoppi.i3s.up.pt), a meta-database for protein-protein interactions (PPI), has been upgraded (EvoPPI3) to accept new types of data, namely, PPI from patients, cell lines, and animal models, as well as data from gene modifier experiments, for nine neurodegenerative polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases caused by an abnormal expansion of the polyQ tract. The integration of the different types of data allows users to easily compare them, as here shown for Ataxin-1, the polyQ protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) disease. Using all available datasets and the data here obtained for Drosophila melanogaster wt and exp Ataxin-1 mutants (also available at EvoPPI3), we show that, in humans, the Ataxin-1 network is much larger than previously thought (380 interactors), with at least 909 interactors. The functional profiling of the newly identified interactors is similar to the ones already reported in the main PPI databases. 16 out of 909 interactors are putative novel SCA1 therapeutic targets, and all but one are already being studied in the context of this disease. The 16 proteins are mainly involved in binding and catalytic activity (mainly kinase activity), functional features already thought to be important in the SCA1 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Sousa
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Rocha
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Vieira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Reboiro-Jato
- Department of Computer Science, CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, ESEI – Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Informática, 32004Ourense, Spain
- SING Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36213 Vigo, Spain
| | - Hugo López-Fernández
- Department of Computer Science, CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, ESEI – Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Informática, 32004Ourense, Spain
- SING Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, 36213 Vigo, Spain
| | - Cristina P. Vieira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135Porto, Portugal
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25
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Wang SC, Chen YT, Satange R, Chu JW, Hou MH. Structural basis for water modulating RNA duplex formation in the CUG repeats of myotonic dystrophy type 1. J Biol Chem 2023:104864. [PMID: 37245780 PMCID: PMC10316006 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104864] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary structures formed by expanded CUG RNA are involved in the pathobiology of myotonic dystrophy type 1. Understanding the molecular basis of toxic RNA structures can provide insights into the mechanism of disease pathogenesis and accelerate the drug discovery process. Here, we report the crystal structure of CUG repeat RNA containing three U-U mismatches between C-G and G-C base pairs. The CUG RNA crystallizes as an A-form duplex, with the first and third U-U mismatches adopting a water-mediated asymmetric mirror isoform geometry. We found for the first time that a symmetric, water-bridged U-H2O-U mismatch is well tolerated within the CUG RNA duplex, which was previously suspected but not observed. The new water-bridged U-U mismatch resulted in high base-pair opening and single-sided cross-strand stacking interactions, which in turn dominate the CUG RNA structure. Furthermore, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that complemented the structural findings and proposed that the first and third U-U mismatches are interchangeable conformations, while the central water-bridged U-U mismatch represents an intermediate state that modulates the RNA duplex conformation. Collectively, the new structural features provided in this work are important for understanding the recognition of U-U mismatches in CUG repeats by external ligands such as proteins or small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Ching Wang
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics; National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Tsao Chen
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068 Taiwan
| | - Roshan Satange
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics; National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Wei Chu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068 Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068 Taiwan; Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30068 Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Hon Hou
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics; National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
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26
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Parameswaran J, Zhang N, Braems E, Tilahun K, Pant DC, Yin K, Asress S, Heeren K, Banerjee A, Davis E, Schwartz SL, Conn GL, Bassell GJ, Van Den Bosch L, Jiang J. Antisense, but not sense, repeat expanded RNAs activate PKR/eIF2α-dependent ISR in C9ORF72 FTD/ALS. eLife 2023; 12:e85902. [PMID: 37073950 PMCID: PMC10188109 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
GGGGCC (G4C2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The repeat is bidirectionally transcribed and confers gain of toxicity. However, the underlying toxic species is debated, and it is not clear whether antisense CCCCGG (C4G2) repeat expanded RNAs contribute to disease pathogenesis. Our study shows that C9ORF72 antisense C4G2 repeat expanded RNAs trigger the activation of the PKR/eIF2α-dependent integrated stress response independent of dipeptide repeat proteins that are produced through repeat-associated non-AUG-initiated translation, leading to global translation inhibition and stress granule formation. Reducing PKR levels with either siRNA or morpholinos mitigates integrated stress response and toxicity caused by the antisense C4G2 RNAs in cell lines, primary neurons, and zebrafish. Increased phosphorylation of PKR/eIF2α is also observed in the frontal cortex of C9ORF72 FTD/ALS patients. Finally, only antisense C4G2, but not sense G4C2, repeat expanded RNAs robustly activate the PKR/eIF2α pathway and induce aberrant stress granule formation. These results provide a mechanism by which antisense C4G2 repeat expanded RNAs elicit neuronal toxicity in FTD/ALS caused by C9ORF72 repeat expansions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Elke Braems
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Campus GasthuisbergLeuvenBelgium
| | | | - Devesh C Pant
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Keena Yin
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Seneshaw Asress
- Department of Neurology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Kara Heeren
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Campus GasthuisbergLeuvenBelgium
| | - Anwesha Banerjee
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Emma Davis
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | | | - Graeme L Conn
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Gary J Bassell
