1
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Fichtman B, Harel A. The magnified view: from ancient trinkets to single nuclear pore complexes. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2590-2596. [PMID: 37777820 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
A journey from the earliest known use of lenses and magnifying glasses in ancient times, through the development of microscopes and towards modern electron microscopy techniques. The evolving technology and improved microscopes enabled the discovery of intracellular organelles, the nucleus and nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Current advances have led to composite three-dimensional models showing NPC structure in unprecedented detail but relying on the averaging of many images. A complementary approach is field emission scanning electron microscopy providing topographic surface images that are easily and intuitively interpreted by our brain. Recent advances in this technique have made it possible to expose nuclei from human cells and to focus on individual NPCs and their architectural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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2
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Elias-Mordechai M, David N, Oren S, Georgia Pelah M, Jopp J, Fichtman B, Harel A, Berkovich R, Sal-Man N. A single filament biomechanical study of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Type III secretion system reveals a high elastic aspect ratio. Nanoscale 2023; 15:15027-15037. [PMID: 37668452 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01953e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are syringe-like protein complexes used by some of the most harmful bacterial pathogens to infect host cells. While the T3SS filament, a long hollow conduit that bridges between bacteria and host cells, has been characterized structurally, very little is known about its physical properties. These filaments should endure shear and normal stresses imposed by the viscous mucosal flow during infection within the intestinal tract. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe the longitudinal and radial mechanical response of individual T3SS filaments by pulling on filaments extending directly from bacterial surfaces and later pressing into filaments that were detached from the bacteria. The measured longitudinal elastic moduli were higher by about two orders of magnitude than the radial elastic moduli. These proportions are commensurate with the role of the T3SS filament, which requires horizontal flexibility while maintaining its structural integrity to withstand intense stresses during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Elias-Mordechai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Nofar David
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Sonia Oren
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Maya Georgia Pelah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Jürgen Jopp
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Ronen Berkovich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Neta Sal-Man
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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3
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Piscon B, Pia Esposito E, Fichtman B, Samburski G, Efremushkin L, Amselem S, Harel A, Rahav G, Zarrilli R, Gal-Mor O. The Effect of Outer Space and Other Environmental Cues on Bacterial Conjugation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0368822. [PMID: 36995224 PMCID: PMC10269834 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03688-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation is one of the most abundant horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms, playing a fundamental role in prokaryote evolution. A better understanding of bacterial conjugation and its cross talk with the environment is needed for a more complete understanding of HGT mechanisms and to fight the dissemination of malicious genes between bacteria. Here, we studied the effect of outer space, microgravity, and additional key environmental cues on transfer (tra) gene expression and conjugation efficiency, using the under studied broad-host range plasmid pN3, as a model. High resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed the morphology of the pN3 conjugative pili and mating pair formation during conjugation. Using a nanosatellite carrying a miniaturized lab, we studied pN3 conjugation in outer space, and used qRT-PCR, Western blotting and mating assays to determine the effect of ground physicochemical parameters on tra gene expression and conjugation. We showed for the first time that bacterial conjugation can occur in outer space and on the ground, under microgravity-simulated conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that microgravity, liquid media, elevated temperature, nutrient depletion, high osmolarity and low oxygen significantly reduce pN3 conjugation. Interestingly, under some of these conditions we observed an inverse correlation between tra gene transcription and conjugation frequency and found that induction of at least traK and traL can negatively affect pN3 conjugation frequency in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results uncover pN3 regulation by various environmental cues and highlight the diversity of conjugation systems and the different ways in which they may be regulated in response to abiotic signals. IMPORTANCE Bacterial conjugation is a highly ubiquitous and promiscuous process, by which a donor bacterium transfers a large portion of genetic material to a recipient cell. This mechanism of horizontal gene transfer plays an important role in bacterial evolution and in the ability of bacteria to acquire resistance to antimicrobial drugs and disinfectants. Bacterial conjugation is a complex and energy-consuming process, that is tightly regulated and largely affected by various environmental signals sensed by the bacterial cell. Comprehensive knowledge about bacterial conjugation and the ways it is affected by environmental cues is required to better understand bacterial ecology and evolution and to find new effective ways to counteract the threating dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes between bacterial populations. Moreover, characterizing this process under stress or suboptimal growth conditions such as elevated temperatures, high salinity or in the outer space, may provide insights relevant to future habitat environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bar Piscon
