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Falvo S, Minucci S, Santillo A, Senese R, Chieffi Baccari G, Venditti M. A short-term high-fat diet alters rat testicular activity and blood-testis barrier integrity through the SIRT1/NRF2/MAPKs signaling pathways. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1274035. [PMID: 38027181 PMCID: PMC10643185 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1274035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Overweight/obesity are metabolic disorder resulting from behavioral, environmental, and heritable causes. WHO estimates that 50% of adults and 30% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, and, in parallel, an ongoing decline in sperm quality and male fertility has been described. Numerous studies demonstrated the intimate association between overweight/obesity and reproductive dysfunction due to a highly intricate network of causes not yet completely understood. This study expands the knowledge on the impact of a short-term high-fat diet (st-HFD) on rat testicular activity, specifically on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, focusing on the involved molecular mechanisms related to mitochondrial dynamics, blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity, and SIRT1/NRF2/MAPKs pathways. Methods Ten adult Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of five and treated with a standard diet or an HFD for five weeks. At the end of the treatment, rats were anesthetized and sacrificed by decapitation. Blood was collected for serum sex hormone assay; one testis was stored at -80ÅãC for western blot analysis, and the other, was fixed for histological and immunofluorescence analysis. Results Five weeks of HFD results in reduced steroidogenesis, increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, and altered spermatogenesis, as highlighted by reduced protein levels ofmeiotic and post-meiotic markers. Further, we evidenced the compromission of the BTB integrity, as revealed by the downregulation of structural proteins (N-Cadherin, ZO-1, occludin, connexin 43, and VANGL2) other than the phosphorylation of regulative kinases (Src and FAK). At the molecular level, the impairment of mitochondrial dynamics (fission, fusion, andbiogenesis), and the dysregulation of the SIRT1/NRF2/MAPKs signaling pathways, were evidenced. Interestingly, no change was observed in the levels of pro-inflammatory markers (TNFα, NF-kB, and IL-6). Conclusions The combined data led us to confirm that overweight is a less severe state than obesity. Furthermore, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the association between metabolic disorders and male fertility could improve the possibility of identifying novel targets to prevent and treat fertility disorders related to overweight/obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Falvo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Caserta, Italy
| | - Sergio Minucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Santillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosalba Senese
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gabriella Chieffi Baccari
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Caserta, Italy
| | - Massimo Venditti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Napoli, Italy
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Navarrete-López P, Maroto M, Pericuesta E, Fernández-González R, Lombó M, Ramos-Ibeas P, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Loss of the importin Kpna2 causes infertility in male mice by disrupting the translocation of testis-specific transcription factors. iScience 2023; 26:107134. [PMID: 37456838 PMCID: PMC10338237 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107134] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Karyopherins mediate the movement between the nucleus and cytoplasm of specific proteins in diverse cellular processes. Through a loss-of-function approach, we here examine the role of Karyopherin Subunit Alpha 2 (Kpna2) in spermatogenesis. Knockout male mice exhibited reduced body size and sperm motility, increased sperm abnormalities, and led to the dysregulation of testis gene expression and ultimately to infertility. Impaired mRNA expression mainly affected clusters of genes expressed in spermatids and spermatocytes. Downregulated genes included a set of genes that participate in cell adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. We detected both the enrichment of some transcription factors that bind to regions around transcription start sites of downregulated genes and the impaired transport of specific factors to the nucleus of spermatid cells. We propose that Kpna2 is essential in the seminiferous tubules for promoting the translocation of testis-specific transcription factors that control the expression of genes related to ECM organization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Maroto
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Pericuesta
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marta Lombó
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Li H, Dong J, Cai M, Xu Z, Cheng XD, Qin JJ. Protein degradation technology: a strategic paradigm shift in drug discovery. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:138. [PMID: 34488823 PMCID: PMC8419833 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01146-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting pathogenic proteins with small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) has become a widely used strategy for treating malignant tumors. However, most intracellular proteins have been proven to be undruggable due to a lack of active sites, leading to a significant challenge in the design and development of SMIs. In recent years, the proteolysis-targeting chimeric technology and related emerging degradation technologies have provided additional approaches for targeting these undruggable proteins. These degradation technologies show a tendency of superiority over SMIs, including the rapid and continuous target consumption as well as the stronger pharmacological effects, being a hot topic in current research. This review mainly focuses on summarizing the development of protein degradation technologies in recent years. Their advantages, potential applications, and limitations are also discussed. We hope this review would shed light on the design, discovery, and clinical application of drugs associated with these degradation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobin Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Jinyun Dong
