bims-proteo Biomed News
on Proteostasis
Issue of 2020–12–13
43 papers selected by
Eric Chevet, INSERM
  1. Calcium depletion challenges endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis by destabilising BiP-substrate complexes.
  2. Revealing Functional Insights into ER Proteostasis through Proteomics and Interactomics.
  3. Divergent Nodes of Non-autonomous UPRER Signaling through Serotonergic and Dopaminergic Neurons.
  4. Ubiquitin-dependent and -independent functions of OTULIN in cell fate control and beyond.
  5. Linkage-specific ubiquitin chain formation depends on a lysine hydrocarbon ruler.
  6. A genome-wide RNA interference screen disentangles the Golgi tropism of LC3.
  7. Role of IRE1α in podocyte proteostasis and mitochondrial health.
  8. Review: ER stress-induced cell death in osteoarthritic cartilage.
  9. Neuroplastin Modulates Anti-inflammatory Effects of MANF.
  10. Human VAPome Analysis Reveals MOSPD1 and MOSPD3 as Membrane Contact Site Proteins Interacting with FFAT-Related FFNT Motifs.
  11. Quality control pathways of tail-anchored proteins.
  12. Blockade of EIF5A hypusination limits colorectal cancer growth by inhibiting MYC elongation.
  13. Translation in amino acid-poor environments is limited by tRNAGln charging.
  14. Extracellular AGR2 triggers lung tumour cell proliferation through repression of p21CIP1.
  15. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4L Targets OGG1 for Ubiquitylation and Modulates the Cellular DNA Damage Response.
  16. Inhibition of protein glycosylation is a novel pro-angiogenic strategy that acts via activation of stress pathways.
  17. PDI Family Members as Guides for Client Folding and Assembly.
  18. A structural inventory of native ribosomal ABCE1-43S pre-initiation complexes.
  19. Single-molecule fluorescence-based approach reveals novel mechanistic insights into human small heat shock protein chaperone function.
  20. Aberrant mitochondrial morphology and function associated with impaired mitophagy and DNM1L-MAPK/ERK signaling are found in aged mutant Parkinsonian LRRK2R1441G mice.
  21. The conformational and mutational landscape of the ubiquitin-like marker for autophagosome formation in cancer.
  22. UBE1a Suppresses Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Replication.
  23. Adaptive response of resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy.
  24. Architecture of the active post-translational Sec translocon.
  25. Direct lysosome-based autophagy of lipid droplets in hepatocytes.
  26. Pharmacoproteomics pinpoints HSP70 interaction for correction of the most frequent Wilson disease-causing mutant of ATP7B.
  27. What determines eukaryotic translation elongation: recent molecular and quantitative analyses of protein synthesis.
  28. Molecular pathways of Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15: Implications in cancer.
  29. Translational adaptation to heat stress is mediated by RNA 5-methylcytosine in Caenorhabditis elegans.
  30. MANF is neuroprotective against ethanol-induced neurodegeneration through ameliorating ER stress.
  31. Hypoxia and HIF-1α regulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in nucleus pulposus cells: Implications of ER stress for extracellular matrix secretion.
  32. Mechanisms of substrate recognition by the 26S proteasome.
  33. TrkB deubiquitination by USP8 regulates receptor levels and BDNF-dependent neuronal differentiation.
  34. Expanding the phenotype of X-linked SSR4-CDG: connective tissue implications.
  35. Disulfide bond-disrupting agents activate the tumor necrosis family-related apoptosis-inducing ligand/death receptor 5 pathway.
  36. Autophagy alleviates hypoxia-induced blood-brain barrier injury via regulation of CLDN5 (claudin 5).
  37. DIA-based systems biology approach unveils E3 ubiquitin ligase-dependent responses to a metabolic shift.
  38. HIF1A signaling selectively supports proliferation of breast cancer in the brain.
  39. Structural insights into N-linked glycan-mediated protein folding from chemical and biological perspectives.
  40. SCFCdc4 ubiquitin ligase regulates synaptonemal complex formation during meiosis.
  41. Reticulon 3-mediated Chk2/p53 activation suppresses hepatocellular carcinogenesis and is blocked by hepatitis B virus.
  42. Kinase Photoaffinity Labeling Reveals Low Selectivity Profile of the IRE1 Targeting Imidazopyrazine-Based KIRA6 Inhibitor.
  43. Deficiency in E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Parkin Exacerbates Chronic Alcohol Intake-Induced Cardiomyopathy through an Ambra1-Dependent Mechanism.
  1. Elife. 2020 Dec 09. pii: e62601. [Epub ahead of print]9
    Calcium depletion challenges endoplasmic reticulum proteostasis by destabilising BiP-substrate complexes.
    Steffen Preissler, Claudia Rato, Yahui Yan, Luke A Perera, Aron Czako, David Ron.
      The metazoan endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves both as a hub for maturation of secreted proteins and as an intracellular calcium storage compartment, facilitating calcium release-dependent cellular processes. ER calcium depletion robustly activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, it is unclear how fluctuations in ER calcium impact organellar proteostasis. Here we report that calcium selectively affects the dynamics of the abundant metazoan ER Hsp70 chaperone BiP, by enhancing its affinity for ADP. In the calcium-replete ER, ADP rebinding to post-ATP hydrolysis BiP-substrate complexes competes with ATP binding during both spontaneous and co-chaperone-assisted nucleotide exchange, favouring substrate retention. Conversely, in the calcium-depleted ER, relative acceleration of ADP-to-ATP exchange favours substrate release. These findings explain the rapid dissociation of certain substrates from BiP observed in the calcium-depleted ER and suggest a mechanism for tuning ER quality control and coupling UPR activity to signals that mobilise ER calcium in secretory cells.
    Keywords:  biochemistry; cell biology; chemical biology; none
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62601
  2. Exp Cell Res. 2020 Dec 07. pii: S0014-4827(20)30670-4. [Epub ahead of print] 112417
    Revealing Functional Insights into ER Proteostasis through Proteomics and Interactomics.
    Madison T Wright, Lars Plate.
      The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), responsible for processing approximately one-third of the human proteome including most secreted and membrane proteins, plays a pivotal role in protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Dysregulation of ER proteostasis has been implicated in a number of disease states. As such, continued efforts are directed at elucidating mechanisms of ER protein quality control which are mediated by transient and dynamic protein-protein interactions with molecular chaperones, co-chaperones, protein folding and trafficking factors that take place in and around the ER. Technological advances in mass spectrometry have played a pivotal role in characterizing and understanding these protein-protein interactions that dictate protein quality control mechanisms. Here, we highlight the recent progress from mass spectrometry-based investigation of ER protein quality control in revealing the topological arrangement of the proteostasis network, stress response mechanisms that adjust the ER proteostasis capacity, and disease specific changes in proteostasis network engagement. We close by providing a brief outlook on underexplored areas of ER proteostasis where mass spectrometry is a tool uniquely primed to further expand our understanding of the regulation and coordination of protein quality control processes in diverse diseases.
    Keywords:  Mass spectrometry; affinity purification-mass spectrometry; endoplasmic reticulum; protein quality control; unfolded protein response
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112417
  3. Cell Rep. 2020 Dec 08. pii: S2211-1247(20)31478-9. [Epub ahead of print]33(10): 108489
    Divergent Nodes of Non-autonomous UPRER Signaling through Serotonergic and Dopaminergic Neurons.
    Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria, Jenni Durieux, Naame Kelet, Stefan Homentcovschi, Mattias de Los Rios Rogers, Samira Monshietehadi, Gilberto Garcia, Sofia Dallarda, Joseph R Daniele, Vidhya Ramachandran, Arushi Sahay, Sarah U Tronnes, Larry Joe, Andrew Dillin.
      In multicellular organisms, neurons integrate a diverse array of external cues to affect downstream changes in organismal health. Specifically, activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPRER) in neurons increases lifespan by preventing age-onset loss of ER proteostasis and driving lipid depletion in a cell non-autonomous manner. The mechanism of this communication is dependent on the release of small clear vesicles from neurons. We find dopaminergic neurons are necessary and sufficient for activation of cell non-autonomous UPRER to drive lipid depletion in peripheral tissues, whereas serotonergic neurons are sufficient to drive protein homeostasis in peripheral tissues. These signaling modalities are unique and independent and together coordinate the beneficial effects of neuronal cell non-autonomous ER stress signaling upon health and longevity.