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Eliana Pia Esposito
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Guy Samburski
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Lihi Efremushkin
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Shimon Amselem
- SpacePharma R&D Israel LTD., Herzliya Pituach, Israel & SpacePharma SA, Courgenay, Switzerland
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Galia Rahav
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Raffaele Zarrilli
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ohad Gal-Mor
- The Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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4
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Fichtman B, Regmi SG, Dasso M, Harel A. High-Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Individual Nuclear Pore Complexes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2502:461-471. [PMID: 35412256 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2337-4_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is a well-established technique for acquiring three-dimensional surface images of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). We present an optimized protocol for the exposure of mammalian cell nuclei and direct surface imaging of nuclear envelopes by FESEM, allowing for a detailed morphological comparison of individual NPCs, without the need for averaging techniques. This provides a unique high resolution tool for studying the effects of cellular stress, specific genetic manipulations and inherited diseases on the ultrastructure of human NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Saroj G Regmi
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary Dasso
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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5
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Hexner-Erlichman Z, Fichtman B, Zehavi Y, Khayat M, Jabaly-Habib H, Izhaki-Tavor LS, Dessau M, Elpeleg O, Spiegel R. A Novel Homozygous Missense Variant in the LRRC32 Gene Is Associated With a New Syndrome of Cleft Palate, Progressive Vitreoretinopathy, Growth Retardation, and Developmental Delay. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:859034. [PMID: 35656379 PMCID: PMC9152136 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.859034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cleft lip and/or cleft palate are a common group of birth defects that further classify into syndromic and non-syndromic forms. The syndromic forms are usually accompanied by additional physical or cognitive abnormalities. Isolated cleft palate syndromes are less common; however, they are associated with a variety of congenital malformations and generally have an underlying genetic etiology. A single report in 2019 described a novel syndrome in three individuals, characterized by cleft palate, developmental delay and proliferative retinopathy due to a homozygous non-sense mutation in the LRRC32 gene encoding glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP), a cell surface polypeptide crucial for the processing and maturation of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). We describe a patient who presented with cleft palate, prenatal and postnatal severe growth retardation, global developmental delay, dysmorphic facial features and progressive vitreoretinopathy. Whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed a very rare homozygous missense variant in the LRRC32 gene, which resulted in substitution of a highly conserved isoleucine to threonine. Protein modeling suggested this variant may negatively affect GARP function on latent TGF-β activation. In summary, our report further expands the clinical features of cleft palate, proliferative retinopathy and developmental delay syndrome and emphasizes the association of LRRC32 pathogenic variants with this new syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Yoav Zehavi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.,Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Morad Khayat
- Genetic Institute, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Haneen Jabaly-Habib
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.,Department of Ophthalmology, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Israel
| | | | - Moshe Dessau
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Orly Elpeleg
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ronen Spiegel
- Department of Pediatrics, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.,Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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6
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Hamo Z, Azrad M, Fichtman B, Peretz A. The Cytopathic Effect of Different Toxin Concentrations From Different Clostridioides difficile Sequence Types Strains in Vero Cells. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:763129. [PMID: 34712220 PMCID: PMC8546354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.763129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is one of the leading causes of healthcare-associated diarrhea, with severity ranging from mild, self-limiting disease, to life-threatening toxic megacolon. C. difficile infection (CDI) pathogenesis is mediated by the TcdA and TcdB toxins. This work aimed to draw correlations between toxin levels, bacterial strains, and disease severity in 63 CDI patients. C. difficile typing was performed by multi-locus sequence types (MLST). Toxin concentrations were measured using the TOX A/B test. In addition, cell cytotoxicity assay was performed following Vero cell exposure to stool extracts (24 h). The most prevalent sequence types (ST) were ST2, ST4, ST6, ST13, ST37, ST42, and ST104, with highest toxin levels produced by ST42 and ST104 (302.5 and 297.1 ng/ml, respectively). These strains had a stronger cytopathic effect (CPE) on Vero cells as compared to strains with lower toxin concentrations (p < 0.001), as manifested by lower cell counts and higher percentages of cell rounding and adhesion loss. Although no association was found between ST, toxin concentrations, and disease severity, a diverse in vitro effect of different STs on the viability and activity of Vero cells was observed. These findings suggest that disease severity is affected by both host immune responses and by bacterial characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Hamo
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Maya Azrad
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Avi Peretz
