1
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Aparicio B, Theunissen P, Hervas-Stubbs S, Fortes P, Sarobe P. Relevance of mutation-derived neoantigens and non-classical antigens for anticancer therapies. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2303799. [PMID: 38346926 PMCID: PMC10863374 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2303799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Efficacy of cancer immunotherapies relies on correct recognition of tumor antigens by lymphocytes, eliciting thus functional responses capable of eliminating tumor cells. Therefore, important efforts have been carried out in antigen identification, with the aim of understanding mechanisms of response to immunotherapy and to design safer and more efficient strategies. In addition to classical tumor-associated antigens identified during the last decades, implementation of next-generation sequencing methodologies is enabling the identification of neoantigens (neoAgs) arising from mutations, leading to the development of new neoAg-directed therapies. Moreover, there are numerous non-classical tumor antigens originated from other sources and identified by new methodologies. Here, we review the relevance of neoAgs in different immunotherapies and the results obtained by applying neoAg-based strategies. In addition, the different types of non-classical tumor antigens and the best approaches for their identification are described. This will help to increase the spectrum of targetable molecules useful in cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Aparicio
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Patrick Theunissen
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sandra Hervas-Stubbs
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Puri Fortes
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Spanish Network for Advanced Therapies (TERAV ISCIII), Spain
| | - Pablo Sarobe
- Program of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Pamplona, Spain
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2
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Shimshon A, Dahan K, Israel-Gueta M, Olmayev-Yaakobov D, Timms RT, Bekturova A, Makaros Y, Elledge SJ, Koren I. Dipeptidyl peptidases and E3 ligases of N-degron pathways cooperate to regulate protein stability. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202311035. [PMID: 38874443 PMCID: PMC11178506 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202311035] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
N-degrons are short sequences located at protein N-terminus that mediate the interaction of E3 ligases (E3s) with substrates to promote their proteolysis. It is well established that N-degrons can be exposed following protease cleavage to allow recognition by E3s. However, our knowledge regarding how proteases and E3s cooperate in protein quality control mechanisms remains minimal. Using a systematic approach to monitor the protein stability of an N-terminome library, we found that proline residue at the third N-terminal position (hereafter "P+3") promotes instability. Genetic perturbations identified the dipeptidyl peptidases DPP8 and DPP9 and the primary E3s of N-degron pathways, UBR proteins, as regulators of P+3 bearing substrate turnover. Interestingly, P+3 UBR substrates are significantly enriched for secretory proteins. We found that secretory proteins relying on a signal peptide (SP) for their targeting contain a "built-in" N-degron within their SP. This degron becomes exposed by DPP8/9 upon translocation failure to the designated compartments, thus enabling clearance of mislocalized proteins by UBRs to maintain proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Shimshon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Karin Dahan
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Mor Israel-Gueta
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Diana Olmayev-Yaakobov
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Richard T Timms
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre , Cambridge, UK
| | - Aizat Bekturova
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yaara Makaros
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Stephen J Elledge
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Itay Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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3
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Glorieux C, Liu S, Trachootham D, Huang P. Targeting ROS in cancer: rationale and strategies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024:10.1038/s41573-024-00979-4. [PMID: 38982305 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00979-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological systems are transient but essential molecules that are generated and eliminated by a complex set of delicately balanced molecular machineries. Disruption of redox homeostasis has been associated with various human diseases, especially cancer, in which increased ROS levels are thought to have a major role in tumour development and progression. As such, modulation of cellular redox status by targeting ROS and their regulatory machineries is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Recently, there has been major progress in this field, including the discovery of novel redox signalling pathways that affect the metabolism of tumour cells as well as immune cells in the tumour microenvironment, and the intriguing ROS regulation of biomolecular phase separation. Progress has also been made in exploring redox regulation in cancer stem cells, the role of ROS in determining cell fate and new anticancer agents that target ROS. This Review discusses these research developments and their implications for cancer therapy and drug discovery, as well as emerging concepts, paradoxes and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Glorieux
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Peng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
- Metabolic Innovation Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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4
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Alashkar Alhamwe B, Ponath V, Alhamdan F, Dörsam B, Landwehr C, Linder M, Pauck K, Miethe S, Garn H, Finkernagel F, Brichkina A, Lauth M, Tiwari DK, Buchholz M, Bachurski D, Elmshäuser S, Nist A, Stiewe T, Pogge von Strandmann L, Szymański W, Beutgen V, Graumann J, Teply-Szymanski J, Keber C, Denkert C, Jacob R, Preußer C, Pogge von Strandmann E. BAG6 restricts pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing the release of IL33-presenting extracellular vesicles and the activation of mast cells. Cell Mol Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41423-024-01195-1. [PMID: 38942797 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01195-1] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies reveal a critical role of tumor cell-released extracellular vesicles (EVs) in pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. However, driver genes that direct EV function, the EV-recipient cells, and their cellular response to EV uptake remain to be identified. Therefore, we studied the role of Bcl-2-associated-anthanogene 6 (BAG6), a