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Schor NF. The Tangential Dialogue Between Science and Medicine: A Case in Point. Pediatr Neurol 2024; 153:96-102. [PMID: 38359527 PMCID: PMC10940191 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The road between a hypothesis about a disease or condition and its cure or palliation is never simply linear. There are many tantalizing tangents to be chased and many seemingly obvious truths with countless exceptions; this is usually a feature, not a bug, as they say in computer programming. In the tangents and exceptions are clues and alternative roads to science and medicine that can provide cures and palliative measures, sometimes for diseases or conditions other than the one being studied. The narrative that follows uses the author's scientific experience in childhood nervous system cancer to illustrate the importance of a robust, bidirectional interaction between the laboratory bench and the clinic bedside in the quest for solutions to problems of health, longevity, and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina F Schor
- Office of the Director, Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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2
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Lu M, Hu X, Cheng C, Zhang Y, Huang L, Kong X, Li Z, Zhang Q, Zhang Y. RPF2 mediates the CARM1‑MYCN axis to promote chemotherapy resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Oncol Rep 2024; 51:11. [PMID: 37997821 PMCID: PMC10696550 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome production factor 2 homolog (RPF2) plays an important role in the life processes of ribosomal biogenesis; however, the function and mechanism of RPF2 in tumors are unclear. The present study demonstrated that RPF2 expression is involved in chemoresistance in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The current study demonstrated that upregulation of RPF2 expression in CRC promoted resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in CRC cells, whereas knockdown of RPF2 leads to increased sensitivity of CRC to chemotherapy. In addition, it was found that overexpression of RPF2 led to an increase in ATP‑binding cassette (ABC)B1 expression in CRC cells; accordingly, inhibition of RPF2 reduced the level of ABCB1 in CRC cells, thus suggesting that ABCB1 may be a downstream factor of RPF2 in the promotion of chemotherapy resistance to CRC. The results also suggested that the expression of N‑myc proto‑oncogene protein (MYCN), an upstream regulator of ABCB1, was affected by RPF2 in CRC cells. In addition, it was also found that the downstream protein coactivator‑associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) of RPF2 existed in direct binding to MYCN and this interaction was regulated by RPF2. The above results suggested that RPF2 is probably regulated ABCB1 expression in CRC through the CARM1‑MYCN pathway, thereby promoting CRC drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macheng Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Xingqian Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Cong Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Longchang Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Xuanwu, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, P.R. China
| | - Xiangpeng Kong
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Zengyao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Qiuhua Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
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3
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Ning J, Chen L, Xiao G, Zeng Y, Shi W, Tanzhu G, Zhou R. The protein arginine methyltransferase family (PRMTs) regulates metastases in various tumors: From experimental study to clinical application. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115456. [PMID: 37696085 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115456] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of mortality among advanced cancer patients. Understanding its mechanisms and treatment strategies is vital for clinical application. Arginine methylation, a post-translational modification catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), is implicated in diverse physiological processes and disease progressions. Previous research has demonstrated PRMTs' involvement in tumor occurrence, progression, and metastasis. This review offers a comprehensive summary of the relationship between PRMTs, prognosis, and metastasis in various cancers. Our focus centers on elucidating the molecular mechanisms through which PRMTs regulate tumor metastasis. We also discuss relevant clinical trials and effective PRMT inhibitors, including chemical compounds, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and nanomaterials, for treating tumor metastasis. While a few studies present conflicting results, the overall trajectory suggests that inhibiting arginine methylation exhibits promise in curtailing tumor metastasis across various cancers. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms and molecular interactions are diverse. The development of inhibitors targeting arginine methylation, along with the progression of clinical trials, holds substantial potential in the field of tumor metastasis, meriting sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyang Ning
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Liu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Gang Xiao
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yu Zeng
- Changsha Stomatological Hospital, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Wen Shi
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Guilong Tanzhu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
| | - Rongrong Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; Xiangya Lung Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410008, China.
