1
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Song J. Molecular Mechanisms of Phase Separation and Amyloidosis of ALS/FTD-linked FUS and TDP-43. Aging Dis 2024; 15:2084-2112. [PMID: 38029395 PMCID: PMC11346406 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
FUS and TDP-43, two RNA-binding proteins from the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family, have gained significant attention in the field of neurodegenerative diseases due to their association with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). They possess folded domains for binding ATP and various nucleic acids including DNA and RNA, as well as substantial intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) including prion-like domains (PLDs) and RG-/RGG-rich regions. They play vital roles in various cellular processes, including transcription, splicing, microRNA maturation, RNA stability and transport and DNA repair. In particular, they are key components for forming ribonucleoprotein granules and stress granules (SGs) through homotypic or heterotypic liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Strikingly, liquid-like droplets formed by FUS and TDP-43 may undergo aging to transform into less dynamic assemblies such as hydrogels, inclusions, and amyloid fibrils, which are the pathological hallmarks of ALS and FTD. This review aims to synthesize and consolidate the biophysical knowledge of the sequences, structures, stability, dynamics, and inter-domain interactions of FUS and TDP-43 domains, so as to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying their liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and amyloidosis. The review further delves into the mechanisms through which ALS-causing mutants of the well-folded hPFN1 disrupt the dynamics of LLPS of FUS prion-like domain, providing key insights into a potential mechanism for misfolding/aggregation-prone proteins to cause neurodegenerative diseases and aging by gain of functions. With better understanding of different biophysical aspects of FUS and TDP-43, the ultimate goal is to develop drugs targeting LLPS and amyloidosis, which could mediate protein homeostasis within cells and lead to new treatments for currently intractable diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, FTD and aging. However, the study of membrane-less organelles and condensates is still in its infancy and therefore the review also highlights key questions that require future investigation.
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2
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Baer MH, Cascarina SM, Paul KR, Ross ED. Rational Tuning of the Concentration-independent Enrichment of Prion-like Domains in Stress Granules. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168703. [PMID: 39004265 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are large ribonucleoprotein assemblies that form in response to acute stress in eukaryotes. SG formation is thought to be initiated by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of key proteins and RNA. These molecules serve as a scaffold for recruitment of client molecules. LLPS of scaffold proteins in vitro is highly concentration-dependent, yet biomolecular condensates in vivo contain hundreds of unique proteins, most of which are thought to be clients rather than scaffolds. Many proteins that localize to SGs contain low-complexity, prion-like domains (PrLDs) that have been implicated in LLPS and SG recruitment. The degree of enrichment of proteins in biomolecular condensates such as SGs can vary widely, but the underlying basis for these differences is not fully understood. Here, we develop a toolkit of model PrLDs to examine the factors that govern efficiency of PrLD recruitment to stress granules. Recruitment was highly sensitive to amino acid composition: enrichment in SGs could be tuned through subtle changes in hydrophobicity. By contrast, SG recruitment was largely insensitive to PrLD concentration at both a population level and single-cell level. These observations point to a model wherein PrLDs are enriched in SGs through either simple solvation effects or interactions that are effectively non-saturable even at high expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew H Baer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Sean M Cascarina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Kacy R Paul
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Eric D Ross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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3
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Giudice J, Jiang H. Splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates and membraneless organelles. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:683-700. [PMID: 38773325 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7] [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: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, sometimes also known as membraneless organelles (MLOs), can form through weak multivalent intermolecular interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, a process often associated with liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensates are emerging as sites and regulatory platforms of vital cellular functions, including transcription and RNA processing. In the first part of this Review, we comprehensively discuss how alternative splicing regulates the formation and properties of condensates, and conversely the roles of biomolecular condensates in splicing regulation. In the second part, we focus on the spatial connection between splicing regulation and nuclear MLOs such as transcriptional condensates, splicing condensates and nuclear speckles. We then discuss key studies showing how splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates is implicated in human pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, developmental disorders and cardiomyopathies, and conclude with a discussion of outstanding questions pertaining to the roles of condensates and MLOs in splicing regulation and how to experimentally study them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Giudice
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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4
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Chen YR, Harel I, Singh PP, Ziv I, Moses E, Goshtchevsky U, Machado BE, Brunet A, Jarosz DF. Tissue-specific landscape of protein aggregation and quality control in an aging vertebrate. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1892-1911.e13. [PMID: 38810654 PMCID: PMC11265985 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of age-related neurodegeneration. Yet, aggregation during normal aging and in tissues other than the brain is poorly understood. Here, we leverage the African turquoise killifish to systematically profile protein aggregates in seven tissues of an aging vertebrate. Age-dependent aggregation is strikingly tissue specific and not simply driven by protein expression differences. Experimental interrogation in killifish and yeast, combined with machine learning, indicates that this specificity is linked to protein-autonomous biophysical features and tissue-selective alterations in protein quality control. Co-aggregation of protein quality control machinery during aging may further reduce proteostasis capacity, exacerbating aggregate burden. A segmental progeria model with accelerated aging in specific tissues exhibits selectively increased aggregation in these same tissues. Intriguingly, many age-related protein aggregates arise in wild-type proteins that, when mutated, drive human diseases. Our data chart a comprehensive landscape of protein aggregation during vertebrate aging and identify strong, tissue-specific associations with dysfunction and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen R Chen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Itamar Harel
- The Silberman Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Param Priya Singh
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Inbal Ziv
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eitan Moses
- The Silberman Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Uri Goshtchevsky
- The Silberman Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Ben E Machado
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Daniel F Jarosz
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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5
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Zhang W, Li Z, Wang X, Sun T. Phase separation is regulated by post-translational modifications and participates in the developments of human diseases. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34035. [PMID: 39071719 PMCID: PMC11279762 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intracellular proteins has emerged as a hot research topic in recent years. Membrane-less and liquid-like condensates provide dense spaces that ensure cells to high efficiently regulate genes transcription and rapidly respond to burst changes from the environment. The fomation and activity of LLPS are not only modulated by the cytosol conditions including but not limited to salt concentration and temperture. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that phase separation is also regulated by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) through modulating proteins multivalency, such as solubility and charge interactions. The regulation mechanism is crucial for normal functioning of cells, as aberrant protein aggregates are often closely related with the occurrence and development of human diseases including cancer and nurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, studying phase separation in the perspective of protein PTMs has long-term significance for human health. In this review, we summarized the properties and cellular physiological functions of LLPS, particularly its relationships with PTMs in human diseases according to recent researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibo Zhang
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Zhengfeng Li
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Xianju Wang
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Faculty of Health Sciences Building University of Macau E12 Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
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6
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Benchorin G, Cho RJ, Li MJ, Molotkova N, Kohwi M. Dan forms condensates in neuroblasts and regulates nuclear architecture and progenitor competence in vivo. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5097. [PMID: 38877037 PMCID: PMC11178893 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49326-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome organization is thought to underlie cell type specific gene expression, yet how it is regulated in progenitors to produce cellular diversity is unknown. In Drosophila, a developmentally-timed genome reorganization in neural progenitors terminates competence to produce early-born neurons. These events require downregulation of Distal antenna (Dan), part of the conserved pipsqueak DNA-binding superfamily. Here we find that Dan forms liquid-like condensates with high protein mobility, and whose size and subnuclear distribution are balanced with its DNA-binding. Further, we identify a LARKS domain, a structural motif associated with condensate-forming proteins. Deleting just 13 amino acids from LARKS abrogates Dan's ability to retain the early-born neural fate gene, hunchback, in the neuroblast nuclear interior and maintain competence in vivo. Conversely, domain-swapping with LARKS from known phase-separating proteins rescues Dan's effects on competence. Together, we provide in vivo evidence for condensate formation and the regulation of progenitor nuclear architecture underlying neuronal diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillie Benchorin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Jangwon Cho
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maggie Jiaqi Li
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalia Molotkova
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minoree Kohwi
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Sahoo BR, Kocman V, Clark N, Myers N, Deng X, Wong EL, Yang HJ, Kotar A, Guzman BB, Dominguez D, Plavec J, Bardwell JCA. Protein G-quadruplex interactions and their effects on phase transitions and protein aggregation. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4702-4722. [PMID: 38572746 PMCID: PMC11077067 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae229] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The SERF family of proteins were originally discovered for their ability to accelerate amyloid formation. Znf706 is an uncharacterized protein whose N-terminus is homologous to SERF proteins. We show here that human Znf706 can promote protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Unexpectedly, Znf706 specifically interacts with stable, non-canonical nucleic acid structures known as G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes can affect gene regulation and suppress protein aggregation; however, it is unknown if and how these two activities are linked. We find Znf706 binds preferentially to parallel G-quadruplexes with low micromolar affinity, primarily using its N-terminus, and upon interaction, its dynamics are constrained. G-quadruplex binding suppresses Znf706's ability to promote protein aggregation. Znf706 in conjunction with G-quadruplexes therefore may play a role in regulating protein folding. RNAseq analysis shows that Znf706 depletion specifically impacts the mRNA abundance of genes that are predicted to contain high G-quadruplex density. Our studies give insight into how proteins and G-quadruplexes interact, and how these interactions affect both partners and lead to the modulation of protein aggregation and cellular mRNA levels. These observations suggest that the SERF family of proteins, in conjunction with G-quadruplexes, may have a broader role in regulating protein folding and gene expression than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash R Sahoo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vojč Kocman