regulator of EV biogenesis for cancer progression. We used a Cre recombinase/LoxP-based reporter system in combination with single-cell RNA sequencing to monitor in vivo EV uptake and tumor microenvironment (TME) changes in mouse models for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in a Bag6 pro- or deficient background. In vivo data were validated using mouse and human organoids and patient samples. Our data demonstrated that Bag6-deficient subcutaneous and orthotopic PDAC tumors accelerated tumor growth dependent on EV release. Mechanistically, this was attributed to mast cell (MC) activation via EV-associated IL33. Activated MCs promoted tumor cell proliferation and altered the composition of the TME affecting fibroblast polarization and immune cell infiltration. Tumor cell proliferation and fibroblast polarization were mediated via the MC secretome containing high levels of PDGF and CD73. Patients with high BAG6 gene expression and high protein plasma level have a longer overall survival indicating clinical relevance. The current study revealed a so far unknown tumor-suppressing activity of BAG6 in PDAC. Bag6-deficiency allowed the release of EV-associated IL33 which modulate the TME via MC activation promoting aggressive tumor growth. MC depletion using imatinib diminished tumor growth providing a scientific rationale to consider imatinib for patients stratified with low BAG6 expression and high MC infiltration. EVs derived from BAG6-deficient pancreatic cancer cells induce MC activation via IL33/Il1rl1. The secretome of activated MCs induces tumor proliferation and changes in the TME, particularly shifting fibroblasts into an inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAF) phenotype. Blocking EVs or depleting MCs restricts tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Alashkar Alhamwe
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Viviane Ponath
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Fahd Alhamdan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Cardiac Anesthesia Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
- Department of Immunology and Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bastian Dörsam
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Clara Landwehr
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Linder
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kim Pauck
- Translational Inflammation Research Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Miethe
- Translational Inflammation Research Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Holger Garn
- Translational Inflammation Research Division & Core Facility for Single Cell Multiomics, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Finkernagel
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Bioinformatics, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna Brichkina
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Institute of Systems Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Lauth
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dinesh Kumar Tiwari
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Malte Buchholz
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Bachurski
- Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sabrina Elmshäuser
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Genomics Core Facility, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Nist
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Genomics Core Facility, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Genomics Core Facility, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Institute of Lung Health, Justus Liebig University, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Lisa Pogge von Strandmann
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Witold Szymański
- Institute of Translational Proteomics & Core Facility Translational Proteomics, Biochemical/Pharmacological Centre, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Beutgen
- Institute of Translational Proteomics & Core Facility Translational Proteomics, Biochemical/Pharmacological Centre, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Graumann
- Institute of Translational Proteomics & Core Facility Translational Proteomics, Biochemical/Pharmacological Centre, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia Teply-Szymanski
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg (UKGM), Marburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Keber
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg (UKGM), Marburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Denkert
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-University Marburg and University Hospital Marburg (UKGM), Marburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Jacob
- Department of Cell Biology and Cell Pathology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christian Preußer
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Elke Pogge von Strandmann
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
- Core Facility Extracellular Vesicles, Philipps-University, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
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5
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Whited AM, Jungreis I, Allen J, Cleveland CL, Mudge JM, Kellis M, Rinn JL, Hough LE. Biophysical characterization of high-confidence, small human proteins. BIOPHYSICAL REPORTS 2024; 4:100167. [PMID: 38909903 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2024.100167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Significant efforts have been made to characterize the biophysical properties of proteins. Small proteins have received less attention because their annotation has historically been less reliable. However, recent improvements in sequencing, proteomics, and bioinformatics techniques have led to the high-confidence annotation of small open reading frames (smORFs) that encode for functional proteins, producing smORF-encoded proteins (SEPs). SEPs have been found to perform critical functions in several species, including humans. While significant efforts have been made to annotate SEPs, less attention has been given to the biophysical properties of these proteins. We characterized the distributions of predicted and curated biophysical properties, including sequence composition, structure, localization, function, and disease association of a conservative list of previously identified human SEPs. We found significant differences between SEPs and both larger proteins and control sets. In addition, we provide an example of how our characterization of biophysical properties can contribute to distinguishing protein-coding smORFs from noncoding ones in otherwise ambiguous cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Whited
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
| | - Irwin Jungreis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffre Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
| | | | - Jonathan M Mudge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts; MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - John L Rinn
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
| | - Loren E Hough
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado.