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4
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A Review of the Regulatory Mechanisms of N-Myc on Cell Cycle. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031141. [PMID: 36770809 PMCID: PMC9920120 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma has obvious heterogeneity. It is one of the few undifferentiated malignant tumors that can spontaneously degenerate into completely benign tumors. However, for its high-risk type, even with various intensive treatment options, the prognosis is still unsatisfactory. At the same time, a large number of research data show that the abnormal amplification and high-level expression of the MYCN gene are positively correlated with the malignant progression, poor prognosis, and mortality of neuroblastoma. In this context, this article explores the role of the N-Myc, MYCN gene expression product on its target genes related to the cell cycle and reveals its regulatory network in promoting tumor proliferation and malignant progression. We hope it can provide ideas and direction for the research and development of drugs targeting N-Myc and its downstream target genes.
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5
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Perry ACF, Asami M, Lam BYH, Yeo GSH. The initiation of mammalian embryonic transcription: to begin at the beginning. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 33:365-373. [PMID: 36182534 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Gamete (sperm and oocyte) genomes are transcriptionally silent until embryonic genome activation (EGA) following fertilization. EGA in humans had been thought to occur around the eight-cell stage, but recent findings suggest that it is triggered in one-cell embryos, by fertilization. Phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications during fertilization may instate transcriptionally favorable chromatin and activate oocyte-derived transcription factors (TFs) to initiate EGA. Expressed genes lay on cancer-associated pathways and their identities predict upregulation by MYC and other cancer-associated TFs. One interpretation of this is that the onset of EGA, and the somatic cell trajectory to cancer, are mechanistically related: cancer initiates epigenetically. We describe how fertilization might be linked to the initiation of EGA and involve distinctive processes recapitulated in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C F Perry
- Laboratory of Mammalian Molecular Embryology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Maki Asami
- Laboratory of Mammalian Molecular Embryology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Brian Y H Lam
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Giles S H Yeo
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
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6
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Malbeteau L, Pham HT, Eve L, Stallcup MR, Poulard C, Le Romancer M. How Protein Methylation Regulates Steroid Receptor Function. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:160-197. [PMID: 33955470 PMCID: PMC8755998 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Steroid receptors (SRs) are members of the nuclear hormonal receptor family, many of which are transcription factors regulated by ligand binding. SRs regulate various human physiological functions essential for maintenance of vital biological pathways, including development, reproduction, and metabolic homeostasis. In addition, aberrant expression of SRs or dysregulation of their signaling has been observed in a wide variety of pathologies. SR activity is tightly and finely controlled by post-translational modifications (PTMs) targeting the receptors and/or their coregulators. Whereas major attention has been focused on phosphorylation, growing evidence shows that methylation is also an important regulator of SRs. Interestingly, the protein methyltransferases depositing methyl marks are involved in many functions, from development to adult life. They have also been associated with pathologies such as inflammation, as well as cardiovascular and neuronal disorders, and cancer. This article provides an overview of SR methylation/demethylation events, along with their functional effects and biological consequences. An in-depth understanding of the landscape of these methylation events could provide new information on SR regulation in physiology, as well as promising perspectives for the development of new therapeutic strategies, illustrated by the specific inhibitors of protein methyltransferases that are currently available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Malbeteau
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France
| | - Ha Thuy Pham
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France
| | - Louisane Eve
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France
| | - Michael R Stallcup
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Comprehensive Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Coralie Poulard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France
| | - Muriel Le Romancer
- Université de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France.,CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, F-69000 Lyon, France
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7
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Structure, Activity, and Function of PRMT1. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11111147. [PMID: 34833023 PMCID: PMC8619983 DOI: 10.3390/life11111147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
PRMT1, the major protein arginine methyltransferase in mammals, catalyzes monomethylation and asymmetric dimethylation of arginine side chains in proteins. Initially described as a regulator of chromatin dynamics through the methylation of histone H4 at arginine 3 (H4R3), numerous non-histone substrates have since been identified. The variety of these substrates underlines the essential role played by PRMT1 in a large number of biological processes such as transcriptional regulation, signal transduction or DNA repair. This review will provide an overview of the structural, biochemical and cellular features of PRMT1. After a description of the genomic organization and protein structure of PRMT1, special consideration was given to the regulation of PRMT1 enzymatic activity. Finally, we discuss the involvement of PRMT1 in embryonic development, DNA damage repair, as well as its participation in the initiation and progression of several types of cancers.
