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Davis RB, Supakar A, Ranganath AK, Moosa MM, Banerjee PR. Heterotypic interactions can drive selective co-condensation of prion-like low-complexity domains of FET proteins and mammalian SWI/SNF complex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1168. [PMID: 38326345 PMCID: PMC10850361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44945-5] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion-like domains (PLDs) are low-complexity protein sequences enriched within nucleic acid-binding proteins including those involved in transcription and RNA processing. PLDs of FUS and EWSR1 play key roles in recruiting chromatin remodeler mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) complex to oncogenic FET fusion protein condensates. Here, we show that disordered low-complexity domains of multiple SWI/SNF subunits are prion-like with a strong propensity to undergo intracellular phase separation. These PLDs engage in sequence-specific heterotypic interactions with the PLD of FUS in the dilute phase at sub-saturation conditions, leading to the formation of PLD co-condensates. In the dense phase, homotypic and heterotypic PLD interactions are highly cooperative, resulting in the co-mixing of individual PLD phases and forming spatially homogeneous condensates. Heterotypic PLD-mediated positive cooperativity in protein-protein interaction networks is likely to play key roles in the co-phase separation of mSWI/SNF complex with transcription factors containing homologous low-complexity domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richoo B Davis
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Anushka Supakar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | | | | | - Priya R Banerjee
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
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2
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Pechmann S. Single-cell expression predicts neuron-specific protein homeostasis networks. Open Biol 2024; 14:230386. [PMID: 38262604 PMCID: PMC10805596 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230386] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The protein homeostasis network keeps proteins in their correct shapes and avoids unwanted aggregation. In turn, the accumulation of aberrantly misfolded proteins has been directly associated with the onset of ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, a detailed and rational understanding of how protein homeostasis is achieved in health, and how it can be targeted for therapeutic intervention in diseases remains missing. Here, large-scale single-cell expression data from the Allen Brain Map are analysed to investigate the transcription regulation of the core protein homeostasis network across the human brain. Remarkably, distinct expression profiles suggest specialized protein homeostasis networks with systematic adaptations in excitatory neurons, inhibitory neurons and non-neuronal cells. Moreover, several chaperones and Ubiquitin ligases are found transcriptionally coregulated with genes important for synapse formation and maintenance, thus linking protein homeostasis to the regulation of neuronal function. Finally, evolutionary analyses highlight the conservation of an elevated interaction density in the chaperone network, suggesting that one of the most exciting aspects of chaperone action may yet be discovered in their collective action at the systems level. More generally, our work highlights the power of computational analyses for breaking down complexity and gaining complementary insights into fundamental biological problems.
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3
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Hu S, Zhang Y, Yi Q, Yang C, Liu Y, Bai Y. Time-resolved proteomic profiling reveals compositional and functional transitions across the stress granule life cycle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7782. [PMID: 38012130 PMCID: PMC10682001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43470-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic, membrane-less organelles. With their formation and disassembly processes characterized, it remains elusive how compositional transitions are coordinated during prolonged stress to meet changing functional needs. Here, using time-resolved proteomic profiling of the acute to prolonged heat-shock SG life cycle, we identify dynamic SG proteins, further segregated into early and late proteins. Comparison of different groups of SG proteins suggests that their biochemical properties help coordinate SG compositional and functional transitions. In particular, early proteins, with high phase-separation-propensity, drive the rapid formation of the initial SG platform, while late proteins are subsequently recruited as discrete modules to further functionalize SGs. This model, supported by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence imaging, provides a conceptual framework for the compositional transitions throughout the acute to prolonged SG life cycle. Additionally, an early SG constituent, non-muscle myosin II, is shown to promote SG formation by increasing SG fusion, underscoring the strength of this dataset in revealing the complexity of SG regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyao Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Yi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiwei Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfen Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yun Bai