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.,Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel
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7
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Ben-Haim Y, Armon L, Fichtman B, Epshtein I, Spiegel R, Harel A, Urbach A. Generation and characterization of iPSC lines from two nuclear envelopathy patients with a homozygous nonsense mutation in the TOR1AIP1 gene. Stem Cell Res 2021; 56:102539. [PMID: 34560421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
LAP1 is an inner nuclear membrane protein encoded by TOR1AIP1. A homozygous c.961C > T loss of function mutation in TOR1AIP1 that affects both isoforms of LAP1 was recently described. This mutation leads to the development of a severe multisystemic nuclear envelopathy syndrome. Here we describe the generation and characterization of two human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines derived from skin fibroblasts of two patients carrying the homozygous c.961C > T mutation. These novel lines can be used as a powerful tool to investigate the molecular mechanism by which LAP1 deficiency leads to the development of this severe hereditary disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yam Ben-Haim
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Leah Armon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Irina Epshtein
- Department of Pediatrics B', Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Ronen Spiegel
- Department of Pediatrics B', Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel; Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Achia Urbach
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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8
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Ravindran E, Jühlen R, Vieira-Vieira CH, Ha T, Salzberg Y, Fichtman B, Luise-Becker L, Martins N, Picker-Minh S, Bessa P, Arts P, Jackson MR, Taranath A, Kamien B, Barnett C, Li N, Tarabykin V, Stoltenburg-Didinger G, Harel A, Selbach M, Dickmanns A, Fahrenkrog B, Hu H, Scott H, Kaindl AM. Expanding the phenotype of NUP85 mutations beyond nephrotic syndrome to primary autosomal recessive microcephaly and Seckel syndrome spectrum disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:2068-2081. [PMID: 34170319 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary autosomal recessive microcephaly and Seckel syndrome spectrum disorders (MCPH-SCKS) include a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive inherited diseases characterized by primary (congenital) microcephaly, the absence of visceral abnormalities, and a variable degree of cognitive impairment, short stature and facial dysmorphism. Recently, biallelic variants in the nuclear pore complex (NPC) component nucleoporin 85 gene (NUP85) were reported to cause steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Here, we report biallelic variants in NUP85 in two pedigrees with an MCPH-SCKS phenotype spectrum without SRNS, thereby expanding the phenotypic spectrum of NUP85-linked diseases. Structural analysis predicts the identified NUP85 variants cause conformational changes that could have an effect on NPC architecture or on its interaction with other NUPs. We show that mutant NUP85 is, however, associated with a reduced number of NPCs but unaltered nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization, abnormal mitotic spindle morphology, and decreased cell viability and proliferation in one patient's cells. Our results also indicate the link of common cellular mechanisms involved in MCPH-SCKS spectrum disorders and NUP85-associated diseases. In addition to the previous studies, our results broaden the phenotypic spectrum of NUP85-linked human disease and propose a role for NUP85 in nervous system development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethiraj Ravindran
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center for Chronically Sick Children (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ), Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Jühlen
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Carlos H Vieira-Vieira
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Life Sciences, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thuong Ha
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Yuval Salzberg
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Lena Luise-Becker
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center for Chronically Sick Children (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ), Berlin, Germany
| | - Nuno Martins
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Picker-Minh
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center for Chronically Sick Children (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paraskevi Bessa
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peer Arts
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Matilda R Jackson
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,Australian Genomic Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ajay Taranath
- Department of Medical imaging, South Australia Medical Imaging, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Christopher Barnett
- Australian Genomic Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Paediatric and Reproductive Genetics Unit, South Australian Clinical Genetics Service, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Na Li
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Victor Tarabykin
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | | | - Achim Dickmanns
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics (GZMB), Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Birthe Fahrenkrog
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Hao Hu
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China.,Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hamish Scott
- Genetics and Molecular Pathology Research Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,ACRF Cancer Genomics Facility, Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Australian Genomic Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Angela M Kaindl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center for Chronically Sick Children (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ), Berlin, Germany
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9
