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Mumtaz S, Javed R, Rana JN, Iqbal M, Choi EH. Pulsed high power microwave seeds priming modulates germination, growth, redox homeostasis, and hormonal shifts in barley for improved seedling growth: Unleashing the molecular dynamics. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 222:371-385. [PMID: 38901500 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative (seedling) growth are critical developmental stages in plants. High-power microwave (HPM) technology has facilitated both the emergence of novel applications and improvements to existing in agriculture. The implications of pulsed HPM on agriculture remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of pulsed HPM exposure on barley germination and seedling growth, elucidating the plausible underlying mechanisms. Barley seeds underwent direct HPM irradiation, with 60 pulses by 2.04 mJ/pulse, across three distinct irradiation settings: dry, submerged in deionized (DI) water, and submerged in DI water one day before exposure. Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups, where the HPM-dry group exhibited a notable increase, with a 2.48-fold rise at day 2 and a 1.9-fold increment at day 3. Similarly, all HPM-treated groups displayed significant enhancements in water uptake, and seedling growth (weight and length), as well as elevated levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total soluble protein content. The obtained results indicate that when comparing three irradiation setting, HPM-dry showed the most promising effects. Condition HPM seed treatment increases the level of reactive species within the barley seedlings, thereby modulating plant biochemistry, physiology, and different cellular signaling cascades via induced enzymatic activities. Notably, the markers associated with plant growth are upregulated and growth inhibitory markers are downregulated post-HPM exposure. Under optimal HPM-dry treatment, auxin (IAA) levels increased threefold, while ABA levels decreased by up to 65 %. These molecular findings illuminate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing phenotypic changes in barley seedlings subjected to HPM treatment. The results of this study might play a key role to understand molecular mechanisms after pulsed-HPM irradiation of seeds, contributing significantly to address the global need of sustainable crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohail Mumtaz
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center (PBRC), Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Rida Javed
- Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Plasma Bio Display, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Juie Nahushkumar Rana
- Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Plasma Bio Display, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Madeeha Iqbal
- Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Plasma Bio Display, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Ha Choi
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center (PBRC), Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Plasma Bio Display, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Giubertoni G, Chagri S, Argudo PG, Prädel L, Maltseva D, Greco A, Caporaletti F, Pavan A, Ilie IM, Ren Y, Ng DYW, Bonn M, Weil T, Woutersen S. Structural adaptability and surface activity of peptides derived from tardigrade proteins. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5135. [PMID: 39150232 PMCID: PMC11328126 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5135] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades are unique micro-organisms with a high tolerance to desiccation. The protection of their cells against desiccation involves tardigrade-specific proteins, which include the so-called cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins. As a first step towards the design of peptides capable of mimicking the cytoprotective properties of CAHS proteins, we have synthesized several model peptides with sequences selected from conserved CAHS motifs and investigated to what extent they exhibit the desiccation-induced structural changes of the full-length proteins. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, we have found that the CAHS model peptides are mostly disordered, but adopt a moreα $$ \alpha $$ -helical structure upon addition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, which mimics desiccation. This structural behavior is similar to that of full-length CAHS proteins, which also adopt more ordered conformations upon desiccation. We also have investigated the surface activity of the peptides at the air/water interface, which also mimics partial desiccation. Interestingly, sum-frequency generation spectroscopy shows that all model peptides are surface active and adopt a helical structure at the air/water interface. Our results suggest that amino acids with high helix-forming propensities might contribute to the propensity of these peptides to adopt a helical structure when fully or partially dehydrated. Thus, the selected sequences retain part of the CAHS structural behavior upon desiccation, and might be used as a basis for the design of new synthetic peptide-based cryoprotective materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Giubertoni
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Chagri
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Pablo G Argudo
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Leon Prädel
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Daria Maltseva
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Federico Caporaletti
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto Pavan
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ioana M Ilie
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Computational Soft Matter (CSM), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yong Ren
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - David Y W Ng
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mischa Bonn
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sander Woutersen
- Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Sadowska-Bartosz I, Bartosz G. Antioxidant Defense in the Toughest Animals on the Earth: Its Contribution to the Extreme Resistance of Tardigrades. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8393. [PMID: 39125965 PMCID: PMC11313143 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158393] [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: 06/22/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are unique among animals in their resistance to dehydration, mainly due to anhydrobiosis and tun formation. They are also very resistant to high-energy radiation, low and high temperatures, low and high pressure, and various chemical agents, Interestingly, they are resistant to ionizing radiation both in the hydrated and dehydrated states to a similar extent. They are able to survive in the cosmic space. Apparently, many mechanisms contribute to the resistance of tardigrades to harmful factors, including the presence of trehalose (though not common to all tardigrades), heat shock proteins, late embryogenesis-abundant proteins, tardigrade-unique proteins, DNA repair proteins, proteins directly protecting DNA (Dsup and TDR1), and efficient antioxidant system. Antioxidant enzymes and small-molecular-weight antioxidants are an important element in the tardigrade resistance. The levels and activities of many antioxidant proteins is elevated by anhydrobiosis and UV radiation; one explanation for their induction during dehydration is provided by the theory of "preparation for oxidative stress", which occurs during rehydration. Genes coding for some antioxidant proteins are expanded in tardigrades; some genes (especially those coding for catalases) were hypothesized to be of bacterial origin, acquired by horizontal gene transfer. An interesting antioxidant protein found in tardigrades is the new Mn-dependent peroxidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Sadowska-Bartosz
- Laboratory of Analytical Biochemistry, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 4 Zelwerowicza Street, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland;
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4
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Kc S, Nguyen KH, Nicholson V, Walgren A, Trent T, Gollub E, Ramero S, Holehouse AS, Sukenik S, Boothby TC. Disordered proteins interact with the chemical environment to tune their protective function during drying. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582506. [PMID: 38464187 PMCID: PMC10925285 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The conformational ensemble and function of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are sensitive to their solution environment. The inherent malleability of disordered proteins combined with the exposure of their residues accounts for this sensitivity. One context in which IDPs play important roles that is concomitant with massive changes to the intracellular environment is during desiccation (extreme drying). The ability of organisms to survive desiccation has long been linked to the accumulation of high levels of cosolutes such as trehalose or sucrose as well as the enrichment of IDPs, such as late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins or cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins. Despite knowing that IDPs play important roles and are co-enriched alongside endogenous, species-specific cosolutes during desiccation, little is known mechanistically about how IDP-cosolute interactions influence desiccation tolerance. Here, we test the notion that the protective function of desiccation-related IDPs is enhanced through conformational changes induced by endogenous cosolutes. We find that desiccation-related IDPs derived from four different organisms spanning two LEA protein families and the CAHS protein family, synergize best with endogenous cosolutes during drying to promote desiccation protection. Yet the structural parameters of protective IDPs do not correlate with synergy for either CAHS or LEA proteins. We further demonstrate that for CAHS, but not LEA proteins, synergy is related to self-assembly and the formation of a gel. Our results suggest that functional synergy between IDPs and endogenous cosolutes is a convergent desiccation protection strategy seen among different IDP families and organisms, yet, the mechanisms underlying this synergy differ between IDP families.
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Anoud M, Delagoutte E, Helleu Q, Brion A, Duvernois-Berthet E, As M, Marques X, Lamribet K, Senamaud-Beaufort C, Jourdren L, Adrait A, Heinrich S, Toutirais G, Hamlaoui S, Gropplero G, Giovannini I, Ponger L, Geze M, Blugeon C, Couté Y, Guidetti R, Rebecchi L, Giovannangeli C, De Cian A, Concordet JP. Comparative transcriptomics reveal a novel tardigrade-specific DNA-binding protein induced in response to ionizing radiation. eLife 2024; 13:RP92621. [PMID: 38980300 PMCID: PMC11233135 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are microscopic animals renowned for their ability to withstand extreme conditions, including high doses of ionizing radiation (IR). To better understand their radio-resistance, we first characterized induction and repair of DNA double- and single-strand breaks after exposure to IR in the model species Hypsibius exemplaris. Importantly, we found that the rate of single-strand breaks induced was roughly equivalent to that in human cells, suggesting that DNA repair plays a predominant role in tardigrades' radio-resistance. To identify novel tardigrade-specific genes involved, we next conducted a comparative transcriptomics analysis across three different species. In all three species, many DNA repair genes were among the most strongly overexpressed genes alongside a novel tardigrade-specific gene, which we named Tardigrade DNA damage Response 1 (TDR1). We found that TDR1 protein interacts with DNA and forms aggregates at high concentration suggesting it may condensate DNA and preserve chromosome organization until DNA repair is accomplished. Remarkably, when expressed in human cells, TDR1 improved resistance to Bleomycin, a radiomimetic drug. Based on these findings, we propose that TDR1 is a novel tardigrade-specific gene conferring resistance to IR. Our study sheds light on mechanisms of DNA repair helping cope with high levels of DNA damage inflicted by IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Anoud
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
- Université Paris-SaclayOrsayFrance
| | | | - Quentin Helleu
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
| | - Alice Brion
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
| | | | - Marie As
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
| | - Xavier Marques
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
- CeMIM, MNHN, CNRS UMR7245ParisFrance
| | | | - Catherine Senamaud-Beaufort
- Génomique ENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSLParisFrance
| | - Laurent Jourdren
- Génomique ENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSLParisFrance
| | - Annie Adrait
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UA13 BGE, CNRS, CEAGrenobleFrance
| | - Sophie Heinrich
- Institut Curie, Inserm U1021-CNRS UMR 3347, Université Paris-Saclay, Université PSLOrsay CedexFrance
- Plateforme RADEXP, Institut CurieOrsayFrance
| | | | | | | | - Ilaria Giovannini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Loic Ponger
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
| | - Marc Geze
- CeMIM, MNHN, CNRS UMR7245ParisFrance
| | - Corinne Blugeon
- Génomique ENS, Institut de Biologie de l’ENS (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSLParisFrance
| | - Yohann Couté
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, UA13 BGE, CNRS, CEAGrenobleFrance
| | - Roberto Guidetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | - Lorena Rebecchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future CenterPalermoItaly
| | | | - Anne De Cian
- Département AVIV, MNHN, CNRS UMR7196, INSERM U1154ParisFrance
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6
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Robison ZL, Ren Q, Zhang Z. How to Survive without Water: A Short Lesson on the Desiccation Tolerance of Budding Yeast. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7514. [PMID: 39062766 PMCID: PMC11277543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Water is essential to all life on earth. It is a major component that makes up living organisms and plays a vital role in multiple biological processes. It provides a medium for chemical and enzymatic reactions in the cell and is a major player in osmoregulation and the maintenance of cell turgidity. Despite this, many organisms, called anhydrobiotes, are capable of surviving under extremely dehydrated conditions. Less is known about how anhydrobiotes adapt and survive under desiccation stress. Studies have shown that morphological and physiological changes occur in anhydrobiotes in response to desiccation stress. Certain disaccharides and proteins, including heat shock proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, and hydrophilins, play important roles in the desiccation tolerance of anhydrobiotes. In this review, we summarize the recent findings of desiccation tolerance in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also propose that the yeast under desiccation could be used as a model to study neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhaojie Zhang
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; (Z.L.R.); (Q.R.)