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8
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Jiao X, Rahimi Balaei M, Abu-El-Rub E, Casoni F, Pezeshgi Modarres H, Dhingra S, Kong J, Consalez GG, Marzban H. Reduced Granule Cell Proliferation and Molecular Dysregulation in the Cerebellum of Lysosomal Acid Phosphatase 2 (ACP2) Mutant Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2994. [PMID: 33804256 PMCID: PMC7999993 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 (Acp2) mutant mice (naked-ataxia, nax) have a severe cerebellar cortex defect with a striking reduction in the number of granule cells. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, BrdU assays, and RT-qPCR, we show downregulation of MYCN and dysregulation of the SHH signaling pathway in the nax cerebellum. MYCN protein expression is significantly reduced at P10, but not at the peak of proliferation at around P6 when the number of granule cells is strikingly reduced in the nax cerebellum. Despite the significant role of the SHH-MycN pathway in granule cell proliferation, our study suggests that a broader molecular pathway and additional mechanisms regulating granule cell development during the clonal expansion period are impaired in the nax cerebellum. In particular, our results indicate that downregulation of the protein synthesis machinery may contribute to the reduced number of granule cells in the nax cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Jiao
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Maryam Rahimi Balaei
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Ejlal Abu-El-Rub
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
- Physiology and Pathophysiology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan
| | - Filippo Casoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sanjiv Dhingra
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Jiming Kong
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
| | - Giacomo G Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Hassan Marzban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, Canada
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9
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Bryant JP, Heiss J, Banasavadi-Siddegowda YK. Arginine Methylation in Brain Tumors: Tumor Biology and Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010124. [PMID: 33440687 PMCID: PMC7827394 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methylation is a common post-translational modification that plays a pivotal role in cellular regulation. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyze the modification of target proteins by adding methyl groups to the guanidino nitrogen atoms of arginine residues. Protein arginine methylation takes part in epigenetic and cellular regulation and has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, and tumor progression. Aberrant expression of PRMTs is associated with the development of brain tumors such as glioblastoma and medulloblastoma. Identifying PRMTs as plausible contributors to tumorigenesis has led to preclinical and clinical investigations of PRMT inhibitors for glioblastoma and medulloblastoma therapy. In this review, we discuss the role of arginine methylation in cancer biology and provide an update on the use of small molecule inhibitors of PRMTs to treat glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and other cancers.
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10
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Prognostic significance of MYCN related genes in pediatric neuroblastoma: a study based on TARGET and GEO datasets. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:314. [PMID: 32593299 PMCID: PMC7320557 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02219-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma patients with MYCN amplification are associated with poor prognosis. However, the prognostic relevance of MYCN associated genes in neuroblastoma is unclear. Methods The expression profiles of MYCN associated genes were identified from Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Enriched transcription factors and signaling pathways were determined using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to identify the prognostic relevance of MYCN associated genes. Multivariate cox regression and Spearman’s correlation were used to determine the correlation coefficients of MYCN associated genes. Results In TARGET and GSE85047 datasets, neuroblastoma patients with MYCN amplification were associated with worse prognosis. Transcription factor MYC was positively associated with MYCN amplification in GSEA assay. We identified 13 MYC target genes which were increased in neuroblastoma patients with MYCN amplification in TARGET, GSE19274 and GSE85047 datasets. Moreover, six out of the 13 MYC target genes ARMC6, DCTPP1, EIF4G1, ELOVL6, FBL and PRMT1 were associated with adverse prognosis in TARGET and GSE85047 datasets. Transcription factor E2F1 was up-regulated by MYCN amplification and associated with the poor prognosis of neuroblastoma. Furthermore, RPS19 in ribosome signaling pathway was also associated with MYCN amplification and correlated with the poor prognosis of neuroblastoma. At last, we showed that most of MYCN target genes were correlated with each other. However, EIF4G1 was an independent prognostic marker. And the prognostic effects of the combination of MYCN amplification and EIF4G1 expression were more significant than MYCN or EIF4G1 alone. Conclusions MYCN target genes ARMC6, DCTPP1, EIF4G1, ELOVL6, FBL, PRMT1, E2F1 and RPS19 had significant prognostic effects in pediatric neuroblastoma. And neuroblastoma patients without MYCN amplification and low EIF4G1 expression had best prognosis.
