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Wu X, Zhang Z, Qiu Z, Wu X, Chen J, Liu L, Liu X, Zhao S, Yang Y, Zhao Y. TNIK in disease: from molecular insights to therapeutic prospects. Apoptosis 2024:10.1007/s10495-024-01987-w. [PMID: 38853204 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-024-01987-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase (TNIK), a critical interacting protein kinase, is currently receiving wide attention. TNIK is found in various human body organs and tissues and participates in cell motility, proliferation, and differentiation. On the one hand, its aberrant expression is related to the onset and progression of numerous malignant tumors. On the other hand, TNIK is important in neuronal growth, proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic formation. Thus, the novel therapeutic strategies for targeting TNIK offer a promising direction for cancer, neurological or psychotic disorders. Here, we briefly summarized the biological information of TNIK, reviewed the role and regulatory mechanism in cancer and neuropsychiatric diseases, and introduced the research progress of inhibitors targeting TNIK. Taken together, this review hopes to contribute to the in-depth understanding of the function and regulatory mechanism of TNIK, which is of great significance for revealing the role of TNIK in the occurrence and treatment of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Zhenye Qiu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaopeng Wu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Junmin Chen
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Shiyan Zhao
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University First Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
| | - Ye Zhao
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research for Heart Failure, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, 710069, China.
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Wang M, Gu Y, Li Q, Feng B, Lv X, Zhang H, Kong Q, Dong Z, Tian X, Zhang Y. The Traf2 and NcK interacting kinase inhibitor NCB-0846 suppresses seizure activity involving the decrease of GRIA1. Genes Dis 2024; 11:100997. [PMID: 38292191 PMCID: PMC10826163 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.036] [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: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy, one of the most common neurological disorders, is characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common medically intractable seizure disorders. Traf2-and NcK-interacting kinase (TNIK) has recently attracted attention as a critical modulation target of many neurological and psychiatric disorders, but its role in epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized the involvement of TNIK in epilepsy and investigated TNIK expression in patients with intractable TLE and in a pilocarpine-induced rat model of epilepsy by western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. A pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy rat model was used to determine the effect of the TNIK inhibitor NCB-0846 on behavioral manifestations of epilepsy. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP)/mass spectrometry (MS) was used to identify the potential mechanism. Through Co-IP, we detected and confirmed the main potential TNIK interactors. Subcellular fractionation was used to establish the effect of NCB-0846 on the expression of the main interactors in postsynaptic density (PSD) fractions. We found that TNIK was primarily located in neurons and decreased significantly in epilepsy model rats and TLE patients compared with controls. NCB-0846 delayed kindling progression and decreased seizure severity. Co-IP/MS identified 63 candidate TNIK interactors in rat hippocampi, notably CaMKII. Co-IP showed that TNIK might correlate with endogenous GRIA1, SYN2, PSD-95, CaMKIV, GABRG1, and GABRG2. In addition, the significant decrease in GRIA1 in hippocampal total lysate and PSDs after NCB-0846 treatment might help modify the progression of PTZ kindling. Our results suggest that TNIK contributes to epileptic pathology and is a potential antiepileptic drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
| | - Yixue Gu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Qiubo Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
| | - Bangzhe Feng
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
| | - Xinke Lv
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
| | - Qingxia Kong
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
| | - Zhifang Dong
- Pediatric Research Institute, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China
| | - Xin Tian
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yanke Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272000, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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Jiang J, Wilkinson B, Flores I, Hartel N, Mihaylov SR, Clementel VA, Flynn HR, Alkuraya FS, Ultanir S, Graham NA, Coba MP. Mutations in the postsynaptic density signaling hub TNIK disrupt PSD signaling in human models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1359154. [PMID: 38638602 PMCID: PMC11024424 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1359154] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
A large number of synaptic proteins have been recurrently associated with complex brain disorders. One of these proteins, the Traf and Nck interacting kinase (TNIK), is a postsynaptic density (PSD) signaling hub, with many variants reported in neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) and psychiatric disease. While rodent models of TNIK dysfunction have abnormal spontaneous synaptic activity and cognitive impairment, the role of mutations found in patients with TNIK protein deficiency and TNIK protein kinase activity during early stages of neuronal and synapse development has not been characterized. Here, using hiPSC-derived excitatory neurons, we show that TNIK mutations dysregulate neuronal activity in human immature synapses. Moreover, the lack of TNIK protein kinase activity impairs MAPK signaling and protein phosphorylation in structural components of the PSD. We show that the TNIK interactome is enriched in NDD risk factors and TNIK lack of function disrupts signaling networks and protein interactors associated with NDD that only partially overlap to mature mouse synapses, suggesting a differential role of TNIK in immature synapsis in NDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhi Jiang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brent Wilkinson
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ilse Flores
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicolas Hartel
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Simeon R. Mihaylov
- Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica A. Clementel
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Helen R. Flynn
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fowsan S. Alkuraya
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sila Ultanir
- Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas A. Graham
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marcelo P. Coba
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Roberto GM, Boutet A, Keil S, Emery G. Dual regulation of Misshapen by Tao and Rap2l promotes collective cell migration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.21.550060. [PMID: 37503122 PMCID: PMC10370187 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.21.550060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Collective cell migration occurs in various biological processes such as development, wound healing and metastasis. During Drosophila oogenesis, border cells (BC) form a cluster that migrates collectively inside the egg chamber. The Ste20-like kinase Misshapen (Msn) is a key regulator of BC migration coordinating the restriction of protrusion formation and contractile forces within the cluster. Here, we demonstrate that the kinase Tao acts as an upstream activator of Msn in BCs. Depletion of Tao significantly impedes BC migration and produces a phenotype similar to Msn loss-of-function. Furthermore, we show that the localization of Msn relies on its CNH domain, which interacts with the small GTPase Rap2l. Our findings indicate that Rap2l promotes the trafficking of Msn to the endolysosomal pathway. When Rap2l is depleted, the levels of Msn increase in the cytoplasm and at cell-cell junctions between BCs. Overall, our data suggest that Rap2l ensures that the levels of Msn are higher at the periphery of the cluster through the targeting of Msn to the degradative pathway. Together, we identified two distinct regulatory mechanisms that ensure the appropriate distribution and activation of Msn in BCs.
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Koss KM, Son T, Li C, Hao Y, Cao J, Churchward MA, Zhang ZJ, Wertheim JA, Derda R, Todd KG. Toward discovering a novel family of peptides targeting neuroinflammatory states of brain microglia and astrocytes. J Neurochem 2023:10.1111/jnc.15840. [PMID: 37171455 PMCID: PMC10640667 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are immune-derived cells critical to the development and healthy function of the brain and spinal cord, yet are implicated in the active pathology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. A range of functional phenotypes associated with the healthy brain or disease states has been suggested from in vivo work and were modeled in vitro as surveying, reactive, and primed sub-types of primary rat microglia and mixed microglia/astrocytes. It was hypothesized that the biomolecular profile of these cells undergoes a phenotypical change as well, and these functional phenotypes were explored for potential novel peptide binders using a custom 7 amino acid-presenting M13 phage library (SX7) to identify unique peptides that bind differentially to these respective cell types. Surveying glia were untreated, reactive were induced with a lipopolysaccharide treatment, recovery was modeled with a potent anti-inflammatory treatment dexamethasone, and priming was determined by subsequently challenging the cells with interferon gamma. Microglial function was profiled by determining the secretion of cytokines and nitric oxide, and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. After incubation with the SX7 phage library, populations of SX7-positive microglia and/or astrocytes were collected using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, SX7 phage was amplified in Escherichia coli culture, and phage DNA was sequenced via next-generation sequencing. Binding validation was done with synthesized peptides via in-cell westerns. Fifty-eight unique peptides were discovered, and their potential functions were assessed using a basic local alignment search tool. Peptides potentially originated from proteins ranging in function from a variety of supportive glial roles, including synapse support and pruning, to inflammatory incitement including cytokine and interleukin activation, and potential regulation in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Koss
- Comprehensive Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Illinois, Chicago, USA
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - T Son
- Comprehensive Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Illinois, Chicago, USA
| | - C Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Y Hao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - J Cao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
- 48Hour Discovery Inc, 11421 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - M A Churchward
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Concordia University of Edmonton, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Z J Zhang
- Comprehensive Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Illinois, Chicago, USA
| | - J A Wertheim
- Comprehensive Transplant Center and Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Illinois, Chicago, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - R Derda
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
- 48Hour Discovery Inc, 11421 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - K G Todd
- Neurochemical Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Integrated Excitatory/Inhibitory Imbalance and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Association between Dysregulated Synaptic Genes and Anesthetic-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162497. [PMID: 36010580 PMCID: PMC9406780 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from human epidemiologic and animal studies has demonstrated that developmental anesthesia neurotoxicity could cause long-term cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We conducted an electrophysiological analysis of synapse activity and a transcriptomic assay of 24,881 mRNA expression on hippocampal tissues from postnatal day 60 (P60) mice receiving propofol exposure at postnatal day 7 (P7). We found that developmentally propofol-exposed P60 mouse hippocampal neurons displayed an E/I imbalance, compared with control mice as evidenced by the decreased excitation and increased inhibition. We found that propofol exposure at P7 led to the abnormal expression of 317 mRNAs in the hippocampus of P60 mice, including 23 synapse-related genes. Various bioinformatic analyses revealed that these abnormally expressed synaptic genes were associated with the function and development of synapse activity and plasticity, E/I balance, behavior, and cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that the altered E/I balance may constitute a mechanism for propofol-induced long-term impaired learning and memory in mice. The transcriptomic and bioinformatic analysis of these dysregulated genes related to synaptic function paves the way for development of therapeutic strategies against anesthetic neurodegeneration through the restoration of E/I balance and the modification of synaptic gene expression.