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7
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Lim S, Reilly CB, Barghouti Z, Marelli B, Way JC, Silver PA. Tardigrade secretory proteins protect biological structures from desiccation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:633. [PMID: 38796644 PMCID: PMC11127935 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06336-w] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades, microscopic animals that survive a broad range of environmental stresses, express a unique set of proteins termed tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs). TDPs are often expressed at high levels in tardigrades upon desiccation, and appear to mediate stress adaptation. Here, we focus on the proteins belonging to the secreted family of tardigrade proteins termed secretory-abundant heat soluble ("SAHS") proteins, and investigate their ability to protect diverse biological structures. Recombinantly expressed SAHS proteins prevent desiccated liposomes from fusion, and enhance desiccation tolerance of E. coli and Rhizobium tropici upon extracellular application. Molecular dynamics simulation and comparative structural analysis suggest a model by which SAHS proteins may undergo a structural transition upon desiccation, in which removal of water and solutes from a large internal cavity in SAHS proteins destabilizes the beta-sheet structure. These results highlight the potential application of SAHS proteins as stabilizing molecules for preservation of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Lim
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Charles B Reilly
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zeina Barghouti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Way
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Pamela A Silver
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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8
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Rolsma JL, Darch W, Higgins NC, Morgan JT. The tardigrade-derived mitochondrial abundant heat soluble protein improves adipose-derived stem cell survival against representative stressors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11834. [PMID: 38783150 PMCID: PMC11116449 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62693-w] [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: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Human adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) grafts have emerged as a powerful tool in regenerative medicine. However, ASC therapeutic potential is hindered by stressors throughout their use. Here we demonstrate the transgenic expression of the tardigrade-derived mitochondrial abundant heat soluble (MAHS) protein for improved ASC resistance to metabolic, mitochondrial, and injection shear stress. In vitro, MAHS-expressing ASCs demonstrate up to 61% increased cell survival following 72 h of incubation in phosphate buffered saline containing 20% media. Following up to 3.5% DMSO exposure for up to 72 h, a 14-49% increase in MAHS-expressing ASC survival was observed. Further, MAHS expression in ASCs is associated with up to 39% improved cell viability following injection through clinically relevant 27-, 32-, and 34-gauge needles. Our results reveal that MAHS expression in ASCs supports survival in response to a variety of common stressors associated with regenerative therapies, thereby motivating further investigation into MAHS as an agent for stem cell stress resistance. However, differentiation capacity in MAHS-expressing ASCs appears to be skewed in favor of osteogenesis over adipogenesis. Specifically, activity of the early bone formation marker alkaline phosphatase is increased by 74% in MAHS-expressing ASCs following 14 days in osteogenic media. Conversely, positive area of the neutral lipid droplet marker BODIPY is decreased by up to 10% in MAHS-transgenic ASCs following 14 days in adipogenic media. Interestingly, media supplementation with up to 40 mM glucose is sufficient to restore adipogenic differentiation within 14 days, prompting further analysis of mechanisms underlying interference between MAHS and differentiation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Rolsma
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - William Darch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Nicholas C Higgins
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Joshua T Morgan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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9
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Sanchez‐Martinez S, Nguyen K, Biswas S, Nicholson V, Romanyuk AV, Ramirez J, Kc S, Akter A, Childs C, Meese EK, Usher ET, Ginell GM, Yu F, Gollub E, Malferrari M, Francia F, Venturoli G, Martin EW, Caporaletti F, Giubertoni G, Woutersen S, Sukenik S, Woolfson DN, Holehouse AS, Boothby TC. Labile assembly of a tardigrade protein induces biostasis. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4941. [PMID: 38501490 PMCID: PMC10949331 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades are microscopic animals that survive desiccation by inducing biostasis. To survive drying tardigrades rely on intrinsically disordered CAHS proteins, which also function to prevent perturbations induced by drying in vitro and in heterologous systems. CAHS proteins have been shown to form gels both in vitro and in vivo, which has been speculated to be linked to their protective capacity. However, the sequence features and mechanisms underlying gel formation and the necessity of gelation for protection have not been demonstrated. Here we report a mechanism of fibrillization and gelation for CAHS D similar to that of intermediate filament assembly. We show that in vitro, gelation restricts molecular motion, immobilizing and protecting labile material from the harmful effects of drying. In vivo, we observe that CAHS D forms fibrillar networks during osmotic stress. Fibrillar networking of CAHS D improves survival of osmotically shocked cells. We observe two emergent properties associated with fibrillization; (i) prevention of cell volume change and (ii) reduction of metabolic activity during osmotic shock. We find that there is no significant correlation between maintenance of cell volume and survival, while there is a significant correlation between reduced metabolism and survival. Importantly, CAHS D's fibrillar network formation is reversible and metabolic rates return to control levels after CAHS fibers are resolved. This work provides insights into how tardigrades induce reversible biostasis through the self-assembly of labile CAHS gels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Nguyen
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - S. Biswas
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - V. Nicholson
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - A. V. Romanyuk
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- Max Planck‐Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - J. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - S. Kc
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - A. Akter
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - C. Childs
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - E. K. Meese
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - E. T. Usher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - G. M. Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - F. Yu
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - E. Gollub
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - M. Malferrari
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”Università di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - F. Francia
- Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biofisica Molecolare, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, FaBiTUniversità di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - G. Venturoli
- Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biofisica Molecolare, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, FaBiTUniversità di BolognaBolognaItaly
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Fisiche della Materia (CNISM), c/o Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia (DIFA)Università di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - E. W. Martin
- Department of Structural BiologySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - F. Caporaletti
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - G. Giubertoni
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - S. Woutersen
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - S. Sukenik
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - D. N. Woolfson
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- Max Planck‐Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences BuildingBristolUK
| | - A. S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - T. C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
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10
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Nagwani AK, Melosik I, Kaczmarek Ł, Kmita H. Recovery from anhydrobiosis in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis: Better to be young than old and in a group than alone. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26807. [PMID: 38434295 PMCID: PMC10907786 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26807] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Desiccation-tolerant organisms can survive dehydration in a state of anhydrobiosis. Tardigrades can recover from anhydrobiosis at any life stage and are considered among the toughest animals on Earth. However, the factors that influence recovery from anhydrobiosis are not well understood. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of sex, age, the presence of other individuals and the combination of the number and duration of anhydrobiosis episodes on the recovery of Paramacrobiotus experimentalis. The activity of 1200 individuals for up to 48 h after rehydration was evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Age was the main factor influencing return to activity, followed by the combination of number and duration of anhydrobiosis episodes, influence of the presence of other individuals, and sex. More individuals returned to activity after repeated short than repeated long anhydrobiosis episodes and older individuals were less likely to recover than younger individuals. In addition, when compared to single animals, the presence of other individuals resulted in higher number of active animals after dehydration and rehydration. The effect of sex was significant, but there was no general tendency for one sex to recover from anhydrobiosis better than the other one. The results contribute to a better understanding of the anhydrobiosis ability of Paramacrobiotus experimentalis and provide background for full explanation of molecular, cellular and environmental mechanisms of anhydrobiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Nagwani
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
| | - Iwona Melosik
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
| | - Hanna Kmita
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
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11
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Wilanowska PA, Rzymski P, Kaczmarek Ł. Long-Term Survivability of Tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis (Eutardigrada) at Increased Magnesium Perchlorate Levels: Implications for Astrobiological Research. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:335. [PMID: 38541660 PMCID: PMC10971682 DOI: 10.3390/life14030335] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Perchlorate salts, including magnesium perchlorate, are highly toxic compounds that occur on Mars at levels far surpassing those on Earth and pose a significant challenge to the survival of life on this planet. Tardigrades are commonly known for their extraordinary resistance to extreme environmental conditions and are considered model organisms for space and astrobiological research. However, their long-term tolerance to perchlorate salts has not been the subject of any previous studies. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess whether the tardigrade species Paramacrobiotus experimentalis can survive and grow in an environment contaminated with high levels of magnesium perchlorates (0.25-1.0%, 1.5-6.0 mM ClO4- ions). The survival rate of tardigrades decreased with an increase in the concentration of the perchlorate solutions and varied from 83.3% (0.10% concentration) to 20.8% (0.25% concentration) over the course of 56 days of exposure. Tardigrades exposed to 0.15-0.25% magnesium perchlorate revealed significantly decreased body length. Our study indicates that tardigrades can survive and grow in relatively high concentrations of magnesium perchlorates, largely exceeding perchlorate levels observed naturally on Earth, indicating their potential use in Martian experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Anna Wilanowska
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-614 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-614 Poznań, Poland;
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12