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
| | - Maohua Cai
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
| | - Zhiyuan Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
| | - Xiang-Dong Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
| | - Jiang-Jiang Qin
- Zhejiang Provincial Research Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, 310022 Zhejiang China
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053 China
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Jenardhanan P, Panneerselvam M, Mathur PP. Use of Molecular Modeling to Study Spermatogenesis: An Overview Using Proteins in Sertoli Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:205-214. [PMID: 34453738 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Computational structure prediction and analysis helps in understanding the structure and function of varied proteins, which otherwise becomes implausible to understand by experimental procedures. Computational techniques prove to be instrumental in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlies physiological processes and thereby also assist in identification of potent inhibitors. Spermatogenesis, being an important cellular process that decides the fate of the progeny, holds numerous molecular interaction data, which when identified and visualized with computational structural insights, might yield a cohesive and clear-cut perception to the functionality of several proteins involved. The present chapter deals with a few selected applications of computational structure prediction towards understanding the structure of proteins and highlights how these insights are useful in providing a better understanding of different processes in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manivel Panneerselvam
- Department of Biotechnology, BJM School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Premendu P Mathur
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
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Berrazouane S, Doucet A, Boisvert M, Barabé F, Aoudjit F. VLA-4 Induces Chemoresistance of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells via PYK2-Mediated Drug Efflux. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143512. [PMID: 34298726 PMCID: PMC8307050 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cellular adhesion plays an important role in the development of resistance to chemotherapy (chemoresistance) that represents a major hurdle in the treatment of leukemia and which is a major cause for patient relapse. In this study, we evaluated if cell adhesion to the molecule VCAM-1, which is present in the leukemia microenvironment, can favour the chemoresistance of T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Our results showed that adhesion of T-ALL cells to VCAM-1 via their receptor VLA-4 induces the resistance of T-ALL cells to doxorubicin by activating the signaling protein PYK2 but not FAK. VLA-4/PYK2 signaling did so by inducing the efflux of doxorubicin. However, adhesion of T-ALL cells to fibronectin via the receptor VLA-5 did not activate PYK2 and had no effect on doxorubicin resistance. These findings suggest that targeting the VLA-4/PYK2 pathway could overcome T-ALL chemoresistance and reduce the risk of patient relapse. Abstract Cell adhesion plays a critical role in the development of chemoresistance, which is a major issue in anti-cancer therapies. In this study, we have examined the role of the VLA-4 integrin, a major adhesion molecule of the immune system, in the chemoresistance of T-ALL cells. We found that attachment of Jurkat and HSB-2 T-ALL cells to VCAM-1, a VLA-4 ligand, inhibits doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. However, their adhesion to fibronectin, which is mainly mediated via VLA-5, had no effect. Even the presence of the chemoattractant SDF1α (Stromal cell-derived factor-1α), which enhances the adhesion of T-ALL cells to fibronectin, did not modify the sensitivity of the cells attached on fibronectin towards doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that VLA-4 promoted T-ALL chemoresistance by inducing doxorubicin efflux. Our results showed that cell adhesion to both fibronectin and VCAM-1-induced Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation in T-ALL cells. However, only cell adhesion to VCAM-1 led to PYK2 phosphorylation. Inhibition studies indicated that FAK is not involved in doxorubicin efflux and chemoresistance, whereas PYK2 inhibition abrogated both VLA-4-induced doxorubicin efflux and chemoresistance. Together, these results indicate that the VLA-4/PYK2 pathway could participate in T-ALL chemoresistance and its targeting could be beneficial to limit/avoid chemoresistance and patient relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofiane Berrazouane
- Division of Immune and Infectious Diseases, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.B.); (A.D.); (M.B.); (F.B.)
| | - Alexie Doucet
- Division of Immune and Infectious Diseases, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.B.); (A.D.); (M.B.); (F.B.)
| | - Marc Boisvert
- Division of Immune and Infectious Diseases, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.B.); (A.D.); (M.B.); (F.B.)
| | - Frédéric Barabé
- Division of Immune and Infectious Diseases, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.B.); (A.D.); (M.B.); (F.B.)
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fawzi Aoudjit
- Division of Immune and Infectious Diseases, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.B.); (A.D.); (M.B.); (F.B.)
