A Smad action turnover switch operated by WW domain readers of a phosphoserine code

Design, Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Protein Containing Thiotyrosine as an Active Site Residue

Native chemical ligation is a key reaction in the toolbox of chemical methods for the synthesis of native and modified proteins. The catalysis of ligation is commonly performed by using small aryl-thiol molecules added at high concentrations. In this work, we incorporated thiotyrosine, a non-canonical amino acid containing an aryl-thiol moiety, into a designed cyclic protein « sans queue ni tête ». Importantly, the protein environment reduced the pKa of the thiol group to 5.8-5.9, which is significantly lower than the previously reported value for thiotyrosine in a short peptide (pKa 6.4). Furthermore, we demonstrated the catalytic activity of this protein both as hydrolase and in native chemical ligation of peptides. These results will be useful for the development of efficient protein catalysts (enzymes) for protein synthesis and modification.

De Novo Engineering of Pd-Metalloproteins and Their Use as Intracellular Catalysts

The development of transition metal-based catalytic platforms that promote bioorthogonal reactions inside living cells remains a major challenge in chemical biology. This is particularly true for palladium-based catalysts, which are very powerful in organic synthesis but perform poorly in the cellular environment, mainly due to their rapid deactivation. We now demonstrate that grafting Pd(II) complexes into engineered β-sheets of a model WW domain results in cell-compatible palladominiproteins that effectively catalyze depropargylation reactions inside HeLa cells. The concave shape of the WW domain β-sheet proved particularly suitable for accommodating the metal center and protecting it from rapid deactivation in the cellular environment. A thorough NMR and computational study confirmed the formation of the metal-stapled peptides and allowed us to propose a three-dimensional structure for this novel metalloprotein motif.

Molecular analysis of a self-organizing signaling pathway for Xenopus axial patterning from egg to tailbud

Xenopus embryos provide a favorable material to dissect the sequential steps that lead to dorsal-ventral (D-V) and anterior-posterior (A-P) cell differentiation. Here, we analyze the signaling pathways involved in this process using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches. The initial step was provided by Hwa, a transmembrane protein that robustly activates early β-catenin signaling when microinjected into the ventral side of the embryo leading to complete twinned axes. The following step was the activation of Xenopus Nodal-related growth factors, which could rescue the depletion of β-catenin and were themselves blocked by the extracellular Nodal antagonists Cerberus-Short and Lefty. During gastrulation, the Spemann-Mangold organizer secretes a cocktail of growth factor antagonists, of which the BMP antagonists Chordin and Noggin could rescue simultaneously D-V and A-P tissues in β-catenin-depleted embryos. Surprisingly, this rescue occurred in the absence of any β-catenin transcriptional activity as measured by β-catenin activated Luciferase reporters. The Wnt antagonist Dickkopf (Dkk1) strongly synergized with the early Hwa signal by inhibiting late Wnt signals. Depletion of Sizzled (Szl), an antagonist of the Tolloid chordinase, was epistatic over the Hwa and Dkk1 synergy. BMP4 mRNA injection blocked Hwa-induced ectopic axes, and Dkk1 inhibited BMP signaling late, but not early, during gastrulation. Several unexpected findings were made, e.g., well-patterned complete embryonic axes are induced by Chordin or Nodal in β-catenin knockdown embryos, dorsalization by Lithium chloride (LiCl) is mediated by Nodals, Dkk1 exerts its anteriorizing and dorsalizing effects by regulating late BMP signaling, and the Dkk1 phenotype requires Szl.

Role of Nedd4L in Macrophage Pro-Inflammatory Polarization Induced by Influenza A Virus and Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection often leads to influenza-associated fatalities, frequently compounded by subsequent bacterial infections, particularly Gram-negative bacterial co-infections. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a primary virulence factor in Gram-negative bacteria, plays a crucial role in influenza-bacterial co-infections. However, the precise pathogenic mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of viral-bacterial co-infections remain elusive, posing significant challenges for disease management. In our study, we administered a combination of IAV and LPS to mice and examined associated parameters, including the lung function, lung index, wet/dry ratio, serum inflammatory cytokines, Nedd4L expression in lung tissue, and mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines. Co-infection with IAV and LPS exacerbated lung tissue inflammation and amplified M1 macrophage expression in lung tissue. Additionally, we stimulated macrophages with IAV and LPS in vitro, assessing the inflammatory cytokine content in the cell supernatant and cytokine mRNA expression within the cells. This combined stimulation intensified the inflammatory response in macrophages and upregulated Nedd4L protein and mRNA expression. Subsequently, we used siRNA to knockdown Nedd4L in macrophages, revealing that suppression of Nedd4L expression alleviated the inflammatory response triggered by concurrent IAV and LPS stimulation. Collectively, these results highlight the pivotal role of Nedd4L in mediating the exacerbated inflammatory responses observed in IAV and LPS co-infections.

Protein Interaction Kinetics Delimit the Performance of Phosphorylation-Driven Protein Switches

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and dephosphorylation can rapidly alter protein surface chemistry and structural conformation, which can switch protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within signaling networks. Recently, de novo-designed phosphorylation-responsive protein switches have been created that harness kinase- and phosphatase-mediated phosphorylation to modulate PPIs. PTM-driven protein switches are promising tools for investigating PTM dynamics in living cells, developing biocompatible nanodevices, and engineering signaling pathways to program cell behavior. However, little is known about the physical and kinetic constraints of PTM-driven protein switches, which limits their practical application. In this study, we present a framework to evaluate two-component PTM-driven protein switches based on four performance metrics: effective concentration, dynamic range, response time, and reversibility. Our computational models reveal an intricate relationship between the binding kinetics, phosphorylation kinetics, and switch concentration that governs the sensitivity and reversibility of PTM-driven protein switches. Building upon the insights of the interaction modeling, we built and evaluated novel phosphorylation-driven protein switches consisting of phosphorylation-sensitive coiled coils as sensor domains fused to fluorescent proteins as actuator domains. By modulating the phosphorylation state of the switches with a specific protein kinase and phosphatase, we demonstrate fast, reversible transitions between "on" and "off" states. The response of the switches linearly correlated to the kinase concentration, demonstrating its potential as a biosensor for kinase measurements in real time. As intended, the switches responded to specific kinase activity with an increase in the fluorescence signal and our model could be used to distinguish between two mechanisms of switch activation: dimerization or a structural rearrangement. The protein switch kinetics model developed here should enable PTM-driven switches to be designed with ideal performance for specific applications.