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Kang D, Yang MJ, Kim H, Park C. Protective roles of highly conserved motif 1 in tardigrade cytosolic-abundant heat soluble protein in extreme environments. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4913. [PMID: 38358259 PMCID: PMC10868442 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades are remarkable microscopic animals that survive harsh conditions such as desiccation and extreme temperatures. Tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs) play an essential role in the survival of tardigrades in extreme environments. Cytosolic-abundant heat soluble (CAHS) protein, a key TDP, is known to increase desiccation tolerance and to protect the activity of several enzymes under dehydrated conditions. However, the function and properties of each CAHS domain have not yet been elucidated in detail. Here, we aimed to elucidate the protective role of highly conserved motif 1 of CAHS in extreme environmental conditions. To examine CAHS domains, three protein constructs, CAHS Full (1-229), CAHS ∆Core (1-120_184-229), and CAHS Core (121-183), were engineered. The highly conserved CAHS motif 1 (124-142) in the CAHS Core formed an amphiphilic α helix, reducing the aggregate formation and protecting lactate dehydrogenase activity during dehydration-rehydration and freeze-thaw treatments, indicating that CAHS motif 1 in the CAHS Core was essential for maintaining protein solubility and stability. Aggregation assays and confocal microscopy revealed that the intrinsically disordered N- and C-terminal domains were more prone to aggregation under our experimental conditions. By explicating the functions of each domain in CAHS, our study proposes the possibility of using engineered proteins or peptides derived from CAHS as a potential candidate for biological applications in extreme environmental stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donguk Kang
- Department of ChemistryGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Min June Yang
- Department of ChemistryGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Hwan Kim
- GIST Advanced Institute of Instrumental Analysis (GAIA), Bio Imaging LaboratoryGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
| | - Chin‐Ju Park
- Department of ChemistryGwangju Institute of Science and TechnologyGwangjuRepublic of Korea
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13
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Kayastha P, Wieczorkiewicz F, Pujol M, Robinson A, Michalak M, Kaczmarek Ł, Poprawa I. Elevated external temperature affects cell ultrastructure and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Kaczmarek, Mioduchowska, Poprawa, & Roszkowska, 2020. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5097. [PMID: 38429316 PMCID: PMC10907573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing temperature influences the habitats of various organisms, including microscopic invertebrates. To gain insight into temperature-dependent changes in tardigrades, we isolated storage cells exposed to various temperatures and conducted biochemical and ultrastructural analysis in active and tun-state Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Kaczmarek, Mioduchowska, Poprawa, & Roszkowska, 2020. The abundance of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and ultrastructure of the storage cells were examined at different temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 37 °C, 40 °C, and 42 °C) in storage cells isolated from active specimens of Pam. experimentalis. In the active animals, upon increase in external temperature, we observed an increase in the levels of HSPs (HSP27, HSP60, and HSP70). Furthermore, the number of ultrastructural changes in storage cells increased with increasing temperature. Cellular organelles, such as mitochondria and the rough endoplasmic reticulum, gradually degenerated. At 42 °C, cell death occurred by necrosis. Apart from the higher electron density of the karyoplasm and the accumulation of electron-dense material in some mitochondria (at 42 °C), almost no changes were observed in the ultrastructure of tun storage cells exposed to different temperatures. We concluded that desiccated (tun-state) are resistant to high temperatures, but not active tardigrades (survival rates of tuns after 24 h of rehydration: 93.3% at 20 °C, 60.0% at 35 °C, 33.3% at 37 °C, 33.3% at 40 °C, and 20.0% at 42 °C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpalata Kayastha
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Filip Wieczorkiewicz
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
| | - Myriam Pujol
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Alison Robinson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marek Michalak
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Izabela Poprawa
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland.
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14
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McNally DL, Macdougall LJ, Kirkpatrick BE, Maduka CV, Hoffman TE, Fairbanks BD, Bowman CN, Spencer SL, Anseth KS. Reversible Intracellular Gelation of MCF10A Cells Enables Programmable Control Over 3D Spheroid Growth. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302528. [PMID: 38142299 PMCID: PMC10939856 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302528] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
In nature, some organisms survive extreme environments by inducing a biostatic state wherein cellular contents are effectively vitrified. Recently, a synthetic biostatic state in mammalian cells is achieved via intracellular network formation using bio-orthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) reactions between functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromers. In this work, the effects of intracellular network formation on a 3D epithelial MCF10A spheroid model are explored. Macromer-transfected cells are encapsulated in Matrigel, and spheroid area is reduced by ≈50% compared to controls. The intracellular hydrogel network increases the quiescent cell population, as indicated by increased p21 expression. Additionally, bioenergetics (ATP/ADP ratio) and functional metabolic rates are reduced. To enable reversibility of the biostasis effect, a photosensitive nitrobenzyl-containing macromer is incorporated into the PEG network, allowing for light-induced degradation. Following light exposure, cell state, and proliferation return to control levels, while SPAAC-treated spheroids without light exposure (i.e., containing intact intracellular networks) remain smaller and less proliferative through this same period. These results demonstrate that photodegradable intracellular hydrogels can induce a reversible slow-growing state in 3D spheroid culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney L McNally
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Laura J Macdougall
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Bruce E Kirkpatrick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Chima V Maduka
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Timothy E Hoffman
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Benjamin D Fairbanks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Christopher N Bowman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Sabrina L Spencer
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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15
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Biswas S, Gollub E, Yu F, Ginell G, Holehouse A, Sukenik S, Boothby TC. Helicity of a tardigrade disordered protein contributes to its protective function during desiccation. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4872. [PMID: 38114424 PMCID: PMC10804681 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4872] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
To survive extreme drying (anhydrobiosis), many organisms, spanning every kingdom of life, accumulate intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). For decades, the ability of anhydrobiosis-related IDPs to form transient amphipathic helices has been suggested to be important for promoting desiccation tolerance. However, evidence empirically supporting the necessity and/or sufficiency of helicity in mediating anhydrobiosis is lacking. Here, we demonstrate that the linker region of CAHS D, a desiccation-related IDP from the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris, that contains significant helical structure, is the protective portion of this protein. Perturbing the sequence composition and grammar of the linker region of CAHS D, through the insertion of helix-breaking prolines, modulating the identity of charged residues, or replacement of hydrophobic amino acids with serine or glycine residues results in variants with different degrees of helical structure. Importantly, correlation of protective capacity and helical content in variants generated through different helix perturbing modalities does not show as strong a trend, suggesting that while helicity is important, it is not the only property that makes a protein protective during desiccation. These results provide direct evidence for the decades-old theory that helicity of desiccation-related IDPs is linked to their anhydrobiotic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Biswas
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - Edith Gollub
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California, MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - Feng Yu
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California, MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - Garrett Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Alex Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Shahar Sukenik
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California, MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - Thomas C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
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16
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Garg A, González-Foutel NS, Gielnik MB, Kjaergaard M. Design of functional intrinsically disordered proteins. Protein Eng Des Sel 2024; 37:gzae004. [PMID: 38431892 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Many proteins do not fold into a fixed three-dimensional structure, but rather function in a highly disordered state. These intrinsically disordered proteins pose a unique challenge to protein engineering and design: How can proteins be designed de novo if not by tailoring their structure? Here, we will review the nascent field of design of intrinsically disordered proteins with focus on applications in biotechnology and medicine. The design goals should not necessarily be the same as for de novo design of folded proteins as disordered proteins have unique functional strengths and limitations. We focus on functions where intrinsically disordered proteins are uniquely suited including disordered linkers, desiccation chaperones, sensors of the chemical environment, delivery of pharmaceuticals, and constituents of biomolecular condensates. Design of functional intrinsically disordered proteins relies on a combination of computational tools and heuristics gleaned from sequence-function studies. There are few cases where intrinsically disordered proteins have made it into industrial applications. However, we argue that disordered proteins can perform many roles currently performed by organic polymers, and that these proteins might be more designable due to their modularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankush Garg
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Maciej B Gielnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Magnus Kjaergaard
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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17
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Ramirez JF, Kumara U, Arulsamy N, Boothby TC. Water content, transition temperature and fragility influence protection and anhydrobiotic capacity. BBA ADVANCES 2024; 5:100115. [PMID: 38318251 PMCID: PMC10840120 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2024.100115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Water is essential for metabolism and all life processes. Despite this, many organisms distributed across the kingdoms of life survive near-complete desiccation or anhydrobiosis. Increased intracellular viscosity, leading to the formation of a vitrified state is necessary, but not sufficient, for survival while dry. What properties of a vitrified system make it desiccation-tolerant or -sensitive are unknown. We have analyzed 18 different in vitro vitrified systems, composed of one of three protective disaccharides (trehalose, sucrose, or maltose) and glycerol, quantifying their enzyme-protective capacity and their material properties in a dry state. Protection conferred by mixtures containing maltose correlates strongly with increased water content, increased glass-transition temperature, and reduced glass former fragility, while the protection of glasses formed with sucrose correlates with increased glass transition temperature and the protection conferred by trehalose glasses correlates with reduced glass former fragility. Thus, in vitro different vitrified sugars confer protection through distinct material properties. Next, we examined the material properties of a dry desiccation tolerant and intolerant life stage from three different organisms. The dried desiccation tolerant life stage of all organisms had an increased glass transition temperature and reduced glass former fragility relative to its dried desiccation intolerant life stage. These results suggest in nature organismal desiccation tolerance relies on a combination of various material properties. This study advances our understanding of how protective and non-protective glasses differ in terms of material properties that promote anhydrobiosis. This knowledge presents avenues to develop novel stabilization technologies for pharmaceuticals that currently rely on the cold-chain. Statement of significance For the past three decades the anhydrobiosis field has lived with a paradox, while vitrification is necessary for survival in the dry state, it is not sufficient. Understanding what property(s) distinguishes a desiccation tolerant from an intolerant vitrified system and how anhydrobiotic organisms survive drying is one of the enduring mysteries of organismal physiology. Here we show in vitro the enzyme-protective capacity of different vitrifying sugars can be correlated with distinct material properties. However, in vivo, diverse desiccation tolerant organisms appear to combine these material properties to promote their survival in a dry state.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - U.G.V.S.S. Kumara