- Department of Microbiology-Infectiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(418)-525-4444 (ext. 46071)
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Zhang L, Zhao X, Wang W. Disruption of anchoring junctions in the testes of experimental varicocele rats. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:887. [PMID: 34194565 PMCID: PMC8237278 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Varicocele is a common disease of the male reproductive system and is the main cause of male infertility; however, the pathological mechanisms of varicocele remain unclear. The anchoring junctions (AJs) in the testies are located between Sertoli cells, or between Sertoli cells and germ cells. Intact and functional AJs are crucial for spermatogenesis. In the present study, the histomorphology, ultrastructure of AJ, cell cycle, expression of AJ structural proteins, and the level of AJ-associated signaling molecules were investigated in the left testes of experimental varicocele rats at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. The results revealed that varicocele induced the loss of premature germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, the results of the present study also revealed damage to the AJ ultrastructure, disorientation of the spermatid head, deregulation of the cell cycle, downregulation of AJ structural proteins, enhanced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at Tyr397 and its downstream adapter Src at Tyr416, and activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 (ERK1) signaling pathway. Thus, the present study demonstrated that varicocele disrupted the structure and function of AJs in the left testes of rats, and that enhancement of FAK phosphorylation may contribute to AJ damage by activating ERK1 signaling, disrupting actin-based filament networks, and altering the balance of the apical ectoplasmic specialization-blood testis barrier functional axis. These findings provide important insights into the pathological mechanisms through which varicocele contributes to male infertility and could help to identify new therapeutic targets for varicocele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.,Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China
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The Seminiferous Epithelial Cycle of Spermatogenesis: Role of Non-receptor Tyrosine Kinases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:1-20. [PMID: 34453729 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Non-receptor tyrosine kinases (NRTKs) are implicated in various biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis, as well as cell adhesion and movement. NRTKs are expressed in all mammals and in different cell types, with extraordinarily high expression in the testis. Their association with the plasma membrane and dynamic subcellular localization are crucial parameters in their activation and function. Many NRTKs are found in endosomal protein trafficking pathways, which suggests a novel mechanism to regulate the timely junction restructuring in the mammalian testis to facilitate spermiation and germ cell transport across the seminiferous epithelium.
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Gao H, Wu Y, Sun Y, Yang Y, Zhou G, Rao Y. Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Highly Potent FAK-Targeting PROTACs. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:1855-1862. [PMID: 33062164 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase, exerts kinase-dependent enzymatic functions and kinase-independent scaffolding functions, both of which are crucial in cancer development, early embryonic development, and reproduction. However, previous efforts for FAK blocking mainly focus on kinase inhibitors. Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are heterobifunctional molecules that allow direct post-translational knockdown of proteins via ubiquitination of a target protein by E3 ubiquitin ligase and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Here, we designed and synthesized a FAK PROTAC library with FAK inhibitor (PF562271 or VS6063) and CRBN E3 ligand. A novel FAK-targeting PROTAC, FC-11, showed a rapid and reversible FAK degradation with a picomolar of DC50 in various cell lines in vitro, which imply that FAK-PROTACs could be useful as expand tools for studying functions of FAK in biological system and as potential therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
- Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yonghui Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yiqing Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
- Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Guangbiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yu Rao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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Gao H, Zheng C, Du J, Wu Y, Sun Y, Han C, Kee K, Rao Y. FAK-targeting PROTAC as a chemical tool for the investigation of non-enzymatic FAK function in mice. Protein Cell 2020; 11:534-539. [PMID: 32451721 PMCID: PMC7305269 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-020-00732-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chunwei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jian Du
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yonghui Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Savaid Medical School, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Kehkooi Kee
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yu Rao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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MiRNAs Expression Profiling of Bovine ( Bos taurus) Testes and Effect of bta-miR-146b on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Bovine Male Germline Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113846. [PMID: 32481702 PMCID: PMC7312616 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex biological process regulated by well-coordinated gene regulation, including MicroRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are endogenous non-coding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) that mainly regulate the gene expression at post-transcriptional levels. Several studies have reported miRNAs expression in bull sperm and the process of spermatogenic arrest in cattle and yak. However, studies for the identification of differential miRNA expression and its mechanisms during the developmental stages of testis still remain uncertain. In the current study, we comprehensively analyzed the expression of miRNA in bovine testes at neonatal (3 days after birth, n = 3) and mature (13 months, n = 3) stages by RNA-seq. Moreover, the role of bta-miR-146b was also investigated in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of bovine male germline stem cells (mGSCs) followed by a series of experiments. A total of 652 miRNAs (566 known and 86 novel miRNAs) were identified, whereas 223 miRNAs were differentially expressed between the two stages. Moreover, an elevated expression level of bta-miR-146b was found in bovine testis among nine tissues, and the functional studies indicated that the overexpression of bta-miR-146b inhibited the proliferation of bovine mGSCs and promoted apoptosis. Conversely, regulation of bta-miR-146b inhibitor promoted bovine mGSCs proliferation. This study provides a basis for understanding the regulation roles of miRNAs in bovine testis development and spermatogenesis.
