Activation of an actin signaling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation

DMM Outstanding Paper Prize 2023 winners: Lídia Faria, Ffion R. Hammond and Amy Lewis

Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM) is delighted to announce that the winners of the DMM Outstanding Paper Prize 2023 are Lídia Faria for their Research Article (titled 'Activation of an actin signaling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation'), and Ffion R. Hammond and Amy Lewis for their Resource Article (titled 'An arginase 2 promoter transgenic line illuminates immune cell polarisation in zebrafish'). The two prizes of £1000 are awarded to the first author(s) of the papers that are judged by the journal's Editors to be the most outstanding contribution to the journal that year.

Synergistic modelling of human disease

Living model systems, ranging in complexity from bacterial culture to non-human primates, are a cornerstone in disease biology research. Despite their unquestionable usefulness, the disease modelling community remains acutely aware of the challenges and limitations of any individual model. To describe our collective predicament, we often (mis)use the quote by statistician George Box, ‘All models are wrong, but some are useful’.

WAVE2 Is a Vital Regulator in Myogenic Differentiation of Progenitor Cells through the Mechanosensitive MRTFA-SRF Axis

Skeletal myogenesis is an intricate process involving the differentiation of progenitor cells into myofibers, which is regulated by actin cytoskeletal dynamics and myogenic transcription factors. Although recent studies have demonstrated the pivotal roles of actin-binding proteins (ABPs) as mechanosensors and signal transducers, the biological significance of WAVE2 (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 2), an ABP essential for actin polymerization, in myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells has not been investigated. Our study provides important insights into the regulatory roles played by WAVE2 in the myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA)-serum response factor (SRF) signaling axis and differentiation of myoblasts. We demonstrate that WAVE2 expression is induced during myogenic differentiation and plays a pivotal role in actin cytoskeletal remodeling in C2C12 myoblasts. Knockdown of WAVE2 in C2C12 cells reduced filamentous actin levels, increased globular actin accumulation, and impaired the nuclear translocation of MRTFA. Furthermore, WAVE2 depletion in myoblasts inhibited the expression and transcriptional activity of SRF and suppressed cell proliferation in myoblasts. Consequently, WAVE2 knockdown suppressed myogenic regulatory factors (i.e., MyoD, MyoG, and SMYD1) expressions, thereby hindering the differentiation of myoblasts. Thus, this study suggests that WAVE2 is essential for myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells by modulating the mechanosensitive MRTFA-SRF axis.

Transcriptional co-activators: emerging roles in signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets for diseases

Specific cell states in metazoans are established by the symphony of gene expression programs that necessitate intricate synergic interactions between transcription factors and the co-activators. Deregulation of these regulatory molecules is associated with cell state transitions, which in turn is accountable for diverse maladies, including developmental disorders, metabolic disorders, and most significantly, cancer. A decade back most transcription factors, the key enablers of disease development, were historically viewed as 'undruggable'; however, in the intervening years, a wealth of literature validated that they can be targeted indirectly through transcriptional co-activators, their confederates in various physiological and molecular processes. These co-activators, along with transcription factors, have the ability to initiate and modulate transcription of diverse genes necessary for normal physiological functions, whereby, deregulation of such interactions may foster tissue-specific disease phenotype. Hence, it is essential to analyze how these co-activators modulate specific multilateral processes in coordination with other factors. The proposed review attempts to elaborate an in-depth account of the transcription co-activators, their involvement in transcription regulation, and context-specific contributions to pathophysiological conditions. This review also addresses an issue that has not been dealt with in a comprehensive manner and hopes to direct attention towards future research that will encompass patient-friendly therapeutic strategies, where drugs targeting co-activators will have enhanced benefits and reduced side effects. Additional insights into currently available therapeutic interventions and the associated constraints will eventually reveal multitudes of advanced therapeutic targets aiming for disease amelioration and good patient prognosis.

First person – Lídia Faria

First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Lídia Faria is first author on ‘ Activation of an actin signalling pathway in pre-malignant mammary epithelial cells by P-cadherin is essential for transformation’, published in DMM. Lídia is a PhD student in the lab of Florence Janody at Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, investigating how pre-malignant cells acquire characteristics of tumour cells.