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | | | - Thomas C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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18
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Ye C, Guo J, Zhou XQ, Chen DG, Liu J, Peng X, Jaremko M, Jaremko Ł, Guo T, Liu CG, Chen K. The Dsup coordinates grain development and abiotic stress in rice. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108184. [PMID: 37977025 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
DNA damage is a serious threat to all living organisms and may be induced by environmental stressors. Previous studies have revealed that the tardigrade (Ramazzotius varieornatus) DNA damage suppressor protein Dsup has protective effects in human cells and tobacco. However, whether Dsup provides radiation damage protection more widely in crops is unclear. To explore the effects of Dsup in other crops, stable Dsup overexpression lines through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation were generated and their agronomic traits were deeply investigated. In this study, the overexpression of Dsup not only enhanced the DNA damage resistance at the seeds and seedlings stages, they also exhibited grain size enlargement and starch granule structure and cell size alteration by the scanning electron microscopy observation. Notably, the RNA-seq revealed that the Dsup plants increased radiation-related and abiotic stress-related gene expression in comparison to wild types, suggesting that Dsup is capable to coordinate normal growth and abiotic stress resistance in rice. Immunoprecipitation enrichment with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (IP-LC-MS) assays uncovered 21 proteins preferably interacting with Dsup in plants, suggesting that Dsup binds to transcription and translation related proteins to regulate the homeostasis between DNA protection and plant development. In conclusion, our data provide a detailed agronomic analysis of Dsup plants and potential mechanisms of Dsup function in crops. Our findings provide novel insights for the breeding of crop radiation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Ye
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jie Guo
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xin-Qiao Zhou
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Da-Gang Chen
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Xin Peng
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Łukasz Jaremko
- Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Tao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Institute of Future Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chuan-Guang Liu
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Ke Chen
- Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Rice Engineering Laboratory, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Genetic and Breeding of High Quality Rice in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
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19
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Ramirez JF, Kumara U, Arulsamy N, Boothby TC. Water content, transition temperature and fragility influence protection and anhydrobiotic capacity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547256. [PMID: 38014150 PMCID: PMC10680572 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Water is essential for metabolism and all life processes. Despite this, many organisms distributed across the kingdoms of life survive near-complete desiccation or anhydrobiosis (Greek for "life without water"). Increased intracellular viscosity, leading to the formation of a vitrified state is necessary, but not sufficient, for survival while dry. What properties of a vitrified system make it desiccation-tolerant or -sensitive are unknown. We have analyzed 18 different in vitro vitrified systems, composed of one of three protective disaccharides (trehalose, sucrose, or maltose) and varying amounts of glycerol, quantifying their enzyme-protective capacity and their material properties in a dry state. We find that protection conferred by mixtures containing maltose correlates strongly with increased water content, increased glass-transition temperature, and reduced glass former fragility, while the protection of glasses formed with sucrose correlates with increased glass transition temperature and the protection conferred by trehalose glasses correlates with reduced glass former fragility. Thus, in vitro different vitrified sugars confer protection through distinct material properties. Extending on this, we have examined the material properties of a dry desiccation tolerant and intolerant life stage from three different organisms. In all cases, the dried desiccation tolerant life stage of an organism had an increased glass transition temperature relative to its dried desiccation intolerant life stage, and this trend is also seen in all three organisms when considering reduced glass former fragility. These results suggest that while drying of different protective sugars in vitro results in vitrified systems with distinct material properties that correlate with their enzyme-protective capacity, in nature organismal desiccation tolerance relies on a combination of these properties. This study advances our understanding of how protective and non-protective glasses differ in terms of material properties that promote anhydrobiosis. This knowledge presents avenues to develop novel stabilization technologies for pharmaceuticals that currently rely on the cold-chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
| | - U.G.V.S.S. Kumara
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
| | | | - Thomas C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
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20
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Hatzianestis IH, Mountourakis F, Stavridou S, Moschou PN. Plant condensates: no longer membrane-less? TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:1101-1112. [PMID: 37183142 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Cellular condensation is a reinvigorated area of study in biology, with scientific discussions focusing mainly on the forces that drive condensate formation, properties, and functions. Usually, condensates are called 'membrane-less' to highlight the absence of a surrounding membrane and the lack of associated contacts. In this opinion article we take a different direction, focusing on condensates that may be interfacing with membranes and their possible functions. We also highlight changes in condensate material properties brought about by condensate-membrane interactions, proposing how condensates-membrane interfaces could potentially affect interorganellar communication, development, and growth, but also adaptation in an evolutionary context. We would thus like to stimulate research in this area, which is much less understood in plants compared with the animal field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis H Hatzianestis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Fanourios Mountourakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | | | - Panagiotis N Moschou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece; Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
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21
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Prasad A, Sreedharan S, Bakthavachalu B, Laxman S. Eggs of the mosquito Aedes aegypti survive desiccation by rewiring their polyamine and lipid metabolism. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002342. [PMID: 37874799 PMCID: PMC10597479 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002342] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon water loss, some organisms pause their life cycles and escape death. While widespread in microbes, this is less common in animals. Aedes mosquitoes are vectors for viral diseases. Aedes eggs can survive dry environments, but molecular and cellular principles enabling egg survival through desiccation remain unknown. In this report, we find that Aedes aegypti eggs, in contrast to Anopheles stephensi, survive desiccation by acquiring desiccation tolerance at a late developmental stage. We uncover unique proteome and metabolic state changes in Aedes embryos during desiccation that reflect reduced central carbon metabolism, rewiring towards polyamine production, and enhanced lipid utilisation for energy and polyamine synthesis. Using inhibitors targeting these processes in blood-fed mosquitoes that lay eggs, we infer a two-step process of desiccation tolerance in Aedes eggs. The metabolic rewiring towards lipid breakdown and dependent polyamine accumulation confers resistance to desiccation. Furthermore, rapid lipid breakdown is required to fuel energetic requirements upon water reentry to enable larval hatching and survival upon rehydration. This study is fundamental to understanding Aedes embryo survival and in controlling the spread of these mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Prasad
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) Centre at inStem, Bangalore, India
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT-inStem), Bangalore, India
| | - Sreesa Sreedharan
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT-inStem), Bangalore, India
- SASTRA University, Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, India
| | - Baskar Bakthavachalu
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) Centre at inStem, Bangalore, India
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, India
| | - Sunil Laxman
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT-inStem), Bangalore, India
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22
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Giovannini I, Manfrin C, Greco S, Vincenzi J, Altiero T, Guidetti R, Giulianini P, Rebecchi L. Increasing temperature-driven changes in life history traits and gene expression of an Antarctic tardigrade species. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1258932. [PMID: 37766751 PMCID: PMC10520964 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1258932] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic region has been experiencing some of the planet's strongest climatic changes, including an expected increase of the land temperature. The potential effects of this warming trend will lead ecosystems to a risk of losing biodiversity. Antarctic mosses and lichens host different microbial groups, micro-arthropods and meiofaunal organisms (e.g., tardigrades, rotifers). The eutardigrade Acutuncus antarcticus is considered a model animal to study the effect of increasing temperature due to global warming on Antarctic terrestrial communities. In this study, life history traits and fitness of this species are analyzed by rearing specimens at two different and increasing temperatures (5°C vs. 15°C). Moreover, the first transcriptome analysis on A. antarcticus is performed, exposing adult animals to a gradual increase of temperature (5°C, 10°C, 15°C, and 20°C) to find differentially expressed genes under short- (1 day) and long-term (15 days) heat stress. Acutuncus antarcticus specimens reared at 5°C live longer (maximum life span: 686 days), reach sexual maturity later, lay more eggs (which hatch in longer time and in lower percentage) compared with animals reared at 15°C. The fitness decreases in animals belonging to the second generation at both rearing temperatures. The short-term heat exposure leads to significant changes at transcriptomic level, with 67 differentially expressed genes. Of these, 23 upregulated genes suggest alterations of mitochondrial activity and oxido-reductive processes, and two intrinsically disordered protein genes confirm their role to cope with heat stress. The long-term exposure induces alterations limited to 14 genes, and only one annotated gene is upregulated in response to both heat stresses. The decline in transcriptomic response after a long-term exposure indicates that the changes observed in the short-term are likely due to an acclimation response. Therefore, A. antarcticus could be able to cope with increasing temperature over time, including the future conditions imposed by global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Giovannini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Manfrin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Samuele Greco