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nathan Clark
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nikhil Myers
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiexiong Deng
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ee L Wong
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Harry J Yang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anita Kotar
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Janez Plavec
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - James C A Bardwell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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8
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Song J. Adenosine Triphosphate: The Primordial Molecule That Controls Protein Homeostasis and Shapes the Genome-Proteome Interface. Biomolecules 2024; 14:500. [PMID: 38672516 PMCID: PMC11048592 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) acts as the universal energy currency that drives various biological processes, while nucleic acids function to store and transmit genetic information for all living organisms. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) represents the common principle for the formation of membrane-less organelles (MLOs) composed of proteins rich in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and nucleic acids. Currently, while IDRs are well recognized to facilitate LLPS through dynamic and multivalent interactions, the precise mechanisms by which ATP and nucleic acids affect LLPS still remain elusive. This review summarizes recent NMR results on the LLPS of human FUS, TDP-43, and the viral nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2, as modulated by ATP and nucleic acids, revealing the following: (1) ATP binds to folded domains overlapping with nucleic-acid-binding interfaces; (2) ATP and nucleic acids interplay to biphasically modulate LLPS by competitively binding to overlapping pockets of folded domains and Arg/Lys within IDRs; (3) ATP energy-independently induces protein folding with the highest efficiency known so far. As ATP likely emerged in the prebiotic monomeric world, while LLPS represents a pivotal mechanism to concentrate and compartmentalize rare molecules for forming primordial cells, ATP appears to control protein homeostasis and shape genome-proteome interfaces throughout the evolutionary trajectory, from prebiotic origins to modern cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Singapore
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9
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Sahoo BR, Kocman V, Clark N, Myers N, Deng X, Wong EL, Yang HJ, Kotar A, Guzman BB, Dominguez D, Plavec J, Bardwell JC. Protein G-quadruplex interactions and their effects on phase transitions and protein aggregation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.21.558871. [PMID: 37790366 PMCID: PMC10542165 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.21.558871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The SERF family of proteins were originally discovered for their ability to accelerate amyloid formation. Znf706 is an uncharacterized protein whose N-terminus is homologous to SERF proteins. We show here that human Znf706 can promote protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Unexpectedly, Znf706 specifically interacts with stable, non-canonical nucleic acid structures known as G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes can affect gene regulation and suppress protein aggregation; however, it is unknown if and how these two activities are linked. We find Znf706 binds preferentially to parallel G-quadruplexes with low micromolar affinity, primarily using its N-terminus, and upon interaction, its dynamics are constrained. G-quadruplex binding suppresses Znf706's ability to promote protein aggregation. Znf706 in conjunction with G-quadruplexes therefore may play a role in regulating protein folding. RNAseq analysis shows that Znf706 depletion specifically impacts the mRNA abundance of genes that are predicted to contain high G-quadruplex density. Our studies give insight into how proteins and G-quadruplexes interact, and how these interactions affect both partners and lead to the modulation of protein aggregation and cellular mRNA levels. These observations suggest that the SERF family of proteins, in conjunction with G-quadruplexes, may have a broader role in regulating protein folding and gene expression than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash R. Sahoo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vojč Kocman
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nathan Clark
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nikhil Myers
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xiexiong Deng
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ee L. Wong
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Harry J. Yang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anita Kotar
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Janez Plavec
- National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - James C.A. Bardwell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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10
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Thirumalai D, Kumar A, Chakraborty D, Straub JE, Mugnai ML. Conformational fluctuations and phases in fused in sarcoma (FUS) low-complexity domain. Biopolymers 2024; 115:e23558. [PMID: 37399327 PMCID: PMC10831756 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The well-known phenomenon of phase separation in synthetic polymers and proteins has become a major topic in biophysics because it has been invoked as a mechanism of compartment formation in cells, without the need for membranes. Most of the coacervates (or condensates) are composed of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) or regions that are structureless, often in interaction with RNA and DNA. One of the more intriguing IDPs is the 526-residue RNA-binding protein, Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), whose monomer conformations and condensates exhibit unusual behavior that are sensitive to solution conditions. By focussing principally on the N-terminus low-complexity domain (FUS-LC comprising residues 1-214) and other truncations, we rationalize the findings of solid-state NMR experiments, which show that FUS-LC adopts a non-polymorphic fibril structure (core-1) involving residues 39-95, flanked by fuzzy coats on both the N- and C-terminal ends. An alternate structure (core-2), whose free energy is comparable to core-1, emerges only in the truncated construct (residues 110-214). Both core-1 and core-2 fibrils are stabilized by a Tyrosine ladder as well as hydrophilic interactions. The morphologies (gels, fibrils, and glass-like) adopted by FUS seem to vary greatly, depending on the experimental conditions. The effect of phosphorylation is site-specific. Simulations show that phosphorylation of residues within the fibril has a greater destabilization effect than residues that are outside the fibril region, which accords well with experiments. Many of the peculiarities associated with FUS may also be shared by other IDPs, such as TDP43 and hnRNPA2. We outline a number of problems for which there is no clear molecular explanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Abhinaw Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Debayan Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mauro L Mugnai
- Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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11
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Chuang CN, Liu HC, Woo TT, Chao JL, Chen CY, Hu HT, Hsueh YP, Wang TF. Noncanonical usage of stop codons in ciliates expands proteins with structurally flexible Q-rich motifs. eLife 2024; 12:RP91405. [PMID: 38393970 PMCID: PMC10942620 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91405] [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] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Serine(S)/threonine(T)-glutamine(Q) cluster domains (SCDs), polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts and polyglutamine/asparagine (polyQ/N) tracts are Q-rich motifs found in many proteins. SCDs often are intrinsically disordered regions that mediate protein phosphorylation and protein-protein interactions. PolyQ and polyQ/N tracts are structurally flexible sequences that trigger protein aggregation. We report that due to their high percentages of STQ or STQN amino acid content, four SCDs and three prion-causing Q/N-rich motifs of yeast proteins possess autonomous protein expression-enhancing activities. Since these Q-rich motifs can endow proteins with structural and functional plasticity, we suggest that they represent useful toolkits for evolutionary novelty. Comparative Gene Ontology (GO) analyses of the near-complete proteomes of 26 representative model eukaryotes reveal that Q-rich motifs prevail in proteins involved in specialized biological processes, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA-mediated transposition and pseudohyphal growth, Candida albicans filamentous growth, ciliate peptidyl-glutamic acid modification and microtubule-based movement, Tetrahymena thermophila xylan catabolism and meiosis, Dictyostelium discoideum development and sexual cycles, Plasmodium falciparum infection, and the nervous systems of Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus and Homo sapiens. We also show that Q-rich-motif proteins are expanded massively in 10 ciliates with reassigned TAAQ and TAGQ codons. Notably, the usage frequency of CAGQ is much lower in ciliates with reassigned TAAQ and TAGQ codons than in organisms with expanded and unstable Q runs (e.g. D. melanogaster and H. sapiens), indicating that the use of noncanonical stop codons in ciliates may have coevolved with codon usage biases to avoid triplet repeat disorders mediated by CAG/GTC replication slippage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hou-Cheng Liu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Tai-Ting Woo
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ju-Lan Chao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chiung-Ya Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Hisao-Tang Hu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Hsueh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Chiayi UniversityChiayiTaiwan
| | - Ting-Fang Wang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Chiayi UniversityChiayiTaiwan
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12
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Zeballos N, Comino N, Andrés-Sanz D, Santiago-Arcos J, Azkargorta M, Elortza F, Diamanti E, López-Gallego F. Region-Directed Enzyme Immobilization through Engineering Protein Surface with Histidine Clusters. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:833-846. [PMID: 38135284 PMCID: PMC10788835 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15993] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme immobilization is a key enabling technology for a myriad of industrial applications, yet immobilization science is still too empirical to reach highly active and robust heterogeneous biocatalysts through a general approach. Conventional protein immobilization methods lack control over how enzymes are oriented on solid carriers, resulting in negative conformational changes that drive enzyme deactivation. Site-selective enzyme immobilization through peptide tags and protein domains addresses the orientation issue, but this approach limits the possible orientations to the N- and C-termini of the target enzyme. In this work, we engineer the surface of two model dehydrogenases to introduce histidine clusters into flexible regions not involved in catalysis, through which immobilization is driven. By varying the position and the histidine density of the clusters, we create a small library of enzyme variants to be immobilized on different carriers functionalized with different densities of various metal chelates (Co2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Fe3+). We first demonstrate that His-clusters can be as efficient as the conventional His-tags in immobilizing enzymes, recovering even more activity and gaining stability against some denaturing agents. Furthermore, we find that the enzyme orientation as well as the type and density of the metal chelates affect the immobilization parameters (immobilization yield and recovered activity) and the stability of the immobilized enzymes. According to proteomic studies, His-clusters enable a different enzyme orientation as compared to His-tag. Finally, these oriented heterogeneous biocatalysts are implemented in batch reactions, demonstrating that the stability achieved by an optimized orientation translates into increased operational stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoll Zeballos