    Keywords:  UPRER; aging; non-autonomous signaling; stress response
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108489
  4. Cell Death Differ. 2020 Dec 07.
    Ubiquitin-dependent and -independent functions of OTULIN in cell fate control and beyond.
    Nadine Weinelt, Sjoerd J L van Wijk.
      Ubiquitination, and its control by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), mediates protein stability, function, signaling and cell fate. The ovarian tumor (OTU) family DUB OTULIN (FAM105B) exclusively cleaves linear (Met1-linked) poly-ubiquitin chains and plays important roles in auto-immunity, inflammation and infection. OTULIN regulates Met1-linked ubiquitination downstream of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), toll-like receptor (TLR) and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) receptor activation and interacts with the Met1 ubiquitin-specific linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) E3 ligase. However, despite extensive research efforts, the receptor and cytosolic roles of OTULIN and the distributions of multiple Met1 ubiquitin-associated E3-DUB complexes in the regulation of cell fate still remain controversial and unclear. Apart from that, novel ubiquitin-independent OTULIN functions have emerged highlighting an even more complex role of OTULIN in cellular homeostasis. For example, OTULIN interferes with endosome-to-plasma membrane trafficking and the OTULIN-related pseudo-DUB OTULINL (FAM105A) resides at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, we discuss how OTULIN contributes to cell fate control and highlight novel ubiquitin-dependent and -independent functions.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-020-00675-x
  5. Nat Chem Biol. 2020 Dec 07.
    Linkage-specific ubiquitin chain formation depends on a lysine hydrocarbon ruler.
    Joanna Liwocha, David T Krist, Gerbrand J van der Heden van Noort, Fynn M Hansen, Vinh H Truong, Ozge Karayel, Nicholas Purser, Daniel Houston, Nicole Burton, Mark J Bostock, Michael Sattler, Matthias Mann, Joseph S Harrison, Gary Kleiger, Huib Ovaa, Brenda A Schulman.
      Virtually all aspects of cell biology are regulated by a ubiquitin code where distinct ubiquitin chain architectures guide the binding events and itineraries of modified substrates. Various combinations of E2 and E3 enzymes accomplish chain formation by forging isopeptide bonds between the C terminus of their transiently linked donor ubiquitin and a specific nucleophilic amino acid on the acceptor ubiquitin, yet it is unknown whether the fundamental feature of most acceptors-the lysine side chain-affects catalysis. Here, use of synthetic ubiquitins with non-natural acceptor site replacements reveals that the aliphatic side chain specifying reactive amine geometry is a determinant of the ubiquitin code, through unanticipated and complex reliance of many distinct ubiquitin-carrying enzymes on a canonical acceptor lysine.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-020-00696-0
  6. Autophagy. 2020 Dec 10.
    A genome-wide RNA interference screen disentangles the Golgi tropism of LC3.
    Giulia Cerrato, Oliver Kepp, Allan Sauvat, Guido Kroemer.
      Oleate, the most abundantly occurring cis-unsaturated fatty acid, has the particularity to induce the accumulation of MAP1LC3B/LC3 (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta) at the trans-Golgi apparatus. A genome-wide RNA interference screen designed to identify the mechanisms of this LC3 redistribution led to the identification of a BECN1-PIK3C3-independent pathway that, however, requires the ATG12-ATG5 and ATG7-dependent conjugation system, and several genes/proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi anterograde protein transport, as well as the unfolded protein response, including the integrated stress response that results in the phosphorylation of EIF2A/eIF2α (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A). Functional experiments revealed that oleate blocks conventional protein secretion, stalling the process at the level of the trans-Golgi network. Oleate-induced blockade of protein secretion occurred even after depletion of ATG5, suggesting that it does not rely on the recruitment of LC3 to the Golgi apparatus (which does require ATG5). Rather, it appears that oleate and other pharmacological inhibitors of protein secretion with a similar mode of action provoke a perturbation of the trans-Golgi compartment that secondarily results in the local enrichment of LC3.
    Keywords:  autophagy; fatty acids; oleate; protein secretion; unfolded protein response
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2020.1861836
  7. Cell Death Discov. 2020 Nov 19. 6(1): 128
    Role of IRE1α in podocyte proteostasis and mitochondrial health.
    José R Navarro-Betancourt, Joan Papillon, Julie Guillemette, Takao Iwawaki, Chen-Fang Chung, Andrey V Cybulsky.
      Glomerular epithelial cell (GEC)/podocyte proteostasis is dysregulated in glomerular diseases. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that upregulates proteostasis resources. This study characterizes mechanisms by which inositol requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α), a UPR transducer, regulates proteostasis in GECs. Mice with podocyte-specific deletion of IRE1α (IRE1α KO) were produced and nephrosis was induced with adriamycin. Compared with control, IRE1α KO mice had greater albuminuria. Adriamycin increased glomerular ER chaperones in control mice, but this upregulation was impaired in IRE1α KO mice. Likewise, autophagy was blunted in adriamycin-treated IRE1α KO animals, evidenced by reduced LC3-II and increased p62. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was markedly disrupted in podocytes of adriamycin-treated IRE1α KO mice. To pursue mechanistic studies, GECs were cultured from glomeruli of IRE1α flox/flox mice and IRE1α was deleted by Cre-lox recombination. In GECs incubated with tunicamycin, deletion of IRE1α attenuated upregulation of ER chaperones, LC3 lipidation, and LC3 transcription, compared with control GECs. Deletion of IRE1α decreased maximal and ATP-linked oxygen consumption, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential. In summary, stress-induced chaperone production, autophagy, and mitochondrial health are compromised by deletion of IRE1α. The IRE1α pathway is cytoprotective in glomerular disease associated with podocyte injury and ER stress.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-020-00361-4
  8. Cell Signal. 2020 Dec 08. pii: S0898-6568(20)30357-0. [Epub ahead of print] 109880
    Review: ER stress-induced cell death in osteoarthritic cartilage.
    Yvonne Rellmann, Elco Eidhof, Rita Dreier.
      In cartilage, chondrocytes are responsible for the biogenesis and maintenance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of proteins, glycoproteins and proteoglycans. Various cellular stresses, such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress or the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) during aging, but also translational errors or mutations in cartilage components or chaperone proteins affect the synthesis and secretion of ECM proteins, causing protein aggregates to accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This condition, referred to as ER stress, interferes with cartilage cell homeostasis and initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR), a rescue mechanism to regain cell viability and function. Chronic or irreversible ER stress, however, triggers UPR-initiated cell death. Due to unresolved ER stress in chondrocytes, diseases of the skeletal system, such as chondrodysplasias, arise. ER stress has also been identified as a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of cartilage degeneration processes such as osteoarthritis (OA). This review provides current knowledge about the biogenesis of ECM components in chondrocytes, describes possible causes for the impairment of involved processes and focuses on the ER stress-induced cell death in articular cartilage during OA. Targeting of the ER stress itself or intervention in UPR signaling to reduce death of chondrocytes may be promising for future osteoarthritis therapy.
    Keywords:  Apoptosis; Cartilage; Chondroptosis; ER stress; Necroptosis; Osteoarthritis; Unfolded protein response
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109880
  9. iScience. 2020 Dec 18. 23(12): 101810
    Neuroplastin Modulates Anti-inflammatory Effects of MANF.
    Takuya Yagi, Rie Asada, Kohsuke Kanekura, Ave Eesmaa, Maria Lindahl, Mart Saarma, Fumihiko Urano.
      Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is known to induce pro-inflammatory response and ultimately leads to cell death. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an ER-localized protein whose expression and secretion is induced by ER stress and a crucial survival factor. However, the underlying mechanism of how MANF exerts its cytoprotective activity remains unclear due to the lack of knowledge of its receptor. Here we show that Neuroplastin (NPTN) is such a receptor for MANF. Biochemical analysis shows the physiological interaction between MANF and NPTN on the cell surface. Binding of MANF to NPTN mitigates the inflammatory response and apoptosis via suppression of NF-kβ signaling. Our results demonstrate that NPTN is a cell surface receptor for MANF, which modulates inflammatory responses and cell death, and that the MANF-NPTN survival signaling described here provides potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of ER stress-related disorders, including diabetes mellitus, neurodegeneration, retinal degeneration, and Wolfram syndrome.