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Jahshan F, Abu Ammar A, Ertracht O, Eisenbach N, Daoud A, Sela E, Atar S, Zussman E, Fichtman B, Harel A, Gruber M. Local Delivery of Mometasone Furoate from an Eluting Endotracheal Tube Reduces Airway Morbidity Following Long-Term Animal Intubation. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2021; 4:4131-4139. [PMID: 35006827 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND upper airway complications are common sequelae of endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation, and systemic corticosteroids are considered a mainstay treatment for this problem. Drug-eluting ETT may present an attractive option for topical steroid delivery while avoiding systemic side effects and improving the therapeutic outcome. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the reduction of tube-related tracheal morbidity via a self-designed steroid-eluting ETT with controlled sustained release properties in an animal model. METHODS steroid-eluting ETTs were coated by poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) -electrospun nanofibers loaded with mometasone furoate (MF) as a model drug. Animals were randomly assigned into three equal groups: non-intubated, blank-ETT, and loaded-ETT. The intubation interval was 1 week. Specimens were analyzed by histology, specific fibrosis staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS the blank-ETT group exhibited a significant increase in tracheal mucosal thickness compared to the loaded-ETT and control groups. Average tracheal mucosal thickness was 112 ± 34, 242 ± 49, and 113 ± 43 μm in the control, blank-ETT, and loaded-ETT groups, respectively. The blank-ETT group exhibited a significant increase in tracheal fibrosis compared to the loaded-ETT and control groups. Relative fibrosis values were 0.07 ± 0.05, 0.154 ± 0.1, and 0.0984 ± 0.084% for the control, blank-ETT, and loaded-ETT groups, respectively. While SEM imaging showed normal surface structures in the control group, intubated blank-ETT rats showed severe surface structural damage, whereas only mild damage was observed in the loaded-ETT group. CONCLUSIONS local sustained release of MF via a self-designed drug-eluting ETT is a potential therapeutic approach which may significantly reduce tube-related upper airway morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forsan Jahshan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel
| | - Aiman Abu Ammar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9103501, Israel
| | - Offir Ertracht
- Eliachar Research Laboratory, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel
| | - Netanel Eisenbach
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel
| | - Amani Daoud
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel
| | - Eyal Sela
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel
| | - Shaul Atar
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Eyal Zussman
- NanoEngineering Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Maayan Gruber
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel.,Eliachar Research Laboratory, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel.,Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
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10
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Kuperman AA, Zimmerman A, Hamadia S, Ziv O, Gurevich V, Fichtman B, Gavert N, Straussman R, Rechnitzer H, Barzilay M, Shvalb S, Bornstein J, Ben‐Shachar I, Yagel S, Haviv I, Koren O. Deep microbial analysis of multiple placentas shows no evidence for a placental microbiome. BJOG 2019; 127:159-169. [DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.15896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- AA Kuperman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
- Galilee Medical Center Nahariya Israel
| | | | | | - O Ziv
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
| | - V Gurevich
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
| | - B Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
| | - N Gavert
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - R Straussman
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | | | | | - S Shvalb
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
- Ziv Medical Center Safed Israel
| | - J Bornstein
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
- Galilee Medical Center Nahariya Israel
| | - I Ben‐Shachar
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
- Ziv Medical Center Safed Israel
| | - S Yagel
- Hadassah‐Hebrew University Medical Center Jerusalem Israel
| | - I Haviv
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
| | - O Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar‐Ilan University Safed Israel
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11
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Fichtman B, Harel T, Biran N, Zagairy F, Applegate CD, Salzberg Y, Gilboa T, Salah S, Shaag A, Simanovsky N, Ayoubieh H, Sobreira N, Punzi G, Pierri CL, Hamosh A, Elpeleg O, Harel A, Edvardson S. Pathogenic Variants in NUP214 Cause "Plugged" Nuclear Pore Channels and Acute Febrile Encephalopathy. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 105:48-64. [PMID: 31178128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We report biallelic missense and frameshift pathogenic variants in the gene encoding human nucleoporin NUP214 causing acute febrile encephalopathy. Clinical symptoms include neurodevelopmental regression, seizures, myoclonic jerks, progressive microcephaly, and cerebellar atrophy. NUP214 and NUP88 protein levels were reduced in primary skin fibroblasts derived from affected individuals, while the total number and density of nuclear pore complexes remained normal. Nuclear transport assays exhibited defects in the classical protein import and mRNA export pathways in affected cells. Direct surface imaging of fibroblast nuclei by scanning electron microscopy revealed a large increase in the presence of central particles (known as "plugs") in the nuclear pore channels of affected cells. This observation suggests that large transport cargoes may be delayed in passage through the nuclear pore channel, affecting its selective barrier function. Exposure of fibroblasts from affected individuals to heat shock resulted in a marked delay in their stress response, followed by a surge in apoptotic cell death. This suggests a mechanistic link between decreased cell survival in cell culture and severe fever-induced brain damage in affected individuals. Our study provides evidence by direct imaging at the single nuclear pore level of functional changes linked to a human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Tamar Harel
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Nitzan Biran