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Xu Q, Li Y, Li M, Qin S, Ning A, Yuan R, Fu Y, Wang D, Zhang R, Zeng D, Yu W, Li H, Yu S. The influence of polymorphisms in TNIK gene on risperidone response in a Chinese Han population. Pharmacogenomics 2022; 23:575-583. [PMID: 35698907 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2022-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate whether the TNIK gene affects risperidone treatment outcomes in the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 148 unrelated inpatients who received risperidone for six weeks were enrolled. The selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs2088885, rs7627954 and rs13065441) were genotyped using the MassARRAY® SNP IPLEX platform. Results: The analysis showed that one novel SNP of TNIK, rs7627954, had a significant association with the response to risperidone (χ2 = 4.472; p = 0.034). This work also identified rs2088885 as significantly associated with risperidone response (χ2 = 5.257; p = 0.022). The result revealed that the rs2088885-rs7627954 C-T haplotype was more prevalent in good responders than in poor responders (p = 0.0278). Conclusion: This study revealed that the rs2088885 and rs7627954 SNPs of TNIK are associated with risperidone treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaojing Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,958 Hospital of PLA Army, Chongqing, China
| | - Mo Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for The Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengying Qin
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for The Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ailing Ning
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruixue Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingmei Fu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongxiang Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Duan Zeng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huafang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunying Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang D, Ji Y, Chen X, Chen R, Wei Y, Peng Q, Lin J, Yin J, Li H, Cui L, Lin Z, Cai Y. Peripheral Blood Circular RNAs as a Biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder and Prediction of Possible Pathways. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:844422. [PMID: 35431783 PMCID: PMC9009243 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.844422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly expressed in the central nervous system and have been reported to be associated with neuropsychiatric diseases, but their potential role in major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that there was a disorder of circRNAs in the blood of MDD patients. It has been preliminarily proved that hsa_circ_0002473, hsa_circ_0079651, hsa_circ_0137187, hsa_circ_0006010, and hsa_circ_0113010 were highly expressed in MDD patients and can be used as diagnostic markers for MDD. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that hsa_circ_0079651, hsa_circ_0137187, hsa_circ_0006010, and hsa_circ_0113010 may affect the neuroplasticity of MDD through the ceRNA mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yao Ji
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xiongjin Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - RunSen Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaxue Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Qian Peng
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Juda Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Jingwen Yin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hezhan Li
- School of Humanities and Management, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Lili Cui
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zhixiong Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Zhixiong Lin,
| | - Yujie Cai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Yujie Cai,
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Buchl SC, Hanquier Z, Haak AJ, Thomason YM, Huebert RC, Shah VH, Maiers JL. Traf2 and NCK Interacting Kinase Is a Critical Regulator of Procollagen I Trafficking and Hepatic Fibrogenesis in Mice. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:593-609. [PMID: 34677004 PMCID: PMC8870049 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is driven by deposition of matrix proteins following liver injury. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) drive fibrogenesis, producing matrix proteins, including procollagen I, which matures into collagen I following secretion. Disrupting intracellular procollagen processing and trafficking causes endoplasmic reticulum stress and stress-induced HSC apoptosis and thus is an attractive antifibrotic strategy. We designed an immunofluorescence-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen to identify procollagen I trafficking regulators, hypothesizing that these proteins could serve as antifibrotic targets. A targeted siRNA screen was performed using immunofluorescence to detect changes in intracellular procollagen I. Tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2 and noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase-interacting kinase (TNIK) was identified and interrogated in vitro and in vivo using the TNIK kinase inhibitor NCB-0846 or RNA interference-mediated knockdown. Our siRNA screen identified nine genes whose knockdown promoted procollagen I retention, including the serine/threonine kinase TNIK. Genetic deletion or pharmacologic inhibition of TNIK through the small molecule inhibitor NCB-0846 disrupted procollagen I trafficking and secretion without impacting procollagen I expression. To investigate the role of TNIK in liver fibrogenesis, we analyzed human and murine livers, finding elevated TNIK expression in human cirrhotic livers and increased TNIK expression and kinase activity in both fibrotic mouse livers and activated primary human HSCs. Finally, we tested whether inhibition of TNIK kinase activity could limit fibrogenesis in vivo. Mice receiving NCB-0846 displayed reduced CCl4 -induced fibrogenesis compared to CCl4 alone, although α-smooth muscle actin levels were unaltered. Conclusions: Our siRNA screen effectively identified TNIK as a key kinase involved in procollagen I trafficking in vitro and hepatic fibrogenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Buchl
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Zachary Hanquier
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUSA
| | - Andrew J Haak
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical EngineeringMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Yvonne M Thomason
- Division of GastroenterologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUSA
| | - Robert C Huebert
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Vijay H Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Jessica L Maiers
- Division of GastroenterologyIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisINUSA
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Zhang Z, Bao Z, Gao P, Yao J, Wang P, Chai D. Diverse Roles of F-BoxProtein3 in Regulation of Various Cellular Functions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:802204. [PMID: 35127719 PMCID: PMC8807484 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.802204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulated evidence shows that the F-box protein 3 (FBXO3) has multiple biological functions, including regulation of immune pathologies, neuropathic diseases and antiviral response. In this review article, we focus on the role of FBXO3 in inflammatory disorders and human malignancies. We also describe the substrates of FBXO3, which contribute to inflammatory disorders and cancers. We highlight that the high expression of FBXO3 is frequently observed in rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, pituitary adenoma, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, we discuss the regulation of FBXO3 by both carcinogens and cancer preventive agents. Our review provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of FBXO3 in various biological systems and elucidates how FBXO3 regulates substrate ubiquitination and degradation during various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, FBXO3 can be a novel target in the treatment of human diseases including carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Zhengqi Bao
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Penglian Gao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Junyi Yao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Peter Wang
- Bengbu Medical College Key Laboratory of Cancer Research and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- *Correspondence: Peter Wang, ; Damin Chai,
| | - Damin Chai
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
- *Correspondence: Peter Wang, ; Damin Chai,
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11
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Zhu K, Jin X, Chi Z, Chen S, Wu S, Sloan RD, Lin X, Neculai D, Wang D, Hu H, Lu L. Priming of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by Msn kinase MINK1 in macrophages. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:2372-2382. [PMID: 34480147 PMCID: PMC8414466 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00761-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat containing family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is essential in inflammation and inflammatory disorders. Phosphorylation at various sites on NLRP3 differentially regulates inflammasome activation. The Ser725 phosphorylation site on NLRP3 is depicted in multiple inflammasome activation scenarios, but the importance and regulation of this site has not been clarified. The present study revealed that the phosphorylation of Ser725 was an essential step for the priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. We also showed that Ser725 was directly phosphorylated by misshapen (Msn)/NIK-related kinase 1 (MINK1), depending on the direct interaction between MINK1 and the NLRP3 LRR domain. MINK1 deficiency reduced NLRP3 activation and suppressed inflammatory responses in mouse models of acute sepsis and peritonitis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) upregulated the kinase activity of MINK1 and subsequently promoted inflammasome priming via NLRP3 Ser725 phosphorylation. Eliminating ROS suppressed NLRP3 activation and reduced sepsis and peritonitis symptoms in a MINK1-dependent manner. Altogether, our study reveals a direct regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by Msn family kinase MINK1 and suggests that modulation of MINK1 activity is a potential intervention strategy for inflammasome-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixiang Zhu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInstitute of Immunology and Department of Rheumatology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XZhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Haining, 314400 P. R. China ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Xuexiao Jin
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInstitute of Immunology and Department of Rheumatology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Zhexu Chi
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Immunology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Sheng Chen
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Immunology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China ,grid.412465.0Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Songquan Wu
- grid.440824.e0000 0004 1757 6428Medical College, Lishui University, Lishui, 323000 P. R. China
| | - Richard D. Sloan
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XZhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Haining, 314400 P. R. China ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Infection Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB Scotland, UK
| | - Xuai Lin
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Dante Neculai
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Di Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Immunology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Hu Hu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
| | - Linrong Lu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInstitute of Immunology and Department of Rheumatology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XZhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Haining, 314400 P. R. China ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDr. Li Dak Sum and Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058 P. R. China
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12
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Ste20-like Kinase Is Critical for Inhibitory Synapse Maintenance and Its Deficiency Confers a Developmental Dendritopathy. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8111-8125. [PMID: 34400520 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0352-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The size and structure of the dendritic arbor play important roles in determining how synaptic inputs of neurons are converted to action potential output. The regulatory mechanisms governing the development of dendrites, however, are insufficiently understood. The evolutionary conserved Ste20/Hippo kinase pathway has been proposed to play an important role in regulating the formation and maintenance of dendritic architecture. A key element of this pathway, Ste20-like kinase (SLK), regulates cytoskeletal dynamics in non-neuronal cells and is strongly expressed throughout neuronal development. However, its function in neurons is unknown. We show that, during development of mouse cortical neurons, SLK has a surprisingly specific role for proper elaboration of higher, ≥ third-order dendrites both in male and in female mice. Moreover, we demonstrate that SLK is required to maintain excitation-inhibition balance. Specifically, SLK knockdown caused a selective loss of inhibitory synapses and functional inhibition after postnatal day 15, whereas excitatory neurotransmission was unaffected. Finally, we show that this mechanism may be relevant for human disease, as dysmorphic neurons within human cortical malformations revealed significant loss of SLK expression. Overall, the present data identify SLK as a key regulator of both dendritic complexity during development and inhibitory synapse maintenance.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We show that dysmorphic neurons of human epileptogenic brain lesions have decreased levels of the Ste20-like kinase (SLK). Decreasing SLK expression in mouse neurons revealed that SLK has essential functions in forming the neuronal dendritic tree and in maintaining inhibitory connections with neighboring neurons.