Receptor-activated transcription factors and beyond: multiple modes of Smad2/3-dependent transmission of TGF-β signaling

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is widely distributed throughout the body. Its receptor proteins, TGF-β type I and type II receptors, are also ubiquitously expressed. Therefore, the regulation of various signaling outputs in a context-dependent manner is a critical issue in this field. Smad proteins were originally identified as signal-activated transcription factors similar to signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins. Smads are activated by serine phosphorylation mediated by intrinsic receptor dual specificity kinases of the TGF-β family, indicating that Smads are receptor-restricted effector molecules downstream of ligands of the TGF-β family. Smad proteins have other functions in addition to transcriptional regulation, including post-transcriptional regulation of micro-RNA processing, pre-mRNA splicing, and m6A methylation. Recent technical advances have identified a novel landscape of Smad-dependent signal transduction, including regulation of mitochondrial function without involving regulation of gene expression. Therefore, Smad proteins are receptor-activated transcription factors and also act as intracellular signaling modulators with multiple modes of function. In this review, we discuss the role of Smad proteins as receptor-activated transcription factors and beyond. We also describe the functional differences between Smad2 and Smad3, two receptor-activated Smad proteins downstream of TGF-β, activin, myostatin, growth and differentiation factor (GDF) 11, and Nodal.

Recent Advances of MSCs in Renal IRI: From Injury to Renal Fibrosis

Renal fibrosis is a pathological endpoint of maladaptation after ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and despite many attempts, no good treatment has been achieved so far. At the core of renal fibrosis is the differentiation of various types of cells into myofibroblasts. MSCs were once thought to play a protective role after renal IRI. However, growing evidence suggests that MSCs have a two-sided nature. In spite of their protective role, in maladaptive situations, MSCs start to differentiate towards myofibroblasts, increasing the myofibroblast pool and promoting renal fibrosis. Following renal IRI, it has been observed that Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs) and Renal Resident Mesenchymal Stem Cells (RR-MSCs) play important roles. This review presents evidence supporting their involvement, discusses their potential mechanisms of action, and suggests several new targets for future research.

Design of Functional Globular β-Sheet Miniproteins

The design of discrete β-sheet peptides is far less advanced than e. g. the design of α-helical peptides. The reputation of β-sheet peptides as being poorly soluble and aggregation-prone often hinders active design efforts. Here, we show that this reputation is unfounded. We demonstrate this by looking at the β-hairpin and WW domain. Their structure and folding have been extensively studied and they have long served as model systems to investigate protein folding and folding kinetics. The resulting fundamental understanding has led to the development of hyperstable β-sheet scaffolds that fold at temperatures of 100 °C or high concentrations of denaturants. These have been used to design functional miniproteins with protein or nucleic acid binding properties, in some cases with such success that medical applications are conceivable. The β-sheet scaffolds are not always completely rigid, but can be specifically designed to respond to changes in pH, redox potential or presence of metal ions. Some engineered β-sheet peptides also exhibit catalytic properties, although not comparable to those of natural proteins. Previous reviews have focused on the design of stably folded and non-aggregating β-sheet sequences. In our review, we now also address design strategies to obtain functional miniproteins from β-sheet folding motifs.

TGF-β signaling in health, disease, and therapeutics

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a multifunctional cytokine expressed by almost every tissue and cell type. The signal transduction of TGF-β can stimulate diverse cellular responses and is particularly critical to embryonic development, wound healing, tissue homeostasis, and immune homeostasis in health. The dysfunction of TGF-β can play key roles in many diseases, and numerous targeted therapies have been developed to rectify its pathogenic activity. In the past decades, a large number of studies on TGF-β signaling have been carried out, covering a broad spectrum of topics in health, disease, and therapeutics. Thus, a comprehensive overview of TGF-β signaling is required for a general picture of the studies in this field. In this review, we retrace the research history of TGF-β and introduce the molecular mechanisms regarding its biosynthesis, activation, and signal transduction. We also provide deep insights into the functions of TGF-β signaling in physiological conditions as well as in pathological processes. TGF-β-targeting therapies which have brought fresh hope to the treatment of relevant diseases are highlighted. Through the summary of previous knowledge and recent updates, this review aims to provide a systematic understanding of TGF-β signaling and to attract more attention and interest to this research area.

Bone morphogenetic protein signaling: the pathway and its regulation

In the mid-1960s, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were first identified in the extracts of bone to have the remarkable ability to induce heterotopic bone. When the Drosophila gene decapentaplegic (dpp) was first identified to share sequence similarity with mammalian BMP2/BMP4 in the late-1980s, it became clear that secreted BMP ligands can mediate processes other than bone formation. Following this discovery, collaborative efforts between Drosophila geneticists and mammalian biochemists made use of the strengths of their respective model systems to identify BMP signaling components and delineate the pathway. The ability to conduct genetic modifier screens in Drosophila with relative ease was critical in identifying the intracellular signal transducers for BMP signaling and the related transforming growth factor-beta/activin signaling pathway. Such screens also revealed a host of genes that encode other core signaling components and regulators of the pathway. In this review, we provide a historical account of this exciting time of gene discovery and discuss how the field has advanced over the past 30 years. We have learned that while the core BMP pathway is quite simple, composed of 3 components (ligand, receptor, and signal transducer), behind the versatility of this pathway lies multiple layers of regulation that ensures precise tissue-specific signaling output. We provide a sampling of these discoveries and highlight many questions that remain to be answered to fully understand the complexity of BMP signaling.

Overcoming challenges in structural biology with integrative approaches and nanobody-derived technologies

A full understanding of protein structure is key to unraveling how these systems work, how mutations affect their function, and discovering new hotspots for drug discovery. Research tackling this field began with the analysis of globular proteins. In recent years, as technology has improved, research efforts have broadened their focus to include the study of multidomain proteins and the analysis of conformational variability, flexibility, and dynamic systems. Here, we have selected five recent examples that integrate complementary structural methods to provide insight into the behavior of modular, flexible, and transient contacts. We also describe the structural application of domains derived from single-chain antibodies, which are instrumental in overcoming the size limitation of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) studies. As these methods are continuously developed, they will lead to the interrogation of more complex systems, revealing how large signaling and transcriptional machines are assembled in the context of health and disease.

Single-Molecule X-ray Scattering Used to Visualize the Conformation Distribution of Biological Molecules via Single-Object Scattering Sampling

Biological macromolecules, the fundamental building blocks of life, exhibit dynamic structures in their natural environment. Traditional structure determination techniques often oversimplify these multifarious conformational spectra by capturing only ensemble- and time-averaged molecular structures. Addressing this gap, in this work, we extend the application of the single-object scattering sampling (SOSS) method to diverse biological molecules, including RNAs and proteins. Our approach, referred to as "Bio-SOSS", leverages ultrashort X-ray pulses to capture instantaneous structures. In Bio-SOSS, we employ two gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as labels, which provide strong contrast in the X-ray scattering signal, to ensure precise distance determinations between labeled sites. We generated hypothetical Bio-SOSS images for RNAs, proteins, and an RNA-protein complex, each labeled with two AuNPs at specified positions. Subsequently, to validate the accuracy of Bio-SOSS, we extracted distances between these nanoparticle labels from the images and compared them with the actual values used to generate the Bio-SOSS images. Specifically, for a representative RNA (1KXK), the standard deviation in distance discrepancies between molecular dynamics snapshots and Bio-SOSS retrievals was found to be optimally around 0.2 Å, typically within 1 Å under practical experimental conditions at state-of-the-art X-ray free-electron laser facilities. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth analysis of how various experimental factors, such as AuNP size, X-ray properties, and detector geometry, influence the accuracy of Bio-SOSS. This comprehensive investigation highlights the practicality and potential of Bio-SOSS in accurately capturing the diverse conformation spectrum of biological macromolecules, paving the way for deeper insights into their dynamic natures.