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Davis RB, Supakar A, Ranganath AK, Moosa MM, Banerjee PR. Heterotypic interactions in the dilute phase can drive co-condensation of prion-like low-complexity domains of FET proteins and mammalian SWI/SNF complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.12.536623. [PMID: 37090622 PMCID: PMC10120661 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.12.536623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Prion-like domains (PLDs) are low-complexity protein sequences enriched within nucleic acid-binding proteins including those involved in transcription and RNA processing. PLDs of FUS and EWSR1 play key roles in recruiting chromatin remodeler mammalian SWI/SNF complex to oncogenic FET fusion protein condensates. Here, we show that disordered low-complexity domains of multiple SWI/SNF subunits are prion-like with a strong propensity to undergo intracellular phase separation. These PLDs engage in sequence-specific heterotypic interactions with the PLD of FUS in the dilute phase at sub-saturation conditions, leading to the formation of PLD co-condensates. In the dense phase, homotypic and heterotypic PLD interactions are highly cooperative, resulting in the co-mixing of individual PLD phases and forming spatially homogeneous co-condensates. Heterotypic PLD-mediated positive cooperativity in protein-protein interaction networks is likely to play key roles in the co-phase separation of mSWI/SNF complex with transcription factors containing homologous low-complexity domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richoo B. Davis
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
| | - Anushka Supakar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
| | | | | | - Priya R. Banerjee
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260, USA
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5
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Frenkel M, Hujoel ML, Morris Z, Raman S. Discovering chromatin dysregulation induced by protein-coding perturbations at scale. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.20.555752. [PMID: 37781603 PMCID: PMC10541138 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.555752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Although population-scale databases have expanded to millions of protein-coding variants, insight into variant mechanisms has not kept pace. We present PROD-ATAC, a high-throughput method for discovering the effects of protein-coding variants on chromatin. A pooled library of variants is expressed in a disease-agnostic cell line, and single-cell ATAC resolves each variant's effect on chromatin. Using PROD-ATAC, we characterized the effects of >100 oncofusions (a class of cancer-causing chimeric proteins) and controls and revealed that pioneer activity is a common feature of fusions spanning an enormous range of fusion frequencies. Further, fusion-induced dysregulation can be context-agnostic as observed mechanisms often overlapped with cancer and cell-type specific prior knowledge. We also showed that gain-of-function pioneering is common among oncofusions. This work provides a global view of fusion-induced chromatin. We uncovered convergent mechanisms among disparate oncofusions and shared modes of dysregulation across different cancers. PROD-ATAC is generalizable to any set of protein-coding variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Frenkel
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Margaux L.A. Hujoel
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Data Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Zachary Morris
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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6
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Farag M, Borcherds WM, Bremer A, Mittag T, Pappu RV. Phase separation of protein mixtures is driven by the interplay of homotypic and heterotypic interactions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5527. [PMID: 37684240 PMCID: PMC10491635 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion-like low-complexity domains (PLCDs) are involved in the formation and regulation of distinct biomolecular condensates that form via phase separation coupled to percolation. Intracellular condensates often encompass numerous distinct proteins with PLCDs. Here, we combine simulations and experiments to study mixtures of PLCDs from two RNA-binding proteins, hnRNPA1 and FUS. Using simulations and experiments, we find that 1:1 mixtures of A1-LCD and FUS-LCD undergo phase separation more readily than either of the PLCDs on their own due to complementary electrostatic interactions. Tie line analysis reveals that stoichiometric ratios of different components and their sequence-encoded interactions contribute jointly to the driving forces for condensate formation. Simulations also show that the spatial organization of PLCDs within condensates is governed by relative strengths of homotypic versus heterotypic interactions. We uncover rules for how interaction strengths and sequence lengths modulate conformational preferences of molecules at interfaces of condensates formed by mixtures of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Farag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Wade M Borcherds
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Anne Bremer
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Tanja Mittag
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Rohit V Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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7