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Walczyk-Mooradally A, Holborn J, Singh K, Tyler M, Patnaik D, Wesseling H, Brandon NJ, Steen J, Graether SP, Haggarty SJ, Lalonde J. Phosphorylation-dependent control of Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) protein by TNIK. J Neurochem 2021. [PMID: 34077555 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is an immediate early gene product that support neuroplastic changes important for cognitive function and memory formation. As a protein with homology to the retroviral Gag protein, a particular characteristic of Arc is its capacity to self-assemble into virus-like capsids that can package mRNAs and transfer those transcripts to other cells. Although a lot has been uncovered about the contributions of Arc to neuron biology and behavior, very little is known about how different functions of Arc are coordinately regulated both temporally and spatially in neurons. The answer to this question we hypothesized must involve the occurrence of different protein post-translational modifications acting to confer specificity. In this study, we used mass spectrometry and sequence prediction strategies to map novel Arc phosphorylation sites. Our approach led us to recognize serine 67 (S67) and threonine 278 (T278) as residues that can be modified by TNIK, which is a kinase abundantly expressed in neurons that shares many functional overlaps with Arc and has, along with its interacting proteins such as the NMDA receptor, and been implicated as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, characterization of each residue using site-directed mutagenesis to create S67 and T278 mutant variants revealed that TNIK action at those amino acids can strongly influence Arc's subcellular distribution and self-assembly as capsids. Together, our findings reveal an unsuspected connection between Arc and TNIK. Better understanding of the interplay between these two proteins in neuronal cells could lead to new insights about apparition and progression of psychiatric disorders. Cover Image for this issue: https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15077.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Holborn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Karamjeet Singh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Marshall Tyler
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Debasis Patnaik
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hendrik Wesseling
- Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Center for Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- Neuroscience, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Boston, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Judith Steen
- Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Center for Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steffen P Graether
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasmin Lalonde
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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14
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Walczyk-Mooradally A, Holborn J, Singh K, Tyler M, Patnaik D, Wesseling H, Brandon NJ, Steen J, Graether SP, Haggarty SJ, Lalonde J. Phosphorylation-dependent control of Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) protein by TNIK. J Neurochem 2021; 158:1058-1073. [PMID: 34077555 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is an immediate early gene product that support neuroplastic changes important for cognitive function and memory formation. As a protein with homology to the retroviral Gag protein, a particular characteristic of Arc is its capacity to self-assemble into virus-like capsids that can package mRNAs and transfer those transcripts to other cells. Although a lot has been uncovered about the contributions of Arc to neuron biology and behavior, very little is known about how different functions of Arc are coordinately regulated both temporally and spatially in neurons. The answer to this question we hypothesized must involve the occurrence of different protein post-translational modifications acting to confer specificity. In this study, we used mass spectrometry and sequence prediction strategies to map novel Arc phosphorylation sites. Our approach led us to recognize serine 67 (S67) and threonine 278 (T278) as residues that can be modified by TNIK, which is a kinase abundantly expressed in neurons that shares many functional overlaps with Arc and has, along with its interacting proteins such as the NMDA receptor, and been implicated as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, characterization of each residue using site-directed mutagenesis to create S67 and T278 mutant variants revealed that TNIK action at those amino acids can strongly influence Arc's subcellular distribution and self-assembly as capsids. Together, our findings reveal an unsuspected connection between Arc and TNIK. Better understanding of the interplay between these two proteins in neuronal cells could lead to new insights about apparition and progression of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Holborn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Karamjeet Singh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Marshall Tyler
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Debasis Patnaik
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hendrik Wesseling
- Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Center for Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- Neuroscience, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Boston, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Judith Steen
- Boston Children's Hospital, F.M. Kirby Center for Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steffen P Graether
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Haggarty
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Centre for Genomic Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jasmin Lalonde
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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15
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Lawingco T, Chaudhury S, Brookes KJ, Guetta-Baranes T, Guerreiro R, Bras J, Hardy J, Francis P, Thomas A, Belbin O, Morgan K. Genetic variants in glutamate-, Aβ-, and tau-related pathways determine polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 101:299.e13-299.e21. [PMID: 33303219 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Synapse loss is an early event in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). In this study, we have assessed the capacity of a polygenic risk score (PRS) restricted to synapse-encoding loci to predict LOAD. We used summary statistics from the International Genetics of Alzheimer's Project genome-wide association meta-analysis of 74,046 patients for model construction and tested the "synaptic PRS" in 2 independent data sets of controls and pathologically confirmed LOAD. The mean synaptic PRS was 2.3-fold higher in LOAD than that in controls (p < 0.0001) with a predictive accuracy of 72% in the target data set (n = 439) and 73% in the validation data set (n = 136), a 5%-6% improvement compared with the APOE locus (p < 0.00001). The model comprises 8 variants from 4 previously identified (BIN1, PTK2B, PICALM, APOE) and 2 novel (DLG2, MINK1) LOAD loci involved in glutamate signaling (p = 0.01) or APP catabolism or tau binding (p = 0.005). As the simplest PRS model with good predictive accuracy to predict LOAD, we conclude that synapse-encoding genes are enriched for LOAD risk-modifying loci. The synaptic PRS could be used to identify individuals at risk of LOAD before symptom onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted Lawingco
- Human Genetics Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sultan Chaudhury
- Human Genetics Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Keeley J Brookes
- Human Genetics Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Biosciences School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Tamar Guetta-Baranes
- Human Genetics Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rita Guerreiro
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jose Bras
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - John Hardy
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Institute of Neurology and UCL Movement Disorders Centre, University College London, London, UK; Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | - Alan Thomas
- Brains for Dementia Research Resource, Newcastle, UK
| | - Olivia Belbin
- Sant Pau Memory Unit and Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Kevin Morgan
- Human Genetics Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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Nie FY, Zhang MR, Shang SS, Zhang QX, Zhang R, Chen P, Ma J. Methylome-wide association study of first-episode schizophrenia reveals a hypermethylated CpG site in the promoter region of the TNIK susceptibility gene. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 106:110081. [PMID: 32853717 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetics plays an important role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Here, we performed a methylome-wide association study (MWAS) of first-onset schizophrenia patients and controls from the Han Chinese population using microarray technology. The DNA methylation profiles revealed 4494 differentially methylated CpG sites. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the functions of differentially methylated genes were primarily involved in enzymatic activity, cytoskeleton organization and cell adhesion, and the TNIK (encoding TRAF2- and NCK-interacting kinase) gene was enriched in most of these terms. By combining the MWAS results with those of previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs), we identified 72 candidate genes located in 49 human genome loci. Among the overlapping genes, the most significantly methylated CpG sites were in the transcriptional start site (TSS) 200 region (cg21413905, Punadjusted = 3.20 × 10-5) of TNIK. TNIK was listed in the top 50 differentially methylated loci. The results of pyrosequencing and TNIK mRNA expression were consistent with those of the microarray study. Bioinformatics analyses, dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies showed that TNIK interacted with genes associated with schizophrenia and NRF1 was identified as a novel transcription factor (TF) that binds to TNIK in its TSS200 region. Thus, the regulatory function of NRF1 may be influenced by the status of the methylated CpG site in this region. In summary, our study provides new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate schizophrenia. Studies of the functions of TNIK methylation should be performed in vitro and in vivo to provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa-Yi Nie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Medical Research Center, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China
| | - Miao-Ran Zhang
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Shan-Shan Shang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Qiao-Xia Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Translational Medicine Center, Hong Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
| | - Jie Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Medical Research Center, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China.
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Inhibition of GCK-IV kinases dissociates cell death and axon regeneration in CNS neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:33597-33607. [PMID: 33318207 PMCID: PMC7777023 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2004683117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal injury plays a major role in many neurodegenerative diseases. The dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) signaling pathway is a key regulator of axonal injury-induced neuronal cell death; however, DLK also has an important role in promoting axonal outgrowth. Therefore, inhibiting DLK as a therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases is limited to a neuroprotective outcome without axon regeneration, prohibiting restoration of function. In fact, there are currently no strategies that provide long-term neuroprotection and axonal regeneration after injury. Here, we identified the germinal cell kinase four (GCK-IV) family of kinases as targets to maximize neuroprotection while promoting axon regeneration, making it an attractive therapeutic approach for a subset of neurodegenerative diseases. Axon injury is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, often resulting in neuronal cell death and functional impairment. Dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) has emerged as a key mediator of this process. However, while DLK inhibition is robustly protective in a wide range of neurodegenerative disease models, it also inhibits axonal regeneration. Indeed, there are no genetic perturbations that are known to both improve long-term survival and promote regeneration. To identify such a neuroprotective target, we conducted a set of complementary high-throughput screens using a protein kinase inhibitor library in human stem cell-derived retinal ganglion cells (hRGCs). Overlapping compounds that promoted both neuroprotection and neurite outgrowth were bioinformatically deconvoluted to identify specific kinases that regulated neuronal death and axon regeneration. This work identified the role of germinal cell kinase four (GCK-IV) kinases in cell death and additionally revealed their unexpected activity in suppressing axon regeneration. Using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) approach, coupled with genome editing, we validated that GCK-IV kinase knockout improves neuronal survival, comparable to that of DLK knockout, while simultaneously promoting axon regeneration. Finally, we also found that GCK-IV kinase inhibition also prevented the attrition of RGCs in developing retinal organoid cultures without compromising axon outgrowth, addressing a major issue in the field of stem cell-derived retinas. Together, these results demonstrate a role for the GCK-IV kinases in dissociating the cell death and axonal outgrowth in neurons and their druggability provides for therapeutic options for neurodegenerative diseases.