TGF-β signaling in health and disease

The TGF-β regulatory system plays crucial roles in the preservation of organismal integrity. TGF-β signaling controls metazoan embryo development, tissue homeostasis, and injury repair through coordinated effects on cell proliferation, phenotypic plasticity, migration, metabolic adaptation, and immune surveillance of multiple cell types in shared ecosystems. Defects of TGF-β signaling, particularly in epithelial cells, tissue fibroblasts, and immune cells, disrupt immune tolerance, promote inflammation, underlie the pathogenesis of fibrosis and cancer, and contribute to the resistance of these diseases to treatment. Here, we review how TGF-β coordinates multicellular response programs in health and disease and how this knowledge can be leveraged to develop treatments for diseases of the TGF-β system.

Identification of Maleimide-Fused Carbazoles as Novel Noncanonical Bone Morphogenetic Protein Synergizers

Morphogenic signaling pathways govern embryonic development and tissue homeostasis on the cellular level. Precise control of such signaling events paves the way for innovative therapeutic approaches in the field of regenerative medicine. In line with these notions, bone morphogenic protein (BMP) is a major osteogenic driver and pharmacological stimulation of BMP signaling holds supreme potential for diseases and defects of the skeleton. Efforts to identify small-molecule modalities that activate or potentiate the BMP pathway have primarily been focused on the canonical signaling cascade. Here, we describe the phenotypic identification and development of specific carbazolomaleimides 2 as novel noncanonical BMP synergizers with submicromolar osteogenic cellular potency. The devised chemical tools are characterized to specifically regulate Id gene expression in a SMAD-independent, yet highly BMP-dependent fashion. Mechanistic studies revealed that GSK3 inhibition and increased β-catenin levels are partly responsible for this activity. The utility of the new BMP synergizer profile was further exemplified by showing how the synergistic action of canonical and noncanonical BMP enhancers additively amplifies BMP-dependent osteogenic outputs. Carbazolomaleimide 2b serves as a new and unique pharmacological tool for the modulation and study of the BMP pathway.

Uncovering new insights into the role of the ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 on the regulation of innate immune signaling and resistance to infection

Innate immunity is the body's first line of defense against infections. Innate immune cells express pattern recognition receptors in distinct cellular compartments that are responsible to detect either pathogens-associated molecules or cellular components derived from damaged cells, to trigger intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the activation of inflammatory responses. Inflammation is essential to coordinate immune cell recruitment, pathogen elimination and to keep normal tissue homeostasis. However, uncontrolled, misplaced or aberrant inflammatory responses could lead to tissue damage and drive chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmunity. In this context, molecular mechanisms that tightly regulate the expression of molecules required for the signaling of innate immune receptors are crucial to prevent pathological immune responses. In this review, we discuss the ubiquitination process and its importance in the regulation of innate immune signaling and inflammation. Then, we summarize the roles of Smurf1, a protein that works on ubiquitination, on the regulation of innate immune signaling and antimicrobial mechanisms, emphasizing its substrates and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for infectious and inflammatory conditions.

The study of a novel CDK8 inhibitor E966-0530-45418 that inhibits prostate cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo

Prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy among men globally, and androgen deprivation therapy is the conventional first-line treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. While androgen deprivation therapy is efficacious in castration-sensitive prostate cancer, it remains less effective in castration-resistant cases. Transcriptional dysregulation is a well-established hallmark of cancer, and targeting proteins involved in transcriptional regulation, such as cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), has become an attractive therapeutic strategy. CDK8, a nuclear serine-threonine kinase, is a key component of the mediator complex and plays a critical role in transcriptional regulation. Recent studies have highlighted the promising role of CDK8 as a target in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Our study assessed the efficacy of a novel CDK8 inhibitor, E966-0530-45418, which exhibited potent CDK8 inhibition (IC₅₀ of 129 nM) and high CDK8 selectivity. Treatment with E966-0530-45418 significantly inhibited prostate cancer cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) at both the RNA and protein levels. Further mechanistic analysis indicated that E966-0530-45418 suppresses prostate cancer metastasis by decreasing CDK8 activity and inhibiting TGF-β1-mediated Smad3/RNA polymerase II linker phosphorylation and Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling. The results in animal model also showed that E966-0530-45418 exhibited anti-metastatic properties in vivo. Our study demonstrated that E966-0530-45418 has great therapeutic potential in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of indolin-2-one derivatives as novel cyclin-dependent protein kinase 8 (CDK8) inhibitors

Cyclin-dependent protein kinase 8 (CDK8) plays important roles in regulating fibrotic growth factors and inflammatory signaling pathways. Long-term chronic inflammation of the lungs can lead to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Abnormal alveolar epithelial regeneration leads to the release of various fibrotic growth factors and the activation of inflammatory cells. CDK8 regulates profibrotic cytokines broadly implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of CDK8 is considered a promising strategy for treating IPF. Here, CDK8 inhibitors were designed and optimized using a fragment-based drug design strategy. Testing results revealed that 71% of the synthesized compounds inhibited CDK8 activity better than the original compound E966-0530. Of these compounds, compound 4k exhibited the strongest CDK8 enzyme-inhibiting activity (IC₅₀ =129 nM). Notably, it displayed a 13-fold increase in potency when compared to E966-0530. Experiments on toxicity and inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) protein expressions showed that compound 4k can inhibit EMT protein expressions, but with no significant cytotoxicity for alveolar epithelial cells. Compound 4k showed a potent inhibitory effect in cell migration assays. Furthermore, compound 4k significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of p-Smad3 and RNA Pol II, which are critical mediators in the fibrotic response signaling pathway. Compound 4k remarkably reduced TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress. The above results reveal optimized CDK8 inhibitors with potential use for IPF therapeutic treatment.

Expression, Purification, Structural and Functional Characterization of Recombinant Human Parvulin 17

Parvulins, peptidyl-prolyl isomerase enzymes (PPIase), catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of prolyl bonds in polypeptides, contributing to folding and function regulation of many proteins. Among Parvulins, Par17, exclusively expressed in hominids, is the least examined in terms of structure, catalytic function and cellular activity. Setting the conditions for the preparation of recombinant active Par17 may therefore significantly foster future studies. Here, we comparatively evaluated the impact of several parameters, including host strains, culture media, isopropyl ß-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside concentration, post-induction incubation time and temperature, on the overexpression of Par17 in E. coli cells. A similar approach was also comparatively adopted for the preparation of the recombinant full-length Pin1 protein, the most representative Parvulin, and the catalytic domains of both enzymes. Proteins were efficiently expressed and purified to homogeneity and were subjected to a structural characterization by Size Exclusion Chromatography and Circular Dichroism. Moreover, a single-step homogeneous protease-based fluorimetric assay, potentially scalable in HTS format, has been developed for determining the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity of recombinant Parvulins. Results obtained show that proteins are folded and active. These new data mark an important milestone for progressing the investigation of Parvulins.