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Natalia Comino
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Daniel Andrés-Sanz
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Javier Santiago-Arcos
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Mikel Azkargorta
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biology (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 800 Bld, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas
y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Felix Elortza
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biology (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 800 Bld, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas
y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eleftheria Diamanti
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Gallego
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo Miramon 194, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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13
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Manole A, Wong T, Rhee A, Novak S, Chin SM, Tsimring K, Paucar A, Williams A, Newmeyer TF, Schafer ST, Rosh I, Kaushik S, Hoffman R, Chen S, Wang G, Snyder M, Cuervo AM, Andrade L, Manor U, Lee K, Jones JR, Stern S, Marchetto MC, Gage FH. NGLY1 mutations cause protein aggregation in human neurons. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113466. [PMID: 38039131 PMCID: PMC10826878 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biallelic mutations in the gene that encodes the enzyme N-glycanase 1 (NGLY1) cause a rare disease with multi-symptomatic features including developmental delay, intellectual disability, neuropathy, and seizures. NGLY1's activity in human neural cells is currently not well understood. To understand how NGLY1 gene loss leads to the specific phenotypes of NGLY1 deficiency, we employed direct conversion of NGLY1 patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to functional cortical neurons. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional studies of iPSC-derived neurons lacking NGLY1 function revealed several major cellular processes that were altered, including protein aggregate-clearing functionality, mitochondrial homeostasis, and synaptic dysfunctions. These phenotypes were rescued by introduction of a functional NGLY1 gene and were observed in iPSC-derived mature neurons but not astrocytes. Finally, laser capture microscopy followed by mass spectrometry provided detailed characterization of the composition of protein aggregates specific to NGLY1-deficient neurons. Future studies will harness this knowledge for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Manole
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Thomas Wong
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Amanda Rhee
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sammy Novak
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Shao-Ming Chin
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Katya Tsimring
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andres Paucar
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - April Williams
- The Razavi Newman Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Traci Fang Newmeyer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Simon T Schafer
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Idan Rosh
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Susmita Kaushik
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rene Hoffman
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Songjie Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Guangwen Wang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ana Maria Cuervo
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Institute for Aging Studies, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Leo Andrade
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Uri Manor
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kevin Lee
- Grace Science Foundation, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Jones
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Maria C Marchetto
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Fred H Gage
- Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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14
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Subbaiah S P V, Uttamrao PP, Das U, Sundaresan S, Rathinavelan T. Concentration and time-dependent amyloidogenic characteristics of intrinsically disordered N-terminal region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Stm1. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1206945. [PMID: 37928673 PMCID: PMC10620681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1206945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Stm1 protein is a ribosomal association factor, which plays an important role in preserving ribosomes in a nutrition-deprived environment. It is also shown to take part in apoptosis-like cell death. Stm1 N-terminal region (Stm1_N1-113) is shown to recognize purine motif DNA triplex and G-quadruplex. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of Stm1_N1-113 (enriched in positively-charged Lysine and Arginine; negatively-charged Aspartate; polar-uncharged Threonine, Asparagine, Proline and Serine; hydrophobic Alanine, Valine, and Glycine) collected after 0 and 24 h indicate that the protein assumes beta-sheet conformation at the higher concentrations in contrast to intrinsically disordered conformation seen for its monomeric form found in the crystal structure. Thioflavin-T kinetics experiments indicate that the lag phase is influenced by the salt concentration. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images collected for a variety of Stm1_N1-113 concentrations (in the range of 1-400 μM) in the presence of 150 mM NaCl at 0, 24, and 48 h indicate a threshold concentration requirement to observe the time-dependent amyloid formation. This is prominent seen at the physiological salt concentration of 150 mM NaCl with the fibrillation observed for 400 μM concentration at 48 h, whereas oligomerization or proto-fibrillation is seen for the other concentrations. Such concentration-dependent fibrillation of Stm1_N1-113 explains that amyloid fibrils formed during the overexpression of Stm1_N1-113 may act as a molecular device to trigger apoptosis-like cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkata Subbaiah S P
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Patil Pranita Uttamrao
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Uttam Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Sruthi Sundaresan
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
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15
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Basalla JL, Mak CA, Byrne JA, Ghalmi M, Hoang Y, Vecchiarelli AG. Dissecting the phase separation and oligomerization activities of the carboxysome positioning protein McdB. eLife 2023; 12:e81362. [PMID: 37668016 PMCID: PMC10554743 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Across bacteria, protein-based organelles called bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) encapsulate key enzymes to regulate their activities. The model BMC is the carboxysome that encapsulates enzymes for CO2 fixation to increase efficiency and is found in many autotrophic bacteria, such as cyanobacteria. Despite their importance in the global carbon cycle, little is known about how carboxysomes are spatially regulated. We recently identified the two-factor system required for the maintenance of carboxysome distribution (McdAB). McdA drives the equal spacing of carboxysomes via interactions with McdB, which associates with carboxysomes. McdA is a ParA/MinD ATPase, a protein family well studied in positioning diverse cellular structures in bacteria. However, the adaptor proteins like McdB that connect these ATPases to their cargos are extremely diverse. In fact, McdB represents a completely unstudied class of proteins. Despite the diversity, many adaptor proteins undergo phase separation, but functional roles remain unclear. Here, we define the domain architecture of McdB from the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, and dissect its mode of biomolecular condensate formation. We identify an N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) that modulates condensate solubility, a central coiled-coil dimerizing domain that drives condensate formation, and a C-terminal domain that trimerizes McdB dimers and provides increased valency for condensate formation. We then identify critical basic residues in the IDR, which we mutate to glutamines to solubilize condensates. Finally, we find that a condensate-defective mutant of McdB has altered association with carboxysomes and influences carboxysome enzyme content. The results have broad implications for understanding spatial organization of BMCs and the molecular grammar of protein condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Basalla
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Claudia A Mak
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Jordan A Byrne
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Maria Ghalmi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Y Hoang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Anthony G Vecchiarelli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
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16
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Zajkowski T, Lee MD, Sharma S, Vallota-Eastman A, Kuska M, Malczewska M, Rothschild LJ. Conserved functions of prion candidates suggest a primeval role of protein self-templating. Proteins 2023; 91:1298-1315. [PMID: 37519023 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26558] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-based prions have simple structures, a wide phylogenetic distribution, and a plethora of functions in contemporary organisms, suggesting they may be an ancient phenomenon. However, this hypothesis has yet to be addressed with a systematic, computational, and experimental approach. Here we present a framework to help guide future experimental verification of candidate prions with conserved functions to understand their role in the early stages of evolution and potentially in the origins of life. We identified candidate prions in all high-quality proteomes available in UniProt computationally, assessed their phylogenomic distributions, and analyzed candidate-prion functional annotations. Of the 27 980 560 proteins scanned, 228 561 were identified as candidate prions (~0.82%). Among these candidates, there were 84 Gene Ontology (GO) terms conserved across the three domains of life. We found that candidate prions with a possible role in adaptation were particularly well-represented within this group. We discuss unifying features of candidate prions to elucidate the primeval roles of prions and their associated functions. Candidate prions annotated as transcription factors, DNA binding, and kinases are particularly well suited to generating diverse responses to changes in their environment and could allow for adaptation and population expansion into more diverse environments. We hypothesized that a relationship between these functions and candidate prions could be evolutionarily ancient, even if individual prion domains themselves are not evolutionarily conserved. Candidate prions annotated with these universally occurring functions potentially represent the oldest extant prions on Earth and are therefore excellent experimental targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Zajkowski
- Universities Space Research Association at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michael D Lee
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - Siddhant Sharma
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alec Vallota-Eastman
- Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Mikołaj Kuska
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Malczewska
- Polish Astrobiology Society, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lynn J Rothschild
- Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California, USA
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17