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Fadia Zagairy
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Carolyn D Applegate
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yuval Salzberg
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Tal Gilboa
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
| | - Somaya Salah
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Avraham Shaag
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; Monique and Jacques Roboh Department of Genetic Research, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Natalia Simanovsky
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
| | - Houriya Ayoubieh
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Baylor-Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics, Jerusalem 91240, Israel, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
| | - Nara Sobreira
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Baylor-Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics, Jerusalem 91240, Israel, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
| | - Giuseppe Punzi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Molecular and Computational Biology; Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Ciro Leonardo Pierri
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Molecular and Computational Biology; Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Ada Hamosh
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Baylor-Hopkins Center for Mendelian Genomics, Jerusalem 91240, Israel, Jerusalem 91240, Israel
| | - Orly Elpeleg
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; Monique and Jacques Roboh Department of Genetic Research, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel.
| | - Simon Edvardson
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91240, Israel; Monique and Jacques Roboh Department of Genetic Research, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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12
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Rapaport D, Fichtman B, Weidberg H, Sprecher E, Horowitz M. NEK3-mediated SNAP29 phosphorylation modulates its membrane association and SNARE fusion dependent processes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 497:605-611. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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13
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Shemesh E, Hanf B, Hagag S, Attias S, Shadkchan Y, Fichtman B, Harel A, Krüger T, Brakhage AA, Kniemeyer O, Osherov N. Phenotypic and Proteomic Analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus Δ PrtT, Δ XprG and Δ XprG/Δ PrtT Protease-Deficient Mutants. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2490. [PMID: 29312198 PMCID: PMC5732999 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common mold species to cause disease in immunocompromised patients. Infection usually begins when its spores (conidia) are inhaled into the airways, where they germinate, forming hyphae that penetrate and destroy the lungs and disseminate to other organs, leading to high mortality. The ability of hyphae to penetrate the pulmonary epithelium is a key step in the infectious process. A. fumigatus produces extracellular proteases that are thought to enhance penetration by degrading host structural barriers. This study explores the role of the A. fumigatus transcription factor XprG in controlling secreted proteolytic activity and fungal virulence. We deleted xprG, alone and in combination with prtT, a transcription factor previously shown to regulate extracellular proteolysis. xprG deletion resulted in abnormal conidiogenesis and formation of lighter colored, more fragile conidia and a moderate reduction in the ability of culture filtrates (CFs) to degrade substrate proteins. Deletion of both xprG and prtT resulted in an additive reduction, generating a mutant strain producing CF with almost no ability to degrade substrate proteins. Detailed proteomic analysis identified numerous secreted proteases regulated by XprG and PrtT, alone and in combination. Interestingly, proteomics also identified reduced levels of secreted cell wall modifying enzymes (glucanases, chitinases) and allergens following deletion of these genes, suggesting they target additional cellular processes. Surprisingly, despite the major alteration in the secretome of the xprG/prtT null mutant, including two to fivefold reductions in the level of 24 proteases, 18 glucanases, 6 chitinases, and 19 allergens, it retained wild-type virulence in murine systemic and pulmonary models of infection. This study highlights the extreme adaptability of A. fumigatus during infection based on extensive gene redundancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einav Shemesh
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Benjamin Hanf
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Shelly Hagag
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shani Attias
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boris Fichtman
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Nir Osherov
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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14
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Abstract
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a massive molecular machine embedded in the nuclear envelope and controlling traffic into and out of the cell nucleus. Here, we describe some of the outstanding research questions concerning the NPC, its assembly and functions. We also discuss recent findings that link the NPC and its immediate surroundings to the process of cellular aging. Scaffold and barrier nucleoporins are two major types of protein building blocks that make up the NPC. Surprisingly, these two groups of nucleoporins differ dramatically in their turnover rates. Recent work identifies some of the scaffold nucleoporins as the most extremely long-lived proteins in rat brain. Some of the consequences of these findings and new open questions arising from them are discussed. We also consider the evidence for a perturbed permeability barrier in nuclei from old cells and the alteration of nuclear transport pathways under stress conditions. Finally, we describe the connection between premature aging syndromes and the nuclear lamina, a filamentous protein network which underlies the nuclear envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, 1311502, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, 1311502, Israel.