Whole-genome sequence association study identifies cyclin dependent kinase 8 as a key gene for the number of mummified piglets

OBJECTIVE

Pigs, an ideal biomedical model for human diseases, suffer from about 50% early embryonic and fetal death, a major cause of fertility loss worldwide. However, identifying the causal variant remains a huge challenge. This study aimed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes for the number of mummified (NM) piglets using the imputed whole-genome sequence (WGS) and validate the potential candidate genes.

METHODS

The imputed WGS was introduced from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) using a multi-breed reference population. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for NM piglets at birth from a Landrace pig populatiGWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase on. A total of 300 Landrace pigs were genotyped by GBS. The whole-genome variants were imputed, and 4,252,858 SNPs were obtained. Various molecular experiments were conducted to determine how the genes affected NM in pigs.

RESULTS

A strong GWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) gene, which plays a crucial role in embryonic retardation and lethality. Based on the molecular experiments, we found that Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) was a crucial transcription factor for CDK8, which mediated the effect of CDK8 in the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells via transforming growth factor beta/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling pathway, and, as a consequence, affected embryo quality, indicating that this pathway may be contributing to mummified fetal in pigs.

CONCLUSION

A powerful imputation-based association study was performed to identify genes associated with NM in pigs. CDK8 was suggested as a functional gene for the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells, but further studies are required to determine causative mutations and the effect of loci on NM in pigs.

To Ub or not to Ub: a regulatory question in TGF-β signaling

The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily controls a wide spectrum of biological processes in metazoans, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, cell-fate determination, and embryonic development. Deregulation of TGF-β-Smad signaling contributes to developmental anomalies and a variety of disorders and diseases such as tumorigenesis, fibrotic disorders, and immune diseases. In cancer, TGF-β has dual effects through its antiproliferative and prometastatic actions. At the cellular level, TGF-β functions mainly through the canonical Smad-dependent pathway in a cell type-specific and context-dependent manner. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that ubiquitination plays a vital role in regulating TGF-β-Smad signaling. We summarize current progress on ubiquitination (Ub) and the ubiquitin ligases that regulate TGF-β-Smad signaling.

Transmembrane anterior posterior transformation 1 regulates BMP signaling and modulates the protein stability of SMAD1/5

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in various biological processes during embryogenesis and adult homeostasis. Transmembrane anterior posterior transformation 1 (TAPT1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in murine axial skeletal patterning. Genetic defects in TAPT1 result in complex lethal osteochondrodysplasia. However, the specific cellular activity of TAPT1 is not clear. Herein, we report that TAPT1 inhibits BMP signaling and destabilizes the SMAD1/5 protein by facilitating its interaction with SMURF1 E3 ubiquitin ligase, which leads to SMAD1/5 proteasomal degradation. In addition, we found that the activation of BMP signaling facilitates the redistribution of TAPT1 and promotes its association with SMAD1. TAPT1-deficient murine C2C12 myoblasts or C3H/10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells exhibit elevated SMAD1/5/9 protein levels, which amplifies BMP activation, in turn leading to a boost in the transdifferentiation or differentiation processing of these distinct TAPT1-deficient cell lines changing into mature osteoblasts. Furthermore, the enhancing effect of TAPT1 deficiency on osteogenic differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 cells was observed in an in vivo ectopic bone formation model. Importantly, a subset of TAPT1 mutations identified in humans with lethal skeletal dysplasia exhibited gain-of-function activity on SMAD1 protein levels. Thus, this finding elucidates the role of TAPT1 in the regulation of SMAD1/5 protein stability for controlling BMP signaling.

Molecular basis for DNA recognition by the maternal pioneer transcription factor FoxH1

Forkhead box H1 (FoxH1) is an essential maternal pioneer factor during embryonic development that binds to specific GG/GT-containing DNA target sequences. Here we have determined high-resolution structures of three FoxH1 proteins (from human, frog and fish species) and four DNAs to clarify the way in which FoxH1 binds to these sites. We found that the protein-DNA interactions extend to both the minor and major DNA grooves and are thus almost twice as extensive as those of other FOX family members. Moreover, we identified two specific amino acid changes in FoxH1 that allowed the recognition of GG/GT motifs. Consistent with the pioneer factor activity of FoxH1, we found that its affinity for nucleosomal DNA is even higher than for linear DNA fragments. The structures reported herein illustrate how FoxH1 binding to distinct DNA sites provides specificity and avoids cross-regulation by other FOX proteins that also operate during the maternal-zygotic transition and select canonical forkhead sites.

Integrin-based adhesion compartmentalizes ALK3 of the BMPRII to control cell adhesion and migration

The spatial organization of cell-surface receptors is fundamental for the coordination of biological responses to physical and biochemical cues of the extracellular matrix. How serine/threonine kinase receptors, ALK3-BMPRII, cooperate with integrins upon BMP2 to drive cell migration is unknown. Whether the dynamics between integrins and BMP receptors intertwine in space and time to guide adhesive processes is yet to be elucidated. We found that BMP2 stimulation controls the spatial organization of BMPRs by segregating ALK3 from BMPRII into β3 integrin-containing focal adhesions. The selective recruitment of ALK3 to focal adhesions requires β3 integrin engagement and ALK3 activation. BMP2 controls the partitioning of immobilized ALK3 within and outside focal adhesions according to single-protein tracking and super-resolution imaging. The spatial control of ALK3 in focal adhesions by optogenetics indicates that ALK3 acts as an adhesive receptor by eliciting cell spreading required for cell migration. ALK3 segregation from BMPRII in integrin-based adhesions is a key aspect of the spatio-temporal control of BMPR signaling.

Spatial molecular anatomy of germ layers in the gastrulating cynomolgus monkey embryo

During mammalian embryogenesis, spatial regulation of gene expression and cell signaling are functionally coupled with lineage specification, patterning of tissue progenitors, and germ layer morphogenesis. While the mouse model has been instrumental for understanding mammalian development, comparatively little is known about human and non-human primate gastrulation due to the restriction of both technical and ethical issues. Here, we present a spatial and temporal survey of the molecular dynamics of cell types populating the non-human primate embryos during gastrulation. We reconstructed three-dimensional digital models from serial sections of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) gastrulating embryos at 1-day temporal resolution from E17 to E21. Spatial transcriptomics identifies gene expression profiles unique to the germ layers. Cross-species comparison reveals a developmental coordinate of germ layer segregation between mouse and primates, and species-specific transcription programs during gastrulation. These findings offer insights into evolutionarily conserved and divergent processes during mammalian gastrulation.