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Thirumalai D, Kumar A, Chakraborty D, Straub JE, Mugnai ML. Conformational Fluctuations and Phases in Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) Low-Complexity Domain. ARXIV 2023:arXiv:2303.04215v2. [PMID: 36945688 PMCID: PMC10029050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The well known phenomenon of phase separation in synthetic polymers and proteins has become a major topic in biophysics because it has been invoked as a mechanism of compartment formation in cells, without the need for membranes. Most of the coacervates (or condensates) are composed of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) or regions that are structureless, often in interaction with RNA and DNA. One of the more intriguing IDPs is the 526-residue RNA binding protein, Fused In Sarcoma (FUS), whose monomer conformations and condensates exhibit unusual behavior that are sensitive to solution conditions. By focussing principally on the N-terminus low complexity domain (FUS-LC comprising residues 1-214) and other truncations, we rationalize the findings of solid state NMR experiments, which show that FUS-LC adopts a non-polymorphic fibril (core-1) involving residues 39-95, flanked by fuzzy coats on both the N- and C- terminal ends. An alternate structure (core-2), whose free energy is comparable to core-1, emerges only in the truncated construct (residues 110-214). Both core-1 and core-2 fibrils are stabilized by a Tyrosine ladder as well as hydrophilic interactions. The morphologies (gels, fibrils, and glass-like behavior) adopted by FUS seem to vary greatly, depending on the experimental conditions. The effect of phosphorylation is site specific and affects the stability of the fibril depending on the sites that are phosphorylated. Many of the peculiarities associated with FUS may also be shared by other IDPs, such as TDP43 and hnRNPA2. We outline a number of problems for which there is no clear molecular understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Abhinaw Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Debayan Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA 78712
| | - Mauro L Mugnai
- Institute of Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057
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18
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Kelly C, Ahmed Y, Elghawy O, Pachon NF, Fontanese MS, Kim S, Kitterman E, Marley A, Terrenzio D, Wike R, Zeibekis T, Cameron DM. The human ribosome-associated complex suppresses prion formation in yeast. Proteins 2023; 91:715-723. [PMID: 36604744 PMCID: PMC10159891 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Many human diseases are associated with the misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins. Understanding the mechanisms cells employ to ensure the integrity of the proteome is therefore a crucial step in the development of potential therapeutic interventions. Yeast cells possess numerous prion-forming proteins capable of adopting amyloid conformations, possibly as an epigenetic mechanism to cope with changing environmental conditions. The ribosome-associated complex (RAC), which docks near the ribosomal polypeptide exit tunnel and recruits the Hsp70 Ssb to chaperone nascent chains, can moderate the acquisition of these amyloid conformations in yeast. Here we examine the ability of the human RAC chaperone proteins Mpp11 and Hsp70L1 to function in place of their yeast RAC orthologues Zuo1 and Ssz1 in yeast lacking endogenous RAC and investigate the extent to which the human orthologues can perform RAC chaperone activities in yeast. We found that the Mpp11/Hsp70L1 complex can partially correct the growth defect seen in RAC-deficient yeast cells, although yeast/human hetero species complexes were variable in this ability. The proportion of cells in which the Sup35 protein undergoes spontaneous conversion to a [PSI+ ] prion conformation, which is increased in the absence of RAC, was reduced by the presence of the human RAC complex. However, the toxicity in yeast from expression of a pathogenically expanded polyQ protein was unable to be countered by the human RAC chaperones. This yeast system can serve as a facile model for studying the extent to which the human RAC chaperones contribute to combating cotranslational misfolding of other mammalian disease-associated proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Kelly
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Yusef Ahmed
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: Department of Chemistry, University of California – Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Omar Elghawy
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | | | - Matthew S. Fontanese
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: Department of clinical psychology; University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 75799, USA
| | - Seongchan Kim
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Erica Kitterman
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Amanda Marley
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
| | - Danielle Terrenzio
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19131, USA
| | - Richard Wike
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
- Present address: Physiology Department, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Dale M. Cameron
- Biology Department, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA
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19
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Swasthi HM, Basalla JL, Dudley CE, Vecchiarelli AG, Chapman MR. Cell surface-localized CsgF condensate is a gatekeeper in bacterial curli subunit secretion. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2392. [PMID: 37100792 PMCID: PMC10133297 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38089-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Curli are functional amyloids present on the outer membrane of E. coli. CsgF is required for the proper assembly of curli. Here, we found that the CsgF phase separates in vitro and that the ability of CsgF variants to phase-separate is tightly correlated with CsgF function during curli biogenesis. Substitution of phenylalanine residues in the CsgF N-terminus both reduced the propensity of CsgF to phase-separate and impaired curli assembly. Exogenous addition of purified CsgF complemented csgF - cells. This exogenous addition assay was used to assess the ability of CsgF variants to complement csgF ‒ cells. CsgF on the cell surface modulated the secretion of CsgA, the curli major subunit, to the cell surface. We also found that the CsgB nucleator protein can form SDS-insoluble aggregates within the dynamic CsgF condensate. We propose that these multicomponent CsgF-B condensates form a nucleation-competent complex that templates CsgA amyloid formation on the cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema M Swasthi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA
| | - Joseph L Basalla
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA
| | - Claire E Dudley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA
| | - Anthony G Vecchiarelli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA
| | - Matthew R Chapman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA.
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20
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Xu S, Teng X, Li Y. Optimization of Campesterol-Producing Yeast Strains as a Feasible Platform for the Functional Reconstitution of Plant Membrane-Bound Enzymes. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1109-1118. [PMID: 36972300 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Campesterol is a major phytosterol that plays important roles in regulating membrane properties and serves as the precursor to multiple specialized metabolites, such as the phytohormone brassinosteroids. Recently, we established a campesterol-producing yeast strain and extended the bioproduction to 22-hydroxycampesterol and 22-hydroxycampest-4-en-3-one, the precursors to brassinolide. However, there is a trade-off in growth due to the disrupted sterol metabolism. In this study, we enhanced the growth of the campesterol-producing yeast by partially restoring the activity of the sterol acyltransferase and engineering upstream FPP supply. Furthermore, genome sequencing analysis also revealed a pool of genes possibly associated with the altered sterol metabolism. Retro engineering implies an essential role of ASG1, especially the C-terminal asparagine-rich domain of ASG1, in the sterol metabolism of yeast especially under stress. The performance of the campesterol-producing yeast strain was enhanced with the titer of campesterol to 18.4 mg/L, and the stationary OD600 was improved by ∼33% compared to the unoptimized strain. In addition, we examined the activity of a plant cytochrome P450 in the engineered strain, which exhibits more than 9-fold higher activity than when expressed in the wild-type yeast strain. Therefore, the engineered campesterol-producing yeast strain also serves as a robust host for the functional expression of plant membrane proteins.
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21
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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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22
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Burkart RC, Eljebbawi A, Stahl Y. Come together now: Dynamic body-formation of key regulators integrates environmental cues in plant development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1052107. [PMID: 36452084 PMCID: PMC9702078 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1052107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plants as sessile organisms are constantly exposed to changing environmental conditions, challenging their growth and development. Indeed, not only above-ground organs but also the underground root system must adapt accordingly. Consequently, plants respond to these constraints at a gene-regulatory level to ensure their survival and well-being through key transcriptional regulators involved in different developmental processes. Recently, intrinsically disordered domains within these regulators are emerging as central nodes necessary not only for interactions with other factors but also for their partitioning into biomolecular condensates, so-called bodies, possibly driven by phase separation. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about body-forming transcriptional regulators important for plant development and highlight their functions in a possible environmental context. In this perspective article, we discuss potential mechanisms for the formation of membrane-less bodies as an efficient and dynamic program needed for the adaptation to external cues with a particular focus on the Arabidopsis root. Hereby, we aim to provide a perspective for future research on transcriptional regulators to investigate body formation as an expeditious mechanism of plant-environment interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. Burkart
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ali Eljebbawi
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yvonne Stahl
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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23
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Kamal M, Tokmakjian L, Knox J, Mastrangelo P, Ji J, Cai H, Wojciechowski JW, Hughes MP, Takács K, Chu X, Pei J, Grolmusz V, Kotulska M, Forman-Kay JD, Roy PJ. A spatiotemporal reconstruction of the C. elegans pharyngeal cuticle reveals a structure rich in phase-separating proteins. eLife 2022; 11:e79396. [PMID: 36259463 PMCID: PMC9629831 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
How the cuticles of the roughly 4.5 million species of ecdysozoan animals are constructed is not well understood. Here, we systematically mine gene expression datasets to uncover the spatiotemporal blueprint for how the chitin-based pharyngeal cuticle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is built. We demonstrate that the blueprint correctly predicts expression patterns and functional relevance to cuticle development. We find that as larvae prepare to molt, catabolic enzymes are upregulated and the genes that encode chitin synthase, chitin cross-linkers, and homologs of amyloid regulators subsequently peak in expression. Forty-eight percent of the gene products secreted during the molt are predicted to be intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), many of which belong to four distinct families whose transcripts are expressed in overlapping waves. These include the IDPAs, IDPBs, and IDPCs, which are introduced for the first time here. All four families have sequence properties that drive phase separation and we demonstrate phase separation for one exemplar in vitro. This systematic analysis represents the first blueprint for cuticle construction and highlights the massive contribution that phase-separating materials make to the structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Levon Tokmakjian
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Jessica Knox
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Peter Mastrangelo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Jingxiu Ji
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Hao Cai
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Jakub W Wojciechowski
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Department of Biomedical EngineeringWroclawPoland
| | - Michael P Hughes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisUnited States
| | - Kristóf Takács
- PIT Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Xiaoquan Chu
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jianfeng Pei
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Vince Grolmusz
- PIT Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Mathematics, Eötvös UniversityBudapestHungary
| | - Malgorzata Kotulska
- Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Department of Biomedical EngineeringWroclawPoland
| | - Julie Deborah Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Peter J Roy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
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24