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11
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Hua ZY, Hansen JN, He M, Dai SK, Choi Y, Fulton MD, Lloyd SM, Szemes M, Sen J, Ding HF, Angelastro JM, Fei X, Li HP, Wu CR, Yang SY, Malik K, Bao X, George Zheng Y, Liu CM, Schor NF, Li ZJ, Li XG. PRMT1 promotes neuroblastoma cell survival through ATF5. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:50. [PMID: 32415090 PMCID: PMC7229216 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-0237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) has been implicated in a number of cancers, making PRMTs potential therapeutic targets. But it remains not well understood how PRMTs impact specific oncogenic pathways. We previously identified PRMTs as important regulators of cell growth in neuroblastoma, a deadly childhood tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. Here, we demonstrate a critical role for PRMT1 in neuroblastoma cell survival. PRMT1 depletion decreased the ability of murine neuroblastoma sphere cells to grow and form spheres, and suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of human neuroblastoma cells. Mechanistic studies reveal the prosurvival factor, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) as a downstream effector of PRMT1-mediated survival signaling. Furthermore, a diamidine class of PRMT1 inhibitors exhibited anti-neuroblastoma efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, overexpression of ATF5 rescued cell apoptosis triggered by PRMT1 inhibition genetically or pharmacologically. Taken together, our findings shed new insights into PRMT1 signaling pathway, and provide evidence for PRMT1 as an actionable therapeutic target in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yan Hua
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Research and Application of Animal Models for Environmental and Metabolic Diseases, Medical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jeanne N Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USA
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shang-Kun Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yoonjung Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Melody D Fulton
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sarah M Lloyd
- Departments of Molecular Biosciences and Dermatology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Marianna Szemes
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ji Sen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Han-Fei Ding
- The Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - James M Angelastro
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Xiang Fei
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui-Ping Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Renmin Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chao-Ran Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Renmin Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng-Yong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Karim Malik
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Xiaomin Bao
- Departments of Molecular Biosciences and Dermatology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Y George Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nina F Schor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhi-Jie Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Research and Application of Animal Models for Environmental and Metabolic Diseases, Medical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing-Guo Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
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12
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Favia A, Salvatori L, Nanni S, Iwamoto-Stohl LK, Valente S, Mai A, Scagnoli F, Fontanella RA, Totta P, Nasi S, Illi B. The Protein Arginine Methyltransferases 1 and 5 affect Myc properties in glioblastoma stem cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15925. [PMID: 31685892 PMCID: PMC6828805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52291-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein Arginine (R) methylation is the most common post-translational methylation in mammalian cells. Protein Arginine Methyltransferases (PRMT) 1 and 5 dimethylate their substrates on R residues, asymmetrically and symmetrically, respectively. They are ubiquitously expressed and play fundamental roles in tumour malignancies, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) which presents largely deregulated Myc activity. Previously, we demonstrated that PRMT5 associates with Myc in GBM cells, modulating, at least in part, its transcriptional properties. Here we show that Myc/PRMT5 protein complex includes PRMT1, in both HEK293T and glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). We demonstrate that Myc is both asymmetrically and symmetrically dimethylated by PRMT1 and PRMT5, respectively, and that these modifications differentially regulate its stability. Moreover, we show that the ratio between symmetrically and asymmetrically dimethylated Myc changes in GSCs grown in stem versus differentiating conditions. Finally, both PRMT1 and PRMT5 activity modulate Myc binding at its specific target promoters. To our knowledge, this is the first work reporting R asymmetrical and symmetrical dimethylation as novel Myc post-translational modifications, with different functional properties. This opens a completely unexplored field of investigation in Myc biology and suggests symmetrically dimethylated Myc species as novel diagnostic and prognostic markers and druggable therapeutic targets for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Favia
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Salvatori
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy.
| | - Simona Nanni
- Institute of Medical Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Pasteur Institute, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Scagnoli
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosaria Anna Fontanella
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Sergio Nasi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Illi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology - National Research Council (IBPM-CNR), Rome, Italy.