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Hoffmann G, López-González S, Mahboubi A, Hanson J, Hafrén A. Cauliflower mosaic virus protein P6 is a multivalent node for RNA granule proteins and interferes with stress granule responses during plant infection. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3363-3382. [PMID: 37040611 PMCID: PMC10473198 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation is a multipurpose cellular process that viruses use ubiquitously during their multiplication. Cauliflower mosaic virus replication complexes are condensates that differ from those of most viruses, as they are nonmembranous assemblies that consist of RNA and protein, mainly the viral protein P6. Although these viral factories (VFs) were described half a century ago, with many observations that followed since, functional details of the condensation process and the properties and relevance of VFs have remained enigmatic. Here, we studied these issues in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. We observed a large dynamic mobility range of host proteins within VFs, while the viral matrix protein P6 is immobile, as it represents the central node of these condensates. We identified the stress granule (SG) nucleating factors G3BP7 and UBP1 family members as components of VFs. Similarly, as SG components localize to VFs during infection, ectopic P6 localizes to SGs and reduces their assembly after stress. Intriguingly, it appears that soluble rather than condensed P6 suppresses SG formation and mediates other essential P6 functions, suggesting that the increased condensation over the infection time-course may accompany a progressive shift in selected P6 functions. Together, this study highlights VFs as dynamic condensates and P6 as a complex modulator of SG responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesa Hoffmann
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Silvia López-González
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amir Mahboubi
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, 90736 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johannes Hanson
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, 90736 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Hafrén
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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8
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Farag M, Borcherds WM, Bremer A, Mittag T, Pappu RV. Phase Separation in Mixtures of Prion-Like Low Complexity Domains is Driven by the Interplay of Homotypic and Heterotypic Interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.15.532828. [PMID: 36993212 PMCID: PMC10055064 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.532828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Prion-like low-complexity domains (PLCDs) are involved in the formation and regulation of distinct biomolecular condensates that form via coupled associative and segregative phase transitions. We previously deciphered how evolutionarily conserved sequence features drive phase separation of PLCDs through homotypic interactions. However, condensates typically encompass a diverse mixture of proteins with PLCDs. Here, we combine simulations and experiments to study mixtures of PLCDs from two RNA binding proteins namely, hnRNPA1 and FUS. We find that 1:1 mixtures of the A1-LCD and FUS-LCD undergo phase separation more readily than either of the PLCDs on their own. The enhanced driving forces for phase separation of mixtures of A1-LCD and FUS-LCD arise partly from complementary electrostatic interactions between the two proteins. This complex coacervation-like mechanism adds to complementary interactions among aromatic residues. Further, tie line analysis shows that stoichiometric ratios of different components and their sequence-encoded interactions jointly contribute to the driving forces for condensate formation. These results highlight how expression levels might be tuned to regulate the driving forces for condensate formation in vivo . Simulations also show that the organization of PLCDs within condensates deviates from expectations based on random mixture models. Instead, spatial organization within condensates will reflect the relative strengths of homotypic versus heterotypic interactions. We also uncover rules for how interaction strengths and sequence lengths modulate conformational preferences of molecules at interfaces of condensates formed by mixtures of proteins. Overall, our findings emphasize the network-like organization of molecules within multicomponent condensates, and the distinctive, composition-specific conformational features of condensate interfaces. Significance Statement Biomolecular condensates are mixtures of different protein and nucleic acid molecules that organize biochemical reactions in cells. Much of what we know about how condensates form comes from studies of phase transitions of individual components of condensates. Here, we report results from studies of phase transitions of mixtures of archetypal protein domains that feature in distinct condensates. Our investigations, aided by a blend of computations and experiments, show that the phase transitions of mixtures are governed by a complex interplay of homotypic and heterotypic interactions. The results point to how expression levels of different protein components can be tuned in cells to modulate internal structures, compositions, and interfaces of condensates, thus affording distinct ways to control the functions of condensates.