Ursodeoxycholic acid reduces antitumor immunosuppression by inducing CHIP-mediated TGF-β degradation

TGF-β is essential for inducing systemic tumor immunosuppression; thus, blocking TGF-β can greatly enhance antitumor immunity. However, there are still no effective TGF-β inhibitors in clinical use. Here, we show that the clinically approved compound ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), by degrading TGF-β, enhances antitumor immunity through restraining Treg cell differentiation and activation in tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, UDCA synergizes with anti-PD-1 to enhance antitumor immunity and tumor-specific immune memory in tumor-bearing mice. UDCA phosphorylates TGF-β at T282 site via TGR5-cAMP-PKA axis, causing increased binding of TGF-β to carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP). Then, CHIP ubiquitinates TGF-β at the K315 site, initiating p62-dependent autophagic sorting and subsequent degradation of TGF-β. Notably, results of retrospective analysis shows that combination therapy with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 and UDCA has better efficacy in tumor patients than anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 alone. Thus, our results show a mechanism for TGF-β regulation and implicate UDCA as a potential TGF-β inhibitor to enhance antitumor immunity.

The Effect of Geometry and TGF-β Signaling on Tumor Cell Migration from Free-Standing Microtissues

Recapitulation of 3D multicellular tissues in vitro is of great interest to the field of tumor biology to study the integrated effect of local biochemical and biophysical signals on tumor cell migration and invasion. However, most microengineered tissues and spheroids are unable to recapitulate in vitro the complexities of 3D geometries found in vivo. Here, lithographically defined degradable alginate microniches are presented to produce free-standing tumor microtissues, with precisely controlled geometry, high viability, and allowing for high cell proliferation. The role of microtissue geometry and TGF-β signaling in tumor cell migration is further investigated. TGF-β is found to induce the expression of p-myosin II, vimentin, and YAP/TAZ nuclear localization at the periphery of the microtissue, where enhanced nuclear stiffness and orientation are also observed. Upon embedding in a collagen matrix, microtissues treated with TGF-β maintain their geometric integrity, possibly due to the higher cell tension observed around the periphery. In contrast, cells in microtissues not treated with TGF-β are highly mobile and invade the surrounding matrix rapidly, with the initial migration strongly dependent on the local geometry. The microtissues presented here are promising model systems for studying the influence of biophysical properties and soluble factors on tumor cell migration.

Orchestrating serine/threonine phosphorylation and elucidating downstream effects by short linear motifs

Cellular function is based on protein-protein interactions. A large proportion of these interactions involves the binding of short linear motifs (SLiMs) by folded globular domains. These interactions are regulated by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, that create and break motif binding sites or tune the affinity of the interactions. In addition, motif-based interactions are involved in targeting serine/threonine kinases and phosphatases to their substrate and contribute to the specificity of the enzymatic actions regulating which sites are phosphorylated. Here, we review how SLiM-based interactions assist in determining the specificity of serine/threonine kinases and phosphatases, and how phosphorylation, in turn, affects motif-based interactions. We provide examples of SLiM-based interactions that are turned on/off, or are tuned by serine/threonine phosphorylation and exemplify how this affects SLiM-based protein complex formation.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the role of the centriolar CEP164-TTBK2 complex in ciliopathies

Cilia formation is essential for human life. One of the earliest events in the ciliogenesis program is the recruitment of tau-tubulin kinase 2 (TTBK2) by the centriole distal appendage component CEP164. Due to the lack of high-resolution structural information on this complex, it is unclear how it is affected in human ciliopathies such as nephronophthisis. Furthermore, it is poorly understood if binding to CEP164 influences TTBK2 activities. Here, we present a detailed biochemical, structural, and functional analysis of the CEP164-TTBK2 complex and demonstrate how it is compromised by two ciliopathic mutations in CEP164. Moreover, we also provide insights into how binding to CEP164 is coordinated with TTBK2 activities. Together, our data deepen our understanding of a crucial step in cilia formation and will inform future studies aimed at restoring CEP164 functionality in a debilitating human ciliopathy.

Systematic profiling and identification of the peptide-mediated interactions between human Yes-associated protein and its partners in esophageal cancer

Human Yes-associated protein (YAP) is involved in the Hippo signaling pathway and serves as a coactivator to modulate gene expression, which contains a transactivation domain (TD) responsible for binding to the downstream TEA domain family (TEAD) of transcription factors and two WW1/2 domains that recognize the proline-rich motifs (PRMs) present in a variety of upstream protein partners through peptide-mediated interactions (PMIs). The downstream YAP TD-TEAD interactions are closely associated with gastric cancer, and a number of therapeutic agents have been developed to target the interactions. In contrast, the upstream YAP WW1/2-partner interactions are thought to be involved in esophageal cancer but still remain largely unexplored. Here, we attempted to elucidate the complicated PMIs between the YAP WW1/2 domains and various PRMs of YAP-interacting proteins. A total of 106 peptide segments carrying the class I WW-binding motif [P/L]Px[Y/P] were extracted from 22 partner candidates, which are potential recognition sites of YAP WW1/2 domains. Structural and energetic analyses of the intermolecular interactions between the domains and peptides created a systematic domain-peptide binding profile, from which a number of biologically functional PMIs were identified and then substantiated in vitro using fluorescence spectroscopy assays. It is revealed that: (a) The sequence requirement for the partner recognition site binding to YAP WW1/2 domains is a decapeptide segment that contains a core PRM motif as well as two three-residue extensions from each side of the motif; the core motif and extended sections are responsible for the binding stability and recognition specificity of domain-peptide interaction, respectively. (b) There is an exquisite difference in the recognition specificity of the two domains; the LPxP and PPxP appear to more prefer WW1 than WW2, whereas the WW2 can bind more effectively to LPxY and PPxY than WW1. (c) WW2 generally exhibits a higher affinity to the panel of recognition site candidates than WW1. In addition, a number of partner peptides were found as promising recognition sites of the two domains and/or to have a good selectivity between the two domains. For example, the DVL1 peptide was determined to have moderate affinity to WW2 and strong selectivity for WW2 over WW1. Hydrogen bonds play a central role in selectivity.

Predicting PY motif-mediated protein-protein interactions in the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases

The Nedd4 family contains several structurally related but functionally distinct HECT-type ubiquitin ligases. The members of the Nedd4 family are known to recognize substrates through their multiple WW domains, which recognize PY motifs (PPxY, LPxY) or phospho-threonine or phospho-serine residues. To better understand protein interactor recognition mechanisms across the Nedd4 family, we report the development and implementation of a python-based tool, PxYFinder, to identify PY motifs in the primary sequences of previously identified interactors of Nedd4 and related ligases. Using PxYFinder, we find that, on average, half of Nedd4 family interactions are likely PY-motif mediated. Further, we find that PPxY motifs are more prevalent than LPxY motifs and are more likely to occur in proline-rich regions and that PPxY regions are more disordered on average relative to LPxY-containing regions. Informed by consensus sequences for PY motifs across the Nedd4 interactome, we rationally designed a focused peptide library and employed a computational screen, revealing sequence- and biomolecular interaction-dependent determinants of WW-domain/PY-motif interactions. Cumulatively, our efforts provide a new bioinformatic tool and expand our understanding of sequence and structural factors that contribute to PY-motif mediated interactor recognition across the Nedd4 family.