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6
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Liu T, Qiao H, Wang Z, Yang X, Pan X, Yang Y, Ye X, Sakurai T, Lin H, Zhang Y. CodLncScape Provides a Self-Enriching Framework for the Systematic Collection and Exploration of Coding LncRNAs. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400009. [PMID: 38602457 PMCID: PMC11165466 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that numerous lncRNAs can translate proteins under specific conditions, performing diverse biological functions, thus termed coding lncRNAs. Their comprehensive landscape, however, remains elusive due to this field's preliminary and dispersed nature. This study introduces codLncScape, a framework for coding lncRNA exploration consisting of codLncDB, codLncFlow, codLncWeb, and codLncNLP. Specifically, it contains a manually compiled knowledge base, codLncDB, encompassing 353 coding lncRNA entries validated by experiments. Building upon codLncDB, codLncFlow investigates the expression characteristics of these lncRNAs and their diagnostic potential in the pan-cancer context, alongside their association with spermatogenesis. Furthermore, codLncWeb emerges as a platform for storing, browsing, and accessing knowledge concerning coding lncRNAs within various programming environments. Finally, codLncNLP serves as a knowledge-mining tool to enhance the timely content inclusion and updates within codLncDB. In summary, this study offers a well-functioning, content-rich ecosystem for coding lncRNA research, aiming to accelerate systematic studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyuan Liu
- Tsukuba Life Science Innovation ProgramUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
| | - Huiyuan Qiao
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and PharmacyAcademy for InterdisciplineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu611137China
| | - Zixu Wang
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
| | - Xinyan Yang
- Department of Developmental BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhou510515China
| | - Xianrun Pan
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and PharmacyAcademy for InterdisciplineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu611137China
| | - Yu Yang
- School of Healthcare TechnologyChengdu Neusoft UniversityChengdu611844China
| | - Xiucai Ye
- Tsukuba Life Science Innovation ProgramUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sakurai
- Tsukuba Life Science Innovation ProgramUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of TsukubaTsukuba3058577Japan
| | - Hao Lin
- School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengdu611731China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and PharmacyAcademy for InterdisciplineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu611137China
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7
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Radrizzani S, Kudla G, Izsvák Z, Hurst LD. Selection on synonymous sites: the unwanted transcript hypothesis. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:431-448. [PMID: 38297070 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00686-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Although translational selection to favour codons that match the most abundant tRNAs is not readily observed in humans, there is nonetheless selection in humans on synonymous mutations. We hypothesize that much of this synonymous site selection can be explained in terms of protection against unwanted RNAs - spurious transcripts, mis-spliced forms or RNAs derived from transposable elements or viruses. We propose not only that selection on synonymous sites functions to reduce the rate of creation of unwanted transcripts (for example, through selection on exonic splice enhancers and cryptic splice sites) but also that high-GC content (but low-CpG content), together with intron presence and position, is both particular to functional native mRNAs and used to recognize transcripts as native. In support of this hypothesis, transcription, nuclear export, liquid phase condensation and RNA degradation have all recently been shown to promote GC-rich transcripts and suppress AU/CpG-rich ones. With such 'traps' being set against AU/CpG-rich transcripts, the codon usage of native genes has, in turn, evolved to avoid such suppression. That parallel filters against AU/CpG-rich transcripts also affect the endosomal import of RNAs further supports the unwanted transcript hypothesis of synonymous site selection and explains the similar design rules that have enabled the successful use of transgenes and RNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Radrizzani
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Milner Therapeutics Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Grzegorz Kudla
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute for Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laurence D Hurst
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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8
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Dasgupta A, Prensner JR. Upstream open reading frames: new players in the landscape of cancer gene regulation. NAR Cancer 2024; 6:zcae023. [PMID: 38774471 PMCID: PMC11106035 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcae023] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The translation of RNA by ribosomes represents a central biological process and one of the most dysregulated processes in cancer. While translation is traditionally thought to occur exclusively in the protein-coding regions of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), recent transcriptome-wide approaches have shown abundant ribosome activity across diverse stretches of RNA transcripts. The most common type of this kind of ribosome activity occurs in gene leader sequences, also known as 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the mRNA, that precede the main coding sequence. Translation of these upstream open reading frames (uORFs) is now known to occur in upwards of 25% of all protein-coding genes. With diverse functions from RNA regulation to microprotein generation, uORFs are rapidly igniting a new arena of cancer biology, where they are linked to cancer genetics, cancer signaling, and tumor-immune interactions. This review focuses on the contributions of uORFs and their associated 5'UTR sequences to cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Dasgupta
- Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John R Prensner
- Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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9