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Sun X, Gao H, Yang Y, He M, Wu Y, Song Y, Tong Y, Rao Y. PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2019; 4:64. [PMID: 31885879 PMCID: PMC6927964 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-019-0101-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 346] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although many kinds of therapies are applied in the clinic, drug-resistance is a major and unavoidable problem. Another disturbing statistic is the limited number of drug targets, which are presently only 20-25% of all protein targets that are currently being studied. Moreover, the focus of current explorations of targets are their enzymatic functions, which ignores the functions from their scaffold moiety. As a promising and appealing technology, PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have attracted great attention both from academia and industry for finding available approaches to solve the above problems. PROTACs regulate protein function by degrading target proteins instead of inhibiting them, providing more sensitivity to drug-resistant targets and a greater chance to affect the nonenzymatic functions. PROTACs have been proven to show better selectivity compared to classic inhibitors. PROTACs can be described as a chemical knockdown approach with rapidity and reversibility, which presents new and different biology compared to other gene editing tools by avoiding misinterpretations that arise from potential genetic compensation and/or spontaneous mutations. PRTOACs have been widely explored throughout the world and have outperformed not only in cancer diseases, but also in immune disorders, viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases. Although PROTACs present a very promising and powerful approach for crossing the hurdles of present drug discovery and tool development in biology, more efforts are needed to gain to get deeper insight into the efficacy and safety of PROTACs in the clinic. More target binders and more E3 ligases applicable for developing PROTACs are waiting for exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuyun Sun
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Hongying Gao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Yiqing Yang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Ming He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Yue Wu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Yugang Song
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Yan Tong
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
| | - Yu Rao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China
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12
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Jenardhanan P, Panneerselvam M, Mathur PP. Computational Methods Involved in Evaluating the Toxicity of the Reproductive Toxicants in Sertoli Cell. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1748:253-277. [PMID: 29453577 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7698-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The Sertoli cell, the somatic component of seminiferous tubule, provides nutritional support and immunological protection and supports overall growth and division of germ cells. Cytoskeletons, junction proteins, and kinases in Sertoli cells are prime targets for reproductive toxicants and other environmental contaminants. Among the varied targets, the kinases that are crucial for regulating varied activities in spermatogenesis such as assembly/disassembly of blood-testis barrier and apical ES and those that are involved in conferring polarity are highly targeted. In an attempt to study the effect of toxicants on these kinases, the present chapter deals with computational methodology concerning their three-dimensional structure prediction, identification of inhibitors, and understanding of conformational changes induced by these inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Premendu P Mathur
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India. .,KIIT University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India.
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13
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He Y, Sun X, Wang L, Mishina Y, Guan JL, Liu F. Male germline recombination of a conditional allele by the widely used Dermo1-cre (Twist2-cre) transgene. Genesis 2017; 55. [PMID: 28722198 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Conditional gene knockout using the Cre/loxP system is instrumental in advancing our understanding of the function of genes in a wide range of disciplines. It is becoming increasingly apparent in the literature that recombination mediated by some Cre transgenes can occur in unexpected tissues. Dermo1-Cre (Twist2-Cre) has been widely used to target skeletal lineage cells as well as other mesoderm-derived cells. Here we report that Dermo1-Cre exhibits spontaneous male germline recombination activity leading to a Cre-mediated recombination of a floxed Ptk2 (Protein tyrosine kinase 2, also known as Fak [Focal adhesion kinase]) allele but not a floxed Rb1cc1 (RB1 inducible coiled-coil 1, also known as Fip200 [FAK-family Interacting Protein of 200 kDa]) allele at high frequency. This ectopic germline activity of Dermo1-Cre occurred in all or none manner in a given litter. We demonstrated that the occurrence of germline recombination activity of Dermo1-Cre transgene can be avoided by using female mice as parental Dermo1-Cre carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun He
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109.,Dental Department, College of Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiumei Sun
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109.,Department of Orthodontics, Jilin University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
| | - Yuji Mishina
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
| | - Jun-Lin Guan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
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14