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Campus GasthuisbergLeuvenBelgium
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
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27
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Jafari L, Safinejad K, Nasiri M, Heidari M, Houshmand M. The relationship between common mutations in CFTR, AR genes, Y chromosome microdeletions and karyotyping abnormalities with very severe oligozoospermia in Iranian men. Genes Genomics 2023; 45:519-529. [PMID: 35982373 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01300-6] [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: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male infertility due to very severe oligozoospermia has been associated with some genetic risk factors. OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution of the mutations in the CFTR gene, the CAG-repeat expansion of the AR gene, also Y chromosome microdeletions and karyotyping abnormalities in very severe oligozoospermia patients. METHODS In the present case-control study, 200 patients and 200 fertile males were enrolled. All patients and control group were karyotyped. Microdeletions were evaluated using multiplex PCR. Five common CFTR mutations were genotyped using the ARMS-PCR technique. The CAG-repeat expansion in the AR gene was evaluated for each individual using sequencing. RESULTS Overall 4% of cases shows a numerical and structural abnormality. 7.5% of patients had a deletion in one of the AZF regions on Yq, and 3.5% had a deletion in two regions. F508del was the most common (4.5%) CFTR gene mutation; G542X, and W1282X were detected with 1.5% and 1% respectively. One patient was found to have AZFa microdeletion and F508del in heterozygote form; one patient had AZFb microdeletion with F508del. F508del was seen as compound heterozygous with G542X in one patient and with W1282X in the other patient. The difference in the mean of the CAG-repeats in the AR gene in patients and control groups was statistically significant (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION Our study shows the genetic mutations in men with severe oligozoospermia and given the possibility of transmission of these disorders to the next generation by fertilization, counseling and genetic testing are suggested for these couples before considering ICSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Jafari
- Department of Biology, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran
| | - Kyumars Safinejad
- Department of Biology, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran.
| | - Mahboobeh Nasiri
- Department of Biology, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran
| | - Mansour Heidari
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Poursina Ave, Tehran, Iran
| | - Massoud Houshmand
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
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28
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Tshilenge KT, Aguirre CG, Bons J, Gerencser AA, Basisty N, Song S, Rose J, Lopez-Ramirez A, Naphade S, Loureiro A, Battistoni E, Milani M, Wehrfritz C, Holtz A, Hetz C, Mooney SD, Schilling B, Ellerby LM. Proteomic Analysis of Huntington's Disease Medium Spiny Neurons Identifies Alterations in Lipid Droplets. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100534. [PMID: 36958627 PMCID: PMC10165459 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100534] [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: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting polyglutamine (polyQ) tract alters the function of the HTT protein. Although HTT is expressed in different tissues, the medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) in the striatum are particularly vulnerable in HD. Thus, we sought to define the proteome of human HD patient-derived MSNs. We differentiated HD72 induced pluripotent stem cells and isogenic controls into MSNs and carried out quantitative proteomic analysis. Using data-dependent acquisitions with FAIMS for label-free quantification on the Orbitrap Lumos mass spectrometer, we identified 6,323 proteins with at least two unique peptides. Of these, 901 proteins were altered significantly more in the HD72-MSNs than in isogenic controls. Functional enrichment analysis of upregulated proteins demonstrated extracellular matrix and DNA signaling (DNA replication pathway, double-strand break repair, G1/S transition) with the highest significance. Conversely, processes associated with the downregulated proteins included neurogenesis-axogenesis, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-signaling pathway, Ephrin-A: EphA pathway, regulation of synaptic plasticity, triglyceride homeostasis cholesterol, plasmid lipoprotein particle immune response, interferon-γ signaling, immune system major histocompatibility complex, lipid metabolism and cellular response to stimulus. Moreover, proteins involved in the formation and maintenance of axons, dendrites, and synapses (e.g., Septin protein members) were dysregulated in HD72-MSNs. Importantly, lipid metabolism pathways were altered, and using quantitative image, we found analysis that lipid droplets accumulated in the HD72-MSN, suggesting a deficit in the turnover of lipids possibly through lipophagy. Our proteomics analysis of HD72-MSNs identified relevant pathways that are altered in MSNs and confirm current and new therapeutic targets for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Galicia Aguirre
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA; University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90893, USA
| | - Joanna Bons
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Akos A Gerencser
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Nathan Basisty
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA; Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging (NIA), NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, 21244, USA
| | - Sicheng Song
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jacob Rose
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | | | - Swati Naphade
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Ashley Loureiro
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Elena Battistoni
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Mateus Milani
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile; Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile; Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chile
| | - Cameron Wehrfritz
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Anja Holtz
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA
| | - Claudio Hetz
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA; Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile; Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile; Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chile
| | - Sean D Mooney
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Birgit Schilling
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA; University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90893, USA.