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Nichols C, Do-Thi VA, Peltier DC. Noncanonical microprotein regulation of immunity. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00324-1. [PMID: 38734902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.021] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system is highly regulated but, when dysregulated, suboptimal protective or overly robust immune responses can lead to immune-mediated disorders. The genetic and molecular mechanisms of immune regulation are incompletely understood, impeding the development of more precise diagnostics and therapeutics for immune-mediated disorders. Recently, thousands of previously unrecognized noncanonical microprotein genes encoded by small open reading frames have been identified. Many of these microproteins perform critical functions, often in a cell- and context-specific manner. Several microproteins are now known to regulate immunity; however, the vast majority are uncharacterized. Therefore, illuminating what is often referred to as the "dark proteome," may present opportunities to tune immune responses more precisely. Here, we review noncanonical microprotein biology, highlight recently discovered examples regulating immunity, and discuss the potential and challenges of modulating dysregulated immune responses by targeting microproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cydney Nichols
- Morris Green Scholars Program, Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Van Anh Do-Thi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Daniel C Peltier
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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10
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Whited AM, Jungreis I, Allen J, Cleveland CL, Mudge JM, Kellis M, Rinn JL, Hough LE. Biophysical characterization of high-confidence, small human proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589296. [PMID: 38659920 PMCID: PMC11042228 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Significant efforts have been made to characterize the biophysical properties of proteins. Small proteins have received less attention because their annotation has historically been less reliable. However, recent improvements in sequencing, proteomics, and bioinformatics techniques have led to the high-confidence annotation of small open reading frames (smORFs) that encode for functional proteins, producing smORF-encoded proteins (SEPs). SEPs have been found to perform critical functions in several species, including humans. While significant efforts have been made to annotate SEPs, less attention has been given to the biophysical properties of these proteins. We characterized the distributions of predicted and curated biophysical properties, including sequence composition, structure, localization, function, and disease association of a conservative list of previously identified human SEPs. We found significant differences between SEPs and both larger proteins and control sets. Additionally, we provide an example of how our characterization of biophysical properties can contribute to distinguishing protein-coding smORFs from non-coding ones in otherwise ambiguous cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Whited
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Irwin Jungreis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeffre Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Jonathan M Mudge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John L Rinn
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Loren E Hough
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
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11
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Wang G, Lee-Yow Y, Chang HY. Approaches to probe and perturb long noncoding RNA functions in diseases. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 85:102158. [PMID: 38412563 PMCID: PMC10987257 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules exceeding 200 nucleotides in length that lack long open-reading frames. Transcribed predominantly by RNA polymerase II (>500nt), lncRNAs can undergo splicing and are produced from various regions of the genome, including intergenic regions, introns, and in antisense orientation to protein-coding genes. Aberrations in lncRNA expression or function have been associated with a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Despite the growing recognition of select lncRNAs as key players in cellular processes and diseases, several challenges obscure a comprehensive understanding of their functional landscape. Recent technological innovations, such as in sequencing, affinity-based techniques, imaging, and RNA perturbation, have advanced functional characterization and mechanistic understanding of disease-associated lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Wang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. https://twitter.com/@Guiping_W
| | - Yannick Lee-Yow
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. https://twitter.com/@yooaaooy
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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12
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Shang X, Talross GJS, Carlson JR. Exitron splicing of odor receptor genes in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320277121. [PMID: 38507450 PMCID: PMC10990081 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320277121] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper expression of odor receptor genes is critical for the function of olfactory systems. In this study, we identified exitrons (exonic introns) in four of the 39 Odorant receptor (Or) genes expressed in the Drosophila antenna. Exitrons are sequences that can be spliced out from within a protein-coding exon, thereby altering the encoded protein. We focused on Or88a, which encodes a pheromone receptor, and found that exitron splicing of Or88a is conserved across five Drosophila species over 20 My of evolution. The exitron was spliced out in 15% of Or88a transcripts. Removal of this exitron creates a non-coding RNA rather than an RNA that encodes a stable protein. Our results suggest the hypothesis that in the case of Or88a, exitron splicing could act in neuronal modulation by decreasing the level of functional Or transcripts. Activation of Or88a-expressing olfactory receptor neurons via either optogenetics or pheromone stimulation increased the level of exitron-spliced transcripts, with optogenetic activation leading to a 14-fold increase. A fifth Or can also undergo an alternative splicing event that eliminates most of the canonical open reading frame. Besides these cases of alternative splicing, we found alternative polyadenylation of four Ors, and exposure of Or67c to its ligand ethyl lactate in the antenna downregulated all of its 3' isoforms. Our study reveals mechanisms by which neuronal activity could be modulated via regulation of the levels of Or isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Shang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Gaëlle J. S. Talross