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Cascarina SM, Ross ED. Expansion and functional analysis of the SR-related protein family across the domains of life. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1298-1314. [PMID: 35863866 PMCID: PMC9479744 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079170.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins comprise a family of proteins that is predominantly found in eukaryotes and plays a prominent role in RNA splicing. A characteristic feature of SR proteins is the presence of an S/R-rich low-complexity domain (RS domain), often in conjunction with spatially distinct RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). To date, 52 human proteins have been classified as SR or SR-related proteins. Here, using an unbiased series of composition criteria together with enrichment for known RNA binding activity, we identified >100 putative SR-related proteins in the human proteome. This method recovers known SR and SR-related proteins with high sensitivity (∼94%), yet identifies a number of additional proteins with many of the hallmark features of true SR-related proteins. Newly identified SR-related proteins display slightly different amino acid compositions yet similar levels of post-translational modification, suggesting that these new SR-related candidates are regulated in vivo and functionally important. Furthermore, candidate SR-related proteins with known RNA-binding activity (but not currently recognized as SR-related proteins) are nevertheless strongly associated with a variety of functions related to mRNA splicing and nuclear speckles. Finally, we applied our SR search method to all available reference proteomes, and provide maps of RS domains and Pfam annotations for all putative SR-related proteins as a resource. Together, these results expand the set of SR-related proteins in humans, and identify the most common functions associated with SR-related proteins across all domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Cascarina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
| | - Eric D Ross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA
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25
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Aledo JC. A Census of Human Methionine-Rich Prion-like Domain-Containing Proteins. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11071289. [PMID: 35883780 PMCID: PMC9312190 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071289] [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: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine-rich prion-like proteins can regulate liquid–liquid phase separation processes in response to stresses. To date, however, very few proteins have been identified as methionine-rich prion-like. Herein, we have performed a computational survey of the human proteome to search for methionine-rich prion-like domains. We present a census of 51 manually curated methionine-rich prion-like proteins. Our results show that these proteins tend to be modular in nature, with molecular sizes significantly greater than those we would expect due to random sampling effects. These proteins also exhibit a remarkably high degree of spatial compaction when compared to average human proteins, even when protein size is accounted for. Computational evidence suggests that such a high degree of compactness might be due to the aggregation of methionine residues, pointing to a potential redox regulation of compactness. Gene ontology and network analyses, performed to shed light on the biological processes in which these proteins might participate, indicate that methionine-rich and non-methionine-rich prion-like proteins share gene ontology terms related to the regulation of transcription and translation but, more interestingly, these analyses also reveal that proteins from the methionine-rich group tend to share more gene ontology terms among them than they do with their non-methionine-rich prion-like counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Aledo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
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26
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Burkart RC, Strotmann VI, Kirschner GK, Akinci A, Czempik L, Dolata A, Maizel A, Weidtkamp‐Peters S, Stahl Y. PLETHORA‐WOX5 interaction and subnuclear localization control
Arabidopsis
root stem cell maintenance. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54105. [PMID: 35373503 PMCID: PMC9171415 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance and homeostasis of the stem cell niche (SCN) in the Arabidopsis root is essential for growth and development of all root cell types. The SCN is organized around a quiescent center (QC) maintaining the stemness of cells in direct contact. The key transcription factors (TFs) WUSCHEL‐RELATED HOMEOBOX 5 (WOX5) and PLETHORAs (PLTs) are expressed in the SCN where they maintain the QC and regulate distal columella stem cell (CSC) fate. Here, we describe the concerted mutual regulation of the key TFs WOX5 and PLTs on a transcriptional and protein interaction level. Additionally, by applying a novel SCN staining method, we demonstrate that both WOX5 and PLTs regulate root SCN homeostasis as they control QC quiescence and CSC fate interdependently. Moreover, we uncover that some PLTs, especially PLT3, contain intrinsically disordered prion‐like domains (PrDs) that are necessary for complex formation with WOX5 and its recruitment to subnuclear microdomains/nuclear bodies (NBs) in the CSCs. We propose that this partitioning of PLT‐WOX5 complexes to NBs, possibly by phase separation, is important for CSC fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Burkart
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Vivien I Strotmann
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
| | | | - Abdullah Akinci
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Laura Czempik
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Anika Dolata
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Alexis Maizel
- Center for Organismal Studies (COS) University of Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
| | | | - Yvonne Stahl
- Institute for Developmental Genetics Heinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf Germany
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27
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Grando K, Nicastro LK, Tursi SA, De Anda J, Lee EY, Wong GCL, Tükel Ç. Phenol-Soluble Modulins From Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms Form Complexes With DNA to Drive Autoimmunity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:884065. [PMID: 35646719 PMCID: PMC9131096 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.884065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial amyloid curli, produced by Enterobacteriales including Salmonella species and Escherichia coli, is implicated in the pathogenesis of several complex autoimmune diseases. Curli binds to extracellular DNA, and these complexes drive autoimmunity via production of anti-double-stranded DNA autoantibodies. Here, we investigated immune activation by phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs), the amyloid proteins expressed by Staphylococcus species. We confirmed the amyloid nature of PSMs expressed by S. aureus using a novel specific amyloid stain, (E,E)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy) styrylbenzene (FSB). Direct interaction of one of the S. aureus PSMs, PSMα3, with oligonucleotides promotes fibrillization of PSM amyloids and complex formation with bacterial DNA. Finally, utilizing a mouse model with an implanted mesh-associated S. aureus biofilm, we demonstrated that exposure to S. aureus biofilms for six weeks caused anti-double-stranded DNA autoantibody production in a PSM-dependent manner. Taken together, these results highlight how the presence of PSM-DNA complexes in S. aureus biofilms can induce autoimmune responses, and suggest an explanation for how bacterial infections trigger autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn Grando
- Center for Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lauren K. Nicastro
- Center for Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sarah A. Tursi
- Center for Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jaime De Anda
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ernest Y. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Gerard C. L. Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Nano Systems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Çağla Tükel
- Center for Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Çağla Tükel,
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28
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Shahzad S, Willcox M. The Possible Role of Prion-Like Viral Protein Domains on the Emergence of Novel Viruses as SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:227-230. [PMID: 35362781 PMCID: PMC8972983 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10054-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Self-replicating proteins or prions deviate from the central dogma of replication. The discovery of prion-like domains in coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 suggests their possible role in viral evolution. Here, we have outlined the possible role of self-replicating protein-like domains in the emergence of novel viruses. Further studies are needed to understand the function of these viral self-replicating protein-like domains and whether they could be antiviral target(s) for the development of effective antiviral agents in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakeel Shahzad
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Mark Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
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29
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Huang X, Xiao N, Zou Y, Xie Y, Tang L, Zhang Y, Yu Y, Li Y, Xu C. Heterotypic transcriptional condensates formed by prion-like paralogous proteins canalize flowering transition in tomato. Genome Biol 2022; 23:78. [PMID: 35287709 PMCID: PMC8919559 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02646-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paralogs that arise from gene duplications during genome evolution enable genetic redundancy and phenotypic robustness. Variation in the coding or regulatory sequence of paralogous transcriptional regulators diversifies their functions and relationships, which provides developmental robustness against genetic or environmental perturbation. The fate transition of plant shoot stem cells for flowering and reproductive success requires a robust transcriptional control. However, how paralogs function and interact to achieve such robustness is unknown. RESULTS Here, we explore the genetic relationship and protein behavior of ALOG family transcriptional factors with diverse transcriptional abundance in shoot meristems. A mutant spectrum covers single and higher-order mutant combinations of five ALOG paralogs and creates a continuum of flowering transition defects, showing gradually enhanced precocious flowering, along with inflorescence simplification from wild-type-like to progressively fewer flowers until solitary flower with sterile floral organs. Therefore, these paralogs play unequal roles and act together to achieve a robust genetic canalization. All five proteins contain prion-like intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and undergo phase separation. Accumulated mutations following gene duplications lead to IDR variations among ALOG paralogs, resulting in divergent phase separation and transcriptional regulation capabilities. Remarkably, they retain the ancestral abilities to assemble into a heterotypic condensate that prevents precocious activation of the floral identity gene ANANTHA. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a novel genetic canalization mechanism enabled by heterotypic transcriptional condensates formed by paralogous protein interactions and phase separation, uncovering the molecular link between gene duplication caused IDR variation and robust transcriptional control of stem cell fate transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yupan Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lingli Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yueqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Science (CEPAMS), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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30
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Computational methods to predict protein aggregation. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 73:102343. [PMID: 35240456 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In most cases, protein aggregation stems from the establishment of non-native intermolecular contacts. The formation of insoluble protein aggregates is associated with many human diseases and is a major bottleneck for the industrial production of protein-based therapeutics. Strikingly, fibrillar aggregates are naturally exploited for structural scaffolding or to generate molecular switches and can be artificially engineered to build up multi-functional nanomaterials. Thus, there is a high interest in rationalizing and forecasting protein aggregation. Here, we review the available computational toolbox to predict protein aggregation propensities, identify sequential or structural aggregation-prone regions, evaluate the impact of mutations on aggregation or recognize prion-like domains. We discuss the strengths and limitations of these algorithms and how they can evolve in the next future.