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13
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Downregulation of PRMT1 promotes the senescence and migration of a non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1771. [PMID: 30741995 PMCID: PMC6370813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38394-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) catalyzing the formation of asymmetric dimethylarginines has been implicated in cancer development, metastasis, and prognosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of low PRMT1 levels on a non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell line. Stable PRMT1-knockdown (PRMT1-KD) cells showed reduced growth rates and cell cycle arrest at G2/M. They also exhibited senescent phenotypes and increased p53 expression. p21 and PAI-1, which are two p53 downstream targets critical for senescence, were significantly induced in SK-N-SH cells subjected to either PRMT1-KD or inhibitor treatment. The induction was suppressed by a p53 inhibitor and marginal in a p53-null SK-N-AS cell line, suggesting dependence on p53. In general, the DNA damage and ROS levels of the PRMT1-KD SK-N-SH cells were slightly increased. Their migration activity also increased with the induction of PAI-1. Thus, PRMT1 downregulation released the repression of cellular senescence and migration activity in SK-N-SH cells. These results might partially explain the poor prognostic outcome of low PRMT1 in a non-MYCN-amplified cohort and indicate the multifaceted complexity of PRMT1 as a biological regulator of neuroblastoma.
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14
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Zhao J, Adams A, Roberts B, O'Neil M, Vittal A, Schmitt T, Kumer S, Cox J, Li Z, Weinman SA, Tikhanovich I. Protein arginine methyl transferase 1- and Jumonji C domain-containing protein 6-dependent arginine methylation regulate hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha expression and hepatocyte proliferation in mice. Hepatology 2018; 67:1109-1126. [PMID: 29023917 PMCID: PMC5826837 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the mechanisms by which it promotes liver cancer are not well understood. Several studies have shown that cellular protein arginine methylation is inhibited by alcohol. Arginine methylation is controlled by the reciprocal activity of protein arginine methyltransferases, primarily protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1), and a demethylase Jumonji C domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6). The aim of this study was to explore the role of arginine methylation changes in alcohol pathogenesis. We found that PRMT1 activity is inhibited in livers of mice fed with alcohol compared to pair-fed mice. Using hepatocyte-specific PRMT1 knockout mice, we identified that loss of PRMT1 results in enhanced hepatocyte proliferation and a 33% increase in liver size. This increased hepatocyte proliferation was associated with reduced expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (Hnf4α), an important regulator of liver tumorigenesis. We found that PRMT1 regulates Hnf4α expression directly through arginine methylation at the (Hnf4α) promoter. In the absence of PRMT1, JMJD6 can demethylate the Hnf4α promoter and suppress its expression. We were able to restore Hnf4α expression and abolish the increase in hepatocyte proliferation by knockdown of JMJD6 in PRMT1 knockout mice. Knockdown of JMJD6 in alcohol-fed mice similarly increased Hnf4α expression. We then examined whether loss of arginine methylation might play a role in alcohol-associated liver cancers. We examined 25 human HCC specimens and found a strong correlation (R = 0.8; P < 0.01) between arginine methylation levels and Hnf4α expression in these specimens, suggesting that the above mechanism is relevant in patients. CONCLUSION Taken together, these data suggest that PRMT1 inhibition, such as induced by alcohol, may result in epigenetic changes leading to loss of Hnf4α. This effect may contribute to alcohol's ability to promote liver tumors. (Hepatology 2018;67:1109-1126).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Abby Adams
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A,Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Ben Roberts
- Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Maura O'Neil
- Department of Pathology, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Anusha Vittal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | | | - Sean Kumer
- Department of Surgery, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Josiah Cox
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Zhuan Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
| | - Steven A. Weinman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A,Liver Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, U.S.A
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15