Conformational landscape of multidomain SMAD proteins

SMAD transcription factors, the main effectors of the TGFβ (transforming growth factor β) network, have a mixed architecture of globular domains and flexible linkers. Such a complicated architecture precluded the description of their full-length (FL) structure for many years. In this study, we unravel the structures of SMAD4 and SMAD2 proteins through an integrative approach combining Small-angle X-ray scattering, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, X-ray, and computational modeling. We show that both proteins populate ensembles of conformations, with the globular domains tethered by disordered and flexible linkers, which defines a new dimension of regulation. The flexibility of the linkers facilitates DNA and protein binding and modulates the protein structure. Yet, SMAD4FL is monomeric, whereas SMAD2FL is in different monomer-dimer-trimer states, driven by interactions of the MH2 domains. Dimers are present regardless of the SMAD2FL activation state and concentration. Finally, we propose that SMAD2FL dimers are key building blocks for the quaternary structures of SMAD complexes.

The Hippo pathway: an emerging role in urologic cancers

The Hippo pathway controls several biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, motility, stemness, cell contact, immune cell maturation, organ size, and tumorigenesis. The Hippo pathway core kinases MST1/2 and LATS1/2 in mammals phosphorylate and inactivate YAP1 signaling. Increasing evidence indicates that loss of MST1/2 and LATS1/2 function is linked to the biology of many cancer types with poorer outcomes, likely due to the activation of oncogenic YAP1/TEAD signaling. Therefore, there is a renewed interest in blocking the YAP1/TEAD functions to prevent cancer growth. This review introduces the Hippo pathway components and examines their role and therapeutic potentials in prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer.

A dual role of YAP in driving TGFβ-mediated endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is the biological process through which endothelial cells transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells. During embryo development, EndMT regulates endocardial cushion formation via TGFβ/BMP signaling. In adults, EndMT is mainly activated during pathological conditions. Hence, it is necessary to characterize molecular regulators cooperating with TGFβ signaling in driving EndMT, to identify potential novel therapeutic targets to treat these pathologies. Here, we studied YAP, a transcriptional co-regulator involved in several biological processes, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). As EndMT is the endothelial-specific form of EMT, and YAP (herein referring to YAP1) and TGFβ signaling cross-talk in other contexts, we hypothesized that YAP contributes to EndMT by modulating TGFβ signaling. We demonstrate that YAP is required to trigger TGFβ-induced EndMT response, specifically contributing to SMAD3-driven EndMT early gene transcription. We provide novel evidence that YAP acts as SMAD3 transcriptional co-factor and prevents GSK3β-mediated SMAD3 phosphorylation, thus protecting SMAD3 from degradation. YAP is therefore emerging as a possible candidate target to inhibit pathological TGFβ-induced EndMT at early stages.

Summary: A new crucial role for YAP as a co-activator of early pathological TGFβ-mediated endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition program and characterization of the underlying molecular mechanism.

Interactions between AMOT PPxY motifs and NEDD4L WW domains function in HIV-1 release

Like most enveloped viruses, HIV must acquire a lipid membrane as it assembles and buds through the plasma membrane of infected cells to spread infection. Several sets of host cell machinery facilitate this process, including proteins of the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport pathway, which mediates the membrane fission reaction required to complete viral budding, as well as angiomotin (AMOT) and NEDD4L, which bind one another and promote virion membrane envelopment. AMOT and NEDD4L interact through the four NEDD4L WW domains and three different AMOT Pro-Pro-x (any amino acid)-Tyr (PPxY) motifs, but these interactions are not yet well defined. Here, we report that individual AMOT PPxY and NEDD4L WW domains interact with the following general affinity hierarchies: AMOT PPxY1>PPxY2>PPxY3 and NEDD4L WW3>WW2>WW1∼WW4. The unusually high-affinity of the AMOT PPxY1–NEDD4L WW3 interaction accounts for most of the AMOT–NEDD4L binding and is critical for stimulating HIV-1 release. Comparative structural, binding, and virological analyses reveal that complementary ionic and hydrophobic contacts on both sides of the WW–PPxY core interaction account for the unusually high affinity of the AMOT PPxY1–NEDD4L WW3 interaction. Taken together, our studies reveal how the first AMOT PPxY1 motif binds the third NEDD4L WW domain to stimulate HIV-1 viral envelopment and promote infectivity.

TGFβ signaling networks in ovarian cancer progression and plasticity

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Late-stage diagnosis with significant tumor burden, accompanied by recurrence and chemotherapy resistance, contributes to this poor prognosis. These morbidities are known to be tied to events associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer. During EMT, localized tumor cells alter their polarity, cell-cell junctions, cell-matrix interactions, acquire motility and invasiveness and an exaggerated potential for metastatic spread. Key triggers for EMT include the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) family of growth factors which are actively produced by a wide array of cell types within a specific tumor and metastatic environment. Although TGFβ can act as either a tumor suppressor or promoter in cancer, TGFβ exhibits its pro-tumorigenic functions at least in part via EMT. TGFβ regulates EMT both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels as outlined here. Despite recent advances in TGFβ based therapeutics, limited progress has been seen for ovarian cancers that are in much need of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we summarize and discuss several recent insights into the underlying signaling mechanisms of the TGFβ isoforms in EMT in the unique metastatic environment of EOCs and the current therapeutic interventions that may be relevant.

Exploring the Roles of HERC2 and the NEDD4L HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Subfamily in p53 Signaling and the DNA Damage Response

Cellular homeostasis is governed by the precise expression of genes that control the translation, localization, and termination of proteins. Oftentimes, environmental and biological factors can introduce mutations into the genetic framework of cells during their growth and division, and these genetic abnormalities can result in malignant transformations caused by protein malfunction. For example, p53 is a prominent tumor suppressor protein that is capable of undergoing more than 300 posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and is involved with controlling apoptotic signaling, transcription, and the DNA damage response (DDR). In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms and interactions that occur between p53, the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases WWP1, SMURF1, HECW1 and HERC2, and other oncogenic proteins in the cell to explore how irregular HECT-p53 interactions can induce tumorigenesis.

The phosphorylation of the Smad2/3 linker region by nemo-like kinase regulates TGF-β signaling

Smad2 and Smad3 (Smad2/3) are structurally similar proteins that primarily mediate the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling responsible for driving cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. The dynamics of the Smad2/3 phosphorylation provide the key mechanism for regulating the TGF-β signaling pathway, but the details surrounding this phosphorylation remain unclear. Here, using in vitro kinase assay coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified for the first time that nemo-like kinase (NLK) regulates TGF-β signaling via modulation of Smad2/3 phosphorylation in the linker region. TGF-β-mediated transcriptional and cellular responses are suppressed by NLK overexpression, whereas NLK depletion exerts opposite effects. Specifically, we discovered that NLK associates with Smad3 and phosphorylates the designated serine residues located in the linker region of Smad2 and Smad3, which inhibits phosphorylation at the C terminus, thereby decreasing the duration of TGF-β signaling. Overall, this work demonstrates that phosphorylation on the linker region of Smad2/3 by NLK counteracts the canonical phosphorylation in response to TGF-β signals, thus providing new insight into the mechanisms governing TGF-β signaling transduction.