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, 94945, USA; University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90893, USA.
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29
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Teng Y, Zhu M, Qiu Z. G-Quadruplexes in Repeat Expansion Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032375. [PMID: 36768697 PMCID: PMC9916761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The repeat expansions are the main genetic cause of various neurodegeneration diseases. More than ten kinds of repeat sequences with different lengths, locations, and structures have been confirmed in the past two decades. G-rich repeat sequences, such as CGG and GGGGCC, are reported to form functional G-quadruplexes, participating in many important bioprocesses. In this review, we conducted an overview concerning the contribution of G-quadruplex in repeat expansion disorders and summarized related mechanisms in current pathological studies, including the increasing genetic instabilities in replication and transcription, the toxic RNA foci formed in neurons, and the loss/gain function of proteins and peptides. Furthermore, novel strategies targeting G-quadruplex repeats were developed based on the understanding of disease mechanism. Small molecules and proteins binding to G-quadruplex in repeat expansions were investigated to protect neurons from dysfunction and delay the progression of neurodegeneration. In addition, the effects of environment on the stability of G-quadruplex were discussed, which might be critical factors in the pathological study of repeat expansion disorders.
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30
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Li J, Chen H, Cai L, Guo D, Zhang D, Zhou X, Xie J. SDF-1α Promotes Chondrocyte Autophagy through CXCR4/mTOR Signaling Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021710. [PMID: 36675225 PMCID: PMC9867011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
SDF-1α, the most common isoform of stromal cell-derived factor 1, has shown vital effects in regulating chondrocyte proliferation, maturation, and chondrogenesis. Autophagy is a highly conserved biological process to help chondrocytes survive in harsh environments. However, the effect of SDF-1α on chondrocyte autophagy is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of SDF-1α on chondrocyte autophagy and the underlying biomechanism. Transmission electron microscope assays and mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus double label transfection assays were performed to detect the autophagic flux of chondrocytes. Western blots and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to detect the expression of autophagy-related proteins in chondrocytes. RNA sequencing and qPCR were conducted to assess changes in autophagy-related mRNA expression. SDF-1α upregulated the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in chondrocytes. It also increased the expression of autophagy-related proteins including ULK-1, Beclin-1 and LC3B, and decreased the expression of p62, an autophagy substrate protein. SDF-1α-mediated autophagy of chondrocytes required the participation of receptor CXCR4. Moreover, SDF-1α-enhanced autophagy of chondrocytes was through the inhibition of phosphorylation of mTOR signaling on the upstream of autophagy. Knockdown by siRNA and inhibition by signaling inhibitor further confirmed the importance of the CXCR4/mTOR signaling axis in SDF-1α-induced autophagy of chondrocytes. For the first time, this study elucidated that SDF-1α promotes chondrocyte autophagy through the CXCR4/mTOR signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Daimo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Demao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.X.); Tel.: +86-28-85501469 (X.Z.); +86-28-85503469 (J.X.); Fax: +86-28-85582167 (X.Z.)
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (J.X.); Tel.: +86-28-85501469 (X.Z.); +86-28-85503469 (J.X.); Fax: +86-28-85582167 (X.Z.)
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31
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Jain M, Patil N, Abdi G, Abbasi Tarighat M, Mohammed A, Ahmad Mohd Zain MR, Goh KW. Mechanistic Insights and Potential Therapeutic Approaches in PolyQ Diseases via Autophagy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010162. [PMID: 36672670 PMCID: PMC9856063 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010162] [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: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are a group of congenital neurodegenerative diseases categorized with genomic abnormalities in the expansion of CAG triplet repeats in coding regions of specific disease-related genes. Protein aggregates are the toxic hallmark for polyQ diseases and initiate neuronal death. Autophagy is a catabolic process that aids in the removal of damaged organelles or toxic protein aggregates, a process required to maintain cellular homeostasis that has the potential to fight against neurodegenerative diseases, but this pathway gets affected under diseased conditions, as there is a direct impact on autophagy-related gene expression. The increase in the accumulation of autophagy vesicles reported in neurodegenerative diseases was due to an increase in autophagy or may have been due to a decrease in autophagy flux. These reports suggested that there is a contribution of autophagy in the pathology of diseases and regulation in the process of autophagy. It was demonstrated in various disease models of polyQ diseases that autophagy upregulation by using modulators can enhance the dissolution of toxic aggregates and delay disease progression. In this review, interaction of the autophagy pathway with polyQ diseases was analyzed, and a therapeutic approach with autophagy inducing drugs was established for disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Jain
- Department of Lifesciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India
- Lab 209 Cell and Developmental Biology Lab, Centre of Research for Development, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India
| | - Nil Patil
- Department of Lifesciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India
- Lab 209 Cell and Developmental Biology Lab, Centre of Research for Development, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India
| | - Gholamreza Abdi
- Department of Biotechnology, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, 75169, Iran
- Correspondence: (G.A.); (M.R.A.M.Z.); (K.W.G.)
| | - Maryam Abbasi Tarighat
- Faculty of Nano and Bio Science and Technology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr 75169, Iran
| | - Arifullah Mohammed
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli 17600, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Rajaei Ahmad Mohd Zain
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (G.A.); (M.R.A.M.Z.); (K.W.G.)