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joel Vincenzi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tiziana Altiero
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Education and Humanities, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Roberto Guidetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Piero Giulianini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorena Rebecchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
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23
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Nagwani AK, Budka A, Łacka A, Kaczmarek Ł, Kmita H. The effect of hypomagnetic field on survival and mitochondrial functionality of active Paramacrobiotus experimentalis females and males of different age. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1253483. [PMID: 37745239 PMCID: PMC10514487 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1253483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Even for tardigrades, often called the toughest animals on Earth, a hypomagnetic field (HMF) is an extreme environment. However, studies on the effect of HMF on tardigrades and other invertebrates are scarce. Mitochondria play an important role in an organism's response to extreme conditions. The effect of HMF on the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (Δψ), a well-known marker of mitochondria functionality, shows that mitochondria are very sensitive to HMF. To measure the HMF effect on Paramacrobiotus experimentalis, we calculated the tardigrade survival rate and Δψ level after HMF treatments of different durations. We also estimated the relationship between the age and sex of the tardigrade and the HMF effect. We observed age- and sex-related differences in Δψ and found that Δψ changes after HMF treatment were dependent on its duration as well as the animal's age and sex. Furthermore, active P. experimentalis individuals displayed a high survival rate after HMF treatment. The data may contribute to the understanding of tardigrade aging and their resistance to extreme conditions including HMF, which in turn may be useful for future space explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Nagwani
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Anna Budka
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Łacka
- Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hanna Kmita
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
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24
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Field S, Jang GJ, Dean C, Strader LC, Rhee SY. Plants use molecular mechanisms mediated by biomolecular condensates to integrate environmental cues with development. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3173-3186. [PMID: 36879427 PMCID: PMC10473230 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This review highlights recent literature on biomolecular condensates in plant development and discusses challenges for fully dissecting their functional roles. Plant developmental biology has been inundated with descriptive examples of biomolecular condensate formation, but it is only recently that mechanistic understanding has been forthcoming. Here, we discuss recent examples of potential roles biomolecular condensates play at different stages of the plant life cycle. We group these examples based on putative molecular functions, including sequestering interacting components, enhancing dwell time, and interacting with cytoplasmic biophysical properties in response to environmental change. We explore how these mechanisms could modulate plant development in response to environmental inputs and discuss challenges and opportunities for further research into deciphering molecular mechanisms to better understand the diverse roles that biomolecular condensates exert on life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling Field
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Geng-Jen Jang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Caroline Dean
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Lucia C Strader
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Seung Y Rhee
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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25
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Zarubin M, Azorskaya T, Kuldoshina O, Alekseev S, Mitrofanov S, Kravchenko E. The tardigrade Dsup protein enhances radioresistance in Drosophila melanogaster and acts as an unspecific repressor of transcription. iScience 2023; 26:106998. [PMID: 37534176 PMCID: PMC10391675 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106998] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The tardigrade-unique damage suppressor protein (Dsup) can protect DNA from ionizing radiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we generated Dsup-expressing lines of Drosophila melanogaster and demonstrated that Dsup increased the survival rate after γ-ray irradiation and hydrogen peroxide treatment in flies too, but reduced the level of their locomotor activity. The transcriptome analyses of Dsup-expressing lines revealed a significant number of DEGs, >99% of which were down-regulated. Moreover, Dsup could bind RNA. These findings suggest that Dsup can act not only as a DNA protector but also as a non-specific transcriptional repressor and RNA-binding protein, that may lead to disturbance of a number of biological processes in D. melanogaster. The obtained data demonstrate features of the Dsup protein action in non-tardigrade organisms and can be used to understand the impact of other unspecific DNA/RNA-binding proteins on ROS and radiation resistance, gene expression, and epigenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Zarubin
- Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
| | - Talyana Azorskaya
- Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
| | - Olga Kuldoshina
- Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
| | - Sergey Alekseev
- Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
| | - Semen Mitrofanov
- Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
| | - Elena Kravchenko
- Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems, International Intergovernmental Organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia
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26
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Sanchez-Martinez S, Ramirez JF, Meese EK, Childs CA, Boothby TC. The tardigrade protein CAHS D interacts with, but does not retain, water in hydrated and desiccated systems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10449. [PMID: 37369754 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37485-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are a group of microscopic animals renowned for their ability to survive near complete desiccation. A family of proteins, unique to tardigrades, called Cytoplasmic Abundant Heat Soluble (CAHS) proteins are necessary to mediate robust desiccation tolerance in these animals. However, the mechanism(s) by which CAHS proteins help to protect tardigrades during water-loss have not been fully elucidated. Here we use thermogravimetric analysis to empirically test the proposed hypothesis that tardigrade CAHS proteins, due to their propensity to form hydrogels, help to retain water during desiccation. We find that regardless of its gelled state, both in vitro and in vivo, a model CAHS protein (CAHS D) retains no more water than common proteins and control cells in the dry state. However, we find that while CAHS D proteins do not increase the total amount of water retained in a dry system, they interact with the small amount of water that does remain. Our study indicates that desiccation tolerance mediated by CAHS D cannot be simply ascribed to water retention and instead implicates its ability to interact more tightly with residual water as a possible mechanism underlying its protective capacity. These results advance our fundamental understanding of tardigrade desiccation tolerance which could provide potential avenues for new technologies to aid in the storage of dry shelf-stable pharmaceuticals and the generation of stress tolerant crops to ensure food security in the face of global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John F Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Emma K Meese
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Charles A Childs
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
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27
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Eicher J, Hutcheson BO, Pielak GJ. Properties of a tardigrade desiccation-tolerance protein aerogel. Biophys J 2023; 122:2500-2505. [PMID: 37149732 PMCID: PMC10323019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.05.002] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyophilization is promising for tackling degradation during the drying and storage of protein-based drugs. Tardigrade cytosolically abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins are necessary and sufficient for desiccation-tolerance in vivo and protein protection in vitro. Hydrated CAHS proteins form coiled-coil-based fine-stranded, cold-setting hydrogels, but the dried protein remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we show that dried CAHS D gels (i.e., aerogels) retain the structural units of their hydrogels, but the details depend on prelyophilization CAHS concentrations. Low concentration samples (<10 g/L) form thin (<0.2 μm) tangled fibrils lacking regular structure on the micron scale. Upon increasing the concentration, the fibers thicken and form slabs comprising the walls of the aerogel pores. These changes in morphology are associated with a loss in disorder and an increase in large β sheets and a decrease in α helices and random coils. This disorder-to-order transition is also seen in hydrated gels as a function of concentration. These results suggest a mechanism for pore formation and indicate that using CAHS proteins as excipients will require attention to initial conditions because the starting concentration impacts the lyophilized product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Eicher
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Brent O Hutcheson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gary J Pielak
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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28
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Novotná Floriančičová K, Baltzis A, Smejkal J, Czerneková M, Kaczmarek Ł, Malý J, Notredame C, Vinopal S. Phylogenetic and functional characterization of water bears (Tardigrada) tubulins. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5194. [PMID: 36997657 PMCID: PMC10063605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31992-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are microscopic ecdysozoans that can withstand extreme environmental conditions. Several tardigrade species undergo reversible morphological transformations and enter into cryptobiosis, which helps them to survive periods of unfavorable environmental conditions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of cryptobiosis are mostly unknown. Tubulins are evolutionarily conserved components of the microtubule cytoskeleton that are crucial in many cellular processes. We hypothesize that microtubules are necessary for the morphological changes associated with successful cryptobiosis. The molecular composition of the microtubule cytoskeleton in tardigrades is unknown. Therefore, we analyzed and characterized tardigrade tubulins and identified 79 tardigrade tubulin sequences in eight taxa. We found three α-, seven β-, one γ-, and one ε-tubulin isoform. To verify in silico identified tardigrade tubulins, we also isolated and sequenced nine out of ten predicted Hypsibius exemplaris tubulins. All tardigrade tubulins were localized as expected when overexpressed in mammalian cultured cells: to the microtubules or to the centrosomes. The presence of a functional ε-tubulin, clearly localized to centrioles, is attractive from a phylogenetic point of view. Although the phylogenetically close Nematoda lost their δ- and ε-tubulins, some groups of Arthropoda still possess them. Thus, our data support the current placement of tardigrades into the Panarthropoda clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Novotná Floriančičová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University (UJEP), Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, UJEP, Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jiří Smejkal
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, UJEP, Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Czerneková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University (UJEP), Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Malý
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, UJEP, Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Cedric Notredame
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stanislav Vinopal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University (UJEP), Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic.