    Keywords:  Biochemistry; Cell Biology; Molecular Biology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101810
  10. Cell Rep. 2020 Dec 08. pii: S2211-1247(20)31464-9. [Epub ahead of print]33(10): 108475
    Human VAPome Analysis Reveals MOSPD1 and MOSPD3 as Membrane Contact Site Proteins Interacting with FFAT-Related FFNT Motifs.
    Birol Cabukusta, Ilana Berlin, Daphne M van Elsland, Iris Forkink, Menno Spits, Anja W M de Jong, Jimmy J L L Akkermans, Ruud H M Wijdeven, George M C Janssen, Peter A van Veelen, Jacques Neefjes.
      Membrane contact sites (MCS) are intracellular regions where two organelles come closer to exchange information and material. The majority of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) MCS are attributed to the ER-localized tether proteins VAPA, VAPB, and MOSPD2. These recruit other proteins to the ER by interacting with their FFAT motifs. Here, we describe MOSPD1 and MOSPD3 as ER-localized tethers interacting with FFAT motif-containing proteins. Using BioID, we identify proteins interacting with VAP and MOSPD proteins and find that MOSPD1 and MOSPD3 prefer unconventional FFAT-related FFNT (two phenylalanines [FF] in a neutral tract) motifs. Moreover, VAPA/VAPB/MOSPD2 and MOSPD1/MOSPD3 assemble into two separate ER-resident complexes to interact with FFAT and FFNT motifs, respectively. Because of their ability to interact with FFNT motifs, MOSPD1 and MOSPD3 could form MCS between the ER and other organelles. Collectively, these findings expand the VAP family of proteins and highlight two separate complexes in control of interactions between intracellular compartments.
    Keywords:  Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy; FFAT; FFNT; MOSPD1; MOSPD2; MOSPD3; VAPA; VAPB; endoplasmic reticulum; membrane contact sites
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108475
  11. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2020 Dec 04. pii: S0167-4889(20)30280-9. [Epub ahead of print]1868(2): 118922
    Quality control pathways of tail-anchored proteins.
    Hui Jiang.
      Tail-anchored (TA) proteins have an N-terminal domain in the cytosol and a C-terminal transmembrane domain anchored to a variety of organelle membranes. TA proteins are recognized by targeting factors at the transmembrane domain and C-terminal sequence and are guided to distinct membranes. The promiscuity of targeting sequences and the dysfunction of targeting pathways cause mistargeting of TA proteins. TA proteins are under surveillance by quality control pathways. For resident TA proteins at mitochondrial and ER membranes, intrinsic instability or stimuli induced degrons of the cytosolic and transmembrane domains are sensed by quality control factors to initiate degradation of TA proteins. These pathways are summarized as TA protein degradation-Cytosol (TAD-C) and TAD-Membrane (TAD-M) pathways. For mistargeted and a subset of solitary TA proteins at mitochondrial and peroxisomal membranes, a unique pathway has been revealed in recent years. Msp1/ATAD1 is an AAA-ATPase dually-localized to mitochondrial and peroxisomal membranes. It directly recognizes mistargeted and solitary TA proteins and dislocates them out of membrane. Dislocated substrates are subsequently ubiquitinated by the ER-resident Doa10 ubiquitin E3 ligase complex for degradation. We summarize and discuss the substrate recognition, dislocation and degradation mechanisms of the Msp1 pathway.
    Keywords:  Cdc48; Msp1/ATAD1; Tail-anchored protein; Ubiquitin E3 ligase
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118922
  12. Cell Death Dis. 2020 Dec 10. 11(12): 1045
    Blockade of EIF5A hypusination limits colorectal cancer growth by inhibiting MYC elongation.
    Sonia Coni, Silvia Maria Serrao, Zuleyha Nihan Yurtsever, Laura Di Magno, Rosa Bordone, Camilla Bertani, Valerio Licursi, Zaira Ianniello, Paola Infante, Marta Moretti, Marialaura Petroni, Francesca Guerrieri, Alessandro Fatica, Alberto Macone, Enrico De Smaele, Lucia Di Marcotullio, Giuseppe Giannini, Marella Maroder, Enzo Agostinelli, Gianluca Canettieri.
      Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A (EIF5A) is a translation factor regulated by hypusination, a unique posttranslational modification catalyzed by deoxyhypusine synthetase (DHPS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) starting from the polyamine spermidine. Emerging data are showing that hypusinated EIF5A regulates key cellular processes such as autophagy, senescence, polyamine homeostasis, energy metabolism, and plays a role in cancer. However, the effects of EIF5A inhibition in preclinical cancer models, the mechanism of action, and specific translational targets are still poorly understood. We show here that hypusinated EIF5A promotes growth of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells by directly regulating MYC biosynthesis at specific pausing motifs. Inhibition of EIF5A hypusination with the DHPS inhibitor GC7 or through lentiviral-mediated knockdown of DHPS or EIF5A reduces the growth of various CRC cells. Multiplex gene expression analysis reveals that inhibition of hypusination impairs the expression of transcripts regulated by MYC, suggesting the involvement of this oncogene in the observed effect. Indeed, we demonstrate that EIF5A regulates MYC elongation without affecting its mRNA content or protein stability, by alleviating ribosome stalling at five distinct pausing motifs in MYC CDS. Of note, we show that blockade of the hypusination axis elicits a remarkable growth inhibitory effect in preclinical models of CRC and significantly reduces the size of polyps in APCMin/+ mice, a model of human familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Together, these data illustrate an unprecedented mechanism, whereby the tumor-promoting properties of hypusinated EIF5A are linked to its ability to regulate MYC elongation and provide a rationale for the use of DHPS/EIF5A inhibitors in CRC therapy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-03174-6
  13. Elife. 2020 Dec 08. pii: e62307. [Epub ahead of print]9
    Translation in amino acid-poor environments is limited by tRNAGln charging.
    Natalya N Pavlova, Bryan King, Rachel H Josselsohn, Sara Violante, Victoria L Macera, Santosha A Vardhana, Justin R Cross, Craig B Thompson.
      An inadequate supply of amino acids leads to accumulation of uncharged tRNAs, which can bind and activate GCN2 kinase to reduce translation. Here, we show that glutamine-specific tRNAs selectively become uncharged when extracellular amino acid availability is compromised. In contrast, all other tRNAs retain charging of their cognate amino acids in a manner that is dependent upon intact lysosomal function. In addition to GCN2 activation and reduced total translation, the reduced charging of tRNAGln in amino acid-deprived cells also leads to specific depletion of proteins containing polyglutamine tracts including core binding factor α1, mediator subunit 12, transcriptional coactivator CBP and TATA-box binding protein. Treating amino acid-deprived cells with exogenous glutamine or glutaminase inhibitors restores tRNAGln charging and the levels of polyglutamine-containing proteins. Together, these results demonstrate that the activation of GCN2 and the translation of polyglutamine-encoding transcripts serve as key sensors of glutamine availability in mammalian cells.
    Keywords:  cell biology; human; mouse
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.62307
  14. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2020 Dec 02. pii: S0167-4889(20)30278-0. [Epub ahead of print] 118920
    Extracellular AGR2 triggers lung tumour cell proliferation through repression of p21CIP1.
    Delphine Fessart, Claire de Barbeyrac, Ines Boutin, Thomas Grenier, Elodie Richard, Hughes Begueret, David Bernard, Eric Chevet, Jacques Robert, Frederic Delom.
      The human Anterior GRadient 2 (AGR2) protein is an Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)-resident protein which belongs to the Protein-Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) superfamily and is involved to productive protein folding in the ER. As such AGR2, often found overexpressed in adenocarcinomas, contributes to tumour development by enhancing ER proteostasis. We previously demonstrated that AGR2 is secreted (extracellular AGR2 (eAGR2)) in the tumour microenvironment and plays extracellular roles independent of its ER functions. Herein, we show that eAGR2 triggers cell proliferation and characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms. We demonstrate that eAGR2 enhances tumour cell growth by repressing the tumour suppressor p21CIP1. Our findings shed light on a novel mechanism through which eAGR2 behaves as a growth factor in the tumour microenvironment, independently of its ER function, thus promoting tumour cell growth through repression of p21CIP1. Our results provide a rationale for targeting eAGR2/p21CIP1-based signalling as a potential therapeutic target to impede tumour growth.