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - John R. Carlson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
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13
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Yang H, Li Q, Stroup EK, Wang S, Ji Z. Widespread stable noncanonical peptides identified by integrated analyses of ribosome profiling and ORF features. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1932. [PMID: 38431639 PMCID: PMC10908861 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46240-9] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have revealed dozens of functional peptides in putative 'noncoding' regions and raised the question of how many proteins are encoded by noncanonical open reading frames (ORFs). Here, we comprehensively annotate genome-wide translated ORFs across five eukaryotes (human, mouse, zebrafish, worm, and yeast) by analyzing ribosome profiling data. We develop a logistic regression model named PepScore based on ORF features (expected length, encoded domain, and conservation) to calculate the probability that the encoded peptide is stable in humans. Systematic ectopic expression validates PepScore and shows that stable complex-associating microproteins can be encoded in 5'/3' untranslated regions and overlapping coding regions of mRNAs besides annotated noncoding RNAs. Stable noncanonical proteins follow conventional rules and localize to different subcellular compartments. Inhibition of proteasomal/lysosomal degradation pathways can stabilize some peptides especially those with moderate PepScores, but cannot rescue the expression of short ones with low PepScores suggesting they are directly degraded by cellular proteases. The majority of human noncanonical peptides with high PepScores show longer lengths but low conservation across species/mammals, and hundreds contain trait-associated genetic variants. Our study presents a statistical framework to identify stable noncanonical peptides in the genome and provides a valuable resource for functional characterization of noncanonical translation during development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwang Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Qianru Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Emily K Stroup
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60628, USA
| | - Zhe Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60628, USA.
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14
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Liu X, Xiao C, Xu X, Zhang J, Mo F, Chen JY, Delihas N, Zhang L, An NA, Li CY. Origin of functional de novo genes in humans from "hopeful monsters". WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1845. [PMID: 38605485 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
For a long time, it was believed that new genes arise only from modifications of preexisting genes, but the discovery of de novo protein-coding genes that originated from noncoding DNA regions demonstrates the existence of a "motherless" origination process for new genes. However, the features, distributions, expression profiles, and origin modes of these genes in humans seem to support the notion that their origin is not a purely "motherless" process; rather, these genes arise preferentially from genomic regions encoding preexisting precursors with gene-like features. In such a case, the gene loci are typically not brand new. In this short review, we will summarize the definition and features of human de novo genes and clarify their process of origination from ancestral non-coding genomic regions. In addition, we define the favored precursors, or "hopeful monsters," for the origin of de novo genes and present a discussion of the functional significance of these young genes in brain development and tumorigenesis in humans. This article is categorized under: RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoge Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Stem Cell and Regeneration, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nicholas Delihas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Ni A An
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan-Yun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomic Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, China
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15
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Dopkins N, Singh B, Michael S, Zhang P, Marston JL, Fei T, Singh M, Feschotte C, Collins N, Bendall ML, Nixon DF. Ribosomal profiling of human endogenous retroviruses in healthy tissues. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:5. [PMID: 38166631 PMCID: PMC10759522 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09909-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are the germline embedded proviral fragments of ancient retroviral infections that make up roughly 8% of the human genome. Our understanding of HERVs in physiology primarily surrounds their non-coding functions, while their protein coding capacity remains virtually uncharacterized. Therefore, we applied the bioinformatic pipeline "hervQuant" to high-resolution ribosomal profiling of healthy tissues to provide a comprehensive overview of translationally active HERVs. We find that HERVs account for 0.1-0.4% of all translation in distinct tissue-specific profiles. Collectively, our study further supports claims that HERVs are actively translated throughout healthy tissues to provide sequences of retroviral origin to the human proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Dopkins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
| | - Bhavya Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Stephanie Michael
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Panpan Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Jez L Marston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Tongyi Fei
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Manvendra Singh
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Nicholas Collins
- Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Matthew L Bendall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Douglas F Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
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16