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18
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Disease-associated synaptic scaffold protein CNK2 modulates PSD size and influences localisation of the regulatory kinase TNIK. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5709. [PMID: 32235845 PMCID: PMC7109135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62207-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Scaffold proteins are responsible for structural organisation within cells; they form complexes with other proteins to facilitate signalling pathways and catalytic reactions. The scaffold protein connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 2 (CNK2) is predominantly expressed in neural tissues and was recently implicated in X-linked intellectual disability (ID). We have investigated the role of CNK2 in neurons in order to contribute to our understanding of how CNK2 alterations might cause developmental defects, and we have elucidated a functional role for CNK2 in the molecular processes that govern morphology of the postsynaptic density (PSD). We have also identified novel CNK2 interaction partners and explored their functional interdependency with CNK2. We focussed on the novel interaction partner TRAF2- and NCK-interacting kinase TNIK, which is also associated with ID. Both CNK2 and TNIK are expressed in neuronal dendrites and concentrated in dendritic spines, and staining with synaptic markers indicates a clear postsynaptic localisation. Importantly, our data highlight that CNK2 plays a role in directing TNIK subcellular localisation, and in neurons, CNK2 participates in ensuring that this multifunctional kinase is present in the correct place at desirable levels. In summary, our data indicate that CNK2 expression is critical for modulating PSD morphology; moreover, our study highlights that CNK2 functions as a scaffold with the potential to direct the localisation of regulatory proteins within the cell. Importantly, we describe a novel link between CNK2 and the regulatory kinase TNIK, and provide evidence supporting the idea that alterations in CNK2 localisation and expression have the potential to influence the behaviour of TNIK and other important regulatory molecules in neurons.
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Multiple rare inherited variants in a four generation schizophrenia family offer leads for complex mode of disease inheritance. Schizophr Res 2020; 216:288-294. [PMID: 31813803 PMCID: PMC8958857 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.11.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous neuropsychiatric disorder, with a polygenic basis but identification of the specific determinants is a continuing challenge. In this study, we analyzed a multigenerational family, with all healthy individuals in the first two generations, and four progeny affected with schizophrenia in the subsequent two generations, using whole exome sequencing. We identified five rare protein sequence altering heterozygous variants, in five different genes namely SMARCA5, PDE1B, TNIK, SMARCA2 and FLRT shared among all affected members and predicted to be damaging. Variants in SMARCA5 and PDE1B were inherited from the unaffected father whereas variants in TNIK, SMARCA2 and FLRT1 were inherited from the unaffected mother in all the three affected individuals in the third generation; and notably all these five variants were transmitted by an affected mother to her affected son. Microsatellite based analysis lent a modest linkage support (LOD score of 1.2; θ=0.0 at each variant). Of note, analysis of exome data of an ancestry matched unrelated schizophrenia cohort (n = 350), revealed a total of 16 rare variants (MAF < 0.01) in these five genes. Interestingly, these five genes involved in neurodevelopmental and/or neurotransmitter signaling processes are implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia previously. This study provides good evidence for a likely cumulative contribution of multiple rare variants from disease relevant genes with a threshold effect in disease development and seems to explain the unusual disease transmission pattern generally witnessed in such conditions, but warrants extensive replication efforts in families with similar complex disease inheritance profiles.
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Gumina V, Colombrita C, Fallini C, Bossolasco P, Maraschi AM, Landers JE, Silani V, Ratti A. TDP-43 and NOVA-1 RNA-binding proteins as competitive splicing regulators of the schizophrenia-associated TNIK gene. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1862:194413. [PMID: 31382054 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein TDP-43, associated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, regulates the alternative splicing of several genes, including the skipping of TNIK exon 15. TNIK, a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia and causative for intellectual disability, encodes for a Ser/Thr kinase regulating negatively F-actin dynamics. Here we show that in the human adult nervous system TNIK exon 15 is mostly included compared to the other tissues and that, during neuronal differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells and of human neuroblastoma cells, TNIK exon 15 inclusion increases independently of TDP-43 protein content. By studying the possible molecular interplay of TDP-43 with brain-specific splicing factors, we found that the neuronal NOVA-1 protein competitively inhibits both TDP-43 and hnRNPA2/B1 skipping activity on TNIK by means of a RNA-dependent interaction and that this competitive mechanism is common to other TDP-43 RNA targets. We also show that the TNIK protein isoforms including/excluding exon 15 differently regulate cell spreading in non-neuronal cells and neuritogenesis in primary cortical neurons. Our data suggest a complex regulation between the ubiquitous TDP-43 and the neuron-specific NOVA-1 splicing factors in the brain that may help better understand the pathobiology of both neurodegenerative diseases and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gumina
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Colombrita
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Fallini
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC 6-1053, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Patrizia Bossolasco
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Maraschi
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy.
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC 6-1053, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy; "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via A. di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Via Zucchi 18, 20095, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090, Segrate, Milan, Italy.
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21
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Bissen D, Foss F, Acker-Palmer A. AMPA receptors and their minions: auxiliary proteins in AMPA receptor trafficking. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2133-2169. [PMID: 30937469 PMCID: PMC6502786 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03068-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
To correctly transfer information, neuronal networks need to continuously adjust their synaptic strength to extrinsic stimuli. This ability, termed synaptic plasticity, is at the heart of their function and is, thus, tightly regulated. In glutamatergic neurons, synaptic strength is controlled by the number and function of AMPA receptors at the postsynapse, which mediate most of the fast excitatory transmission in the central nervous system. Their trafficking to, at, and from the synapse, is, therefore, a key mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity. Intensive research over the last 20 years has revealed the increasing importance of interacting proteins, which accompany AMPA receptors throughout their lifetime and help to refine the temporal and spatial modulation of their trafficking and function. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge about the roles of key partners in regulating AMPA receptor trafficking and focus especially on the movement between the intracellular, extrasynaptic, and synaptic pools. We examine their involvement not only in basal synaptic function, but also in Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity. Included in our review are well-established AMPA receptor interactants such as GRIP1 and PICK1, the classical auxiliary subunits TARP and CNIH, and the newest additions to AMPA receptor native complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Bissen
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), University of Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Max von Laue Str. 4, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Franziska Foss
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), University of Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Amparo Acker-Palmer
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), University of Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Max von Laue Str. 4, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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22
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Bai Z, Yao Q, Sun Z, Xu F, Zhou J. Prognostic Value of mRNA Expression of MAP4K Family in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2019; 18:1533033819873927. [PMID: 31522654 PMCID: PMC6747867 DOI: 10.1177/1533033819873927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite diverse functions in diseases, the prognostic potential of the family of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase genes in acute myeloid leukemia remains unknown. METHODS The messenger RNA expression of the MAP4K family members in 151 patients with acute myeloid leukemia was extracted from the OncoLnc database. Data for gender, age, cytogenetic, leukocyte count, CD34, FAB classification, RUNX1, and TP53 were provided by the University of California-Santa Cruz Xena platform. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model provided an estimate of the hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals for overall survival. RESULTS Analysis demonstrated favorable overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia attributing to high expression of MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 and low expression of MAP4K1 (adjusted P = .005, P = .022, P = .002, and P = .024; adjusted hazard ratio = 0.490, 95% confidence interval = 0.297-0.809, hazard ratio = 0.598, 95% confidence interval = 0.385-0.928, hazard ratio = 0.490, 95% confidence interval = 0.310-0.776, and hazard ratio = 0.615, 95% confidence interval = 0.403-0.938, respectively). Combining the high-expressing MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 with the low-expressing MAP4K1 in a joint effect analysis predicted a favorable prognosis of overall survival in acute myeloid leukemia. CONCLUSION High expression of MAP4K3, MAP4K4, and MAP4K5 combined with low expression of MAP4K1 can serve as a sensitive tool to predict favorable overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Bai
- Department of Medical Hematopathy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Qingmei Yao
- School of Preclinical Medicine Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Zhongyi Sun
- Department of Medical Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Fang Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Jicheng Zhou
- Department of Medical Hematopathy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China
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Chen X, Shibata AC, Hendi A, Kurashina M, Fortes E, Weilinger NL, MacVicar BA, Murakoshi H, Mizumoto K. Rap2 and TNIK control Plexin-dependent tiled synaptic innervation in C. elegans. eLife 2018; 7:38801. [PMID: 30063210 PMCID: PMC6067881 DOI: 10.7554/elife.38801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, neurons form synapses with their fate-determined targets. While we begin to elucidate the mechanisms by which extracellular ligand-receptor interactions enhance synapse specificity by inhibiting synaptogenesis, our knowledge about their intracellular mechanisms remains limited. Here we show that Rap2 GTPase (rap-2) and its effector, TNIK (mig-15), act genetically downstream of Plexin (plx-1) to restrict presynaptic assembly and to form tiled synaptic innervation in C. elegans. Both constitutively GTP- and GDP-forms of rap-2 mutants exhibit synaptic tiling defects as plx-1 mutants, suggesting that cycling of the RAP-2 nucleotide state is critical for synapse inhibition. Consistently, PLX-1 suppresses local RAP-2 activity. Excessive ectopic synapse formation in mig-15 mutants causes a severe synaptic tiling defect. Conversely, overexpression of mig-15 strongly inhibited synapse formation, suggesting that mig-15 is a negative regulator of synapse formation. These results reveal that subcellular regulation of small GTPase activity by Plexin shapes proper synapse patterning in vivo. Genes do more than just direct the color of our hair or eyes. They produce proteins that are involved in almost every process in the body. In humans, the majority of active genes can be found in the brain, where they help it to develop and work properly – effectively controlling how we move and behave. The brain’s functional units, the nerve cells or neurons, communicate with each other by releasing messenger molecules in the gap between them, the synapse. These molecules are then picked up from specific receptor proteins of the receiving neuron. In the nervous system, neurons only form synapses with the cells they need to connect with, even though they are surrounded by many more cells. This implies that they use specific mechanisms to stop neurons from forming synapses with incorrect target cells. This is important, because if too many synapses were present or if synapses formed with incorrect target cells, it would compromise the information flow in the nervous system. This would ultimately lead to various neurological conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. In 2013, researchers found that in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, a receptor protein called Plexin, is located at the surface of the neurons and can inhibit the formation of nearby synapses. Now, Chen et al. – including one author involved in the previous research – wanted to find out what genes Plexin manipulates when it stops synapses from growing. Knowing what each of those genes does can help us understand how neurons can inhibit synapses. The results revealed that Plexin appears to regulate two genes, Rap2 and TNIK. Plexin reduced the activity of Rap2 in the neuron that released the messenger, which hindered the formation of synapses. The gene TNIK and its protein on the other hand, have the ability to modify other proteins and could so inhibit the growth of synapses. When TNIK was experimentally removed, the number of synapses increased, but when its activity was increased, the number of synapses was strongly reduced. These findings could help scientists understand how mutations in Rap2 or TNIK can lead to various neurological conditions. A next step will be to test if these genes also affect the formation of synapses in other species such as mice, which have a more complex nervous system that is structurally and functionally more similar to that of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Akihiro Ce Shibata
- Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Ardalan Hendi
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mizuki Kurashina
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ethan Fortes
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Brian A MacVicar
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Hideji Murakoshi
- Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Kota Mizumoto
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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24
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Tropea D, Hardingham N, Millar K, Fox K. Mechanisms underlying the role of DISC1 in synaptic plasticity. J Physiol 2018; 596:2747-2771. [PMID: 30008190 PMCID: PMC6046077 DOI: 10.1113/jp274330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is an important hub protein, forming multimeric complexes by self-association and interacting with a large number of synaptic and cytoskeletal molecules. The synaptic location of DISC1 in the adult brain suggests a role in synaptic plasticity, and indeed, a number of studies have discovered synaptic plasticity impairments in a variety of different DISC1 mutants. This review explores the possibility that DISC1 is an important molecule for organizing proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and examines why mutations in DISC1 impair plasticity. It concentrates on DISC1's role in interacting with synaptic proteins, controlling dendritic structure and cellular trafficking of mRNA, synaptic vesicles and mitochondria. N-terminal directed mutations appear to impair synaptic plasticity through interactions with phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) and hence protein kinase A (PKA)/GluA1 and PKA/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signalling pathways, and affect spine structure through interactions with kalirin 7 (Kal-7) and Rac1. C-terminal directed mutations also impair plasticity possibly through altered interactions with lissencephaly protein 1 (LIS1) and nuclear distribution protein nudE-like 1 (NDEL1), thereby affecting developmental processes such as dendritic structure and spine maturation. Many of the same molecules involved in DISC1's cytoskeletal interactions are also involved in intracellular trafficking, raising the possibility that impairments in intracellular trafficking affect cytoskeletal development and vice versa. While the multiplicity of DISC1 protein interactions makes it difficult to pinpoint a single causal signalling pathway, we suggest that the immediate-term effects of N-terminal influences on GluA1, Rac1 and CREB, coupled with the developmental effects of C-terminal influences on trafficking and the cytoskeleton make up the two main branches of DISC1's effect on synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Tropea
- Neurospychiatric GeneticsTrinity Center for Health Sciences and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN)Trinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Neil Hardingham
- School of BiosciencesMuseum AvenueCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Kirsty Millar
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental MedicineMRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular MedicineWestern General HospitalUniversity of EdinburghCrewe RoadEdinburghUK
| | - Kevin Fox
- School of BiosciencesMuseum AvenueCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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25
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Baltussen LL, Rosianu F, Ultanir SK. Kinases in synaptic development and neurological diseases. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:343-352. [PMID: 29241837 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal morphogenesis and synapse development is essential for building a functioning nervous system, and defects in these processes are associated with neurological disorders. Our understanding of molecular components and signalling events that contribute to neuronal development and pathogenesis is limited. Genes associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases provide entry points for elucidating molecular events that contribute to these conditions. Several protein kinases, enzymes that regulate protein function by phosphorylating their substrates, are genetically linked to neurological disorders. Identifying substrates of these kinases is key to discovering their function and providing insight for possible therapies. In this review, we describe how various methods for kinase-substrate identification helped elucidate kinase signalling pathways important for neuronal development and function. We describe recent advances on roles of kinases TAOK2, TNIK and CDKL5 in neuronal development and the converging pathways of LRRK2, PINK1 and GAK in Parkinson's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas L Baltussen
- Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia Rosianu
- Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Sila K Ultanir
- Kinases and Brain Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom.
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26
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Wang JC, Lee JYJ, Dang-Lawson M, Pritchard C, Gold MR. The Rap2c GTPase facilitates B cell receptor-induced reorientation of the microtubule-organizing center. Small GTPases 2018; 11:402-412. [PMID: 29457987 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2018.1441626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
When B lymphocytes encounter antigen-bearing surfaces, B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling initiates remodeling of the F-actin network and reorientation of the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) towards the antigen contact site. We have previously shown that the Rap1 GTPase, an evolutionarily conserved regulator of cell polarity, is essential for these processes and that Rap1-regulated actin remodeling is required for MTOC polarization. The role of Rap2 proteins in establishing cell polarity is not well understood. We now show that depleting Rap2c, the only Rap2 isoform expressed in the A20 B-cell line, impairs BCR-induced MTOC reorientation as well as the actin remodeling that supports MTOC polarization. Thus Rap1 and Rap2 proteins may have similar but non-redundant functions in coupling the BCR to MTOC polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia C Wang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeff Y-J Lee
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - May Dang-Lawson
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Caitlin Pritchard
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michael R Gold
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, Canada
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27
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Wild AR, Dell'Acqua ML. Potential for therapeutic targeting of AKAP signaling complexes in nervous system disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 185:99-121. [PMID: 29262295 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A common feature of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders is a breakdown in the integrity of intracellular signal transduction pathways. Dysregulation of ion channels and receptors in the cell membrane and the enzymatic mediators that link them to intracellular effectors can lead to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. However, therapeutic targeting of these ubiquitous signaling elements can lead to off-target side effects due to their widespread expression in multiple systems of the body. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are multivalent scaffolding proteins that compartmentalize a diverse range of receptor and effector proteins to streamline signaling within nanodomain signalosomes. A number of essential neurological processes are known to critically depend on AKAP-directed signaling and an understanding of the role AKAPs play in nervous system disorders has emerged in recent years. Selective targeting of AKAP protein-protein interactions may be a means to uncouple pathologically active signaling pathways in neurological disorders with a greater degree of specificity. In this review we will discuss the role of AKAPs in both regulating normal nervous system function and dysfunction associated with disease, and the potential for therapeutic targeting of AKAP signaling complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Wild
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mark L Dell'Acqua
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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28
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Larhammar M, Huntwork-Rodriguez S, Rudhard Y, Sengupta-Ghosh A, Lewcock JW. The Ste20 Family Kinases MAP4K4, MINK1, and TNIK Converge to Regulate Stress-Induced JNK Signaling in Neurons. J Neurosci 2017; 37:11074-11084. [PMID: 28993483 PMCID: PMC6596808 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0905-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway regulates nervous system development, axon regeneration, and neuronal degeneration after acute injury or in chronic neurodegenerative disease. Dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) is required for stress-induced JNK signaling in neurons, yet the factors that initiate DLK/JNK pathway activity remain poorly defined. In the present study, we identify the Ste20 kinases MAP4K4, misshapen-like kinase 1 (MINK1 or MAP4K6) and TNIK Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK or MAP4K7), as upstream regulators of DLK/JNK signaling in neurons. Using a trophic factor withdrawal-based model of neurodegeneration in both male and female embryonic mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons, we show that MAP4K4, MINK1, and TNIK act redundantly to regulate DLK activation and downstream JNK-dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun in response to stress. Targeting MAP4K4, MINK1, and TNIK, but not any of these kinases individually, is sufficient to protect neurons potently from degeneration. Pharmacological inhibition of MAP4Ks blocks stabilization and phosphorylation of DLK within axons and subsequent retrograde translocation of the JNK signaling complex to the nucleus. These results position MAP4Ks as important regulators of the DLK/JNK signaling pathway.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neuronal degeneration occurs in disparate circumstances: during development to refine neuronal connections, after injury to clear damaged neurons, or pathologically during disease. The dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK)/c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway represents a conserved regulator of neuronal injury signaling that drives both neurodegeneration and axon regeneration, yet little is known about the factors that initiate DLK activity. Here, we uncover a novel role for a subfamily of MAP4 kinases consisting of MAP4K4, Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK or MAP4K7), and misshapen-like kinase 1 (MINK1 or MAP4K6) in regulating DLK/JNK signaling in neurons. Inhibition of these MAP4Ks blocks stress-induced retrograde JNK signaling and protects from neurodegeneration, suggesting that these kinases may represent attractive therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Larhammar
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, California 94080
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080
| | - Sarah Huntwork-Rodriguez
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, California 94080
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080
| | - York Rudhard
- In Vitro Pharmacology, Evotec AG, Manfred Eigen Campus, 22419 Hamburg, Germany, and
| | | | - Joseph W Lewcock
- Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, California 94080,
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080
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29
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Qiao Y, Peng C, Li J, Wu D, Wang X. Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion causes damage of neurocyte by inhibiting RAP2C. Neurol Res 2017; 39:877-884. [PMID: 28714326 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2017.1352120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Qiao
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
| | - Changliang Peng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
| | - Dongjin Wu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
| | - Xiuwen Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
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30
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Shah B, Püschel AW. Regulation of Rap GTPases in mammalian neurons. Biol Chem 2017; 397:1055-69. [PMID: 27186679 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Small GTPases are central regulators of many cellular processes. The highly conserved Rap GTPases perform essential functions in the mammalian nervous system during development and in mature neurons. During neocortical development, Rap1 is required to regulate cadherin- and integrin-mediated adhesion. In the adult nervous system Rap1 and Rap2 regulate the maturation and plasticity of dendritic spine and synapses. Although genetic studies have revealed important roles of Rap GTPases in neurons, their regulation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate them and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that inactivate them by stimulating their intrinsic GTPase activity is just beginning to be explored in vivo. Here we review how GEFs and GAPs regulate Rap GTPases in the nervous system with a focus on their in vivo function.