    Keywords:  AGR2; Endoplasmic reticulum; Lung cancer; Tumour microenvironment; p21CIP1
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118920
  15. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 ;8 607060
    The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase NEDD4L Targets OGG1 for Ubiquitylation and Modulates the Cellular DNA Damage Response.
    Jonathan R Hughes, Jason L Parsons.
      8-Oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) is the major cellular enzyme required for the excision of 8-oxoguanine DNA base lesions in DNA through the base excision repair (BER) pathway, and therefore plays a major role in suppressing mutagenesis and in controlling genome stability. However, the mechanism of regulation of cellular OGG1 protein, particularly in response to oxidative stress, is unclear. We have purified the major E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for OGG1 ubiquitylation from human cell extracts, and identify this as E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase NEDD4-like (NEDD4L). We demonstrate that recombinant NEDD4L stimulates ubiquitylation of OGG1 in vitro, particularly on lysine 341, and that NEDD4L and OGG1 interact in U2OS cells. Depletion of NEDD4L in U2OS cells has no impact on the stability and steady-state protein levels of OGG1, however, OGG1 stability is enhanced in response to oxidative stress induced by ionizing radiation. Furthermore, ubiquitylation of OGG1 by NEDD4L in vitro inhibits its DNA glycosylase/lyase activity. As a consequence of prolonged OGG1 stability and increased excision activity in the absence of NEDD4L, cells display increased DNA repair capacity but conversely that this decreases cell survival post-irradiation. This effect can be reproduced following OGG1 overexpression, suggesting that dysregulation of OGG1 increases the formation of lethal intermediate DNA lesions. Our study therefore highlights the importance of balancing OGG1 protein levels and BER capacity in maintaining genome stability.
    Keywords:  DNA damage; DNA repair; NEDD4L; OGG1; ubiquitin
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.607060
  16. Nat Commun. 2020 12 10. 11(1): 6330
    Inhibition of protein glycosylation is a novel pro-angiogenic strategy that acts via activation of stress pathways.
    Cuiling Zhong, Pin Li, Sulabha Argade, Lixian Liu, Anastasia Chilla', Wei Liang, Hong Xin, Brian Eliceiri, Biswa Choudhury, Napoleone Ferrara.
      Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is thought to be one of the driving forces for angiogenesis. Here we report the identification of the hexosamine D-mannosamine (ManN) as an EC mitogen and survival factor for bovine and human microvascular EC, with an additivity with VEGF. ManN inhibits glycosylation in ECs and induces significant changes in N-glycan and O-glycan profiles. We further demonstrate that ManN and two N-glycosylation inhibitors stimulate EC proliferation via both JNK activation and the unfolded protein response caused by ER stress. ManN results in enhanced angiogenesis in a mouse skin injury model. ManN also promotes angiogenesis in a mouse hindlimb ischemia model, with accelerated limb blood flow recovery compared to controls. In addition, intraocular injection of ManN induces retinal neovascularization. Therefore, activation of stress pathways following inhibition of protein glycosylation can promote EC proliferation and angiogenesis and may represent a therapeutic strategy for treatment of ischemic disorders.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20108-0
  17. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 08. pii: E9351. [Epub ahead of print]21(24):
    PDI Family Members as Guides for Client Folding and Assembly.
    Shingo Kanemura, Motonori Matsusaki, Kenji Inaba, Masaki Okumura.
      Complicated and sophisticated protein homeostasis (proteostasis) networks in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), comprising disulfide catalysts, molecular chaperones, and their regulators, help to maintain cell viability. Newly synthesized proteins inserted into the ER need to fold and assemble into unique native structures to fulfill their physiological functions, and this is assisted by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family. Herein, we focus on recent advances in understanding the detailed mechanisms of PDI family members as guides for client folding and assembly to ensure the efficient production of secretory proteins.
    Keywords:  assembly; disassembly; disulfide; endoplasmic reticulum (ER); protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family; protein folding; redox
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249351
  18. EMBO J. 2020 Dec 08. e105179
    A structural inventory of native ribosomal ABCE1-43S pre-initiation complexes.
    Hanna Kratzat, Timur Mackens-Kiani, Michael Ameismeier, Mia Potocnjak, Jingdong Cheng, Estelle Dacheux, Abdelkader Namane, Otto Berninghausen, Franz Herzog, Micheline Fromont-Racine, Thomas Becker, Roland Beckmann.
      In eukaryotic translation, termination and ribosome recycling phases are linked to subsequent initiation of a new round of translation by persistence of several factors at ribosomal sub-complexes. These comprise/include the large eIF3 complex, eIF3j (Hcr1 in yeast) and the ATP-binding cassette protein ABCE1 (Rli1 in yeast). The ATPase is mainly active as a recycling factor, but it can remain bound to the dissociated 40S subunit until formation of the next 43S pre-initiation complexes. However, its functional role and native architectural context remains largely enigmatic. Here, we present an architectural inventory of native yeast and human ABCE1-containing pre-initiation complexes by cryo-EM. We found that ABCE1 was mostly associated with early 43S, but also with later 48S phases of initiation. It adopted a novel hybrid conformation of its nucleotide-binding domains, while interacting with the N-terminus of eIF3j. Further, eIF3j occupied the mRNA entry channel via its ultimate C-terminus providing a structural explanation for its antagonistic role with respect to mRNA binding. Overall, the native human samples provide a near-complete molecular picture of the architecture and sophisticated interaction network of the 43S-bound eIF3 complex and the eIF2 ternary complex containing the initiator tRNA.
    Keywords:  ABCE1; cryo-EM; eIF3; ribosome recycling; translation initiation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020105179
  19. J Biol Chem. 2020 Dec 07. pii: jbc.RA120.015419. [Epub ahead of print]
    Single-molecule fluorescence-based approach reveals novel mechanistic insights into human small heat shock protein chaperone function.
    Caitlin L Johnston, Nicholas R Marzano, Bishnu P Paudel, George Wright, Justin L P Benesch, Antoine M van Oijen, Heath Ecroyd.
      Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are a family of ubiquitous intracellular molecular chaperones that are up-regulated under stress conditions and play a vital role in protein homeostasis (proteostasis). It is commonly accepted that these chaperones work by trapping misfolded proteins to prevent their aggregation; however, fundamental questions regarding the molecular mechanism by which sHsps interact with misfolded proteins remain unanswered. The dynamic and polydisperse nature of sHsp oligomers has made studying them challenging using traditional biochemical approaches. Therefore, we have utilized a single-molecule fluorescence-based approach to observe the chaperone action of human αB-crystallin (αBc, HSPB5). Using this approach we have, for the first time, determined the stoichiometries of complexes formed between αBc and a model client protein, chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1). By examining the dispersity and stoichiometries of these complexes over time, and in response to different concentrations of αBc, we have uncovered unique and important insights into a two-step mechanism by which αBc interacts with misfolded client proteins to prevent their aggregation.
    Keywords:  alphaB-crystallin; chloride intracellular channel 1; heat shock protein (HSP); mass photometry; molecular chaperone; oligomers; protein aggregation; protein assembly; protein complex; single particle analysis; single-molecule biophysics; small heat shock protein (sHsp); total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA120.015419
  20. Autophagy. 2020 Dec 10. 1-25
    Aberrant mitochondrial morphology and function associated with impaired mitophagy and DNM1L-MAPK/ERK signaling are found in aged mutant Parkinsonian LRRK2R1441G mice.
    Huifang Liu, Philip Wing-Lok Ho, Chi-Ting Leung, Shirley Yin-Yu Pang, Eunice Eun Seo Chang, Zoe Yuen-Kiu Choi, Michelle Hiu-Wai Kung, David Boyer Ramsden, Shu-Leong Ho.