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (G.A.); (M.R.A.M.Z.); (K.W.G.)
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Saha G, Ghosh S, Dubey VK, Saudagar P. Gene Alterations Induced by Glutamine (Q) Encoding CAG Repeats Associated with Neurodegeneration. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2575:3-23. [PMID: 36301468 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2716-7_1] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have been reported linking the role of polyglutamine (polyQ) disease-associated proteins with altered gene regulation induced by an unstable trinucleotide (CAG) repeat. Owing to their dynamic nature of expansion, these DNA repeats form secondary structures interfering with the normal cellular mechanisms like replication and transcription and, thereby, have become the underlying cause of numerous neurodegenerative disorders involving mental retardation and/or muscular or neuronal degeneration. Despite the widespread expression of the disease-causing protein, specific subsets of neurons are susceptible to specific patterns of inheritance and clinical symptoms. Although this cell-type selectivity is still elusive and less understood, it has been found that aberrant transcriptional regulation is one of the primary causes of polyQ diseases where the functions of histone-modifying complexes are disrupted. Besides, epigenetic modifications play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. In this chapter, we will be delving into how these polyQ repeats induce the self-assembly and aggregation of altered carrier proteins based on gene alterations, causing neuronal toxicity and cellular deaths. Besides, genomic instability in CAG repeats due to altered chromatin-related enzymes will be highlighted, along with epigenetic changes present in many polyQ disorders. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms in the root cause of these disorders will culminate in identifying therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gundappa Saha
- Department of Basic & Translational Sciences, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sukanya Ghosh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prakash Saudagar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Telangana, India.
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Kim H, Gomez-Pastor R. HSF1 and Its Role in Huntington's Disease Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1410:35-95. [PMID: 36396925 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the master transcriptional regulator of the heat shock response (HSR) in mammalian cells and is a critical element in maintaining protein homeostasis. HSF1 functions at the center of many physiological processes like embryogenesis, metabolism, immune response, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms that allow HSF1 to control these different biological and pathophysiological processes are not fully understood. This review focuses on Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by severe protein aggregation of the huntingtin (HTT) protein. The aggregation of HTT, in turn, leads to a halt in the function of HSF1. Understanding the pathways that regulate HSF1 in different contexts like HD may hold the key to understanding the pathomechanisms underlying other proteinopathies. We provide the most current information on HSF1 structure, function, and regulation, emphasizing HD, and discussing its potential as a biological target for therapy. DATA SOURCES We performed PubMed search to find established and recent reports in HSF1, heat shock proteins (Hsp), HD, Hsp inhibitors, HSF1 activators, and HSF1 in aging, inflammation, cancer, brain development, mitochondria, synaptic plasticity, polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, and HD. STUDY SELECTIONS Research and review articles that described the mechanisms of action of HSF1 were selected based on terms used in PubMed search. RESULTS HSF1 plays a crucial role in the progression of HD and other protein-misfolding related neurodegenerative diseases. Different animal models of HD, as well as postmortem brains of patients with HD, reveal a connection between the levels of HSF1 and HSF1 dysfunction to mutant HTT (mHTT)-induced toxicity and protein aggregation, dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of the structural and functional integrity of synaptic connections, which eventually leads to neuronal loss. These features are shared with other neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Currently, several inhibitors against negative regulators of HSF1, as well as HSF1 activators, are developed and hold promise to prevent neurodegeneration in HD and other NDs. CONCLUSION Understanding the role of HSF1 during protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in HD may help to develop therapeutic strategies that could be effective across different NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuck Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Li X, Lu S, Lu B, Sun X. Optogenetic control of GGGGCC repeat-containing RNA phase transition. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 2:843-850. [PMID: 38933387 PMCID: PMC11197711 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.09.001] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The GGGGCC (G4C2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is a major cause of both hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and familial frontotemporal dementia. Recent studies have shown that G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat-containing RNA transcripts ((G4C2)n RNA) could go through liquid-liquid phase separation to form RNA foci, which may elicit neurodegeneration. However, the direct causality between these abnormal RNA foci and neuronal toxicity remains to be demonstrated. Here we introduce an optogenetic control system that can induce the assembly and phase separation of (G4C2)n RNA foci with blue light illumination in human cells, by fusing a specific (G4C2)n RNA binding protein as the linker domain to Cry2, a protein that oligomerizes in response to blue light. Our results demonstrate that a higher number of G4C2 repeats have the potential to be induced into more RNA foci in the cells. Both spontaneous and induced RNA foci display liquid-like properties according to FRAP measurements. Computational simulation shows strong consistency with the experimental results and supports the effect of our system to promote the propensity of (G4C2)n RNA towards phase separation. This system can thus be used to investigate whether (G4C2)n RNA foci would disrupt normal cellular processes and lead to pathological phenotypes relevant to repeat expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shengyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Boxun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiaoli Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
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35