Unveiling the dimer/monomer propensities of Smad MH1-DNA complexes

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MH1 domains of BMP-activated Smads populate a dimer-monomer equilibrium.

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Swapping loop1 between BMP- and TGFβ Smads turns dimers into monomers and vice versa.

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BMP-responsive genomic regions have a lower average count of motifs than TGFβ ones.

Smad transcription factors are the main downstream effectors of the Transforming growth factor β superfamily (TGFβ) signalling network. The DNA complexes determined here by X-ray crystallography for the Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP) activated Smad5 and Smad8 proteins reveal that all MH1 domains bind [GGC(GC)|(CG)] motifs similarly, although TGFβ-activated Smad2/3 and Smad4 MH1 domains bind as monomers whereas Smad1/5/8 form helix-swapped dimers. Dimers and monomers are also present in solution, as revealed by NMR. To decipher the characteristics that defined these dimers, we designed chimeric MH1 domains and characterized them using X-ray crystallography. We found that swapping the loop1 between TGFβ- and BMP- activated MH1 domains switches the dimer/monomer propensities. When we scanned the distribution of Smad-bound motifs in ChIP-Seq peaks (Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing) in Smad-responsive genes, we observed specific site clustering and spacing depending on whether the peaks correspond to BMP- or TGFβ-responsive genes. We also identified significant correlations between site distribution and monomer or dimer propensities. We propose that the MH1 monomer or dimer propensity of Smads contributes to the distinct motif selection genome-wide and together with the MH2 domain association, help define the composition of R-Smad/Smad4 trimeric complexes.

Angel or Devil ? - CDK8 as the new drug target

Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) plays an momentous role in transcription regulation by forming kinase module or transcription factor phosphorylation. A large number of evidences have identified CDK8 as an important factor in cancer occurrence and development. In addition, CDK8 also participates in the regulation of cancer cell stress response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, assists tumor cell invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Therefore, CDK8 is regarded as a promising target for cancer therapy. Most studies in recent years supported the role of CDK8 as a carcinogen, however, under certain conditions, CDK8 exists as a tumor suppressor. The functional diversity of CDK8 and its exceptional role in different types of cancer have aroused great interest from scientists but even more controversy during the discovery of CDK8 inhibitors. In addition, CDK8 appears to be an effective target for inflammation diseases and immune system disorders. Therefore, we summarized the research results of CDK8, involving physiological/pathogenic mechanisms and the development status of compounds targeting CDK8, provide a reference for the feasibility evaluation of CDK8 as a therapeutic target, and guidance for researchers who are involved in this field for the first time.

SMURF1, a promoter of tumor cell progression?

Overexpression of HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF1 is correlated with poor prognosis in patients with various cancers, such as glioblastoma, colon cancer, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. SMURF1 acts as a tumor promoter by ubiquitination modification and/or degradation of tumor-suppressing proteins. Combined treatment of Smurf1 knockdown with rapamycin showed collaborative antitumor effects in mice. This review described the role of HECT, WW, and C2 domains in regulating SMURF1 substrate selection. We summarized up to date SMURF1 substrates regulating different type cell signaling, thus, accelerating tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, the downregulation of SMURF1 expression, inhibition of its E3 activity and regulation of its specificity to substrates prevent tumor progression. The potential application of SMURF1 regulators, specifically, wisely choose certain drugs by blocking SMURF1 selectivity in tumor suppressors, to develop novel anticancer treatments.

Structural basis for inhibitory effects of Smad7 on TGF-β family signaling

Smad6 and Smad7 are classified as inhibitory Smads (I-Smads). They are crucial in the fine-tuning of signals by cytokines of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family. They are negative feedback regulators and principally target the activated type I receptors as well as the activated Smad complexes, but with distinct specificities. Smad7 inhibits Smad signaling from all seven type I receptors of the TGF-β family, whereas Smad6 preferentially inhibits Smad signaling from the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors, BMPR1A and BMPR1B. The target specificities are attributed to the C-terminal MH2 domain. Notably, Smad7 utilizes two alternative molecular surfaces for its inhibitory function against type I receptors. One is a basic groove composed of the first α-helix and the L3 loop, a structure that is shared with Smad6 and receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads). The other is a three-finger-like structure (consisting of residues 331-361, 379-387, and the L3 loop) that is unique to Smad7. The underlying structural basis remains to be elucidated in detail. Here, we report the crystal structure of the MH2 domain of mouse Smad7 at 1.9 Å resolution. The three-finger-like structure is stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonds between residues 331-361 and 379-387, thus forming a molecular surface unique to Smad7. Furthermore, we discuss how Smad7 antagonizes the activated Smad complexes composed of R-Smad and Smad4, a common partner Smad.

OSR1 phosphorylates the Smad2/3 linker region and induces TGF-β1 autocrine to promote EMT and metastasis in breast cancer

Oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1 (OSR1) plays a critical role in multiple carcinogenic signal pathways, and its overexpression has been found in various types of cancer; however, the pathophysiological role of OSR1 in breast cancer has not been evaluated. This study aims to elaborate on the role of OSR1 in breast cancer metastasis and the specific regulatory mechanism. Our results showed that OSR1 mRNA and protein were upregulated in both human breast cancer samples and cell lines. Moreover, phosphorylated OSR1 (p-OSR1) was an independent poor prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer. OSR1 upregulation induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells with the increasing metastatic capacity. In contrast, deleting OSR1 in aggressive breast cancer cells inhibited these phenotypes. OSR1 is the critical activator for transcription factors of EMT. Mechanistically, we found that OSR1 can directly interact and phosphorylate the linker region of Smad2 at Thr220 and Smad3 at Thr179. Phosphorylated Smad2/3 translocated into the nucleus to enhance transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) autocrine signalling and increase the transcription of EMT regulators. Importantly, interruption of the OSR1-Smad2/3-TGF-β1 signalling axis elicited a robust anti-EMT and anti-metastatic effect in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we conclude that OSR1-mediated Smad2/3-TGF-β1 signalling promotes EMT and metastasis representing a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.

Gone Caving: Roles of the Transcriptional Regulators YAP and TAZ in Skeletal Development

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The development of the skeleton is controlled by cellular decisions determined by the coordinated activation of multiple transcription factors. Recent evidence suggests that the transcriptional regulator proteins, Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), could have important roles in directing the activity of these transcriptional programs. However, in vitro evidence for the roles of YAP and TAZ in skeletal cells has been hopelessly contradictory. The goals of this review are to provide a cross-sectional view on the state of the field and to synthesize the available data toward a unified perspective.