      Mitochondrial dysfunction causes energy deficiency and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration which is integral to the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD). Clearance of defective mitochondria involves fission and ubiquitin-dependent degradation via mitophagy to maintain energy homeostasis. We hypothesize that LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) mutation disrupts mitochondrial turnover causing accumulation of defective mitochondria in aging brain. We found more ubiquitinated mitochondria with aberrant morphology associated with impaired function in aged (but not young) LRRK2R1441G knockin mutant mouse striatum compared to wild-type (WT) controls. LRRK2R1441G mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) exhibited reduced MAP1LC3/LC3 activation indicating impaired macroautophagy/autophagy. Mutant MEFs under FCCP-induced (mitochondrial uncoupler) stress showed increased LC3-aggregates demonstrating impaired mitophagy. Using a novel flow cytometry assay to quantify mitophagic rates in MEFs expressing photoactivatable mito-PAmCherry, we found significantly slower mitochondria clearance in mutant cells. Specific LRRK2 kinase inhibition using GNE-7915 did not alleviate impaired mitochondrial clearance suggesting a lack of direct relationship to increased kinase activity alone. DNM1L/Drp1 knockdown in MEFs slowed mitochondrial clearance indicating that DNM1L is a prerequisite for mitophagy. DNM1L knockdown in slowing mitochondrial clearance was less pronounced in mutant MEFs, indicating preexisting impaired DNM1L activation. DNM1L knockdown disrupted mitochondrial network which was more evident in mutant MEFs. DNM1L-Ser616 and MAPK/ERK phosphorylation which mediate mitochondrial fission and downstream mitophagic processes was apparent in WT using FCCP-induced stress but not mutant MEFs, despite similar total MAPK/ERK and DNM1L levels. In conclusion, aberrant mitochondria morphology and dysfunction associated with impaired mitophagy and DNM1L-MAPK/ERK signaling are found in mutant LRRK2 MEFs and mouse brain. Abbreviations: ATP: adenosine triphosphate; BAX: BCL2-associated X protein; CDK1: cyclin-dependent kinase 1; CDK5: cyclin-dependent kinase 5; CQ: chloroquine; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; DNM1L/DRP1: dynamin 1-like; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; FCCP: carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; LAMP2A: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A; LRRK2: leucine-rich repeat kinase 2; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK1/ERK2: mitogen-activated protein kinase 1; MEF: mouse embryonic fibroblast; MFN1: mitofusin 1; MMP: mitochondrial membrane potential; PAmCherry: photoactivatable-mCherry; PD: Parkinson disease; PINK1: PTEN induced putative kinase 1; PRKN/PARKIN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; RAB10: RAB10, member RAS oncogene family; RAF: v-raf-leukemia oncogene; SNCA: synuclein, alpha; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; VDAC: voltage-dependent anion channel; WT: wild type; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1.
    Keywords:  Aging; Dnm1l/DRP1; SQSTM1/p62; knockin mice; macroautophagy; mitochondria dysfunction; mitochondrial fission; mitophagy; parkinson disease; ubiquitination
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2020.1850008
  21. Autophagy. 2020 Dec 11. 1-24
    The conformational and mutational landscape of the ubiquitin-like marker for autophagosome formation in cancer.
    Burcu Aykac Fas, Emiliano Maiani, Valentina Sora, Mukesh Kumar, Maliha Mashkoor, Matteo Lambrughi, Matteo Tiberti, Elena Papaleo.
      Macroautophagy/autophagy is a cellular process to recycle damaged cellular components, and its modulation can be exploited for disease treatments. A key autophagy player is the ubiquitin-like protein MAP1LC3B/LC3B. Mutations and changes in MAP1LC3B expression occur in cancer samples. However, the investigation of the effects of these mutations on MAP1LC3B protein structure is still missing. Despite many LC3B structures that have been solved, a comprehensive study, including dynamics, has not yet been undertaken. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed nine physical models for biomolecular simulations for their capabilities to describe the structural ensemble of MAP1LC3B. With the resulting MAP1LC3B structural ensembles, we characterized the impact of 26 missense mutations from pan-cancer studies with different approaches, and we experimentally validated our prediction for six variants using cellular assays. Our findings shed light on damaging or neutral mutations in MAP1LC3B, providing an atlas of its modifications in cancer. In particular, P32Q mutation was found detrimental for protein stability with a propensity to aggregation. In a broader context, our framework can be applied to assess the pathogenicity of protein mutations or to prioritize variants for experimental studies, allowing to comprehensively account for different aspects that mutational events alter in terms of protein structure and function. Abbreviations: ATG: autophagy-related; Cα: alpha carbon; CG: coarse-grained; CHARMM: Chemistry at Harvard macromolecular mechanics; CONAN: contact analysis; FUNDC1: FUN14 domain containing 1; FYCO1: FYVE and coiled-coil domain containing 1; GABARAP: GABA type A receptor-associated protein; GROMACS: Groningen machine for chemical simulations; HP: hydrophobic pocket; LIR: LC3 interacting region; MAP1LC3B/LC3B microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 B; MD: molecular dynamics; OPTN: optineurin; OSF: open software foundation; PE: phosphatidylethanolamine, PLEKHM1: pleckstrin homology domain-containing family M 1; PSN: protein structure network; PTM: post-translational modification; SA: structural alphabet; SLiM: short linear motif; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; WT: wild-type.
    Keywords:  Autophagy; MAP1LC3B; cancer mutations; molecular dynamics; protein structure network; structural alphabets
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2020.1847443
  22. Viruses. 2020 Dec 04. pii: E1391. [Epub ahead of print]12(12):
    UBE1a Suppresses Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Replication.
    Marina Ikeda, Akihiro Ito, Yuichi Sekine, Masahiro Fujimuro.
      Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is the causative agent of cold sores, keratitis, meningitis, and encephalitis. HSV-1-encoded ICP5, the major capsid protein, is essential for capsid assembly during viral replication. Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that plays a critical role in the regulation of cellular events such as proteasomal degradation, protein trafficking, and the antiviral response and viral events such as the establishment of infection and viral replication. Ub-activating enzyme (E1, also named UBE1) is involved in the first step in the ubiquitination. However, it is still unknown whether UBE1 contributes to viral infection or the cellular antiviral response. Here, we found that UBE1a suppressed HSV-1 replication and contributed to the antiviral response. The UBE1a inhibitor PYR-41 increased HSV-1 production. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that UBE1a highly expressing cells presented low ICP5 expression, and vice versa. UBE1a inhibition by PYR-41 and shRNA increased ICP5 expression in HSV-1-infected cells. UBE1a reduced and retarded ICP5 protein expression, without affecting transcription of ICP5 mRNA or degradation of ICP5 protein. Additionally, UBE1a interacted with ICP27, and both partially co-localized at the Hsc70 foci/virus-induced chaperone-enriched (VICE) domains. PYR-41 reduced the co-localization of UBE1a and ICP27. Thus, our findings provide insights into the mechanism of UBE1a in the cellular response to viral infection.
    Keywords:  E1; UBA1; UBE1; herpes simplex viruses; herpesvirus; lytic replication; major capsid protein; ubiquitin activating enzyme; ubiquitination
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/v12121391
  23. Cancer Biol Med. 2020 Nov 15. 17(4): 842-863
    Adaptive response of resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy.
    Yi-Jye Chern, Isabella T Tai.
      Despite advances in cancer therapeutics and the integration of personalized medicine, the development of chemoresistance in many patients remains a significant contributing factor to cancer mortality. Upon treatment with chemotherapeutics, the disruption of homeostasis in cancer cells triggers the adaptive response which has emerged as a key resistance mechanism. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic studies investigating the three major components of the adaptive response, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling, and senescence, in response to cancer chemotherapy. We will discuss the development of potential cancer therapeutic strategies in the context of these adaptive resistance mechanisms, with the goal of stimulating research that may facilitate the development of effective cancer therapy.
    Keywords:  Cancer; ER stress signaling; adaptive response; autophagy; chemoresistance; chemotherapy; senescence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0005
  24. EMBO J. 2020 Dec 11. e105643
    Architecture of the active post-translational Sec translocon.
    Tsai-Hsuan Weng, Wieland Steinchen, Birgitta Beatrix, Otto Berninghausen, Thomas Becker, Gert Bange, Jingdong Cheng, Roland Beckmann.