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31
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Chang P, Hsieh HY, Tu SL. The U1 snRNP component RBP45d regulates temperature-responsive flowering in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:834-851. [PMID: 34791475 PMCID: PMC8824692 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Precursor messenger RNA (Pre-mRNA) splicing is a crucial step in gene expression whereby the spliceosome produces constitutively and alternatively spliced transcripts. These transcripts not only diversify the transcriptome, but also play essential roles in plant development and responses to environmental changes. Much evidence indicates that regulation at the pre-mRNA splicing step is important for flowering time control; however, the components and detailed mechanism underlying this process remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the splicing factor RNA BINDING PROTEIN 45d (RBP45d), a member of the RBP45/47 family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using sequence comparison and biochemical analysis, we determined that RBP45d is a component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) with functions distinct from other family members. RBP45d associates with the U1 snRNP by interacting with pre-mRNA-processing factor 39a (PRP39a) and directly regulates alternative splicing (AS) for a specific set of genes. Plants with loss of RBP45d and PRP39a function exhibited defects in temperature-induced flowering, potentially due to the misregulation of temperature-sensitive AS of FLOWERING LOCUS M as well as the accumulation of the flowering repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C. Taken together, RBP45d is a U1 snRNP component in plants that functions with PRP39a in temperature-mediated flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Chang
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Science, Taiwan International Graduate Program, National Chung-Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Hsieh
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Long Tu
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Science, Taiwan International Graduate Program, National Chung-Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
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32
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Tetz G, Tetz V. Prion-like Domains in Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Differ across Its Variants and Enable Changes in Affinity to ACE2. Microorganisms 2022; 10:280. [PMID: 35208734 PMCID: PMC8878784 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the world is struggling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Prions are proteins that possess a unique conformational conversion, with the ability to rapidly shift between multiple conformations due to residue hydrophobicity and net sequence charge, and viral prion-like proteins are known as potential regulators of viral infections. However, the prion-like domains (PrD) in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome have not been analyzed. In this in silico study, using the PLAAC algorithm, we identified the presence of prion-like domains in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Compared with other viruses, a striking difference was observed in the distribution of prion-like domains in the spike protein since SARS-CoV-2 is the only coronavirus with a prion-like domain found in the receptor-binding domain of the S1 region of the spike protein. The presence and unique distribution of prion-like domains in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domains of the spike protein are particularly interesting since although the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV S proteins share the same host cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates a 10- to 20-fold higher affinity for ACE2. We identified prion-like domains in the α1 helix of the ACE2 receptor that interact with the viral receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we found substantial differences in the prion-like domain of the S1 region of the spike protein across emerging variants including Omicron (B.1.1.529). Taken together, the present findings indicate that the identified PrDs in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and ACE2 region that interact with RBD play important functional roles in viral adhesion and entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Tetz
- Department of Proteome Research, Human Microbiology Institute, New York, NY 10013, USA;
- Department for Proteome Research, Tetz Laboratories, New York, NY 10013, USA
| | - Victor Tetz
- Department of Proteome Research, Human Microbiology Institute, New York, NY 10013, USA;
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Dasmeh P, Wagner A. Yeast Proteins may Reversibly Aggregate like Amphiphilic Molecules. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167352. [PMID: 34774567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
More than a hundred proteins in yeast reversibly aggregate and phase-separate in response to various stressors, such as nutrient depletion and heat shock. We know little about the protein sequence and structural features behind this ability, which has not been characterized on a proteome-wide level. To identify the distinctive features of aggregation-prone protein regions, we apply machine learning algorithms to genome-scale limited proteolysis-mass spectrometry (LiP-MS) data from yeast proteins. LiP-MS data reveals that 96 proteins show significant structural changes upon heat shock. We find that in these proteins the propensity to phase separate cannot be solely driven by disordered regions, because their aggregation-prone regions (APRs) are not significantly disordered. Instead, the phase separation of these proteins requires contributions from both disordered and structured regions. APRs are significantly enriched in aliphatic residues and depleted in positively charged amino acids. Aggregator proteins with longer APRs show a greater propensity to aggregate, a relationship that can be explained by equilibrium statistical thermodynamics. Altogether, our observations suggest that proteome-wide reversible protein aggregation is mediated by sequence-encoded properties. We propose that aggregating proteins resemble supra-molecular amphiphiles, where APRs are the hydrophobic parts, and non-APRs are the hydrophilic parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Dasmeh
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Switzerland.
| | - Andreas Wagner
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Switzerland; Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
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Sulatskaya AI, Kosolapova AO, Bobylev AG, Belousov MV, Antonets KS, Sulatsky MI, Kuznetsova IM, Turoverov KK, Stepanenko OV, Nizhnikov AA. β-Barrels and Amyloids: Structural Transitions, Biological Functions, and Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11316. [PMID: 34768745 PMCID: PMC8582884 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Insoluble protein aggregates with fibrillar morphology called amyloids and β-barrel proteins both share a β-sheet-rich structure. Correctly folded β-barrel proteins can not only function in monomeric (dimeric) form, but also tend to interact with one another-followed, in several cases, by formation of higher order oligomers or even aggregates. In recent years, findings proving that β-barrel proteins can adopt cross-β amyloid folds have emerged. Different β-barrel proteins were shown to form amyloid fibrils in vitro. The formation of functional amyloids in vivo by β-barrel proteins for which the amyloid state is native was also discovered. In particular, several prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins with β-barrel domains were demonstrated to form amyloids in vivo, where they participate in interspecies interactions and nutrient storage, respectively. According to recent observations, despite the variety of primary structures of amyloid-forming proteins, most of them can adopt a conformational state with the β-barrel topology. This state can be intermediate on the pathway of fibrillogenesis ("on-pathway state"), or can be formed as a result of an alternative assembly of partially unfolded monomers ("off-pathway state"). The β-barrel oligomers formed by amyloid proteins possess toxicity, and are likely to be involved in the development of amyloidoses, thus representing promising targets for potential therapy of these incurable diseases. Considering rapidly growing discoveries of the amyloid-forming β-barrels, we may suggest that their real number and diversity of functions are significantly higher than identified to date, and represent only "the tip of the iceberg". Here, we summarize the data on the amyloid-forming β-barrel proteins, their physicochemical properties, and their biological functions, and discuss probable means and consequences of the amyloidogenesis of these proteins, along with structural relationships between these two widespread types of β-folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna I. Sulatskaya
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 3 Podbelskogo Sh., Pushkin, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.I.S.); (A.O.K.); (M.V.B.); (K.S.A.)
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Av., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.M.K.); (K.K.T.); (O.V.S.)
| | - Anastasiia O. Kosolapova
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 3 Podbelskogo Sh., Pushkin, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.I.S.); (A.O.K.); (M.V.B.); (K.S.A.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander G. Bobylev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Institutskaya St., 142290 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Mikhail V. Belousov
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 3 Podbelskogo Sh., Pushkin, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.I.S.); (A.O.K.); (M.V.B.); (K.S.A.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Kirill S. Antonets
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 3 Podbelskogo Sh., Pushkin, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.I.S.); (A.O.K.); (M.V.B.); (K.S.A.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maksim I. Sulatsky
- Laboratory of Cell Morphology, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Av., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Irina M. Kuznetsova
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Av., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.M.K.); (K.K.T.); (O.V.S.)
| | - Konstantin K. Turoverov
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Av., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.M.K.); (K.K.T.); (O.V.S.)
| | - Olesya V. Stepanenko
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Av., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.M.K.); (K.K.T.); (O.V.S.)
| | - Anton A. Nizhnikov
- Laboratory for Proteomics of Supra-Organismal Systems, All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, 3 Podbelskogo Sh., Pushkin, 196608 St. Petersburg, Russia; (A.I.S.); (A.O.K.); (M.V.B.); (K.S.A.)
- Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Gil‐Garcia M, Iglesias V, Pallarès I, Ventura S. Prion-like proteins: from computational approaches to proteome-wide analysis. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:2400-2417. [PMID: 34057308 PMCID: PMC8409284 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are self-perpetuating proteins able to switch between a soluble state and an aggregated-and-transmissible conformation. These proteinaceous entities have been widely studied in yeast, where they are involved in hereditable phenotypic adaptations. The notion that such proteins could play functional roles and be positively selected by evolution has triggered the development of computational tools to identify prion-like proteins in different kingdoms of life. These algorithms have succeeded in screening multiple proteomes, allowing the identification of prion-like proteins in a diversity of unrelated organisms, evidencing that the prion phenomenon is well conserved among species. Interestingly enough, prion-like proteins are not only connected with the formation of functional membraneless protein-nucleic acid coacervates, but are also linked to human diseases. This review addresses state-of-the-art computational approaches to identify prion-like proteins, describes proteome-wide analysis efforts, discusses these unique proteins' functional role, and illustrates recently validated examples in different domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Gil‐Garcia
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Valentín Iglesias
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Irantzu Pallarès
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularInstitut de Biotecnologia i de BiomedicinaUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaSpain
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Cascarina SM, Kaplan JP, Elder MR, Brookbank L, Ross ED. Generalizable Compositional Features Influencing the Proteostatic Fates of Polar Low-Complexity Domains. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168944. [PMID: 34445649 PMCID: PMC8396281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is associated with a growing list of human diseases. A substantial fraction of proteins in eukaryotic proteomes constitutes a proteostasis network—a collection of proteins that work together to maintain properly folded proteins. One of the overarching functions of the proteostasis network is the prevention or reversal of protein aggregation. How proteins aggregate in spite of the anti-aggregation activity of the proteostasis machinery is incompletely understood. Exposed hydrophobic patches can trigger degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a key branch of the proteostasis network. However, in a recent study, we found that model glycine (G)-rich or glutamine/asparagine (Q/N)-rich prion-like domains differ in their susceptibility to detection and degradation by this system. Here, we expand upon this work by examining whether the features controlling the degradation of our model prion-like domains generalize broadly to G-rich and Q/N-rich domains. Experimentally, native yeast G-rich domains in isolation are sensitive to the degradation-promoting effects of hydrophobic residues, whereas native Q/N-rich domains completely resist these effects and tend to aggregate instead. Bioinformatic analyses indicate that native G-rich domains from yeast and humans tend to avoid degradation-promoting features, suggesting that the proteostasis network may act as a form of selection at the molecular level that constrains the sequence space accessible to G-rich domains. However, the sensitivity or resistance of G-rich and Q/N-rich domains, respectively, was not always preserved in their native protein contexts, highlighting that proteins can evolve other sequence features to overcome the intrinsic sensitivity of some LCDs to degradation.