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Glorieux C, Enríquez C, González C, Aguirre-Martínez G, Buc Calderon P. The Multifaceted Roles of NRF2 in Cancer: Friend or Foe? Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:70. [PMID: 38247494 PMCID: PMC10812565 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Physiological concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) play vital roles in various normal cellular processes, whereas excessive ROS generation is central to disease pathogenesis. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a critical transcription factor that regulates the cellular antioxidant systems in response to oxidative stress by governing the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes that shield cells from diverse oxidative alterations. NRF2 and its negative regulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) have been the focus of numerous investigations in elucidating whether NRF2 suppresses tumor promotion or conversely exerts pro-oncogenic effects. NRF2 has been found to participate in various pathological processes, including dysregulated cell proliferation, metabolic remodeling, and resistance to apoptosis. Herein, this review article will examine the intriguing role of phase separation in activating the NRF2 transcriptional activity and explore the NRF2 dual impacts on tumor immunology, cancer stem cells, metastasis, and long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs). Taken together, this review aims to discuss the NRF2 multifaceted roles in both cancer prevention and promotion while also addressing the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations associated with modulating NRF2 therapeutically in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Glorieux
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Cinthya Enríquez
- Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (C.E.); (C.G.); (G.A.-M.)
- Programa de Magister en Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile
| | - Constanza González
- Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (C.E.); (C.G.); (G.A.-M.)
| | - Gabriela Aguirre-Martínez
- Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (C.E.); (C.G.); (G.A.-M.)
- Instituto de Química Medicinal, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile
| | - Pedro Buc Calderon
- Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (C.E.); (C.G.); (G.A.-M.)
- Instituto de Química Medicinal, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile
- Research Group in Metabolism and Nutrition, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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17
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Zhang R, Pan S, Zheng S, Liao Q, Jiang Z, Wang D, Li X, Hu A, Li X, Zhu Y, Shen X, Lei J, Zhong S, Zhang X, Huang L, Wang X, Huang L, Shen L, Song BL, Zhao JW, Wang Z, Yang B, Guo X. Lipid-anchored proteasomes control membrane protein homeostasis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj4605. [PMID: 38019907 PMCID: PMC10686573 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein degradation in eukaryotic cells is mainly carried out by the 26S proteasome, a macromolecular complex not only present in the cytosol and nucleus but also associated with various membranes. How proteasomes are anchored to the membrane and the biological meaning thereof have been largely unknown in higher organisms. Here, we show that N-myristoylation of the Rpt2 subunit is a general mechanism for proteasome-membrane interaction. Loss of this modification in the Rpt2-G2A mutant cells leads to profound changes in the membrane-associated proteome, perturbs the endomembrane system, and undermines critical cellular processes such as cell adhesion, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and membrane protein trafficking. Rpt2G2A/G2A homozygous mutation is embryonic lethal in mice and is sufficient to abolish tumor growth in a nude mice xenograft model. These findings have defined an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for maintaining membrane protein homeostasis and underscored the significance of compartmentalized protein degradation by myristoyl-anchored proteasomes in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhu Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuxian Pan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Suya Zheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qingqing Liao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhaodi Jiang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dixian Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, System Medicine Research Center, and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ao Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Taikang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xinran Li
- Zhejiang University-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Yezhang Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaoqi Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jing Lei
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Siming Zhong
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lingyun Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bao-Liang Song
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Taikang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jing-Wei Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, System Medicine Research Center, and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Cryo-Electron Microscopy Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhiping Wang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bing Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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18
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Monziani A, Ulitsky I. Noncoding snoRNA host genes are a distinct subclass of long noncoding RNAs. Trends Genet 2023; 39:908-923. [PMID: 37783604 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian genomes are pervasively transcribed into different noncoding (nc)RNA classes, each one with its own hallmarks and exceptions. Some of them are nested into each other, such as host genes for small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), which were long believed to simply act as molecular containers strictly facilitating snoRNA biogenesis. However, recent findings show that noncoding snoRNA host genes (ncSNHGs) display features different from those of 'regular' long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and, more importantly, they can exert independent and unrelated functions to those of the encoded snoRNAs. Here, we review and summarize past and recent evidence that ncSNHGs form a defined subclass among the plethora of lncRNAs, and discuss future research that can further elucidate their biological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Monziani
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel.