      In eukaryotes, most secretory and membrane proteins are targeted by an N-terminal signal sequence to the endoplasmic reticulum, where the trimeric Sec61 complex serves as protein-conducting channel (PCC). In the post-translational mode, fully synthesized proteins are recognized by a specialized channel additionally containing the Sec62, Sec63, Sec71, and Sec72 subunits. Recent structures of this Sec complex in the idle state revealed the overall architecture in a pre-opened state. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of the yeast Sec complex bound to a substrate, and a crystal structure of the Sec62 cytosolic domain. The signal sequence is inserted into the lateral gate of Sec61α similar to previous structures, yet, with the gate adopting an even more open conformation. The signal sequence is flanked by two Sec62 transmembrane helices, the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain of Sec62 is more rigidly positioned, and the plug domain is relocated. We crystallized the Sec62 domain and mapped its interaction with the C-terminus of Sec63. Together, we obtained a near-complete and integrated model of the active Sec complex.
    Keywords:  post-translational translocation; protein translocation; sec complex; signal sequence
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020105643
  25. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 07. pii: 202011442. [Epub ahead of print]
    Direct lysosome-based autophagy of lipid droplets in hepatocytes.
    Ryan J Schulze, Eugene W Krueger, Shaun G Weller, Katherine M Johnson, Carol A Casey, Micah B Schott, Mark A McNiven.
      Hepatocytes metabolize energy-rich cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) in the lysosome-directed process of autophagy. An organelle-selective form of this process (macrolipophagy) results in the engulfment of LDs within double-membrane delimited structures (autophagosomes) before lysosomal fusion. Whether this is an exclusive autophagic mechanism used by hepatocytes to catabolize LDs is unclear. It is also unknown whether lysosomes alone might be sufficient to mediate LD turnover in the absence of an autophagosomal intermediate. We performed live-cell microscopy of hepatocytes to monitor the dynamic interactions between lysosomes and LDs in real-time. We additionally used a fluorescent variant of the LD-specific protein (PLIN2) that exhibits altered fluorescence in response to LD interactions with the lysosome. We find that mammalian lysosomes and LDs undergo interactions during which proteins and lipids can be transferred from LDs directly into lysosomes. Electron microscopy (EM) of primary hepatocytes or hepatocyte-derived cell lines supports the existence of these interactions. It reveals a dramatic process whereby the lipid contents of the LD can be "extruded" directly into the lysosomal lumen under nutrient-limited conditions. Significantly, these interactions are not affected by perturbations to crucial components of the canonical macroautophagy machinery and can occur in the absence of double-membrane lipoautophagosomes. These findings implicate the existence of an autophagic mechanism used by mammalian cells for the direct transfer of LD components into the lysosome for breakdown. This process further emphasizes the critical role of lysosomes in hepatic LD catabolism and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying lipid homeostasis in the liver.
    Keywords:  hepatocyte; lipid droplet; lipolysis; lysosome; microautophagy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2011442117
  26. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 07. pii: 202006648. [Epub ahead of print]
    Pharmacoproteomics pinpoints HSP70 interaction for correction of the most frequent Wilson disease-causing mutant of ATP7B.
    Mafalda Concilli, Raffaella Petruzzelli, Silvia Parisi, Federico Catalano, Francesco Sirci, Francesco Napolitano, Mario Renda, Luis J V Galietta, Diego Di Bernardo, Roman S Polishchuk.
      Pathogenic mutations in the copper transporter ATP7B have been hypothesized to affect its protein interaction landscape contributing to loss of function and, thereby, to hepatic copper toxicosis in Wilson disease. Although targeting mutant interactomes was proposed as a therapeutic strategy, druggable interactors for rescue of ATP7B mutants remain elusive. Using proteomics, we found that the frequent H1069Q substitution promotes ATP7B interaction with HSP70, thus accelerating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) degradation of the mutant protein and consequent copper accumulation in hepatic cells. This prompted us to use an HSP70 inhibitor as bait in a bioinformatics search for structurally similar Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. Among the hits, domperidone emerged as an effective corrector that recovered trafficking and function of ATP7B-H1069Q by impairing its exposure to the HSP70 proteostatic network. Our findings suggest that HSP70-mediated degradation can be safely targeted with domperidone to rescue ER-retained ATP7B mutants and, hence, to counter the onset of Wilson disease.
    Keywords:  ATP7B; Wilson disease; copper metabolism; mutant correction; protein quality control
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006648117
  27. Open Biol. 2020 Dec;10(12): 200292
    What determines eukaryotic translation elongation: recent molecular and quantitative analyses of protein synthesis.
    Nagammal Neelagandan, Irene Lamberti, Hugo J F Carvalho, Cédric Gobet, Felix Naef.
      Protein synthesis from mRNA is an energy-intensive and tightly controlled cellular process. Translation elongation is a well-coordinated, multifactorial step in translation that undergoes dynamic regulation owing to cellular state and environmental determinants. Recent studies involving genome-wide approaches have uncovered some crucial aspects of translation elongation including the mRNA itself and the nascent polypeptide chain. Additionally, these studies have fuelled quantitative and mathematical modelling of translation elongation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the key determinants of translation elongation. We discuss consequences of ribosome stalling or collision, and how the cells regulate translation in case of such events. Next, we review theoretical approaches and widely used mathematical models that have become an essential ingredient to interpret complex molecular datasets and study translation dynamics quantitatively. Finally, we review recent advances in live-cell reporter and related analysis techniques, to monitor the translation dynamics of single cells and single-mRNA molecules in real time.
    Keywords:  SunTag imaging; TASEP; eIF5A; mathematical modelling; protein synthesis; translation elongation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.200292
  28. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2020 Dec 08.
    Molecular pathways of Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15: Implications in cancer.
    Angeles C Tecalco-Cruz.
      Human interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a 15-kDa ubiquitin-like protein that can be detected as either free ISG15 or covalently associated with its target proteins through a process termed ISGylation. Interestingly, extracellular free ISG15 has been proposed as a cytokine-like protein, whereas ISGylation is a posttranslational modification. ISG15 is a small protein with implications in some biological processes and pathologies that include cancer. This review highlights the findings of both free ISG15 and protein ISGylation involved in several molecular pathways, emerging as central elements in some cancer types.
    Keywords:  Free ISG15; ISGylation system; cancer.; conjugated ISG15
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2174/1389203721999201208200747
  29. EMBO J. 2020 Dec 07. e105496
    Translational adaptation to heat stress is mediated by RNA 5-methylcytosine in Caenorhabditis elegans.
    Isabela Cunha Navarro, Francesca Tuorto, David Jordan, Carine Legrand, Jonathan Price, Fabian Braukmann, Alan G Hendrick, Alper Akay, Annika Kotter, Mark Helm, Frank Lyko, Eric A Miska.
      Methylation of carbon-5 of cytosines (m5 C) is a post-transcriptional nucleotide modification of RNA found in all kingdoms of life. While individual m5 C-methyltransferases have been studied, the impact of the global cytosine-5 methylome on development, homeostasis and stress remains unknown. Here, using Caenorhabditis elegans, we generated the first organism devoid of m5 C in RNA, demonstrating that this modification is non-essential. Using this genetic tool, we determine the localisation and enzymatic specificity of m5 C sites in the RNome in vivo. We find that NSUN-4 acts as a dual rRNA and tRNA methyltransferase in C. elegans mitochondria. In agreement with leucine and proline being the most frequently methylated tRNA isoacceptors, loss of m5 C impacts the decoding of some triplets of these two amino acids, leading to reduced translation efficiency. Upon heat stress, m5 C loss leads to ribosome stalling at UUG triplets, the only codon translated by an m5 C34-modified tRNA. This leads to reduced translation efficiency of UUG-rich transcripts and impaired fertility, suggesting a role of m5 C tRNA wobble methylation in the adaptation to higher temperatures.
    Keywords:   Caenorhabditis elegans ; 5-methylcytosine; NSUN; RNA modifications; translation efficiency
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020105496
  30. Neurobiol Dis. 2020 Dec 06. pii: S0969-9961(20)30491-5. [Epub ahead of print] 105216
    MANF is neuroprotective against ethanol-induced neurodegeneration through ameliorating ER stress.