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CGG repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC causes mitochondrial dysfunction and progressive neurodegeneration in Drosophila model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208649119. [PMID: 36191230 PMCID: PMC9565157 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208649119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a neuromuscular/neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the NOTCH2NLC gene. These repeats can be translated into a polyglycine-containing protein, uN2CpolyG, which forms protein inclusions and is toxic in cell models, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here, we established a transgenic Drosophila model expressing uN2CpolyG in multiple systems, which resulted in progressive neuronal cell loss, locomotor deficiency, and shortened lifespan. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial swelling both in transgenic flies and in muscle biopsies of individuals with NIID. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed colocalization of uN2CpolyG with mitochondria in cell and patient samples, while biochemical analysis revealed that uN2CpolyG interacted with a mitochondrial RNA binding protein, LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat motif-containing protein). Furthermore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and functional assays showed down-regulated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in uN2CpolyG-expressing flies and NIID muscle biopsies. Finally, idebenone treatment restored mitochondrial function and alleviated neurodegenerative phenotypes in transgenic flies. Overall, these results indicate that transgenic flies expressing uN2CpolyG recapitulate key features of NIID and that reversing mitochondrial dysfunction might provide a potential therapeutic approach for this disorder.
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Mohiuddin M, Kooy RF, Pearson CE. De novo mutations, genetic mosaicism and human disease. Front Genet 2022; 13:983668. [PMID: 36226191 PMCID: PMC9550265 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.983668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosaicism—the existence of genetically distinct populations of cells in a particular organism—is an important cause of genetic disease. Mosaicism can appear as de novo DNA mutations, epigenetic alterations of DNA, and chromosomal abnormalities. Neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric diseases, including autism—often arise by de novo mutations that usually not present in either of the parents. De novo mutations might occur as early as in the parental germline, during embryonic, fetal development, and/or post-natally, through ageing and life. Mutation timing could lead to mutation burden of less than heterozygosity to approaching homozygosity. Developmental timing of somatic mutation attainment will affect the mutation load and distribution throughout the body. In this review, we discuss the timing of de novo mutations, spanning from mutations in the germ lineage (all ages), to post-zygotic, embryonic, fetal, and post-natal events, through aging to death. These factors can determine the tissue specific distribution and load of de novo mutations, which can affect disease. The disease threshold burden of somatic de novo mutations of a particular gene in any tissue will be important to define.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohiuddin Mohiuddin
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Mohiuddin Mohiuddin, ; Christopher E. Pearson,
| | - R. Frank Kooy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Christopher E. Pearson
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Mohiuddin Mohiuddin, ; Christopher E. Pearson,
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Liu Y, Li H, Liu X, Wang B, Yang H, Wan B, Sun M, Xu X. Clinical and mechanism advances of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:934725. [PMID: 36177481 PMCID: PMC9513122 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.934725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the high clinical heterogeneity of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID), it is easy to misdiagnose this condition and is considered to be a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease. More evidence demonstrates that NIID involves not only the central nervous system but also multiple systems of the body and shows a variety of symptoms, which makes a clinical diagnosis of NIID more difficult. This review summarizes the clinical symptoms in different systems and demonstrates that NIID is a multiple-system intranuclear inclusion disease. In addition, the core triad symptoms in the central nervous system, such as dementia, parkinsonism, and psychiatric symptoms, are proposed as an important clue for the clinical diagnosis of NIID. Recent studies have demonstrated that expanded GGC repeats in the 5′-untranslated region of the NOTCH2NLC gene are the cause of NIID. The genetic advances and possible underlying mechanisms of NIID (expanded GGC repeat-induced DNA damage, RNA toxicity, and polyglycine-NOTCH2NLC protein toxicity) are briefly summarized in this review. Interestingly, inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation were observed in the affected tissues of patients with NIID. As a downstream pathological process of NIID, inflammation could be a therapeutic target for NIID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bo Wan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Bo Wan,
| | - Miao Sun
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Miao Sun,
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Xingshun Xu,
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38
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Yousuf A, Ahmed N, Qurashi A. Non-canonical DNA/RNA structures associated with the pathogenesis of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Front Genet 2022; 13:866021. [PMID: 36110216 PMCID: PMC9468596 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866021] [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: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and fragile X syndrome (FXS) are primary examples of fragile X-related disorders (FXDs) caused by abnormal expansion of CGG repeats above a certain threshold in the 5′-untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene. Both diseases have distinct clinical manifestations and molecular pathogenesis. FXTAS is a late-adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a premutation (PM) allele (CGG expansion of 55–200 repeats), resulting in FMR1 gene hyperexpression. On the other hand, FXS is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a full mutation (FM) allele (CGG expansions of ≥200 repeats) leading to heterochromatization and transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene. The main challenge is to determine how CGG repeat expansion affects the fundamentally distinct nature of FMR1 expression in FM and PM ranges. Abnormal CGG repeat expansions form a variety of non-canonical DNA and RNA structures that can disrupt various cellular processes and cause distinct effects in PM and FM alleles. Here, we review these structures and how they are related to underlying mutations and disease pathology in FXS and FXTAS. Finally, as new CGG expansions within the genome have been identified, it will be interesting to determine their implications in disease pathology and treatment.