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19
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Mohsen JJ, Martel AA, Slavoff SA. Microproteins-Discovery, structure, and function. Proteomics 2023; 23:e2100211. [PMID: 37603371 PMCID: PMC10841188 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202100211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Advances in proteogenomic technologies have revealed hundreds to thousands of translated small open reading frames (sORFs) that encode microproteins in genomes across evolutionary space. While many microproteins have now been shown to play critical roles in biology and human disease, a majority of recently identified microproteins have little or no experimental evidence regarding their functionality. Computational tools have some limitations for analysis of short, poorly conserved microprotein sequences, so additional approaches are needed to determine the role of each member of this recently discovered polypeptide class. A currently underexplored avenue in the study of microproteins is structure prediction and determination, which delivers a depth of functional information. In this review, we provide a brief overview of microprotein discovery methods, then examine examples of microprotein structures (and, conversely, intrinsic disorder) that have been experimentally determined using crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and NMR, which provide insight into their molecular functions and mechanisms. Additionally, we discuss examples of predicted microprotein structures that have provided insight or context regarding their function. Analysis of microprotein structure at the angstrom level, and confirmation of predicted structures, therefore, has potential to identify translated microproteins that are of biological importance and to provide molecular mechanism for their in vivo roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J. Mohsen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alina A. Martel
- Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sarah A. Slavoff
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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20
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Hagiwara T, Minami R, Ushio C, Yokota N, Kawahara H. Proteotoxic stresses stimulate dissociation of UBL4A from the tail-anchored protein recognition complex. Biochem J 2023; 480:1583-1598. [PMID: 37747814 PMCID: PMC10586765 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Inclusion body formation is associated with cytotoxicity in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the molecular basis of the toxicity caused by the accumulation of aggregation-prone proteins remains controversial. In this study, we found that disease-associated inclusions induced by elongated polyglutamine chains disrupt the complex formation of BAG6 with UBL4A, a mammalian homologue of yeast Get5. UBL4A also dissociated from BAG6 in response to proteotoxic stresses such as proteasomal inhibition and mitochondrial depolarization. These findings imply that the cytotoxicity of pathological protein aggregates might be attributed in part to disruption of the BAG6-UBL4A complex that is required for the biogenesis of tail-anchored proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Hagiwara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Minami
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Chizuru Ushio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Naoto Yokota
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kawahara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
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21
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Prensner JR, Abelin JG, Kok LW, Clauser KR, Mudge JM, Ruiz-Orera J, Bassani-Sternberg M, Moritz RL, Deutsch EW, van Heesch S. What Can Ribo-Seq, Immunopeptidomics, and Proteomics Tell Us About the Noncanonical Proteome? Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100631. [PMID: 37572790 PMCID: PMC10506109 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) has proven transformative for our understanding of the human genome and proteome by illuminating thousands of noncanonical sites of ribosome translation outside the currently annotated coding sequences (CDSs). A conservative estimate suggests that at least 7000 noncanonical ORFs are translated, which, at first glance, has the potential to expand the number of human protein CDSs by 30%, from ∼19,500 annotated CDSs to over 26,000 annotated CDSs. Yet, additional scrutiny of these ORFs has raised numerous questions about what fraction of them truly produce a protein product and what fraction of those can be understood as proteins according to conventional understanding of the term. Adding further complication is the fact that published estimates of noncanonical ORFs vary widely by around 30-fold, from several thousand to several hundred thousand. The summation of this research has left the genomics and proteomics communities both excited by the prospect of new coding regions in the human genome but searching for guidance on how to proceed. Here, we discuss the current state of noncanonical ORF research, databases, and interpretation, focusing on how to assess whether a given ORF can be said to be "protein coding."