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Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the neural crest almost exclusively seen in childhood. While children with single, small primary tumors are often cured with surgery alone, the 65% of children with neuroblastoma whose disease has metastasized have less than a 50% chance of surviving five years after diagnosis. Innovative pharmacological strategies are critically needed for these children. Efforts to identify novel targets that afford ablation of neuroblastoma with minimal toxicity to normal tissues are underway. Developing approaches to neuroblastoma include those that target the catecholamine transporter, ubiquitin E3 ligase, the ganglioside GD2, the retinoic acid receptor, the protein kinases ALK and Aurora, and protein arginine N-methyltransferases. Here, as examples of the use of chemistry to combat neuroblastoma, we describe targeting of the protein arginine N-methyltransferases and their role in prolonging the half-life of the neuroblastoma oncoprotein N-Myc, redox signaling in neuroblastoma, and developmentally regulated proteins expressed in primitive neuroblastoma cells but not in mature neural crest elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne N Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Xingguo Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Y George Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biochemical Sciences, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Louis T Lotta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Abhishek Dedhe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Nina F Schor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York 14642, United States
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16
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Tikhanovich I, Zhao J, Bridges B, Kumer S, Roberts B, Weinman SA. Arginine methylation regulates c-Myc-dependent transcription by altering promoter recruitment of the acetyltransferase p300. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:13333-13344. [PMID: 28652407 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.797928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is an essential enzyme controlling about 85% of the total cellular arginine methylation in proteins. We have shown previously that PRMT1 is an important regulator of innate immune responses and that it is required for M2 macrophage differentiation. c-Myc is a transcription factor that is critical in regulating cell proliferation and also regulates the M2 transcriptional program in macrophages. Here, we sought to determine whether c-Myc in myeloid cells is regulated by PRMT1-dependent arginine methylation. We found that PRMT1 activity was necessary for c-Myc binding to the acetyltransferase p300. PRMT1 inhibition decreased p300 recruitment to c-Myc target promoters and increased histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) recruitment, thereby decreasing transcription at these sites. Moreover, PRMT1 inhibition blocked c-Myc-mediated induction of several of its target genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG) and mannose receptor C-type 1 (MRC1), suggesting that PRMT1 is necessary for c-Myc function in M2 macrophage differentiation. Of note, in primary human blood monocytes, p300-c-Myc binding was strongly correlated with PRMT1 expression, and in liver sections, PRMT1, c-Myc, and M2 macrophage levels were strongly correlated with each other. Both PRMT1 levels and M2 macrophage numbers were significantly lower in livers from individuals with a history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, known to have defective cellular immunity. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that PRMT1 is an important regulator of c-Myc function in myeloid cells. PRMT1 loss in individuals with cirrhosis may contribute to their immune defects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jie Zhao
- From the Department of Internal Medicine
| | | | - Sean Kumer
- the Department of Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160
| | | | - Steven A Weinman
- From the Department of Internal Medicine, .,the Liver Center, and
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17
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Li X, Eberhardt A, Hansen JN, Bohmann D, Li H, Schor NF. Methylation of the phosphatase-transcription activator EYA1 by protein arginine methyltransferase 1: mechanistic, functional, and structural studies. FASEB J 2017; 31:2327-2339. [PMID: 28213359 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601050rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The eyes absent (EYA) family proteins are conserved transcriptional coactivators with intrinsic protein phosphatase activity. They play an essential role in the development of various organs in metazoans. These functions are associated with a unique combination of phosphatase and transactivation activities. However, it remains poorly understood how these activities and the consequent biologic functions of EYA are regulated. Here, we demonstrate that 2 conserved arginine residues, R304 and R306, of EYA1 are essential for its in vitro phosphatase activity and in vivo function during Drosophila eye development. EYA1 physically interacts with protein arginine methyltransferase 1, which methylates EYA1 at these residues both in vitro and in cultured mammalian and insect cells. Moreover, we show that wild-type, but not methylation-defective, EYA1 associates with γ-H2A.X in response to ionizing radiation. Taken together, our results identify the conserved arginine residues of EYA1 that play an important role for its activity, thus implicating arginine methylation as a novel regulatory mechanism of EYA function.-Li, X., Eberhardt, A., Hansen, J. N., Bohmann, D., Li, H., Schor, N. F. Methylation of the phosphatase-transcription activator EYA1 by protein arginine methyltransferase 1: mechanistic, functional, and structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguo Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA;
| | - Allison Eberhardt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jeanne N Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Dirk Bohmann
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Haitao Li
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, and.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Nina F Schor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA;
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