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39
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Detection of repeat expansions in large next generation DNA and RNA sequencing data without alignment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13124. [PMID: 35907931 PMCID: PMC9338934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17267-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinformatic methods for detecting short tandem repeat expansions in short-read sequencing have identified new repeat expansions in humans, but require alignment information to identify repetitive motif enrichment at genomic locations. We present superSTR, an ultrafast method that does not require alignment. superSTR is used to process whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing data, and perform the first STR analysis of the UK Biobank, efficiently screening and identifying known and potential disease-associated STRs in the exomes of 49,953 biobank participants. We demonstrate the first bioinformatic screening of RNA sequencing data to detect repeat expansions in humans and mouse models of ataxia and dystrophy.
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40
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Nakanishi K. Anatomy of four human Argonaute proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:6618-6638. [PMID: 35736234 PMCID: PMC9262622 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) bind to complementary target RNAs and regulate their gene expression post-transcriptionally. These non-coding regulatory RNAs become functional after loading into Argonaute (AGO) proteins to form the effector complexes. Humans have four AGO proteins, AGO1, AGO2, AGO3 and AGO4, which share a high sequence identity. Since most miRNAs are found across the four AGOs, it has been thought that they work redundantly, and AGO2 has been heavily studied as the exemplified human paralog. Nevertheless, an increasing number of studies have found that the other paralogs play unique roles in various biological processes and diseases. In the last decade, the structural study of the four AGOs has provided the field with solid structural bases. This review exploits the completed structural catalog to describe common features and differences in target specificity across the four AGOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Nakanishi
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 614 688 2188;
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41
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Guo P, Han D. Targeting Pathogenic DNA and RNA Repeats: A Conceptual Therapeutic Way for Repeat Expansion Diseases. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201749. [PMID: 35727679 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201749] [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: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Expansions of short tandem repeats (STRs) in the human genome cause nearly 50 neurodegenerative diseases, which are mostly inheritable, nonpreventable and incurable, posing as a huge threat to human health. Non-B DNAs formed by STRs are thought to be structural intermediates that can cause repeat expansions. The subsequent transcripts harboring expanded RNA repeats can further induce cellular toxicity through forming specific structures. Direct targeting of these pathogenic DNA and RNA repeats has emerged as a new potential therapeutic strategy to cure repeat expansion diseases. In this conceptual review, we first introduce the roles of DNA and RNA structures in the genetic instabilities and pathomechanisms of repeat expansion diseases, then describe structural features of DNA and RNA repeats with a focus on the tertiary structures determined by X-ray crystallography and solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and finally discuss recent progress and perspectives of developing chemical tools that target pathogenic DNA and RNA repeats for curing repeat expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Guo
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, P. R. China
| | - Da Han
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, P. R. China.,Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
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42
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Machine learning predicts translation initiation sites in neurologic diseases with nucleotide repeat expansions. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0256411. [PMID: 35648796 PMCID: PMC9159584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of neurologic diseases associated with expanded nucleotide repeats, including an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have an unconventional form of translation called repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation. It has been speculated that the repeat regions in the RNA fold into secondary structures in a length-dependent manner, promoting RAN translation. Repeat protein products are translated, accumulate, and may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Nucleotides that flank the repeat region, especially ones closest to the initiation site, are believed to enhance translation initiation. A machine learning model has been published to help identify ATG and near-cognate translation initiation sites; however, this model has diminished predictive power due to its extensive feature selection and limited training data. Here, we overcome this limitation and increase prediction accuracy by the following: a) capture the effect of nucleotides most critical for translation initiation via feature reduction, b) implement an alternative machine learning algorithm better suited for limited data, c) build comprehensive and balanced training data (via sampling without replacement) that includes previously unavailable sequences, and d) split ATG and near-cognate translation initiation codon data to train two separate models. We also design a supplementary scoring system to provide an additional prognostic assessment of model predictions. The resultant models have high performance, with ~85-88% accuracy, exceeding that of the previously published model by >18%. The models presented here are used to identify translation initiation sites in genes associated with a number of neurologic repeat expansion disorders. The results confirm a number of sites of translation initiation upstream of the expanded repeats that have been found experimentally, and predict sites that are not yet established.