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9
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Pintado-Grima C, Santos J, Iglesias V, Manglano-Artuñedo Z, Pallarès I, Ventura S. Exploring cryptic amyloidogenic regions in prion-like proteins from plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1060410. [PMID: 36726678 PMCID: PMC9885169 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1060410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Prion-like domains (PrLDs) are intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of low sequence complexity with a similar composition to yeast prion domains. PrLDs-containing proteins have been involved in different organisms' regulatory processes. Regions of moderate amyloid propensity within IDRs have been shown to assemble autonomously into amyloid fibrils. These sequences tend to be rich in polar amino acids and often escape from the detection of classical bioinformatics screenings that look for highly aggregation-prone hydrophobic sequence stretches. We defined them as cryptic amyloidogenic regions (CARs) and recently developed an integrated database that collects thousands of predicted CARs in IDRs. CARs seem to be evolutionary conserved among disordered regions because of their potential to stablish functional contacts with other biomolecules. Here we have focused on identifying and characterizing CARs in prion-like proteins (pCARs) from plants, a lineage that has been poorly studied in comparison with other prionomes. We confirmed the intrinsic amyloid potential for a selected pCAR from Arabidopsis thaliana and explored functional enrichments and compositional bias of pCARs in plant prion-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Pintado-Grima
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime Santos
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentín Iglesias
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoe Manglano-Artuñedo
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irantzu Pallarès
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Ostendorp A, Ostendorp S, Zhou Y, Chaudron Z, Wolffram L, Rombi K, von Pein L, Falke S, Jeffries CM, Svergun DI, Betzel C, Morris RJ, Kragler F, Kehr J. Intrinsically disordered plant protein PARCL colocalizes with RNA in phase-separated condensates whose formation can be regulated by mutating the PLD. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102631. [PMID: 36273579 PMCID: PMC9679465 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In higher plants, long-distance RNA transport via the phloem is crucial for communication between distant plant tissues to align development with stress responses and reproduction. Several recent studies suggest that specific RNAs are among the potential long-distance information transmitters. However, it is yet not well understood how these RNAs enter the phloem stream, how they are transported, and how they are released at their destination. It was proposed that phloem RNA-binding proteins facilitate RNA translocation. In the present study, we characterized two orthologs of the phloem-associated RNA chaperone-like (PARCL) protein from Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus at functional and structural levels. Microscale thermophoresis showed that these phloem-abundant proteins can bind a broad spectrum of RNAs and show RNA chaperone activity in FRET-based in vitro assays. Our SAXS experiments revealed a high degree of disorder, typical for RNA-binding proteins. In agroinfiltrated tobacco plants, eYFP-PARCL proteins mainly accumulated in nuclei and nucleoli and formed cytosolic and nuclear condensates. We found that formation of these condensates was impaired by tyrosine-to-glutamate mutations in the predicted prion-like domain (PLD), while C-terminal serine-to-glutamate mutations did not affect condensation but reduced RNA binding and chaperone activity. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments confirmed phase separation of PARCL and colocalization of RNA with the condensates, while mutation as well as phosphorylation of the PLD reduced phase separation. Together, our results suggest that RNA binding and condensate formation of PARCL can be regulated independently by modification of the C-terminus and/or the PLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ostendorp
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany,For correspondence: Anna Ostendorp
| | - Steffen Ostendorp
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Department II, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zoé Chaudron
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Wolffram
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Khadija Rombi
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Linn von Pein
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Falke
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany,Universität Hamburg, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cy M. Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Site, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dmitri I. Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Site, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betzel
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany,Universität Hamburg, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Richard J. Morris
- Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Friedrich Kragler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Department II, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Julia Kehr
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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Ahmad A, Uversky VN, Khan RH. Aberrant liquid-liquid phase separation and amyloid aggregation of proteins related to neurodegenerative diseases. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 220:703-720. [PMID: 35998851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence has shown that the processes of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) or liquid-liquid phase transitions (LLPTs) are a crucial and prevalent phenomenon that underlies the biogenesis of numerous membrane-less organelles (MLOs) and biomolecular condensates within the cells. Findings show that processes associated with LLPS play an essential role in physiology and disease. In this review, we discuss the physical and biomolecular factors that contribute to the development of LLPS, the associated functions, as well as their consequences for cell physiology and neurological disorders. Additionally, the finding of mis-regulated proteins, which have long been linked to aggregates in neuropathology, are also known to induce LLPS/LLPTs, prompting a lot of interest in understanding the connection between aberrant phase separation and disorder conditions. Moreover, the methods used in recent and ongoing studies in this field are also explored, as is the possibility that these findings will encourage new lines of inquiry into the molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azeem Ahmad
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P. 202002, India
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P. 202002, India.
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12
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New Insights into Phase Separation Processes and Membraneless Condensates of EIN2. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11162149. [PMID: 36015451 PMCID: PMC9416524 DOI: 10.3390/plants11162149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Recent technological advances allow us to resolve molecular processes in living cells with high spatial and temporal resolution. Based on these technological advances, membraneless intracellular condensates formed by reversible functional aggregation and phase separation have been identified as important regulatory modules in diverse biological processes. Here, we present bioinformatic and cellular studies highlighting the possibility of the involvement of the central activator of ethylene responses EIN2 in such cellular condensates and phase separation processes. Our work provides insight into the molecular type (identity) of the observed EIN2 condensates and on potential intrinsic elements and sequence motifs in EIN2-C that may regulate condensate formation and dynamics.