- Centre for Nanotechnology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, UJEP, Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic.
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29
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Packebush MH, Sanchez-Martinez S, Biswas S, Kc S, Nguyen KH, Ramirez JF, Nicholson V, Boothby TC. Natural and engineered mediators of desiccation tolerance stabilize Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII in a dry state. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4542. [PMID: 36941331 PMCID: PMC10027729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31586-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biologics, pharmaceuticals containing or derived from living organisms, such as vaccines, antibodies, stem cells, blood, and blood products are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, nearly all biologics have a major deficiency: they are inherently unstable, requiring storage under constant cold conditions. The so-called 'cold-chain', while effective, represents a serious economic and logistical hurdle for deploying biologics in remote, underdeveloped, or austere settings where access to cold-chain infrastructure ranging from refrigerators and freezers to stable electricity is limited. To address this issue, we explore the possibility of using anhydrobiosis, the ability of organisms such as tardigrades to enter a reversible state of suspended animation brought on by extreme drying, as a jumping off point in the development of dry storage technology that would allow biologics to be kept in a desiccated state under not only ambient but elevated temperatures. Here we examine the ability of different protein and sugar-based mediators of anhydrobiosis derived from tardigrades and other anhydrobiotic organisms to stabilize Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under repeated dehydration/rehydration cycles, thermal stress, and long-term dry storage conditions. We find that while both protein and sugar-based protectants can stabilize the biologic pharmaceutical Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under all these conditions, protein-based mediators offer more accessible avenues for engineering and thus tuning of protective function. Using classic protein engineering approaches, we fine tune the biophysical properties of a protein-based mediator of anhydrobiosis derived from a tardigrade, CAHS D. Modulating the ability of CAHS D to form hydrogels make the protein better or worse at providing protection to Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under different conditions. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of tardigrade CAHS proteins and other mediators of desiccation tolerance at preserving the function of a biologic without the need for the cold-chain. In addition, our study demonstrates that engineering approaches can tune natural products to serve specific protective functions, such as coping with desiccation cycling versus thermal stress. Ultimately, these findings provide a proof of principle that our reliance on the cold-chain to stabilize life-saving pharmaceuticals can be broken using natural and engineered mediators of desiccation tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sourav Biswas
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Shraddha Kc
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Kenny H Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - John F Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Vincent Nicholson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
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30
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Kasianchuk N, Rzymski P, Kaczmarek Ł. The biomedical potential of tardigrade proteins: A review. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114063. [PMID: 36495665 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are ubiquitous microinvertebrates exhibiting extreme tolerance to various environmental stressors like low and high temperatures, lack of water, or high radiation. Although exact pathways behind the tardigrade extremotolerance are yet to be elucidated, some molecules involved have been identified. Their evidenced properties may lead to novel opportunities in biomedical and pharmacological development. This review aims to present the general characteristics of tardigrade intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs: Dsup, CAHS, SAHS, MAHS) and late embryogenesis-abundant proteins (LEA) and provide an updated overview of their features and relevance for potential use in biomedicine and pharmacology. The Dsup reveals a promising action in attenuating oxidative stress, DNA damage, and pyrimidine dimerization, as well as increasing radiotolerance in transfected human cells. Whether Dsup can perform these functions when delivered externally is yet to be understood by in vivo preclinical testing. In turn, CAHS and SAHS demonstrate properties that could benefit the preservation of pharmaceuticals (e.g., vaccines) and biomaterials (e.g., cells). Selected CAHS proteins can also serve as inspiration for designing novel anti-apoptotic agents. The LEA proteins also reveal promising properties to preserve desiccated biomaterials and can act as anti-osmotic agents. In summary, tardigrade molecules reveal several potential biomedical applications advocating further research and development. The challenge of extracting larger amounts of these molecules can be solved with genetic engineering and synthetic biology tools. With new species identified each year and ongoing studies on their extremotolerance, progress in the medical use of tardigrade proteins is expected shortly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiia Kasianchuk
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland; Faculty of Pharmacy, Bogomolets Nationals Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; Integrated Science Association (ISA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
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31
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Zhang H, Liu Q, Liang Q, Wang B, Chen Z, Wang J. Expression of tardigrade disordered proteins impacts the tolerance to biofuels in a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1091502. [PMID: 36687595 PMCID: PMC9845703 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1091502] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades, known colloquially as water bears or moss piglets, are diminutive animals capable of surviving many extreme environments, even been exposed to space in low Earth orbit. Recently termed tardigrade disordered proteins (TDPs) include three families as cytoplasmic-(CAHS), secreted-(SAHS), and mitochondrial-abundant heat soluble (MAHS) proteins. How these tiny animals survive these stresses has remained relatively mysterious. Cyanobacteria cast attention as a "microbial factory" to produce biofuels and high-value-added chemicals due to their ability to photosynthesis and CO2 sequestration. We explored a lot about biofuel stress and related mechanisms in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The previous studies show that CAHS protein heterogenous expression in bacteria, yeast, and human cells increases desiccation tolerance in these hosts. In this study, the expression of three CAHS proteins in cyanobacterium was found to affect the tolerance to biofuels, while the tolerance to Cd2+ and Zn2+ were slightly affected in several mutants. A quantitative transcriptomics approach was applied to decipher response mechanisms at the transcriptional level further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heao Zhang
- Whittle School and Studios, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qingyang Liu
- Whittle School and Studios, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing Liang
- Shenzhen Link Spider Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Boxiang Wang
- Shenzhen Link Spider Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Boxiang Wang, Zixi Chen
| | - Zixi Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Boxiang Wang, Zixi Chen
| | - Jiangxin Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Hernández-Sánchez IE, Maruri-López I, Martinez-Martinez C, Janis B, Jiménez-Bremont JF, Covarrubias AA, Menze MA, Graether SP, Thalhammer A. LEAfing through literature: late embryogenesis abundant proteins coming of age-achievements and perspectives. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:6525-6546. [PMID: 35793147 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To deal with increasingly severe periods of dehydration related to global climate change, it becomes increasingly important to understand the complex strategies many organisms have developed to cope with dehydration and desiccation. While it is undisputed that late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play a key role in the tolerance of plants and many anhydrobiotic organisms to water limitation, the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the physiological roles of LEA proteins and discuss their potential molecular functions. As these are ultimately linked to conformational changes in the presence of binding partners, post-translational modifications, or water deprivation, we provide a detailed summary of current knowledge on the structure-function relationship of LEA proteins, including their disordered state in solution, coil to helix transitions, self-assembly, and their recently discovered ability to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation. We point out the promising potential of LEA proteins in biotechnological and agronomic applications, and summarize recent advances. We identify the most relevant open questions and discuss major challenges in establishing a solid understanding of how these intriguing molecules accomplish their tasks as cellular sentinels at the limits of surviving water scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzell E Hernández-Sánchez
- Center for Desert Agriculture, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Israel Maruri-López
- Center for Desert Agriculture, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Coral Martinez-Martinez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Brett Janis
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Juan Francisco Jiménez-Bremont
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Molecular de Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, 78216, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Alejandra A Covarrubias
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico
| | - Michael A Menze
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Steffen P Graether
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anja Thalhammer
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, University of Potsdam, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Macdougall LJ, Hoffman TE, Kirkpatrick BE, Fairbanks BD, Bowman CN, Spencer SL, Anseth KS. Intracellular Crowding by Bio-Orthogonal Hydrogel Formation Induces Reversible Molecular Stasis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2202882. [PMID: 35671709 PMCID: PMC9377388 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To survive extreme conditions, certain animals enter a reversible protective stasis through vitrification of the cytosol by polymeric molecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. In this work, synthetic gelation of the cytosol in living cells is used to induce reversible molecular stasis. Through the sequential lipofectamine-mediated transfection of complementary poly(ethylene glycol) macromers into mammalian cells, intracellular crosslinking occurs through bio-orthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reactions. This achieves efficient polymer uptake with minimal cell death (99% viable). Intracellular crosslinking decreases DNA replication and protein synthesis, and increases the quiescent population by 2.5-fold. Real-time tracking of single cells containing intracellular crosslinked polymers identifies increases in intermitotic time (15 h vs 19 h) and decreases in motility (30 µm h-1 vs 15 µm h-1 ). The cytosol viscosity increases threefold after intracellular crosslinking and results in disordered cytoskeletal structure in addition to the disruption of cellular coordination in a scratch assay. By incorporating photodegradable nitrobenzyl moieties into the polymer backbone, the effects of intracellular crosslinking are reversed upon exposure to light, thereby restoring proliferation (80% phospho-Rb+ cells), protein translation, and migration. Reversible intracellular crosslinking provides a novel method for dynamic manipulation of intracellular mechanics, altering essential processes that determine cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Macdougall