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Zajkowski T, Lee MD, Mondal SS, Carbajal A, Dec R, Brennock PD, Piast RW, Snyder JE, Bense NB, Dzwolak W, Jarosz DF, Rothschild LJ. The Hunt for Ancient Prions: Archaeal Prion-Like Domains Form Amyloid-Based Epigenetic Elements. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2088-2103. [PMID: 33480998 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions, proteins that can convert between structurally and functionally distinct states and serve as non-Mendelian mechanisms of inheritance, were initially discovered and only known in eukaryotes, and consequently considered to likely be a relatively late evolutionary acquisition. However, the recent discovery of prions in bacteria and viruses has intimated a potentially more ancient evolutionary origin. Here, we provide evidence that prion-forming domains exist in the domain archaea, the last domain of life left unexplored with regard to prions. We searched for archaeal candidate prion-forming protein sequences computationally, described their taxonomic distribution and phylogeny, and analyzed their associated functional annotations. Using biophysical in vitro assays, cell-based and microscopic approaches, and dye-binding analyses, we tested select candidate prion-forming domains for prionogenic characteristics. Out of the 16 tested, eight formed amyloids, and six acted as protein-based elements of information transfer driving non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance. We also identified short peptides from our archaeal prion candidates that can form amyloid fibrils independently. Lastly, candidates that tested positively in our assays had significantly higher tyrosine and phenylalanine content than candidates that tested negatively, an observation that may help future archaeal prion predictions. Taken together, our discovery of functional prion-forming domains in archaea provides evidence that multiple archaeal proteins are capable of acting as prions-thus expanding our knowledge of this epigenetic phenomenon to the third and final domain of life and bolstering the possibility that they were present at the time of the last universal common ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Zajkowski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,University Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA, USA.,Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael D Lee
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shamba S Mondal
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Amanda Carbajal
- University Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA, USA.,University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Robert Dec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Radoslaw W Piast
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel F Jarosz
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lynn J Rothschild
- Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
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38
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Ng SC, Güttler T, Görlich D. Recapitulation of selective nuclear import and export with a perfectly repeated 12mer GLFG peptide. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4047. [PMID: 34193851 PMCID: PMC8245513 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24292-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The permeability barrier of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) controls nucleocytoplasmic transport. It retains inert macromolecules while allowing facilitated passage of importins and exportins, which in turn shuttle cargo into or out of cell nuclei. The barrier can be described as a condensed phase assembled from cohesive FG repeat domains. NPCs contain several distinct FG domains, each comprising variable repeats. Nevertheless, we now found that sequence heterogeneity is no fundamental requirement for barrier function. Instead, we succeeded in engineering a perfectly repeated 12mer GLFG peptide that self-assembles into a barrier of exquisite transport selectivity and fast transport kinetics. This barrier recapitulates RanGTPase-controlled importin- and exportin-mediated cargo transport and thus represents an ultimately simplified experimental model system. An alternative proline-free sequence forms an amyloid FG phase. Finally, we discovered that FG phases stain bright with ‘DNA-specific’ DAPI/ Hoechst probes, and that such dyes allow for a photo-induced block of nuclear transport. The permeability barrier of nuclear pore complexes blocks passage of inert macromolecules but allows rapid, receptor-mediated, and RanGTPase-driven transport of cargoes up to ribosome size. The authors now show that such a barrier can be faithfully recapitulated by an ultimately simplified FG phase assembled solely from a tandemly repeated 12mer GLFG peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheung Chun Ng
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Güttler
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Görlich
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
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Wiedner HJ, Giudice J. It's not just a phase: function and characteristics of RNA-binding proteins in phase separation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021; 28:465-473. [PMID: 34099940 PMCID: PMC8787349 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates that form via phase separation are increasingly regarded as coordinators of cellular reactions that regulate a wide variety of biological phenomena. Mounting evidence suggests that multiple steps of the RNA life cycle are organized within RNA-binding protein-rich condensates. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the influence of phase separation on RNA biology, which has implications for basic cell biology, the pathogenesis of human diseases and the development of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J Wiedner
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jimena Giudice
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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40
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Cascarina SM, King DC, Osborne Nishimura E, Ross ED. LCD-Composer: an intuitive, composition-centric method enabling the identification and detailed functional mapping of low-complexity domains. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab048. [PMID: 34056598 PMCID: PMC8153834 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Low complexity domains (LCDs) in proteins are regions predominantly composed of a small subset of the possible amino acids. LCDs are involved in a variety of normal and pathological processes across all domains of life. Existing methods define LCDs using information-theoretical complexity thresholds, sequence alignment with repetitive regions, or statistical overrepresentation of amino acids relative to whole-proteome frequencies. While these methods have proven valuable, they are all indirectly quantifying amino acid composition, which is the fundamental and biologically-relevant feature related to protein sequence complexity. Here, we present a new computational tool, LCD-Composer, that directly identifies LCDs based on amino acid composition and linear amino acid dispersion. Using LCD-Composer's default parameters, we identified simple LCDs across all organisms available through UniProt and provide the resulting data in an accessible form as a resource. Furthermore, we describe large-scale differences between organisms from different domains of life and explore organisms with extreme LCD content for different LCD classes. Finally, we illustrate the versatility and specificity achievable with LCD-Composer by identifying diverse classes of LCDs using both simple and multifaceted composition criteria. We demonstrate that the ability to dissect LCDs based on these multifaceted criteria enhances the functional mapping and classification of LCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Cascarina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - David C King
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Erin Osborne Nishimura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Eric D Ross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Saad S, Jarosz DF. Protein self-assembly: A new frontier in cell signaling. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 69:62-69. [PMID: 33493989 PMCID: PMC8058241 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Long viewed as paradigm-shifting, but rare, prions have recently been discovered in all domains of life. Protein sequences that can drive this form of self-assembly are strikingly common in eukaryotic proteomes, where they are enriched in proteins involved in information flow and signal transduction. Although prions were thought to be a consequence of random errors in protein folding, recent studies suggest that prion formation can be a controlled process initiated by defined cellular signals. Many are present in normal biological contexts, yet are invisible to most technologies used to interrogate the proteome. Here, we review mechanisms by which protein self-assembly can create a stable record of past stimuli, altering adaptive responses, and how prion behavior is controlled by signaling processes. We touch on the diverse implications that this has for normal biological function and regulation, ranging from drug resistance in fungi to the innate immune response in humans. Finally, we discuss the potential for prion domains in transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins to orchestrate heritable gene expression changes in response to transient signals, such as during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shady Saad
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Daniel F Jarosz
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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42
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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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43
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Đurić MJ, Subotić AR, Prokić LT, Trifunović-Momčilov MM, Cingel AD, Dragićević MB, Simonović AD, Milošević SM. Molecular Characterization and Expression of Four Aquaporin Genes in Impatiens walleriana During Drought Stress and Recovery. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:154. [PMID: 33466920 PMCID: PMC7829780 DOI: 10.3390/plants10010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aquaporins comprise a large group of transmembrane proteins responsible for water transport, which is crucial for plant survival under stress conditions. Despite the vital role of aquaporins, nothing is known about this protein family in Impatiens walleriana, a commercially important horticultural plant, which is sensitive to drought stress. In the present study, attention is given to the molecular characterization of aquaporins in I. walleriana and their expression during drought stress and recovery. We identified four I. walleriana aquaporins: IwPIP1;4, IwPIP2;2, IwPIP2;7 and IwTIP4;1. All of them had conserved NPA motifs (Asparagine-Proline-Alanine), transmembrane helices (TMh), pore characteristics, stereochemical properties and tetrameric structure of holoprotein. Drought stress and recovery treatment affected the aquaporins expression in I. walleriana leaves, which was up- or downregulated depending on stress intensity. Expression of IwPIP2;7 was the most affected of all analyzed I. walleriana aquaporins. At 15% and 5% soil moisture and recovery from 15% and 5% soil moisture, IwPIP2;7 expression significantly decreased and increased, respectively. Aquaporins IwPIP1;4 and IwTIP4;1 had lower expression in comparison to IwPIP2;7, with moderate expression changes in response to drought and recovery, while IwPIP2;2 expression was of significance only in recovered plants. Insight into the molecular structure of I. walleriana aquaporins expanded knowledge about plant aquaporins, while its expression during drought and recovery contributed to I. walleriana drought tolerance mechanisms and re-acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija J. Đurić
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Angelina R. Subotić
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Ljiljana T. Prokić
- Department for Agrochemistry and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Milana M. Trifunović-Momčilov
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Aleksandar D. Cingel
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Milan B. Dragićević
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Ana D. Simonović
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Snežana M. Milošević
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Department of Plant Physiology, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.R.S.); (M.M.T.-M.); (A.D.C.); (M.B.D.); (A.D.S.); (S.M.M.)