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13
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Lsm7 phase-separated condensates trigger stress granule formation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3701. [PMID: 35764627 PMCID: PMC9240020 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31282-8] [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: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are non-membranous organelles facilitating stress responses and linking the pathology of age-related diseases. In a genome-wide imaging-based phenomic screen, we identify Pab1 co-localizing proteins under 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) induced stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that deletion of one of the Pab1 co-localizing proteins, Lsm7, leads to a significant decrease in SG formation. Under 2-DG stress, Lsm7 rapidly forms foci that assist in SG formation. The Lsm7 foci form via liquid-liquid phase separation, and the intrinsically disordered region and the hydrophobic clusters within the Lsm7 sequence are the internal driving forces in promoting Lsm7 phase separation. The dynamic Lsm7 phase-separated condensates appear to work as seeding scaffolds, promoting Pab1 demixing and subsequent SG initiation, seemingly mediated by RNA interactions. The SG initiation mechanism, via Lsm7 phase separation, identified in this work provides valuable clues for understanding the mechanisms underlying SG formation and SG-associated human diseases.
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14
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Shao W, Zeng ST, Yu ZY, Tang GX, Chen SB, Huang ZS, Chen XC, Tan JH. Tracking Stress Granule Dynamics in Live Cells and In Vivo with a Small Molecule. Anal Chem 2021; 93:16297-16301. [PMID: 34843219 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Because of the lack of facile and accurate methods to track stress granule (SG) dynamics in live cells and in vivo, in-depth studies of the biological roles of this attractive membraneless organelle have been limited. Herein, we report the first small-molecule probe, TASG, for the selective, convenient and real-time monitoring of SGs. This novel molecule can simultaneously bind to SG RNAs, the core SG protein G3BP1, and their complexes, triggering a significant enhancement in fluorescence intensity, making TASG broadly applicable to SG imaging under various stress conditions in fixed and live cells, ex vivo and in vivo. Using TASG, the complicated endogenous SG dynamics were revealed in both live cells and C. elegans. Collectively, our work provides an ideal probe that has thus far been absent in the field of SG investigations. We anticipate that this powerful tool may create exciting opportunities to investigate the underlying roles of SGs in different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shu-Tang Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ze-Yi Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Gui-Xue Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiu-Cai Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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15
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Iglesias V, Santos J, Santos-Suárez J, Pintado-Grima C, Ventura S. SGnn: A Web Server for the Prediction of Prion-Like Domains Recruitment to Stress Granules Upon Heat Stress. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:718301. [PMID: 34490351 PMCID: PMC8416484 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.718301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins bearing prion-like domains (PrLDs) are essential players in stress granules (SG) assembly. Analysis of data on heat stress-induced recruitment of yeast PrLDs to SG suggests that this propensity might be connected with three defined protein biophysical features: aggregation propensity, net charge, and the presence of free cysteines. These three properties can be read directly in the PrLDs sequences, and their combination allows to predict protein recruitment to SG under heat stress. On this basis, we implemented SGnn, an online predictor of SG recruitment that exploits a feed-forward neural network for high accuracy classification of the assembly behavior of PrLDs. The simplicity and precision of our strategy should allow its implementation to identify heat stress-induced SG-forming proteins in complete proteomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentín Iglesias
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaime Santos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Santos-Suárez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Pintado-Grima
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Asadi MR, Sadat Moslehian M, Sabaie H, Jalaiei A, Ghafouri-Fard S, Taheri M, Rezazadeh M. Stress Granules and Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Scoping Review. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:650740. [PMID: 34248597 PMCID: PMC8261063 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.650740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic ribonucleoproteins called stress granules (SGs) are considered as one of the main cellular solutions against stress. Their temporary presence ends with stress relief. Any factor such as chronic stress or mutations in the structure of the components of SGs that lead to their permanent presence can affect their interactions with pathological aggregations and increase the degenerative effects. SGs involved in RNA mechanisms are important factors in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and Alzheimer's diseases (AD). Although many studies have been performed in the field of SGs and neurodegenerative disorders, so far, no systematic studies have been executed in this field. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive perspective of all studies about the role of SGs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders with a focus on the protein ingredients of these granules. This scoping review is based on a six-stage methodology structure and the PRISMA guideline. A systematic search of seven databases for qualified articles was conducted until December 2020. Publications were screened independently by two reviewers and quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed on the extracted data. Bioinformatics analysis was used to plot the network and predict interprotein interactions. In addition, GO analysis was performed. A total of 48 articles were identified that comply the inclusion criteria. Most studies on neurodegenerative diseases have been conducted on ALS, AD, and FTD using human post mortem tissues. Human derived cell line studies have been used only in ALS. A total 29 genes of protein components of SGs have been studied, the most important of which are TDP-43, TIA-1, PABP-1. Bioinformatics studies have predicted 15 proteins to interact with the protein components of SGs, which may be the constituents of SGs. Understanding the interactions between SGs and pathological aggregations in neurodegenerative diseases can provide new targets for treatment of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Asadi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Sadat Moslehian
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hani Sabaie
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Abbas Jalaiei
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Rezazadeh
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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17
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Vu L, Ghosh A, Tran C, Tebung WA, Sidibé H, Garcia-Mansfield K, David-Dirgo V, Sharma R, Pirrotte P, Bowser R, Vande Velde C. Defining the Caprin-1 Interactome in Unstressed and Stressed Conditions. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:3165-3178. [PMID: 33939924 PMCID: PMC9083243 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs) are dynamic foci containing translationally arrested mRNA and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that form in response to a variety of cellular stressors. It has been debated that SGs may evolve into cytoplasmic inclusions observed in many neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have examined the SG proteome by interrogating the interactome of G3BP1. However, it is widely accepted that multiple baits are required to capture the full SG proteome. To gain further insight into the SG proteome, we employed immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry of endogenous Caprin-1, an RBP implicated in mRNP granules. Overall, we identified 1543 proteins that interact with Caprin-1. Interactors under stressed conditions were primarily annotated to the ribosome, spliceosome, and RNA transport pathways. We validated four Caprin-1 interactors that localized to arsenite-induced SGs: ANKHD1, TALIN-1, GEMIN5, and SNRNP200. We also validated these stress-induced interactions in SH-SY5Y cells and further determined that SNRNP200 also associated with osmotic- and thermal-induced SGs. Finally, we identified SNRNP200 in cytoplasmic aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) spinal cord and motor cortex. Collectively, our findings provide the first description of the Caprin-1 protein interactome, identify novel cytoplasmic SG components, and reveal a SG protein in cytoplasmic aggregates in ALS patient neurons. Proteomic data collected in this study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD023271.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vu
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Asmita Ghosh
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CHUM Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Chelsea Tran
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Walters Aji Tebung
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CHUM Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Hadjara Sidibé
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CHUM Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Krystine Garcia-Mansfield
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Victoria David-Dirgo
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ritin Sharma
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Patrick Pirrotte
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Christine Vande Velde
- Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CHUM Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada
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18
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Escalante LE, Gasch AP. The role of stress-activated RNA-protein granules in surviving adversity. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:rna.078738.121. [PMID: 33931500 PMCID: PMC8208049 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078738.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Severe environmental stress can trigger a plethora of physiological changes and, in the process, significant cytoplasmic reorganization. Stress-activated RNA-protein granules have been implicated in this cellular overhaul by sequestering pre-existing mRNAs and influencing their fates during and after stress acclimation. While the composition and dynamics of stress-activated granule formation has been well studied, their function and impact on RNA-cargo has remained murky. Several recent studies challenge the view that these granules degrade and silence mRNAs present at the onset of stress and instead suggest new roles for these structures in mRNA storage, transit, and inheritance. Here we discuss recent evidence for revised models of stress-activated granule functions and the role of these granules in stress survival and recovery.