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Prensner
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| | | | - Leron W Kok
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karl R Clauser
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan M Mudge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jorge Ruiz-Orera
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Michal Bassani-Sternberg
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Agora Center Bugnon 25A, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Cancer Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Robert L Moritz
- Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eric W Deutsch
- Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Seattle, Washington, USA
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22
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Mohsen JJ, Slavoff SA. Noncoding translation: Quality control in the BAG. Mol Cell 2023; 83:1967-1969. [PMID: 37327774 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Translation of noncoding regions is ubiquitous and upregulated in disease. Kesner et al.1 elucidate the mechanism by which the BAG6 complex exerts quality control over noncoding translation while targeting stable, noncanonical polypeptides to cellular membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Mohsen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sarah A Slavoff
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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23
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Müller MBD, Kasturi P, Jayaraj GG, Hartl FU. Mechanisms of readthrough mitigation reveal principles of GCN1-mediated translational quality control. Cell 2023:S0092-8674(23)00587-1. [PMID: 37339632 PMCID: PMC10364623 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Readthrough into the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the mRNA results in the production of aberrant proteins. Metazoans efficiently clear readthrough proteins, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian cells that readthrough proteins are targeted by a coupled, two-level quality control pathway involving the BAG6 chaperone complex and the ribosome-collision-sensing protein GCN1. Readthrough proteins with hydrophobic C-terminal extensions (CTEs) are recognized by SGTA-BAG6 and ubiquitylated by RNF126 for proteasomal degradation. Additionally, cotranslational mRNA decay initiated by GCN1 and CCR4/NOT limits the accumulation of readthrough products. Unexpectedly, selective ribosome profiling uncovered a general role of GCN1 in regulating translation dynamics when ribosomes collide at nonoptimal codons, enriched in 3' UTRs, transmembrane proteins, and collagens. GCN1 dysfunction increasingly perturbs these protein classes during aging, resulting in mRNA and proteome imbalance. Our results define GCN1 as a key factor acting during translation in maintaining protein homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin B D Müller
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Prasad Kasturi
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Gopal G Jayaraj
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - F Ulrich Hartl
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
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24
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Prensner JR, Abelin JG, Kok LW, Clauser KR, Mudge JM, Ruiz-Orera J, Bassani-Sternberg M, Deutsch EW, van Heesch S. What can Ribo-seq and proteomics tell us about the non-canonical proteome? BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.16.541049. [PMID: 37292611 PMCID: PMC10245706 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.541049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) has proven transformative for our understanding of the human genome and proteome by illuminating thousands of non-canonical sites of ribosome translation outside of the currently annotated coding sequences (CDSs). A conservative estimate suggests that at least 7,000 non-canonical open reading frames (ORFs) are translated, which, at first glance, has the potential to expand the number of human protein-coding sequences by 30%, from ∼19,500 annotated CDSs to over 26,000. Yet, additional scrutiny of these ORFs has raised numerous questions about what fraction of them truly produce a protein product and what fraction of those can be understood as proteins according to conventional understanding of the term. Adding further complication is the fact that published estimates of non-canonical ORFs vary widely by around 30-fold, from several thousand to several hundred thousand. The summation of this research has left the genomics and proteomics communities both excited by the prospect of new coding regions in the human genome, but searching for guidance on how to proceed. Here, we discuss the current state of non-canonical ORF research, databases, and interpretation, focusing on how to assess whether a given ORF can be said to be "protein-coding". In brief The human genome encodes thousands of non-canonical open reading frames (ORFs) in addition to protein-coding genes. As a nascent field, many questions remain regarding non-canonical ORFs. How many exist? Do they encode proteins? What level of evidence is needed for their verification? Central to these debates has been the advent of ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) as a method to discern genome-wide ribosome occupancy, and immunopeptidomics as a method to detect peptides that are processed and presented by MHC molecules and not observed in traditional proteomics experiments. This article provides a synthesis of the current state of non-canonical ORF research and proposes standards for their future investigation and reporting. Highlights Combined use of Ribo-seq and proteomics-based methods enables optimal confidence in detecting non-canonical ORFs and their protein products.Ribo-seq can provide more sensitive detection of non-canonical ORFs, but data quality and analytical pipelines will impact results.Non-canonical ORF catalogs are diverse and span both high-stringency and low-stringency ORF nominations.A framework for standardized non-canonical ORF evidence will advance the research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Prensner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Leron W. Kok
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Karl R. Clauser
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Mudge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Jorge Ruiz-Orera
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michal Bassani-Sternberg
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Agora Center Bugnon 25A, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Centre, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric W. Deutsch
- Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Sebastiaan van Heesch
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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