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Chen Q, Yi B, Ma J, Ning J, Wu L, Ma D, Lu K, Gu J. α2-adrenoreceptor modulated FAK pathway induced by dexmedetomidine attenuates pulmonary microvascular hyper-permeability following kidney injury. Oncotarget 2016; 7:55990-56001. [PMID: 27463003 PMCID: PMC5302891 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal ischemia-reperfusion (rI/R) could cause remote acute lung injury (ALI) and combination of these two organ injuries can remarkably increase the mortality. This study aims to determine whether dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist sedative, can ameliorate pulmonary microvascular hyper-permeability following rI/R injury and explore the underlying mechanisms. In vivo, C57BL/6J mice received dexmedetomidine (25µg/kg, i.p.) in the absence or presence of α2-adrenergic antagonist atipamezole (250µg/kg, i.p.) or focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor (30mg/kg, i.p.) before bilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 minutes followed by 24 hours reperfusion. The lung histopathological changes and the permeability of pulmonary microvascular were assessed respectively. In vitro, the cultured C57BL/6J mice pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) were treated with serum from mice with rI/R with or without dexmedetomidine and atipamezole. Trans-endothelial permeability and phospho-tyrosine397FAK, F-actin, VE-cadherin and ZO-1 in monolayer PMVECs were measured respectively in the presence or absence of rI/R serum, dexmedetomidine and FAK inhibitor. In vivo, dexmedetomidine remarkably attenuated lung injury and pulmonary microvascular hyper-permeability caused by rI/R injury, which was abolished by atipamezole or FAK inhibitor co-administration. In vitro, the permeability of PMVECs monolayer following exposure to serum from rI/R mice was increased significantly, and decreased by dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine increased phospho-tyrosine397FAK in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which was correlated with the changes in trans-endothelial permeability. Our data indicated that dexmedetomidine is able to ameliorate remote pulmonary microvascular hyper-permeability induced by rI/R, at least in part, via FAK modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Yi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianbo Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiaoling Ning
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingzhi Wu
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daqing Ma
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaizhi Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianteng Gu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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15
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Segretain D, Gilleron J, Bacro JN, Di Marco M, Carette D, Pointis G. Ultrastructural localization and distribution of Nardilysin in mammalian male germ cells. Basic Clin Androl 2016; 26:5. [PMID: 27051521 PMCID: PMC4820967 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-016-0032-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background NRD convertase, also termed Nardilysin, is a Zn++ metalloendopeptidase that specifically cleaves the N-terminus of arginine and lysine residues into dibasic moieties. Although this enzyme was found located within the testis, its function in male reproduction is largely unknown. In addition, the precise distribution of this enzyme within germ cells remains to be determined. Methods To answer these questions, we developed an immuno-gold electron microscopy analysis to detect Nardilysin at ultrastructural level in mice. In addition, we performed a quantitative analysis of these gold particles to statistically estimate the distribution of Nardilysin in the different subcellular compartments of differentiating late spermatids/spermatozoa. Results Expression of Nardilysin in wild-type mice was restricted to germ cells and markedly increased during the last steps of spermiogenesis. In elongated spermatids, we found the enzyme mainly localized in the cytoplasm, more precisely associated with two microtubular structures, the manchette and the axoneme. No labelling was detected over the membranous organelles of the spermatids. To test whether this localization is dependent of the functional microtubules organization of the flagella, we analysed the localization into a specific mouse mutant ebo/ebo (ébouriffé) known to be sterile due to an impairment of the final organization of the flagellum. In the ebo/ebo, the enzyme was still localized over the microtubules of the axoneme and over the isolated cytoplasmic microtubules doublets. Quantification of gold particles in wild-type and mutant flagella revealed the specific association of the enzyme within the microtubular area of the axoneme. Conclusions The strong and specific accumulation of Nardilysin in the manchette and axoneme suggests that the enzyme probably contributes either to the establishment of these specific microtubular structures and/or to their functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Segretain
- UMR S 1147 Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saint-Pères, 75006 Paris, France ; Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, 78000 France
| | - J Gilleron
- INSERM U 1065, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, 151 route Saint-Antoine de Ginestière BP 2 3194, 06204, Nice, cedex 3 France
| | - J N Bacro
- Institut de Mathématiques et de Modélisation de Montpellier (I3M), UMR CNRS 5149 Université Montpellier, CC 51; 4 place Eugène Bataillon 34095, Montpellier, cedex 5 France
| | - M Di Marco
- UMR S 1147 Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saint-Pères, 75006 Paris, France ; Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, 78000 France
| | - D Carette
- UMR S 1147 Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saint-Pères, 75006 Paris, France ; Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, 78000 France
| | - G Pointis
- INSERM U 1065, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, 151 route Saint-Antoine de Ginestière BP 2 3194, 06204, Nice, cedex 3 France
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