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31
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Comprehensive Modeling and Discovery of Mebendazole as a Novel TRAF2- and NCK-interacting Kinase Inhibitor. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33534. [PMID: 27650168 PMCID: PMC5030704 DOI: 10.1038/srep33534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
TRAF2- and NCK-interacting kinase (TNIK) represents one of the crucial targets for Wnt-activated colorectal cancer. In this study, we curated two datasets and conducted a comprehensive modeling study to explore novel TNIK inhibitors with desirable biopharmaceutical properties. With Dataset I, we derived Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) and variable-selection k-nearest neighbor models, from which 3D-molecular fields and 2D-descriptors critical for the TNIK inhibitor activity were revealed. Based on Dataset II, predictive CoMSIA-SIMCA (Soft Independent Modelling by Class Analogy) models were obtained and employed to screen 1,448 FDA-approved small molecule drugs. Upon experimental evaluations, we discovered that mebendazole, an approved anthelmintic drug, could selectively inhibit TNIK kinase activity with a dissociation constant Kd = ~1 μM. The subsequent CoMSIA and kNN analyses indicated that mebendazole bears the favorable molecular features that are needed to bind and inhibit TNIK.
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32
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Xue Q, Yu C, Wang Y, Liu L, Zhang K, Fang C, Liu F, Bian G, Song B, Yang A, Ju G, Wang J. miR-9 and miR-124 synergistically affect regulation of dendritic branching via the AKT/GSK3β pathway by targeting Rap2a. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26781. [PMID: 27221778 PMCID: PMC4879704 DOI: 10.1038/srep26781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A single microRNA (miRNA) can regulate expression of multiple proteins, and expression of an individual protein may be controlled by numerous miRNAs. This regulatory pattern strongly suggests that synergistic effects of miRNAs play critical roles in regulating biological processes. miR-9 and miR-124, two of the most abundant miRNAs in the mammalian nervous system, have important functions in neuronal development. In this study, we identified the small GTP-binding protein Rap2a as a common target of both miR-9 and miR-124. miR-9 and miR-124 together, but neither miRNA alone, strongly suppressed Rap2a, thereby promoting neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) and dendritic branching of differentiated neurons. Rap2a also diminished the dendritic complexity of mature neurons by decreasing the levels of pAKT and pGSK3β. Our results reveal a novel pathway in which miR-9 and miR-124 synergistically repress expression of Rap2a to sustain homeostatic dendritic complexity during neuronal development and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xue
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Caiyong Yu
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery, Stomatology Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710004, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Chao Fang
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Fangfang Liu
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Ganlan Bian
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Bing Song
- Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering &Repair, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XY, UK
| | - Angang Yang
- Department of Immunology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Gong Ju
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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Anazi S, Shamseldin HE, AlNaqeb D, Abouelhoda M, Monies D, Salih MA, Al-Rubeaan K, Alkuraya FS. A null mutation in TNIK defines a novel locus for intellectual disability. Hum Genet 2016; 135:773-8. [PMID: 27106596 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-016-1671-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is one of the most common disabilities and, although many genes have been implicated in its etiology, the genetic heterogeneity of ID continues to expand. The purpose of the study was to describe a novel autosomal recessive non-syndromic ID locus. Autozygome and linkage analysis, and exome sequencing followed by RNA and protein analysis of the candidate disease gene were performed. We describe two multiplex consanguineous families with non-syndromic ID phenotype, which maps to a critical linkage locus on 3q26. Exome sequencing of the index in each family revealed the same homozygous truncating mutation in TNIK that results in complete loss of the protein. TNIK is a kinase with a well-established role in dendrite development and synaptic transmission. The phenotype we observe in human patients who lack TNIK is consistent with the previously published Tnik (-/-) phenotype in the murine model. Our data strongly implicate TNIK deficiency in the causation of ID in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shams Anazi
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan E Shamseldin
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dhekra AlNaqeb
- University Diabetes Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Abouelhoda
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Saudi Human Genome Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dorota Monies
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Saudi Human Genome Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa A Salih
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Al-Rubeaan
- University Diabetes Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Saudi Human Genome Program, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Fbxo3-Dependent Fbxl2 Ubiquitination Mediates Neuropathic Allodynia through the TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 Cascade. J Neurosci 2016; 35:16545-60. [PMID: 26674878 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2301-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Emerging evidence has indicated that the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain is mediated by spinal neural plasticity in the dorsal horn, which provides insight for analgesic therapy. Here, we report that the abundance of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 and NcK-interacting kinase (TNIK), a kinase that is presumed to regulate neural plasticity, was specifically enhanced in ipsilateral dorsal horn neurons after spinal nerve ligation (SNL; left L5 and L6). Spinal TNIK-associated allodynia is mediated by downstream TNIK-GluR1 coupling and the subsequent phosphorylation-dependent trafficking of GluR1 toward the plasma membrane in dorsal horn neurons. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), which is regulated by spinal F-box protein 3 (Fbxo3)-dependent F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 2 (Fbxl2) ubiquitination, contributes to SNL-induced allodynia by modifying TNIK/GluR1 phosphorylation-associated GluR1 trafficking. Although exhibiting no effect on Fbxo3/Fbxl2/TRAF2 signaling, focal knockdown of spinal TNIK expression prevented SNL-induced allodynia by attenuating TNIK/GluR1 phosphorylation-dependent subcellular GluR1 redistribution. In contrast, intrathecal administration of BC-1215 (N1,N2-Bis[[4-(2-pyridinyl)phenyl]methyl]-1,2-ethanediamine) (a novel Fbxo3 inhibitor) prevented SNL-induced Fbxl2 ubiquitination and subsequent TFAF2 de-ubiquitination to ameliorate behavioral allodynia via antagonizing TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 signaling. By targeting spinal Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination and the subsequent TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 cascade, spinal application of a TNF-α-neutralizing antibody ameliorated SNL-induced allodynia, and, conversely, intrathecal TNF-α injection into naive rats induced allodynia via a spinal Fbxo3/Fbxl2-dependent modification of the TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 cascade. Together, our results suggest that spinal TNF-α contributes to the development of neuropathic pain by upregulating TRAF2/TNIK/GluR1 signaling via Fbxo3-dependent Fbxl2 ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, we propose a potential medical treatment strategy for neuropathic pain by targeting the F-box protein or TNIK. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT TNF-α participates in neuropathic pain development by facilitating the spinal TRAF2-dependent TNIK-GluR1 association, which drives GluR1-containing AMPA receptor trafficking toward the plasma membrane. In addition, F-box protein 3 modifies this pathway by inhibiting F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 2-mediated TRAF2 ubiquitination, suggesting that protein ubiquitination contributes crucially to the development of neuropathic pain. These results provide a novel therapeutic strategy for pain relief.