RECENT FINDINGS

YAP and TAZ are regulated by diverse upstream signals and interact downstream with multiple transcription factors involved in skeletal development, positioning YAP and TAZ as important signal integration nodes in an hourglass-shaped signaling pathway. Here, we provide a survey of putative transcriptional co-effectors for YAP and TAZ in skeletal cells. Synthesizing the in vitro data, we conclude that TAZ is consistently pro-osteogenic in function, while YAP can exhibit either pro- or anti-osteogenic activity depending on cell type and context. Synthesizing the in vivo data, we conclude that YAP and TAZ combinatorially promote developmental bone formation, bone matrix homeostasis, and endochondral fracture repair by regulating a variety of transcriptional programs depending on developmental stage. Here, we discuss the current understanding of the roles of the transcriptional regulators YAP and TAZ in skeletal development, and provide recommendations for continued study of molecular mechanisms, mechanotransduction, and therapeutic implications for skeletal disease.

Design of Tunable Protein Interfaces Controlled by Post-Translational Modifications

The design of protein interaction interfaces is a cornerstone of synthetic biology, where they can be used to promote the association of protein subunits into active molecular complexes or into protein nanostructures. In nature, protein interactions can be modulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs) that modify the protein interfaces with the addition and removal of various chemical groups. PTMs thus represent a means to gain control over protein interactions, yet they have seldom been considered in the design of synthetic proteins. Here, we explore the potential of a reversible PTM, serine phosphorylation, to modulate the interactions between peptides. We designed a series of interacting peptide pairs, including heterodimeric coiled coils, that contained one or more protein kinase A (PKA) recognition motifs. Our set of peptide pairs comprised interactions ranging from nanomolar to micromolar affinities. Mass spectrometry analyses showed that all peptides were excellent phosphorylation substrates of PKA, and subsequent phosphate removal could be catalyzed by lambda protein phosphatase. Binding kinetics measurements performed before and after treatment of the peptides with PKA revealed that phosphorylation of the target serines affected both the association and dissociation rates of the interacting peptides. We observed both the strengthening of interactions (up to an 11-fold decrease in K_d) and the weakening of interactions (up to a 180-fold increase in K_d). De novo-designed PTM-modulated interfaces will be useful to control the association of proteins in biological systems using protein-modifying enzymes, expanding the paradigm of self-assembly to encompass controlled assembly of engineerable protein complexes.

BMP-2 Signaling and Mechanotransduction Synergize to Drive Osteogenic Differentiation via YAP/TAZ

Growth factors and mechanical cues synergistically affect cellular functions, triggering a variety of signaling pathways. The molecular levels of such cooperative interactions are not fully understood. Due to its role in osteogenesis, the growth factor bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) is of tremendous interest for bone regenerative medicine, osteoporosis therapeutics, and beyond. Here, contribution of BMP-2 signaling and extracellular mechanical cues to the osteogenic commitment of C2C12 cells is investigated. It is revealed that these two distinct pathways are integrated at the transcriptional level to provide multifactorial control of cell differentiation. The activation of osteogenic genes requires the cooperation of BMP-2 pathway-associated Smad1/5/8 heteromeric complexes and mechanosensitive YAP/TAZ translocation. It is further demonstrated that the Smad complexes remain bound onto and active on target genes, even after BMP-2 removal, suggesting that they act as a "molecular memory unit." Thus, synergistic stimulation with BMP-2 and mechanical cues drives osteogenic differentiation in a programmable fashion.

Targeting transcriptional machinery to inhibit enhancer-driven gene expression in heart failure

Pathological cardiac remodeling is induced through multiple mechanisms that include neurohumoral and biomechanical stress resulting in transcriptional alterations that ultimately become maladaptive and lead to the development of heart failure (HF). Although cardiac transcriptional remodeling is mediated by the activation of numerous signaling pathways that converge on a limited number of transcription factors (TFs) that promote hypertrophy (pro-hypertrophic TFs), the current therapeutic approach to prevent HF utilizes pharmacological inhibitors that largely target specific receptors that are activated in response to pathological stimuli. Thus, there is limited efficacy with the current pharmacological approaches to inhibit transcriptional remodeling associated with the development of HF. Recent evidence suggests that these pro-hypertrophic TFs co-localize at enhancers to cooperatively activate transcription associated with pathological cardiac remodeling. In disease states, including cancer and HF, evidence suggests that the general transcriptional machinery is disproportionately bound at enhancers. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of transcriptional machinery that integrates pro-hypertrophic TFs may represent a promising alternative therapeutic approach to limit pathological remodeling associated with the development of HF.

The Mediator CDK8-Cyclin C complex modulates Dpp signaling in Drosophila by stimulating Mad-dependent transcription

Dysregulation of CDK8 (Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8) and its regulatory partner CycC (Cyclin C), two subunits of the conserved Mediator (MED) complex, have been linked to diverse human diseases such as cancer. Thus, it is essential to understand the regulatory network modulating the CDK8-CycC complex in both normal development and tumorigenesis. To identify upstream regulators or downstream effectors of CDK8, we performed a dominant modifier genetic screen in Drosophila based on the defects in vein patterning caused by specific depletion or overexpression of CDK8 or CycC in developing wing imaginal discs. We identified 26 genomic loci whose haploinsufficiency can modify these CDK8- or CycC-specific phenotypes. Further analysis of two overlapping deficiency lines and mutant alleles led us to identify genetic interactions between the CDK8-CycC pair and the components of the Decapentaplegic (Dpp, the Drosophila homolog of TGFβ, or Transforming Growth Factor-β) signaling pathway. We observed that CDK8-CycC positively regulates transcription activated by Mad (Mothers against dpp), the primary transcription factor downstream of the Dpp/TGFβ signaling pathway. CDK8 can directly interact with Mad in vitro through the linker region between the DNA-binding MH1 (Mad homology 1) domain and the carboxy terminal MH2 (Mad homology 2) transactivation domain. Besides CDK8 and CycC, further analyses of other subunits of the MED complex have revealed six additional subunits that are required for Mad-dependent transcription in the wing discs: Med12, Med13, Med15, Med23, Med24, and Med31. Furthermore, our analyses confirmed the positive roles of CDK9 and Yorkie in regulating Mad-dependent gene expression in vivo. These results suggest that CDK8 and CycC, together with a few other subunits of the MED complex, may coordinate with other transcription cofactors in regulating Mad-dependent transcription during wing development in Drosophila.

Kibra Modulates Learning and Memory via Binding to Dendrin

Kibra is a synaptic scaffold protein regulating learning and memory. Alterations of Kibra-encoding gene WWC1 cause various neuronal disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Tourette syndrome. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Kibra's function in neurons is poorly understood. Here we discover that Kibra, via its N-terminal WW12 tandem domains, binds to a postsynaptic density enriched protein, Dendrin, with a nanomolar dissociation constant. On the basis of the structure of Kibra WW12 in complex with Dendrin PY motifs, we developed a potent peptide inhibitor capable of specifically blocking the binding between Kibra and Dendrin in neurons. Systematic administration of the inhibitory peptide attenuated excitatory synaptic transmission, completely blocked long-term potentiation induction, and impaired spatial learning and memory. A Kibra mutation found in Tourette syndrome patients causes defects in binding to Dendrin. Thus, Kibra can modulate spatial learning and memory via binding to Dendrin.