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43
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Nguyen HT, Hori N, Thirumalai D. Condensates in RNA repeat sequences are heterogeneously organized and exhibit reptation dynamics. Nat Chem 2022; 14:775-785. [PMID: 35501484 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-00934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although it is known that RNA undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation, the interplay between the molecular driving forces and the emergent features of the condensates, such as their morphologies and dynamic properties, is not well understood. We introduce a coarse-grained model to simulate phase separation of trinucleotide repeat RNAs, which are implicated in neurological disorders. After establishing that the simulations reproduce key experimental findings, we show that once recruited inside the liquid droplets, the monomers transition from hairpin-like structures to extended states. Interactions between the monomers in the condensates result in the formation of an intricate and dense intermolecular network, which severely restrains the fluctuations and mobilities of the RNAs inside large droplets. In the largest densely packed high-viscosity droplets, the mobility of RNA chains is best characterized by reptation, reminiscent of the dynamics in polymer melts. Our work provides a microscopic framework for understanding liquid-liquid phase separation in RNA, which is not easily discernible in current experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung T Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Naoto Hori
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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44
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Fang L, Liu Q, Monteys AM, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Davidson BL, Wang K. DeepRepeat: direct quantification of short tandem repeats on signal data from nanopore sequencing. Genome Biol 2022; 23:108. [PMID: 35484600 PMCID: PMC9052667 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02670-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent improvements in basecalling accuracy, nanopore sequencing still has higher error rates on short-tandem repeats (STRs). Instead of using basecalled reads, we developed DeepRepeat which converts ionic current signals into red-green-blue channels, thus transforming the repeat detection problem into an image recognition problem. DeepRepeat identifies and accurately quantifies telomeric repeats in the CHM13 cell line and achieves higher accuracy in quantifying repeats in long STRs than competing methods. We also evaluate DeepRepeat on genome-wide or candidate region datasets from seven different sources. In summary, DeepRepeat enables accurate quantification of long STRs and complements existing methods relying on basecalled reads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Fang
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Qian Liu
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,School of Life Sciences, College of Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA. .,Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, College of Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA.
| | - Alex Mas Monteys
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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45
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Varathan P, Gorijala P, Jacobson T, Chasioti D, Nho K, Risacher SL, Saykin AJ, Yan J. Integrative analysis of eQTL and GWAS summary statistics reveals transcriptomic alteration in Alzheimer brains. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:93. [PMID: 35461270 PMCID: PMC9035239 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01245-5] [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: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large-scale genome-wide association studies have successfully identified many genetic variants significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), such as rs429358, rs11038106, rs723804, rs13591776, and more. The next key step is to understand the function of these SNPs and the downstream biology through which they exert the effect on the development of AD. However, this remains a challenging task due to the tissue-specific nature of transcriptomic and proteomic data and the limited availability of brain tissue.In this paper, instead of using coupled transcriptomic data, we performed an integrative analysis of existing GWAS findings and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) results from AD-related brain regions to estimate the transcriptomic alterations in AD brain. RESULTS We used summary-based mendelian randomization method along with heterogeneity in dependent instruments method and were able to identify 32 genes with potential altered levels in temporal cortex region. Among these, 10 of them were further validated using real gene expression data collected from temporal cortex region, and 19 SNPs from NECTIN and TOMM40 genes were found associated with multiple temporal cortex imaging phenotype. CONCLUSION Significant pathways from enriched gene networks included neutrophil degranulation, Cell surface interactions at the vascular wall, and Regulation of TP53 activity which are still relatively under explored in Alzheimer's Disease while also encouraging a necessity to bind further trans-eQTL effects into this integrative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Varathan
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Priyanka Gorijala
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Tanner Jacobson
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Danai Chasioti
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Shannon L Risacher
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Andrew J Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jingwen Yan
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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46
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Murase H, Nagatsugi F, Sasaki S. Development of a selective ligand for G-G mismatches of CGG repeat RNA inducing the RNA structural conversion from the G-quadruplex into a hairpin-like structure. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:3375-3381. [PMID: 35355034 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob00279e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The trinucleotide CGG repeat is located in the 5'-UTR of FMR1 and its abnormal expansion and formation of a noncanonical RNA structure causes fetal genetic diseases. In this study, a small molecular dimer-type ligand consisting of dual G-clamp units for the recognition of two neighboring guanines was synthesized, and the binding properties for the r(CGG) repeats were investigated. Compound 2 was confirmed to bind to the mismatch guanines in the stem region of the r(CGG) repeat hairpin. In addition, the RNase T1 assay demonstrated that 2 induced the structural conversion of the r(CGG)8 repeat from the G-quadruplex into a hairpin-like structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Murase
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis ten bosch machi, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan.
| | - Fumi Nagatsugi
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Shigeki Sasaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis ten bosch machi, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan.