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Wang Q, Amato SP, Rubitski DM, Hayward MM, Kormos BL, Verhoest PR, Xu L, Brandon NJ, Ehlers MD. Identification of Phosphorylation Consensus Sequences and Endogenous Neuronal Substrates of the Psychiatric Risk Kinase TNIK. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2015; 356:410-23. [PMID: 26645429 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.115.229880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) is a serine/threonine kinase highly expressed in the brain and enriched in the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses in the mammalian brain. Accumulating genetic evidence and functional data have implicated TNIK as a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. However, the endogenous substrates of TNIK in neurons are unknown. Here, we describe a novel selective small molecule inhibitor of the TNIK kinase family. Using this inhibitor, we report the identification of endogenous neuronal TNIK substrates by immunoprecipitation with a phosphomotif antibody followed by mass spectrometry. Phosphorylation consensus sequences were defined by phosphopeptide sequence analysis. Among the identified substrates were members of the delta-catenin family including p120-catenin, δ-catenin, and armadillo repeat gene deleted in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (ARVCF), each of which is linked to psychiatric or neurologic disorders. Using p120-catenin as a representative substrate, we show TNIK-induced p120-catenin phosphorylation in cells requires intact kinase activity and phosphorylation of TNIK at T181 and T187 in the activation loop. Addition of the small molecule TNIK inhibitor or knocking down TNIK by two shRNAs reduced endogenous p120-catenin phosphorylation in cells. Together, using a TNIK inhibitor and phosphomotif antibody, we identify endogenous substrates of TNIK in neurons, define consensus sequences for TNIK, and suggest signaling pathways by which TNIK influences synaptic development and function linked to psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Stephen P Amato
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - David M Rubitski
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Matthew M Hayward
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Bethany L Kormos
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Patrick R Verhoest
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Lan Xu
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
| | - Michael D Ehlers
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, BioTherapeutics Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts (Q.W., S.P.A., D.M.R., N.J.B., M.D.E.); Center of Chemistry Innovation and Excellence, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut (M.M.H.); Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts (B.L.K., P.R.V.);and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts (L.X.)
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Colombrita C, Onesto E, Buratti E, de la Grange P, Gumina V, Baralle FE, Silani V, Ratti A. From transcriptomic to protein level changes in TDP-43 and FUS loss-of-function cell models. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2015; 1849:1398-410. [PMID: 26514432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The full definition of the physiological RNA targets regulated by TDP-43 and FUS RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) represents an important issue in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms associated to these two proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. In the last few years several high-throughput screenings have generated a plethora of data, which are difficult to compare due to the different experimental designs and models explored. In this study by using the Affymetrix Exon Arrays, we were able to assess and compare the effects of both TDP-43 and FUS loss-of-function on the whole transcriptome using the same human neuronal SK-N-BE cell model. We showed that TDP-43 and FUS depletion induces splicing and gene expression changes mainly distinct for the two RBPs, although they may regulate common pathways, including neuron differentiation and cytoskeleton organization as evidenced by functional annotation analysis. In particular, TDP-43 and FUS were found to regulate splicing and expression of genes related to neuronal (SEPT6, SULT4A1, TNIK) and RNA metabolism (DICER, ELAVL3/HuC, POLDIP3). Our extended analysis at protein level revealed that these changes have also impact on the protein isoform ratio and content, not always in a direct correlation with transcriptomic data. Contrarily to a loss-of-function mechanism, we showed that mutant TDP-43 proteins maintained their splicing activity in human ALS fibroblasts and experimental cell lines. Our findings further contribute to define the biological functions of these two RBPs in physiological and disease state, strongly encouraging the evaluation of the identified transcriptomic changes at protein level in neuronal experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Colombrita
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149, Italy
| | - Elisa Onesto
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149, Italy
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), AREA Science Park, Trieste 34149, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Gumina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149, Italy
| | - Francisco E Baralle
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), AREA Science Park, Trieste 34149, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, 'Dino Ferrari' Center - Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan 20122, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149, Italy.
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38
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TNIK serves as a novel biomarker associated with poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:1035-40. [PMID: 26269113 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Traf-2 and Nck interacting kinase (TNIK) is one of the STE20/MAP4K family members implicated in carcinogenesis and progression of several human malignancies. However, its expression pattern and biological behavior in pancreatic carcinoma remains completely unclear. The present study is designed to investigate the clinical and prognostic value of TNIK in pancreatic carcinoma. TNIK mRNA and protein level was respectively detected by real-time quantitative RCR (qPCR) and Western blot in ten paired samples of pancreatic cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was also conducted to examine TNIK in the tissue microarray (TMA) consisting of 91 archived specimens of pancreatic cancer. The correlation between TNIK and prognosis was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression. The mRNA and protein levels of TNIK in pancreatic cancer were both significantly higher than those in matched paratumor tissues. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that TNIK was positively associated with pathologic T (P = 0.045) and TNM (P = 0.040) stage. In addition, The Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that patients with high expression of TNIK had a shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than those with low expression. Our results demonstrated that TNIK might play a crucial role in pancreatic carcinogenesis and serve as a novel therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer.
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Ndubaku CO, Crawford TD, Chen H, Boggs JW, Drobnick J, Harris SF, Jesudason R, McNamara E, Nonomiya J, Sambrone A, Schmidt S, Smyczek T, Vitorino P, Wang L, Wu P, Yeung S, Chen J, Chen K, Ding CZ, Wang T, Xu Z, Gould SE, Murray LJ, Ye W. Structure-Based Design of GNE-495, a Potent and Selective MAP4K4 Inhibitor with Efficacy in Retinal Angiogenesis. ACS Med Chem Lett 2015; 6:913-8. [PMID: 26288693 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse biological roles for mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4) have necessitated the identification of potent inhibitors in order to study its function in various disease contexts. In particular, compounds that can be used to carry out such studies in vivo would be critical for elucidating the potential for therapeutic intervention. A structure-based design effort coupled with property-guided optimization directed at minimizing the ability of the inhibitors to cross into the CNS led to an advanced compound 13 (GNE-495) that showed excellent potency and good PK and was used to demonstrate in vivo efficacy in a retinal angiogenesis model recapitulating effects that were observed in the inducible Map4k4 knockout mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chudi O. Ndubaku
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Terry D. Crawford
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Huifen Chen
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jason W. Boggs
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Joy Drobnick
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Seth F. Harris
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Rajiv Jesudason
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Erin McNamara
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jim Nonomiya
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Amy Sambrone
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Stephen Schmidt
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Tanya Smyczek
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Philip Vitorino
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Lan Wang
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Ping Wu
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Stacey Yeung
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jinhua Chen
- Wuxi Apptec Co., Ltd., 288
Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kevin Chen
- Wuxi Apptec Co., Ltd., 288
Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, People’s Republic of China
| | - Charles Z. Ding
- Wuxi Apptec Co., Ltd., 288
Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Wang
- Wuxi Apptec Co., Ltd., 288
Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zijin Xu
- Wuxi Apptec Co., Ltd., 288
Fute Zhong Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai 200131, People’s Republic of China
| | - Stephen E. Gould
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Lesley J. Murray
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Weilan Ye
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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Burette AC, Phend KD, Burette S, Lin Q, Liang M, Foltz G, Taylor N, Wang Q, Brandon NJ, Bates B, Ehlers MD, Weinberg RJ. Organization of TNIK in dendritic spines. J Comp Neurol 2015; 523:1913-24. [PMID: 25753355 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)- and noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase (NCK)-interacting kinase (TNIK) has been identified as an interactor in the psychiatric risk factor, Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1). As a step toward deciphering its function in the brain, we performed high-resolution light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. We demonstrate here that TNIK is expressed in neurons throughout the adult mouse brain. In striatum and cerebral cortex, TNIK concentrates in dendritic spines, especially in the vicinity of the lateral edge of the synapse. Thus, TNIK is highly enriched at a microdomain critical for glutamatergic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain C Burette
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
| | - Kristen D Phend
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
| | - Susan Burette
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
| | - Qingcong Lin
- Shenogen Pharma Group, Beijing, People's Republic of China 102206
| | - Musen Liang
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, and Metabolism, Pfizer, Andover, Massachusetts 01810
| | - Gretchen Foltz
- Clinical Research Unit, Pfizer, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Noël Taylor
- Biomarker and Personalized Medicine Group, Eisai Product Creation Systems, Eisai, Andover, Massachusetts 01810
| | - Qi Wang
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | | | - Brian Bates
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Michael D Ehlers
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Richard J Weinberg
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
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Abstract
Voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels form the molecular basis of cellular excitability. With >400 members and accounting for ∼1.5% of the human genome, ion channels are some of the most well studied of all proteins in heterologous expression systems. Yet, ion channels often exhibit unexpected properties in vivo because of their interaction with a variety of signaling/scaffolding proteins. Such interactions can influence the function and localization of ion channels, as well as their coupling to intracellular second messengers and pathways, thus increasing the signaling potential of these ion channels in neurons. Moreover, functions have been ascribed to ion channels that are largely independent of their ion-conducting roles. Molecular and functional dissection of the ion channel proteome/interactome has yielded new insights into the composition of ion channel complexes and how their dysregulation leads to human disease.