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15
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Shaulov L, Fichtman B, Harel A. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy for the imaging of nuclear pore complexes and Ran-mediated transport. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1120:253-261. [PMID: 24470031 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-791-4_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution scanning electron microscopy provides three-dimensional surface images of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) embedded in the nuclear envelope. Here, we describe a method for exposing the nuclear surface in mammalian tissue culture cells for imaging by scanning electron microscopy. Hypotonic treatment is followed by low-speed centrifugation onto polylysine-coated silicon chips, without the use of detergents. This helps to preserve NPCs close to their native morphology, embedded in undamaged nuclear membranes. This method is particularly advantageous for combining high-resolution imaging of NPCs with mammalian genetic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihi Shaulov
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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16
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Abstract
High resolution three-dimensional surface images of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) can be obtained by field emission scanning electron microscopy. We present a short retrospective view starting from the early roots of microscopy, through the discovery of the cell nucleus and the development of some modern techniques for sample preparation and imaging. Detailed protocols are presented for assembling anchored nuclei in a Xenopus cell-free reconstitution system and for the exposure of the nuclear surface in mammalian cell nuclei. Immunogold labeling of metazoan NPCs and a promising new technique for delicate coating with iridium are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Lihi Shaulov
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Amnon Harel
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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17
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Fichtman B, Ramos C, Rasala B, Harel A, Forbes DJ. Inner/Outer nuclear membrane fusion in nuclear pore assembly: biochemical demonstration and molecular analysis. Mol Biol Cell 2010; 21:4197-211. [PMID: 20926687 PMCID: PMC2993748 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e10-04-0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are large proteinaceous channels embedded in double nuclear membranes, which carry out nucleocytoplasmic exchange. The mechanism of nuclear pore assembly involves a unique challenge, as it requires creation of a long-lived membrane-lined channel connecting the inner and outer nuclear membranes. This stabilized membrane channel has little evolutionary precedent. Here we mapped inner/outer nuclear membrane fusion in NPC assembly biochemically by using novel assembly intermediates and membrane fusion inhibitors. Incubation of a Xenopus in vitro nuclear assembly system at 14°C revealed an early pore intermediate where nucleoporin subunits POM121 and the Nup107-160 complex were organized in a punctate pattern on the inner nuclear membrane. With time, this intermediate progressed to diffusion channel formation and finally to complete nuclear pore assembly. Correct channel formation was blocked by the hemifusion inhibitor lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), but not if a complementary-shaped lipid, oleic acid (OA), was simultaneously added, as determined with a novel fluorescent dextran-quenching assay. Importantly, recruitment of the bulk of FG nucleoporins, characteristic of mature nuclear pores, was not observed before diffusion channel formation and was prevented by LPC or OA, but not by LPC+OA. These results map the crucial inner/outer nuclear membrane fusion event of NPC assembly downstream of POM121/Nup107-160 complex interaction and upstream or at the time of FG nucleoporin recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Fichtman
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0347, USA
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18
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Lachish-Zalait A, Lau CK, Fichtman B, Zimmerman E, Harel A, Gaylord MR, Forbes DJ, Elbaum M. Transportin mediates nuclear entry of DNA in vertebrate systems. Traffic 2010; 10:1414-28. [PMID: 19761539 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2009.00968.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Delivery of DNA to the cell nucleus is an essential step in many types of viral infection, transfection, gene transfer by the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens and in strategies for gene therapy. Thus, the mechanism by which DNA crosses the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is of great interest. Using nuclei reconstituted in vitro in Xenopus egg extracts, we previously studied DNA passage through the nuclear pores using a single-molecule approach based on optical tweezers. Fluorescently labeled DNA molecules were also seen to accumulate within nuclei. Here we find that this import of DNA relies on a soluble protein receptor of the importin family. To identify this receptor, we used different pathway-specific cargoes in competition studies as well as pathway-specific dominant negative inhibitors derived from the nucleoporin Nup153. We found that inhibition of the receptor transportin suppresses DNA import. In contrast, inhibition of importin beta has little effect on the nuclear accumulation of DNA. The dependence on transportin was fully confirmed in assays using permeabilized HeLa cells and a mammalian cell extract. We conclude that the nuclear import of DNA observed in these different vertebrate systems is largely mediated by the receptor transportin. We further report that histones, a known cargo of transportin, can act as an adaptor for the binding of transportin to DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Lachish-Zalait