    Yongchao Wang, Wen Wen, Hui Li, Marco Clementino, Hong Xu, Mei Xu, Murong Ma, Jacqueline Frank, Jia Luo.
      Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a spectrum of developmental disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Neuronal loss or neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most devastating features in FASD. It is imperative to delineate the underlying mechanisms to facilitate the treatment of FASD. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a hallmark and an underlying mechanism of many neurodegenerative diseases, including ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) responds to ER stress and has been identified as a protein upregulated in response to ethanol exposure during the brain development. To investigate the role of MANF in ethanol-induced neurodegeneration and its association with ER stress regulation, we established a CNS-specific Manf knockout mouse model and examined the effects of MANF deficiency on ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis and ER stress using a third-trimester equivalent mouse model. We found MANF deficiency exacerbated ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis and ER stress and that blocking ER stress abrogated the harmful effects of MANF deficiency on ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, using an animal model of ER-stress-induced neurodegeneration, we demonstrated that MANF deficiency potentiated tunicamycin (TM)-induced ER stress and neurodegeneration. A whole transcriptome RNA sequencing also supported the functionality of MANF in ER stress modulation and revealed targets that may mediate the ER stress-buffering capacity of MANF. Collectively, these results suggest that MANF is a neurotrophic factor that can protect neurons against ethanol-induced neurodegeneration by ameliorating ER stress.
    Keywords:  Alcohol abuse; Apoptosis; Brain; Development; Unfolded protein response
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105216
  31. Am J Pathol. 2020 Dec 08. pii: S0002-9440(20)30553-8. [Epub ahead of print]
    Hypoxia and HIF-1α regulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in nucleus pulposus cells: Implications of ER stress for extracellular matrix secretion.
    Emanuel J Novais, Hyowon Choi, Vedavathi Madhu, Kaori Suyama, Sandra I Anjo, Bruno Manadas, Irving M Shapiro, António J Salgado, Makarand V Risbud.
      ER stress is shown to promote nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis and intervertebral disc degeneration. However, little is known about ER stress regulation by the hypoxic disc microenvironment and its contribution to extracellular matrix homeostasis. NP cells were cultured under hypoxia (1% pO2) to assess ER stress status and gain- and loss-of-function approaches were used to assess the role of HIF-1α in this pathway. Additionally, the contribution of ER stress induction on the NP cell secretome was assessed by a non-targeted quantitative proteomic analysis by SWATH-mass spectrometry. NP cells exhibited a lower ER stress burden under hypoxia. Knockdown of HIF-1α increased CHOP, PERK, and ATF6 levels; whereas HIF-1α stabilization decreased the expression of ER stress markers Ddit3, Hsp5a, Atf6, and Eif2a. Interestingly, ER stress inducers Tunicamycin and Thapsigargin induced HIF-1α activity under hypoxia while promoting the unfolded protein response (UPR). NP cell secretome analysis demonstrated an impact of ER stress induction on extracellular matrix secretion, with decreases in collagens and cell adhesion-related proteins. Moreover, analysis of transcriptomic data of NP tissues from aged mice and degenerated human discs showed higher levels of UPR markers and decreased levels of matrix components. Our study shows for the first time that hypoxia and HIF-1α attenuate ER stress responses in NP cells, and ER stress promotes inefficient extracellular matrix secretion under hypoxia.
    Keywords:  ER stress; HIF-1α; Nucleus pulposus; collagens; extracellular matrix; hypoxia; intervertebral disc; proteomics; secretome
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.11.012
  32. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2020 Dec 06. pii: S0959-440X(20)30178-0. [Epub ahead of print]67 161-169
    Mechanisms of substrate recognition by the 26S proteasome.
    Caroline Davis, Brian Logan Spaller, Andreas Matouschek.
      The majority of regulated protein degradation in eukaryotes is accomplished by the 26S proteasome, the large proteolytic complex responsible for removing regulatory proteins and damaged proteins. Proteins are targeted to the proteasome by ubiquitination, and degradation is initiated at a disordered region within the protein. The ability of the proteasome to precisely select which proteins to break down is necessary for cellular functioning. Recent studies reveal the subtle mechanisms of substrate recognition by the proteasome - diverse ubiquitin chains can act as potent proteasome targeting signals, ubiquitin receptors function uniquely and cooperatively, and modification of initiation regions modulate degradation. Here, we summarize recent findings illuminating the nature of substrate recognition by the proteasome.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2020.10.010
  33. J Cell Sci. 2020 Dec 07. pii: jcs.247841. [Epub ahead of print]
    TrkB deubiquitination by USP8 regulates receptor levels and BDNF-dependent neuronal differentiation.
    Carlos Martín-Rodríguez, Minseok Song, Begoña Anta, Francisco J González-Calvo, Rubén Deogracias, Deqiang Jing, Francis S Lee, Juan Carlos Arevalo.
      Ubiquitination of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) regulates both the levels and functions of these receptors. TrkB neurotrophin receptor, a RTK, is ubiquitinated upon activation by the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) binding. Although TrkB ubiquitination has been demonstrated, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the precise repertoire of proteins that regulates TrkB ubiquitination. Here, we provide mechanistic evidence indicating that ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 8 (USP8) modulates BDNF/TrkB-dependent neuronal differentiation. USP8 binds to the C-terminus of TrkB using its microtubule interacting domain (MIT). Immunopurified USP8 deubiquitinates TrkB in vitro whereas knockdown of USP8 results in enhanced ubiquitination of TrkB upon BDNF treatment in neurons. As a consequence of USP8 depletion, TrkB levels and its activation were reduced. Moreover, USP8 protein regulates the differentiation and proper BDNF-dependent dendritic formation of hippocampal neurons in vitro and in vivo We conclude that USP8 positively regulates the levels and activation of TrkB modulating BDNF-dependent neuronal differentiation.
    Keywords:  BDNF; Differentiation; Neuron; Signaling; TrkB; USP8
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.247841
  34. Hum Mutat. 2020 Dec 10.
    Expanding the phenotype of X-linked SSR4-CDG: connective tissue implications.
    Claudia Castiglioni, François Feillet, Christine Barnerias, Arnaud Wiedemann, Jordi Muchart, Fanny Cortes, Cristina Hernando-Davalillo, Raquel Montero, Thierry Dupré, Arnaud Bruneel, Nathalie Seta, Sandrine Vuillaumier-Barrot, Mercedes Serrano.
      Signal sequence receptor protein 4 (SSR4) is a subunit of the translocon-associated protein (TRAP) complex, which participates in the translocation of proteins across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, enhancing the efficiency of N-linked glycosylation. Pathogenic variants in SSR4 cause a congenital disorder of glycosylation: SSR4-CDG. We describe three SSR4-CDG boys and review the previously reported. All subjects presented with hypotonia, failure to thrive, developmental delay, and dysmorphic traits and showed a type 1 serum sialotransferrin profile, facilitating the diagnosis. Genetic confirmation of this X-linked CDG revealed one de novo hemizygous deletion, one maternally inherited deletion, and one de novo nonsense mutation of SSR4. The present subjects highlight the similarities with a connective tissue disorder (redundant skin, joint laxity, blue sclerae, and vascular tortuosity). The connective tissue problems are relevant, and require preventive rehabilitation measures. As an X-linked disorder, genetic counseling is essential. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
    Keywords:  Congenital disorders of glycosylation; SSR4; TRAP complex; connective tissue disorders; translocon associated complex
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/humu.24151
  35. Cell Death Discov. 2019 Dec 10. 5(1): 153
    Disulfide bond-disrupting agents activate the tumor necrosis family-related apoptosis-inducing ligand/death receptor 5 pathway.
    Mengxiong Wang, Mary E Law, Bradley J Davis, Elham Yaaghubi, Amanda F Ghilardi, Renan B Ferreira, Chi-Wu Chiang, Olga A Guryanova, Daniel Kopinke, Coy D Heldermon, Ronald K Castellano, Brian K Law.