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Regional Diversity and Developmental Dynamics of the AMPA-Receptor Proteome in the Mammalian Brain. Neuron 2014; 84:41-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Morris BJ, Pratt JA. Novel treatment strategies for schizophrenia from improved understanding of genetic risk. Clin Genet 2014; 86:401-11. [PMID: 25142969 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have seen significant advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of schizophrenia. In particular, genome-wide approaches have suggested the involvement of many common genetic variants of small effect, together with a few rare variants exerting relatively large effects. While unequivocal identification of the relevant genes has, for the most part, remained elusive, the genes revealed as potential candidates can in many cases be clustered into functionally related groups which are potentially open to therapeutic intervention. In this review, we summarise this information, focusing on the accumulating evidence that genetic dysfunction at glutamatergic synapses and post-synaptic signalling complexes contributes to the aetiology of the disease. In particular, there is converging support for involvement of post-synaptic JNK pathways in disease aetiology. An expansion of our neurobiological knowledge of the basis of schizophrenia is urgently needed, yet some promising novel pharmacological targets can already be discerned.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Morris
- Psychiatric Research Institute of Neuroscience in Glasgow (PsyRING), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, School of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Risk genes for schizophrenia: Translational opportunities for drug discovery. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 143:34-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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The essential role of TNIK gene amplification in gastric cancer growth. Oncogenesis 2014; 2:e89. [PMID: 24566388 PMCID: PMC5424097 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2014.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK) is one of the germinal center kinase family members involved in cytoskeleton organization and neuronal dendrite extension. Emerging evidence supports that TNIK is essential for activation of WNT signaling pathway in colon cancer growth. To search for novel genetic aberrations that drive carcinogenesis, we performed microarray-based comparative hybridization assay for gene copy number variations in primary tumor samples. Our data showed that TNIK gene was amplified in 7% (8/106) of Chinese gastric cancer patients. Theses amplifications were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. PAMC82 human gastric cancer and T47D human breast cancer cell lines with TNIK amplification were identified to further understand the function of TNIK gene amplification. RNA-interference-mediated silencing of TNIK resulted in significant inhibition of cell growth and induction of cell death in TNIK-amplified, but not in TNIK-non-amplified, cell lines tested. This selective sensitivity to the TNIK inhibition was also observed under the effect of a small-molecule TNIK inhibitor. Furthermore, our data indicated that TNIK's role in gastric cancer growth was not dependent on Wnt signaling but rather was involved in AKT activation and cell autophagy. Together, our results suggest that TNIK is a novel therapeutic target in gastric cancer and TNIK amplification can be potentially used for patient selection.
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Helmer RA, Foreman O, Dertien JS, Panchoo M, Bhakta SM, Chilton BS. Role of helicase-like transcription factor (hltf) in the G2/m transition and apoptosis in brain. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66799. [PMID: 23826137 PMCID: PMC3691323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HLTF participates in transcription, chromatin remodeling, DNA damage repair, and tumor suppression. Aside from being expressed in mouse brain during embryonic and postnatal development, little is known about Hltf's functional importance. Splice variant quantification of wild-type neonatal (6-8 hour postpartum) brain gave a ratio of 5:1 for Hltf isoform 1 (exons 1-25) to isoform 2 (exons 1-21 with exon 21 extended via a partial intron retention event). Western analysis showed a close correlation between mRNA and protein expression. Complete loss of Hltf caused encephalomalacia with increased apoptosis, and reduced viability. Sixty-four percent of Hltf null mice died, 48% within 12-24 hours of birth. An RNA-Seq snapshot of the neonatal brain transcriptome showed 341 of 20,000 transcripts were altered (p < 0.05) - 95 up regulated and 246 down regulated. MetaCoreTM enrichment pathway analysis revealed Hltf regulates cell cycle, cell adhesion, and TGF-beta receptor signaling. Hltf's most important role is in the G2/M transition of the cell cycle (p = 4.672e-7) with an emphasis on transcript availability of major components in chromosome cohesion and condensation. Hltf null brains have reduced transcript levels for Rad21/Scc1, histone H3.3, Cap-E/Smc2, Cap-G/G2, and Aurora B kinase. The loss of Hltf in its yeast Rad5-like role in DNA damage repair is accompanied by down regulation of Cflar, a critical inhibitor of TNFRSF6-mediated apoptosis, and increased (p<0.0001) active caspase-3, an indicator of intrinsic triggering of apoptosis in null brains. Hltf also regulates Smad7/Bambi/Tgf-beta/Bmp5/Wnt10b signaling in brain. ChIP confirmed Hltf binding to consensus sequences in predicted (promoter Scgb3a1 gene) and previously unidentified (P-element on chromosome 7) targets. This study is the first to provide a comprehensive view of Hltf targets in brain. Moreover, it reveals how silencing Hltf disrupts cell cycle progression, and attenuates DNA damage repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Helmer
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Oded Foreman
- Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Janet S. Dertien
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marlyn Panchoo
- St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Suhani M. Bhakta
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
| | - Beverly S Chilton
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Park DS, Seo JH, Hong M, Choi SC. Role of the Rap2/TNIK kinase pathway in regulation of LRP6 stability for Wnt signaling. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 436:338-43. [PMID: 23743195 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.05.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays critical roles in early embryonic development, stem cell biology and human diseases including cancers. Although Rap2, a member of Ras GTPase family, is essential for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during the body axis specification in Xenopus embryo, the mechanism underlying its regulation of Wnt signaling remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Rap2 is implicated in control of the stability of Wnt receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). Knockdown of Rap2 resulted in the proteasome and/or lysosome-dependent degradation of LRP6 both in the presence and absence of Wnt ligand stimulation. In line with this, constitutively active LRP6 lacking its extracellular domain, which is constitutively phosphorylated and resides in intracellular vesicles, was also degraded in the Rap2-silenced cells. In addition, Rap2 and LRP6 associated physically with each other. Furthermore, we found that TRAF2/Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK), a member of the Ste20 protein family, acts as a downstream effector of Rap2 in control of LRP6 stabilization. Consistently, TNIK could rescue the inhibitory effects of Rap2 depletion on Wnt-dependent gene transcription, reporter activation and neural crest induction. Taken together, these results suggest that Rap2 acts via TNIK to regulate the stability of LRP6 receptor for Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Seok Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Pungnap-Dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea
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TNiK is required for postsynaptic and nuclear signaling pathways and cognitive function. J Neurosci 2013; 32:13987-99. [PMID: 23035106 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2433-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Traf2 and NcK interacting kinase (TNiK) contains serine-threonine kinase and scaffold domains and has been implicated in cell proliferation and glutamate receptor regulation in vitro. Here we report its role in vivo using mice carrying a knock-out mutation. TNiK binds protein complexes in the synapse linking it to the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) via AKAP9. NMDAR and metabotropic receptors bidirectionally regulate TNiK phosphorylation and TNiK is required for AMPA expression and synaptic function. TNiK also organizes nuclear complexes and in the absence of TNiK, there was a marked elevation in GSK3β and phosphorylation levels of its cognate phosphorylation sites on NeuroD1 with alterations in Wnt pathway signaling. We observed impairments in dentate gyrus neurogenesis in TNiK knock-out mice and cognitive testing using the touchscreen apparatus revealed impairments in pattern separation on a test of spatial discrimination. Object-location paired associate learning, which is dependent on glutamatergic signaling, was also impaired. Additionally, TNiK knock-out mice displayed hyperlocomotor behavior that could be rapidly reversed by GSK3β inhibitors, indicating the potential for pharmacological rescue of a behavioral phenotype. These data establish TNiK as a critical regulator of cognitive functions and suggest it may play a regulatory role in diseases impacting on its interacting proteins and complexes.
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Arf6-GEF BRAG1 regulates JNK-mediated synaptic removal of GluA1-containing AMPA receptors: a new mechanism for nonsyndromic X-linked mental disorder. J Neurosci 2012; 32:11716-26. [PMID: 22915114 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1942-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent modifications of excitatory synapses contribute to synaptic maturation and plasticity, and are critical for learning and memory. Consequently, impairments in synapse formation or synaptic transmission are thought to be responsible for several types of mental disabilities. BRAG1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTP-binding protein Arf6 that localizes to the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Mutations in BRAG1 have been identified in families with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). These mutations mapped to either the catalytic domain or an IQ-like motif; however, the pathophysiological basis of these mutations remains unknown. Here, we show that the BRAG1 IQ motif binds apo-calmodulin (CaM), and that calcium-induced CaM release triggers a reversible conformational change in human BRAG1. We demonstrate that BRAG1 activity, stimulated by activation of NMDA-sensitive glutamate receptors, depresses AMPA receptor (AMPA-R)-mediated transmission via JNK-mediated synaptic removal of GluA1-containing AMPA-Rs in rat hippocampal neurons. Importantly, a BRAG1 mutant that fails to activate Arf6 also fails to depress AMPA-R signaling, indicating that Arf6 activity is necessary for this process. Conversely, a mutation in the BRAG1 IQ-like motif that impairs CaM binding results in hyperactivation of Arf6 signaling and constitutive depression of AMPA transmission. Our findings reveal a role for BRAG1 in response to neuronal activity with possible clinical relevance to nonsyndromic XLID.
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Winchester CL, Ohzeki H, Vouyiouklis DA, Thompson R, Penninger JM, Yamagami K, Norrie JD, Hunter R, Pratt JA, Morris BJ. Converging evidence that sequence variations in the novel candidate gene MAP2K7 (MKK7) are functionally associated with schizophrenia. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:4910-21. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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