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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19
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Lau CK, Delmar VA, Chan RC, Phung Q, Bernis C, Fichtman B, Rasala BA, Forbes DJ. Transportin regulates major mitotic assembly events: from spindle to nuclear pore assembly. Mol Biol Cell 2009; 20:4043-58. [PMID: 19641022 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e09-02-0152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitosis in higher eukaryotes is marked by the sequential assembly of two massive structures: the mitotic spindle and the nucleus. Nuclear assembly itself requires the precise formation of both nuclear membranes and nuclear pore complexes. Previously, importin alpha/beta and RanGTP were shown to act as dueling regulators to ensure that these assembly processes occur only in the vicinity of the mitotic chromosomes. We now find that the distantly related karyopherin, transportin, negatively regulates nuclear envelope fusion and nuclear pore assembly in Xenopus egg extracts. We show that transportin-and importin beta-initiate their regulation as early as the first known step of nuclear pore assembly: recruitment of the critical pore-targeting nucleoporin ELYS/MEL-28 to chromatin. Indeed, each karyopherin can interact directly with ELYS. We further define the nucleoporin subunit targets for transportin and importin beta and find them to be largely the same: ELYS, the Nup107/160 complex, Nup53, and the FG nucleoporins. Equally importantly, we find that transportin negatively regulates mitotic spindle assembly. These negative regulatory events are counteracted by RanGTP. We conclude that the interplay of the two negative regulators, transportin and importin beta, along with the positive regulator RanGTP, allows precise choreography of multiple cell cycle assembly events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corine K Lau
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0347, USA
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20
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Kolot M, Gorovits R, Silberstein N, Fichtman B, Yagil E. Phosphorylation of the integrase protein of coliphage HK022. Virology 2008; 375:383-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2007] [Revised: 02/07/2008] [Accepted: 02/13/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Bhoumik A, Fichtman B, DeRossi C, Breitwieser W, Kluger HM, Davis S, Subtil A, Meltzer P, Krajewski S, Jones N, Ronai Z. Suppressor role of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) in skin cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:1674-9. [PMID: 18227516 PMCID: PMC2234203 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706057105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) regulates transcription in response to stress and growth factor stimuli. Here, we use a mouse model in which ATF2 was selectively deleted in keratinocytes. Crossing the conditionally expressed ATF2 mutant with K14-Cre mice (K14.ATF2(f/f)) resulted in selective expression of mutant ATF2 within the basal layer of the epidermis. When subjected to a two-stage skin carcinogenesis protocol [7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/phorbol 12-tetradecanoate 13-acetate (DMBA/TPA)], K14.ATF2(f/f) mice showed significant increases in both the incidence and prevalence of papilloma development compared with the WT ATF2 mice. Consistent with these findings, keratinocytes of K14.ATF2(f/f) mice exhibit greater anchorage-independent growth compared with ATF2 WT keratinocytes. Papillomas of K14.ATF2(f/f) mice exhibit reduced expression of presenilin1, which is associated with enhanced beta-catenin and cyclin D1, and reduced Notch1 expression. Significantly, a reduction of nuclear ATF2 and increased beta-catenin expression were seen in samples of squamous and basal cell carcinoma, as opposed to normal skin. Our data reveal that loss of ATF2 transcriptional activity serves to promote skin tumor formation, thereby indicating a suppressor activity of ATF2 in skin tumor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boris Fichtman
- *Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Wolfgang Breitwieser
- Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sean Davis
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Antonio Subtil
- Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; and
| | - Paul Meltzer
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Stan Krajewski
- *Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Nic Jones
- Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | - Ze'ev Ronai
- *Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037
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