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47
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Eitan C, Siany A, Barkan E, Olender T, van Eijk KR, Moisse M, Farhan SMK, Danino YM, Yanowski E, Marmor-Kollet H, Rivkin N, Yacovzada NS, Hung ST, Cooper-Knock J, Yu CH, Louis C, Masters SL, Kenna KP, van der Spek RAA, Sproviero W, Al Khleifat A, Iacoangeli A, Shatunov A, Jones AR, Elbaz-Alon Y, Cohen Y, Chapnik E, Rothschild D, Weissbrod O, Beck G, Ainbinder E, Ben-Dor S, Werneburg S, Schafer DP, Brown RH, Shaw PJ, Van Damme P, van den Berg LH, Phatnani H, Segal E, Ichida JK, Al-Chalabi A, Veldink JH, Hornstein E. Whole-genome sequencing reveals that variants in the Interleukin 18 Receptor Accessory Protein 3'UTR protect against ALS. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:433-445. [PMID: 35361972 PMCID: PMC7614916 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01040-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The noncoding genome is substantially larger than the protein-coding genome but has been largely unexplored by genetic association studies. Here, we performed region-based rare variant association analysis of >25,000 variants in untranslated regions of 6,139 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) whole genomes and the whole genomes of 70,403 non-ALS controls. We identified interleukin-18 receptor accessory protein (IL18RAP) 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) variants as significantly enriched in non-ALS genomes and associated with a fivefold reduced risk of developing ALS, and this was replicated in an independent cohort. These variants in the IL18RAP 3'UTR reduce mRNA stability and the binding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding proteins. Finally, the variants of the IL18RAP 3'UTR confer a survival advantage for motor neurons because they dampen neurotoxicity of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia bearing an ALS-associated expansion in C9orf72, and this depends on NF-κB signaling. This study reveals genetic variants that protect against ALS by reducing neuroinflammation and emphasizes the importance of noncoding genetic association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Eitan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aviad Siany
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elad Barkan
- Department of Computer Science And Applied Math, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kristel R van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthieu Moisse
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yehuda M Danino
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eran Yanowski
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hagai Marmor-Kollet
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Natalia Rivkin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nancy Sarah Yacovzada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Computer Science And Applied Math, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shu-Ting Hung
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Chien-Hsiung Yu
- Inflammation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Cynthia Louis
- Inflammation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Seth L Masters
- Inflammation Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kevin P Kenna
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rick A A van der Spek
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - William Sproviero
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley R Jones
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yael Elbaz-Alon
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yahel Cohen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elik Chapnik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Daphna Rothschild
- Department of Computer Science And Applied Math, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Omer Weissbrod
- Department of Computer Science And Applied Math, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gilad Beck
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elena Ainbinder
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sebastian Werneburg
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dorothy P Schafer
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Philip Van Damme
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
- University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hemali Phatnani
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, USA
| | - Eran Segal
- Department of Computer Science And Applied Math, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom
- King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eran Hornstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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48
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Joz Abbasalian Z, Khanahmad H, Tabatabaiefar MA. Bisulfite Treatment of CG-Rich Track of Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Disorder: Make the Sequence Less CG Rich. Adv Biomed Res 2022; 10:46. [PMID: 35127573 PMCID: PMC8781891 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_144_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion is a kind of mutation with instability in the number of microsatellite repeats. This nature of mutation leads to the different kinds of neurological and neuromuscular disorders; among them, fragile-X syndrome is the main cause of intellectual disability in which the increasing number of CGG TNR in 5' untranslated region is the main reason for epigenetic silencing of Fragile X mental retardation 1 gene. The aim of this study is to decrease the CG content of the candidate region to facilitate amplification by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bisulfite treatment of the genomic DNA results in conversion of unmethylated cytosine to uridine and may overcome the diagnostic pitfalls. Materials and Methods: The whole blood DNA was extracted and bisulfite treated. Then any simplification in PCR process of desire sequence were assayed through following conventional PCR using specifically designed primers for converted sequence. Bisulfite-treated PCR product of a nearby sequence confirmed our results as a conversion control. Results: Both the control and the candidate sequences undergoing bisulfite treatment were successfully amplified by PCR. Conclusions: Decreasing the GC content of the sequence by bisulfite treating could be a new approach to overcome difficulties in amplifying GC-rich sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Joz Abbasalian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Tabatabaiefar
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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49
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Tovar Fernandez MC, Sroka EM, Lavigne M, Thermou A, Daskalogianni C, Manoury B, Prado Martins R, Fahraeus R. Substrate-specific presentation of MHC class I-restricted antigens via autophagy pathway. Cell Immunol 2022; 374:104484. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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50
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Fourier A, Quadrio I. Proteinopathies associated to repeat expansion disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:173-185. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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