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Timothy E Hoffman
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Bruce E Kirkpatrick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Benjamin D Fairbanks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Christopher N Bowman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Sabrina L Spencer
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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Goldstein B. Tardigrades. Nat Methods 2022; 19:904-905. [PMID: 35927483 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01573-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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35
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Raga-Carbajal E, Espin G, Ayala M, Rodríguez-Salazar J, Pardo-López L. Evaluation of a bacterial group 1 LEA protein as an enzyme protectant from stress-induced inactivation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5551-5562. [PMID: 35906439 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12080-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are hydrophilic proteins that lack a well-ordered tertiary structure and accumulate to high levels in response to water deficit, in organisms such as plants, fungi, and bacteria. The mechanisms proposed to protect cellular structures and enzymes are water replacement, ion sequestering, and membrane stabilization. The activity of some proteins has a limited shelf-life due to instability that can be caused by their structure or the presence of a stress condition that limits their activity; several LEA proteins have been shown to behave as cryoprotectants in vitro. Here, we report a group1 LEA from Azotobacter vinelandii AvLEA1, capable of conferring protection to lactate dehydrogenase, catechol dioxygenase, and Baylase peroxidase against freeze-thaw treatments, desiccation, and oxidative damage, making AvLEA a promising biological stabilizer reagent. This is the first evidence of protection provided by this LEA on enzymes with biotechnological potential, such as dioxygenase and peroxidase under in vitro stress conditions. Our results suggest that AvLEA could act as a molecular chaperone, or a "molecular shield," preventing either dissociation or antiaggregation, or as a radical scavenger, thus preventing damage to these target enzymes during induced stress. KEY POINTS: • This work expands the basic knowledge of the less-known bacterial LEA proteins and their in vitro protection potential. • AvLEA is a bacterial protein that confers in vitro protection to three enzymes with different characteristics and oligomeric arrangement. • The use of AvLEA as a stabilizer agent could be further explored using dioxygenase and peroxidase in bioremediation treatments. AvLEA1 protects against freeze-thaw treatments, desiccation, and oxidative damage on three different enzymes with biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Raga-Carbajal
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad #2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Espin
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad #2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Marcela Ayala
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular Y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad #2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Julieta Rodríguez-Salazar
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad #2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Liliana Pardo-López
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad #2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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Brom JA, Pielak GJ. Desiccation-tolerance and globular proteins adsorb similar amounts of water. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4288. [PMID: 35481639 PMCID: PMC8994485 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4288] [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: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
When exposed to desiccation stress, extremotolerant organisms from all domains of life produce protective disordered proteins with the potential to inform the design of excipients for formulating biologics and industrial enzymes. However, the mechanism(s) of desiccation protection remain largely unknown. To investigate the role of water sorption in desiccation protection, we use thermogravimetric analysis to study water adsorption by two desiccation-tolerance proteins, cytosolic abundant heat soluble protein D from tardigrades and late embryogenesis abundant protein 4 from the anhydrobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki, and, as a control, the globular B1 domain of staphylococcal protein G. All samples adsorb similar amounts of water, suggesting that modulated water retention is not responsible for dehydration protection by desiccation-tolerance proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Brom
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gary J Pielak
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Abstract
Experimentally tractable organisms like C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse are popular models for addressing diverse questions in biology. In 1997, two of the most valuable invertebrate model organisms to date-C. elegans and Drosophila-were found to be much more closely related to each other than expected. C. elegans and Drosophila belong to the nematodes and arthropods, respectively, and these two phyla and six other phyla make up a clade of molting animals referred to as the Ecdysozoa. The other ecdysozoan phyla could be valuable models for comparative biology, taking advantage of the rich and continual sources of research findings as well as tools from both C. elegans and Drosophila. But when the Ecdysozoa was first recognized, few tools were available for laboratory studies in any of these six other ecdysozoan phyla. In 1999 I began an effort to develop tools for studying one such phylum, the tardigrades. Here, I describe how the tardigrade species Hypsibius exemplaris and tardigrades more generally have emerged over the past two decades as valuable new models for answering diverse questions. To date, these questions have included how animal body plans evolve and how biological materials can survive some remarkably extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.
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Poprawa I, Bartylak T, Kulpla A, Erdmann W, Roszkowska M, Chajec Ł, Kaczmarek Ł, Karachitos A, Kmita H. Verification of Hypsibius exemplaris Gąsiorek et al., 2018 (Eutardigrada; Hypsibiidae) application in anhydrobiosis research. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0261485. [PMID: 35303010 PMCID: PMC8932574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Anhydrobiosis is considered to be an adaptation of important applicative implications because it enables resistance to the lack of water. The phenomenon is still not well understood at molecular level. Thus, a good model invertebrate species for the research is required. The best known anhydrobiotic invertebrates are tardigrades (Tardigrada), considered to be toughest animals in the world. Hypsibius. exemplaris is one of the best studied tardigrade species, with its name "exemplaris" referring to the widespread use of the species as a laboratory model for various types of research. However, available data suggest that anhydrobiotic capability of the species may be overestimated. Therefore, we determined anhydrobiosis survival by Hys. exemplaris specimens using three different anhydrobiosis protocols. We also checked ultrastructure of storage cells within formed dormant structures (tuns) that has not been studied yet for Hys. exemplaris. These cells are known to support energetic requirements of anhydrobiosis. The obtained results indicate that Hys. exemplaris appears not to be a good model species for anhydrobiosis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Poprawa
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa, Katowice, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bartylak
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Adam Kulpla
- Center for Advanced Technology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Weronika Erdmann
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Milena Roszkowska
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Chajec
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Andonis Karachitos
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hanna Kmita
- Department of Bioenergetics, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego, Poznań, Poland
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CsrA-Controlled Proteins Reveal New Dimensions of Acinetobacter baumannii Desiccation Tolerance. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0047921. [PMID: 35285725 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00479-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hospital environments are excellent reservoirs for the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii in part because it is exceptionally tolerant to desiccation. We found that relative to other A. baumannii strains, the virulent strain AB5075 was strikingly desiccation resistant at 2% relative humidity (RH), suggesting that it is a good model for studies of the functional basis of this trait. Consistent with results from other A. baumannii strains at 40% RH, we found the global posttranscriptional regulator CsrA to be critically important for desiccation tolerance of AB5075 at 2% RH. Proteomics experiments identified proteins that were differentially present in wild-type and csrA mutant cells. Subsequent analysis of mutants in genes encoding some of these proteins revealed six genes that were required for wild-type levels of desiccation tolerance. These include genes for catalase, a universal stress protein, a hypothetical protein, and a biofilm-associated protein. Two genes of unknown function had very strong desiccation phenotypes, with one of the two genes predicting an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that binds to DNA. Intrinsically disordered proteins are widespread in eukaryotes but less so in prokaryotes. Our results suggest there are new mechanisms underlying desiccation tolerance in bacteria and identify several key functions involved. IMPORTANCE Acinetobacter baumannii is found in terrestrial environments but can cause nosocomial infections in very sick patients. A factor that contributes to the prevalence of A. baumannii in hospital settings is that it is intrinsically resistant to dry conditions. Here, we established the virulent strain A. baumannii AB5075 as a model for studies of desiccation tolerance at very low relative humidity. Our results show that this trait depends on two proteins of unknown function, one of which is predicted to be an intrinsically disordered protein. This category of protein is critical for the small animals named tardigrades to survive desiccation. Our results suggest that A. baumannii may have novel strategies to survive desiccation that have not previously been seen in bacteria.