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Abstract
Most RNA-binding modules are small and bind few nucleotides. RNA-binding proteins typically attain the physiological specificity and affinity for their RNA targets by combining several RNA-binding modules. Here, we review how disordered linkers connecting RNA-binding modules govern the specificity and affinity of RNA-protein interactions by regulating the effective concentration of these modules and their relative orientation. RNA-binding proteins also often contain extended intrinsically disordered regions that mediate protein-protein and RNA-protein interactions with multiple partners. We discuss how these regions can connect proteins and RNA resulting in heterogeneous higher-order assemblies such as membrane-less compartments and amyloid-like structures that have the characteristics of multi-modular entities. The assembled state generates additional RNA-binding specificity and affinity properties that contribute to further the function of RNA-binding proteins within the cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S M Ottoz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Luke E Berchowitz
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY 10032, USA.,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, NY 10032, USA
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45
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Rajapandi T. Chaperoning of asparagine repeat-containing proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:687-693. [PMID: 33184535 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01251-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum has the most adenine (A)- and thymine (T)-rich genome known to date, and 24-30% of the P. falciparum proteome contains asparagine (N) and glutamine (Q) residues. In general, asparagine repeats in proteins increase the propensity for aggregation, especially at elevated temperatures, which occur routinely in P. falciparum parasites during exoerythrocytic and erythrocytic developmental stages in a vertebrate host. The P. falciparum exported chaperone machinery is comprised of an exported PfHsp70-x protein and its co-chaperone PfHsp40-x1 in the host erythrocyte compartment, and PfHsp70-z and its co-chaperones in the parasite cytoplasm have been identified. In vitro assays reveal that these chaperone partners function in refolding of asparagine-rich polypeptides. The identification and chaperoning of exported poly-asparagine-containing proteins, and the biological roles and the protection mechanisms of P. falciparum during febrile conditions by the exported chaperone machinery are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thavamani Rajapandi
- Department of Natural Sciences, Science and Technology Center, Coppin State University, 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216-3698 USA
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46
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Opposing functions of Fng1 and the Rpd3 HDAC complex in H4 acetylation in Fusarium graminearum. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009185. [PMID: 33137093 PMCID: PMC7660929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone acetylation, balanced by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes, affects dynamic transitions of chromatin structure to regulate transcriptional accessibility. However, little is known about the interplay between HAT and HDAC complexes in Fusarium graminearum, a causal agent of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) that uniquely contains chromosomal regions enriched for house-keeping or infection-related genes. In this study, we identified the ortholog of the human inhibitor of growth (ING1) gene in F. graminearum (FNG1) and found that it specifically interacts with the FgEsa1 HAT of the NuA4 complex. Deletion of FNG1 led to severe growth defects and blocked conidiation, sexual reproduction, DON production, and plant infection. The fng1 mutant was normal in H3 acetylation but significantly reduced in H4 acetylation. A total of 34 spontaneous suppressors of fng1 with faster growth rate were isolated. Most of them were still defective in sexual reproduction and plant infection. Thirty two of them had mutations in orthologs of yeast RPD3, SIN3, and SDS3, three key components of the yeast Rpd3L HDAC complex. Four mutations in these three genes were verified to suppress the defects of fng1 mutant in growth and H4 acetylation. The rest two suppressor strains had a frameshift or nonsense mutation in a glutamine-rich hypothetical protein that may be a novel component of the FgRpd3 HDAC complex in filamentous fungi. FgRpd3, like Fng1, localized in euchromatin. Deletion of FgRPD3 resulted in severe growth defects and elevated H4 acetylation. In contract, the Fgsds3 deletion mutant had only a minor reduction in growth rate but FgSIN3 appeared to be an essential gene. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 48.1% and 54.2% of the genes with altered expression levels in the fng1 mutant were recovered to normal expression levels in two suppressor strains with mutations in FgRPD3 and FgSDS3, respectively. Taken together, our data showed that Fng1 is important for H4 acetylation as a component of the NuA4 complex and functionally related to the FgRpd3 HDAC complex for transcriptional regulation of genes important for growth, conidiation, sexual reproduction, and plant infection in F. graminearum. Fusarium graminearum is the major causal agent of Fusarium Head Blight, a devastating disease of wheat and barley worldwide. Epigenetic regulation related to histone acetylation is involved in fungal development and invasive growth. Here, we functionally characterized the ortholog of the human inhibitor of growth (ING1) gene in F. graminearum (FNG1) and revealed its role in histone acetylation. By interacting with the FgEsa1 HAT of the NuA4 complex, Fng1 mediated H4 acetylation and was important for growth, conidiation, sexual development and pathogenicity. The fng1 mutant was unstable and a total of 34 spontaneous suppressors were isolated. Suppressor mutations were identified in four genes. While three of them, FgRPD3, FgSIN3, and FgSDS3, are key components of the Rpd3 HDAC complex, the other one encodes a glutamine-rich protein appeared to be a novel component of the Rpd3 HDAC complex in filamentous ascomycetes. Nevertheless, none of the mutation occurred in components of other HDAC complexes. Most of spontaneous suppressors were still defective in sexual reproduction and plant infection, indicating a stage-specific relationship between Fng1 and the Rpd3 HDAC complex. FgRpd3 and FgSds3 likely co-localized with Fng1 in euchromatin and played a critical role in vegetative growth. Approximately half of the genes with altered expression levels in the fng1 mutant were recovered to normal expression levels in two suppressor strains with mutations in FgRPD3 and FgSDS3. Most of these genes had no homologs in yeast, suggesting Fng1 and Rpd3 HDAC complex likely regulates genes unique to F. graminearum and filamentous fungi and with high genetic variations. Taken together, our data showed the functional relationship between Fng1 and the Rpd3 HDAC complex in H4 acetylation and hyphal growth, which has not been reported in other fungi.
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Aggregation by peptide conjugation rescues poor immunogenicity of the HA stem. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241649. [PMID: 33137148 PMCID: PMC7605677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza virus infection is a global public health threat. Current seasonal influenza vaccines are efficacious only when vaccine strains are matched with circulating strains. There is a critical need for developing "universal" vaccines that protect against all influenza viruses. HA stem is a promising target for developing broad-spectrum influenza vaccines due to its relatively conserved feature. However, HA stem is weakly immunogenic when administered alone in a soluble form. Several approaches have been employed to improve the immunogenicity of HA stem, including conjugation of HA stem with a highly immunogenic carrier protein or displaying HA stem on a nanoparticle scaffold. Converting a weakly immunologic protein into a multimer through aggregation can significantly enhance its immunogenicity, with some multimeric protein aggregates previously shown to be more immunogenic than their soluble counterparts in animal models. Here, we show that a chemically coupling a peptide derived from the head domain of PR8 HA (P35) with the poorly immunogenic HA stem protein results in aggregation of the HA stem which significantly increases stem-specific B cell responses following vaccination. Importantly, vaccination with this conjugate in the absence of adjuvant still induced robust B cell responses against stem in vivo. Improving HA stem immunogenicity by aggregation provides an alternative avenue to conjugation with exotic carrier proteins or nanoparticle formulation.
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48
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Supattapone S. Cofactor molecules: Essential partners for infectious prions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:53-75. [PMID: 32958241 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The protein-only hypothesis predicts that infectious mammalian prions are composed solely of PrPSc, a misfolded conformer of the normal prion protein, PrPC. However, to date, all wild type protein-only PrPSc preparations lack significant levels of prion infectivity. Using a systemic biochemical approach, our laboratory isolated and identified two different endogenous cofactor molecules, RNA (Deleault et al., 2003 [50]; Deleault et al., 2007 [59]) and phosphatidylethanolamine (Deleault et al., 2012 [61]; Deleault et al., 2012 [18]), which facilitate the formation of prions with high levels of specific infectivity, leading us to propose to the alternative hypothesis that cofactor molecules are required to form wild type infectious prions (Deleault et al., 2007 [59]; Deleault et al., 2012 [18]; Geoghegan et al., 2007 [57]). In addition, we found that purified cofactor molecules restrict the strain properties of chemically defined infectious prions (Deleault et al., 2012 [18]), suggesting a "cofactor selection" model in which natural variation in the distribution of strain-specific cofactor molecules in different parts of the brain may be responsible for strain-dependent patterns of neurotropism (Deleault et al., 2012 [18]; Geoghegan et al., 2007 [57]).
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Affiliation(s)
- Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States.
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49
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Functional Mammalian Amyloids and Amyloid-Like Proteins. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10090156. [PMID: 32825636 PMCID: PMC7555005 DOI: 10.3390/life10090156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloids are highly ordered fibrous cross-β protein aggregates that are notorious primarily because of association with a variety of incurable human and animal diseases (termed amyloidoses), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and prion diseases. Some amyloid-associated diseases, in particular T2D and AD, are widespread and affect hundreds of millions of people all over the world. However, recently it has become evident that many amyloids, termed “functional amyloids,” are involved in various activities that are beneficial to organisms. Functional amyloids were discovered in diverse taxa, ranging from bacteria to mammals. These amyloids are involved in vital biological functions such as long-term memory, storage of peptide hormones and scaffolding melanin polymerization in animals, substrate attachment, and biofilm formation in bacteria and fungi, etc. Thus, amyloids undoubtedly are playing important roles in biological and pathological processes. This review is focused on functional amyloids in mammals and summarizes approaches used for identifying new potentially amyloidogenic proteins and domains.
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50
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Desai P, Bandopadhyay R. Pathophysiological implications of RNP granules in frontotemporal dementia and ALS. Neurochem Int 2020; 140:104819. [PMID: 32763254 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of chronic, progressive, age-related disorders that are becoming increasingly prevalent in the ageing population. Despite the variety of clinical features observed, neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by protein aggregation and deposition at the molecular level. The nature of such intracellular protein aggregates is dependent on disease type and specific to disease subtype. Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are two overlapping neurodegenerative diseases, exhibiting pathological aggregates commonly composed of the proteins: Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) or Transactive Response DNA Binding Protein of 43 KDa (TDP-43). The presence of these protein aggregates in late disease stages is suggestive of a converging underlying mechanism of pathology across diseases involving disrupted proteostasis. Despite this, at present there are no effective therapeutics for the diseases, with current treatment strategies generally tending to be only for symptom management. An area of research that has gained increased interest in recent years is the formation and maintenance of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules. These are membraneless organelles that consist of RNA and protein elements, which can be either constitutively expressed (such as nuclear paraspeckles) or upregulated under conditions of cellular stress as an adaptive response (such as cytoplasmic stress granules). RNA-binding proteins are a key component of RNP granules, and crucially some of which, for example FUS and TDP-43, are also neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins. Therefore, a better understanding of RNA-binding proteins in RNP granule formation and the regulation and maintenance of RNP granule biophysical properties and dynamics may provide insights into mechanisms contributing to disrupted proteostasis in neurodegenerative pathology; and thus open up new avenues for therapeutic discovery and development. This review will focus on stress granule and paraspeckle RNP granules, and discuss their possible contribution to pathology in cases of frontotemporal dementia and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perlina Desai
- Alzheimer's Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Rina Bandopadhyay
- Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies and Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK.
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