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19
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Jeon P, Lee JA. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Physiology and Pathology of Neuronal Stress Granules. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:609698. [PMID: 33718353 PMCID: PMC7947226 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.609698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are membraneless cytosolic granules containing dense aggregations of RNA-binding proteins and RNAs. They appear in the cytosol under stress conditions and inhibit the initiation of mRNA translation. SGs are dynamically assembled under stressful conditions and rapidly disassembled after stress removal. They are heterogeneous in their RNA and protein content and are cell type- and stress-specific. In post-mitotic neurons, which do not divide, the dynamics of neuronal SGs are tightly regulated, implying that their dysregulation leads to neurodegeneration. Mutations in RNA-binding proteins are associated with SGs. SG components accumulate in cytosolic inclusions in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although SGs primarily mediate a pro-survival adaptive response to cellular stress, abnormal persistent SGs might develop into aggregates and link to the pathogenesis of diseases. In this review, we present recent advances in the study of neuronal SGs in physiology and pathology, and discuss potential therapeutic approaches to remove abnormal, persistent SGs associated with neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pureum Jeon
- Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jin A Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea
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20
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Fomicheva A, Ross ED. From Prions to Stress Granules: Defining the Compositional Features of Prion-Like Domains That Promote Different Types of Assemblies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031251. [PMID: 33513942 PMCID: PMC7865556 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress granules are ribonucleoprotein assemblies that form in response to cellular stress. Many of the RNA-binding proteins found in stress granule proteomes contain prion-like domains (PrLDs), which are low-complexity sequences that compositionally resemble yeast prion domains. Mutations in some of these PrLDs have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, and are associated with persistent stress granule accumulation. While both stress granules and prions are macromolecular assemblies, they differ in both their physical properties and complexity. Prion aggregates are highly stable homopolymeric solids, while stress granules are complex dynamic biomolecular condensates driven by multivalent homotypic and heterotypic interactions. Here, we use stress granules and yeast prions as a paradigm to examine how distinct sequence and compositional features of PrLDs contribute to different types of PrLD-containing assemblies.
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21
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Levkovich SA, Rencus-Lazar S, Gazit E, Laor Bar-Yosef D. Microbial Prions: Dawn of a New Era. Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 46:391-405. [PMID: 33423939 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation are associated with human diseases and aging. However, microorganisms widely exploit the self-propagating properties of misfolded infectious protein particles, prions, as epigenetic information carriers that drive various phenotypic adaptations and encode molecular information. Microbial prion research has faced a paradigm shift in recent years, with breakthroughs that demonstrate the great functional and structural diversity of these agents. Here, we outline unorthodox examples of microbial prions in yeast and other microorganisms, focusing on their noncanonical functions. We discuss novel molecular mechanisms for the inheritance of conformationally-encoded epigenetic information and the evolutionary advantages they confer. Lastly, in light of recent advancements in the field of molecular self-assembly, we present a hypothesis regarding the existence of non-proteinaceous prion-like entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shon A Levkovich
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Sigal Rencus-Lazar
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ehud Gazit
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; BLAVATNIK CENTER for Drug Discovery, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Sagol Interdisciplinary School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Dana Laor Bar-Yosef
- School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
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22
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Park SK, Park S, Pentek C, Liebman SW. Tumor suppressor protein p53 expressed in yeast can remain diffuse, form a prion, or form unstable liquid-like droplets. iScience 2020; 24:102000. [PMID: 33490908 PMCID: PMC7811139 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.102000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor are frequent causes of cancer. Because p53 aggregates appear in some tumor cells, it has been suggested that p53 could also cause cancer by forming self-replicating protein aggregates (prions). Here, using yeast, we show that transient p53 overexpression induced the formation of p53 prion aggregates that were transmitted for >100 generations, found in lysate pellets, stained with Thioflavin T, and transmitted by cytoplasmic transfer, or transfection with lysates of cells carrying the prion or with p53 amyloid peptide. As predicted for a prion, transient interruption of p53 expression caused permanent p53 prion loss. Importantly, p53 transcription factor activity was reduced by prion formation suggesting that prion aggregation could cause cancer. p53 has also been found in liquid-like nuclear droplets in animal cell culture. In yeast, we found that liquid-like p53 foci appear in response to stress and disappear with stress removal. A published yeast model of functional nuclear human p53 tumor suppressor was used Upon transient overexpression p53 loses its transcription function and aggregates These p53 aggregates are cytoplasmic and behave like stable heritable prions Stress induces p53 to form liquid-like droplets that are unstable and not prion-like
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Affiliation(s)
- Sei-Kyoung Park
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Sangeun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Christine Pentek
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Susan W Liebman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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