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Kulkarni P, Leite VBP, Roy S, Bhattacharyya S, Mohanty A, Achuthan S, Singh D, Appadurai R, Rangarajan G, Weninger K, Orban J, Srivastava A, Jolly MK, Onuchic JN, Uversky VN, Salgia R. Intrinsically disordered proteins: Ensembles at the limits of Anfinsen's dogma. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:011306. [PMID: 38505224 PMCID: PMC10903413 DOI: 10.1063/5.0080512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are proteins that lack rigid 3D structure. Hence, they are often misconceived to present a challenge to Anfinsen's dogma. However, IDPs exist as ensembles that sample a quasi-continuum of rapidly interconverting conformations and, as such, may represent proteins at the extreme limit of the Anfinsen postulate. IDPs play important biological roles and are key components of the cellular protein interaction network (PIN). Many IDPs can interconvert between disordered and ordered states as they bind to appropriate partners. Conformational dynamics of IDPs contribute to conformational noise in the cell. Thus, the dysregulation of IDPs contributes to increased noise and "promiscuous" interactions. This leads to PIN rewiring to output an appropriate response underscoring the critical role of IDPs in cellular decision making. Nonetheless, IDPs are not easily tractable experimentally. Furthermore, in the absence of a reference conformation, discerning the energy landscape representation of the weakly funneled IDPs in terms of reaction coordinates is challenging. To understand conformational dynamics in real time and decipher how IDPs recognize multiple binding partners with high specificity, several sophisticated knowledge-based and physics-based in silico sampling techniques have been developed. Here, using specific examples, we highlight recent advances in energy landscape visualization and molecular dynamics simulations to discern conformational dynamics and discuss how the conformational preferences of IDPs modulate their function, especially in phenotypic switching. Finally, we discuss recent progress in identifying small molecules targeting IDPs underscoring the potential therapeutic value of IDPs. Understanding structure and function of IDPs can not only provide new insight on cellular decision making but may also help to refine and extend Anfinsen's structure/function paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Vitor B. P. Leite
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Susmita Roy
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharyya
- Translational Bioinformatics, Center for Informatics, Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Srisairam Achuthan
- Center for Informatics, Division of Research Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Divyoj Singh
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Rajeswari Appadurai
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Govindan Rangarajan
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Keith Weninger
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | | | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Jose N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892, USA
| | | | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
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Giovannini I, Boothby TC, Cesari M, Goldstein B, Guidetti R, Rebecchi L. Production of reactive oxygen species and involvement of bioprotectants during anhydrobiosis in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus spatialis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1938. [PMID: 35121798 PMCID: PMC8816950 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05734-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Water unavailability is an abiotic stress causing unfavourable conditions for life. Nevertheless, some animals evolved anhydrobiosis, a strategy allowing for the reversible organism dehydration and suspension of metabolism as a direct response to habitat desiccation. Anhydrobiotic animals undergo biochemical changes synthesizing bioprotectants to help combat desiccation stresses. One stress is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus spatialis was used to investigate the occurrence of ROS associated with the desiccation process. We observed that the production of ROS significantly increases as a function of time spent in anhydrobiosis and represents a direct demonstration of oxidative stress in tardigrades. The degree of involvement of bioprotectants, including those combating ROS, in the P. spatialis was evaluated by perturbing their gene functions using RNA interference and assessing the successful recovery of animals after desiccation/rehydration. Targeting the glutathione peroxidase gene compromised survival during drying and rehydration, providing evidence for the role of the gene in desiccation tolerance. Targeting genes encoding glutathione reductase and catalase indicated that these molecules play roles during rehydration. Our study also confirms the involvement of aquaporins 3 and 10 during rehydration. Therefore, desiccation tolerance depends on the synergistic action of many different molecules working together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Giovannini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michele Cesari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Roberto Guidetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Lorena Rebecchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/D, 41125, Modena, Italy
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Matilla AJ. The Orthodox Dry Seeds Are Alive: A Clear Example of Desiccation Tolerance. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:plants11010020. [PMID: 35009023 PMCID: PMC8747232 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
To survive in the dry state, orthodox seeds acquire desiccation tolerance. As maturation progresses, the seeds gradually acquire longevity, which is the total timespan during which the dry seeds remain viable. The desiccation-tolerance mechanism(s) allow seeds to remain dry without losing their ability to germinate. This adaptive trait has played a key role in the evolution of land plants. Understanding the mechanisms for seed survival after desiccation is one of the central goals still unsolved. That is, the cellular protection during dry state and cell repair during rewatering involves a not entirely known molecular network(s). Although desiccation tolerance is retained in seeds of higher plants, resurrection plants belonging to different plant lineages keep the ability to survive desiccation in vegetative tissue. Abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in desiccation tolerance through tight control of the synthesis of unstructured late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, heat shock thermostable proteins (sHSPs), and non-reducing oligosaccharides. During seed maturation, the progressive loss of water induces the formation of a so-called cellular "glass state". This glassy matrix consists of soluble sugars, which immobilize macromolecules offering protection to membranes and proteins. In this way, the secondary structure of proteins in dry viable seeds is very stable and remains preserved. ABA insensitive-3 (ABI3), highly conserved from bryophytes to Angiosperms, is essential for seed maturation and is the only transcription factor (TF) required for the acquisition of desiccation tolerance and its re-induction in germinated seeds. It is noteworthy that chlorophyll breakdown during the last step of seed maturation is controlled by ABI3. This update contains some current results directly related to the physiological, genetic, and molecular mechanisms involved in survival to desiccation in orthodox seeds. In other words, the mechanisms that facilitate that an orthodox dry seed is a living entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel J Matilla
- Departamento de Biología Funcional (Área Fisiología Vegetal), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Yagi-Utsumi M, Aoki K, Watanabe H, Song C, Nishimura S, Satoh T, Yanaka S, Ganser C, Tanaka S, Schnapka V, Goh EW, Furutani Y, Murata K, Uchihashi T, Arakawa K, Kato K. Desiccation-induced fibrous condensation of CAHS protein from an anhydrobiotic tardigrade. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21328. [PMID: 34737320 PMCID: PMC8569203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00724-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Anhydrobiosis, one of the most extensively studied forms of cryptobiosis, is induced in certain organisms as a response to desiccation. Anhydrobiotic species has been hypothesized to produce substances that can protect their biological components and/or cell membranes without water. In extremotolerant tardigrades, highly hydrophilic and heat-soluble protein families, cytosolic abundant heat-soluble (CAHS) proteins, have been identified, which are postulated to be integral parts of the tardigrades' response to desiccation. In this study, to elucidate these protein functions, we performed in vitro and in vivo characterizations of the reversible self-assembling property of CAHS1 protein, a major isoform of CAHS proteins from Ramazzottius varieornatus, using a series of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. We found that CAHS1 proteins homo-oligomerized via the C-terminal α-helical region and formed a hydrogel as their concentration increased. We also demonstrated that the overexpressed CAHS1 proteins formed condensates under desiccation-mimicking conditions. These data strongly suggested that, upon drying, the CAHS1 proteins form oligomers and eventually underwent sol-gel transition in tardigrade cytosols. Thus, it is proposed that the CAHS1 proteins form the cytosolic fibrous condensates, which presumably have variable mechanisms for the desiccation tolerance of tardigrades. These findings provide insights into molecular strategies of organisms to adapt to extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maho Yagi-Utsumi
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, 465-8603, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Aoki
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Hiroki Watanabe
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Chihong Song
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Seiji Nishimura
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, 465-8603, Japan
| | - Tadashi Satoh
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, 465-8603, Japan
| | - Saeko Yanaka
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, 465-8603, Japan
| | - Christian Ganser
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Sae Tanaka
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, 997-0017, Japan
| | - Vincent Schnapka
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, 75005, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38044, Grenoble, France
| | - Ean Wai Goh
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Yuji Furutani
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, 466-8555, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Murata
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
- Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, 997-0017, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-0882, Japan
| | - Koichi Kato
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
- Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan.
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, 465-8603, Japan.
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Bondos SE, Dunker AK, Uversky VN. On the roles of intrinsically disordered proteins and regions in cell communication and signaling. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:88. [PMID: 34461937 PMCID: PMC8404256 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00774-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
For proteins, the sequence → structure → function paradigm applies primarily to enzymes, transmembrane proteins, and signaling domains. This paradigm is not universal, but rather, in addition to structured proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDPs and IDRs) also carry out crucial biological functions. For these proteins, the sequence → IDP/IDR ensemble → function paradigm applies primarily to signaling and regulatory proteins and regions. Often, in order to carry out function, IDPs or IDRs cooperatively interact, either intra- or inter-molecularly, with structured proteins or other IDPs or intermolecularly with nucleic acids. In this IDP/IDR thematic collection published in Cell Communication and Signaling, thirteen articles are presented that describe IDP/IDR signaling molecules from a variety of organisms from humans to fruit flies and tardigrades ("water bears") and that describe how these proteins and regions contribute to the function and regulation of cell signaling. Collectively, these papers exhibit the diverse roles of disorder in responding to a wide range of signals as to orchestrate an array of organismal processes. They also show that disorder contributes to signaling in a broad spectrum of species, ranging from micro-organisms to plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Bondos
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - A Keith Dunker
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Russia.
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Wojciechowska D, Karachitos A, Roszkowska M, Rzeźniczak W, Sobkowiak R, Kaczmarek Ł, Kosicki JZ, Kmita H. Mitochondrial alternative oxidase contributes to successful tardigrade anhydrobiosis. Front Zool 2021; 18:15. [PMID: 33794934 PMCID: PMC8015188 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00400-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anhydrobiosis can be described as an adaptation to lack of water that enables some organisms, including tardigrades, to survive extreme conditions, even some that do not exist on Earth. The cellular mechanisms underlying anhydrobiosis are still not completely explained including the putative contribution of mitochondrial proteins. Since mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX), described as a drought response element in plants, was recently proposed for various invertebrates including tardigrades, we investigated whether AOX is involved in successful anhydrobiosis of tardigrades. Milnesium inceptum was used as a model for the study. We confirmed functionality of M. inceptum AOX and estimated its contribution to the tardigrade revival after anhydrobiosis of different durations. We observed that AOX activity was particularly important for M. inceptum revival after the long-term tun stage but did not affect the rehydration stage specifically. The results may contribute to our understanding and then application of anhydrobiosis underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Wojciechowska
- Department of Macromolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.,Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Andonis Karachitos
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Milena Roszkowska
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.,Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Wiktor Rzeźniczak
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Robert Sobkowiak
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jakub Z Kosicki
- Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hanna Kmita
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
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