      Disulfide bond-disrupting agents (DDAs) are a new chemical class of agents recently shown to have activity against breast tumors in animal models. Blockade of tumor growth is associated with downregulation of EGFR, HER2, and HER3 and reduced Akt phosphorylation, as well as the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, it is not known how DDAs trigger cancer cell death without affecting nontransformed cells. As demonstrated here, DDAs are the first compounds identified that upregulate the TRAIL receptor DR5 through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms to activate the extrinsic cell death pathway. At the protein level, DDAs alter DR5 disulfide bonding to increase steady-state DR5 levels and oligomerization, leading to downstream caspase 8 and 3 activation. DDAs and TRAIL synergize to kill cancer cells and are cytotoxic to HER2+ cancer cells with acquired resistance to the EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lapatinib. Investigation of the mechanisms responsible for DDA selectivity for cancer cells reveals that DDA-induced upregulation of DR5 is enhanced in the context of EGFR overexpression. DDA-induced cytotoxicity is strongly amplified by MYC overexpression. This is consistent with the known potentiation of TRAIL-mediated cell death by MYC. Together, the results demonstrate selective DDA lethality against oncogene-transformed cells, DDA-mediated DR5 upregulation, and protein stabilization, and that DDAs have activity against drug-resistant cancer cells. Our results indicate that DDAs are unique in causing DR5 accumulation and oligomerization and inducing downstream caspase activation and cancer cell death through mechanisms involving altered DR5 disulfide bonding. DDAs thus represent a new therapeutic approach to cancer therapy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-019-0228-9
  36. Autophagy. 2020 Dec 07. 1-20
    Autophagy alleviates hypoxia-induced blood-brain barrier injury via regulation of CLDN5 (claudin 5).
    Zhenguo Yang, Panpan Lin, Bing Chen, Xiaoqi Zhang, Wei Xiao, Shuilong Wu, Chunnian Huang, Du Feng, Wenqing Zhang, Jingjing Zhang.
      Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a key event in triggering secondary damage to the central nervous system (CNS) under stroke, and is frequently associated with abnormal macroautophagy/autophagy in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). However, the underlying mechanism of autophagy in maintaining BBB integrity remains unclear. Here we report that in BMECs of patients suffering stroke, CLDN5 (claudin 5) abnormally aggregates in the cytosol accompanied by autophagy activation. In vivo zebrafish and in vitro cell studies reveal that BBB breakdown is partially caused by CAV1 (caveolin 1)-mediated redistribution of membranous CLDN5 into the cytosol under hypoxia. Meanwhile, autophagy is activated and contributes mainly to the degradation of CAV1 and aggregated CLDN5 in the cytosol of BMECs, therefore alleviating BBB breakdown. Blockage of autophagy by genetic methods or chemicals aggravates cytosolic aggregation of CLDN5, resulting in severer BBB impairment. These data demonstrate that autophagy functions in the protection of BBB integrity by regulating CLDN5 redistribution and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for BBB disorder-related cerebrovascular disease. Abbreviations: BBB: blood-brain barrier; BECN1: beclin 1; BMEC: brain microvascular endothelial cell; CAV1: caveolin 1; CCA: common carotid artery; CLDN5: claudin 5; CNS: central nervous system; CQ: chloroquine; HIF1A: hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha; MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion; OCLN: occludin; ROS: reactive oxygen species; STED: stimulated emission depletion; TEER: trans-endothelial electrical resistance; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; TJ: tight junction; TJP1: tight junction protein 1; UPS: ubiquitin-proteasome system.
    Keywords:  Autophagy; blood-brain barrier; claudin 5; hypoxia; zebrafish
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2020.1851897
  37. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 07. pii: 202020197. [Epub ahead of print]
    DIA-based systems biology approach unveils E3 ubiquitin ligase-dependent responses to a metabolic shift.
    Ozge Karayel, André C Michaelis, Matthias Mann, Brenda A Schulman, Christine R Langlois.
      The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful model system for systems-wide biology screens and large-scale proteomics methods. Nearly complete proteomics coverage has been achieved owing to advances in mass spectrometry. However, it remains challenging to scale this technology for rapid and high-throughput analysis of the yeast proteome to investigate biological pathways on a global scale. Here we describe a systems biology workflow employing plate-based sample preparation and rapid, single-run, data-independent mass spectrometry analysis (DIA). Our approach is straightforward, easy to implement, and enables quantitative profiling and comparisons of hundreds of nearly complete yeast proteomes in only a few days. We evaluate its capability by characterizing changes in the yeast proteome in response to environmental perturbations, identifying distinct responses to each of them and providing a comprehensive resource of these responses. Apart from rapidly recapitulating previously observed responses, we characterized carbon source-dependent regulation of the GID E3 ligase, an important regulator of cellular metabolism during the switch between gluconeogenic and glycolytic growth conditions. This unveiled regulatory targets of the GID ligase during a metabolic switch. Our comprehensive yeast system readout pinpointed effects of a single deletion or point mutation in the GID complex on the global proteome, allowing the identification and validation of targets of the GID E3 ligase. Moreover, this approach allowed the identification of targets from multiple cellular pathways that display distinct patterns of regulation. Although developed in yeast, rapid whole-proteome-based readouts can serve as comprehensive systems-level assays in all cellular systems.
    Keywords:  GID E3 ligase; mass spectrometry; proteomics; stress; yeast systems biology
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2020197117
  38. Nat Commun. 2020 12 09. 11(1): 6311
    HIF1A signaling selectively supports proliferation of breast cancer in the brain.
    Richard Y Ebright, Marcus A Zachariah, Douglas S Micalizzi, Ben S Wittner, Kira L Niederhoffer, Linda T Nieman, Brian Chirn, Devon F Wiley, Benjamin Wesley, Brian Shaw, Edwin Nieblas-Bedolla, Lian Atlas, Annamaria Szabolcs, Anthony J Iafrate, Mehmet Toner, David T Ting, Priscilla K Brastianos, Daniel A Haber, Shyamala Maheswaran.
      Blood-borne metastasis to the brain is a major complication of breast cancer, but cellular pathways that enable cancer cells to selectively grow in the brain microenvironment are poorly understood. We find that cultured circulating tumor cells (CTCs), derived from blood samples of women with advanced breast cancer and directly inoculated into the mouse frontal lobe, exhibit striking differences in proliferative potential in the brain. Derivative cell lines generated by serial intracranial injections acquire selectively increased proliferative competency in the brain, with reduced orthotopic tumor growth. Increased Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1A (HIF1A)-associated signaling correlates with enhanced proliferation in the brain, and shRNA-mediated suppression of HIF1A or drug inhibition of HIF-associated glycolytic pathways selectively impairs brain tumor growth while minimally impacting mammary tumor growth. In clinical specimens, brain metastases have elevated HIF1A protein expression, compared with matched primary breast tumors, and in patients with brain metastases, hypoxic signaling within CTCs predicts decreased overall survival. The selective activation of hypoxic signaling by metastatic breast cancer in the brain may have therapeutic implications.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20144-w
  39. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2020 Dec 06. pii: S0959-440X(20)30200-1. [Epub ahead of print]68 41-47
    Structural insights into N-linked glycan-mediated protein folding from chemical and biological perspectives.
    Taiki Kuribara, Kiichiro Totani.
      About half of all newly synthesized proteins have N-linked glycans. These glycans play pivotal roles in controlling the folding, sorting, and degradation of glycoproteins via several glycan-related proteins. The glycan-mediated protein quality control system is important for cellular homeostasis. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the system and discuss structural insights from chemical and biological perspectives. In particular, we focus on the mechanisms by which these mediators respond to several folding states of glycoproteins.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2020.11.004
  40. Life Sci Alliance. 2021 Feb;pii: e202000933. [Epub ahead of print]4(2):
    SCFCdc4 ubiquitin ligase regulates synaptonemal complex formation during meiosis.
    Zhihui Zhu, Mohammad Bani Ismail, Miki Shinohara, Akira Shinohara.
      Homologous chromosomes pair with each other during meiosis, culminating in the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC), which is coupled with meiotic recombination. In this study, we showed that a meiosis-specific depletion mutant of a cullin (Cdc53) in the SCF (Skp-Cullin-F-box) ubiquitin ligase, which plays a critical role in cell cycle regulation during mitosis, is deficient in SC formation. However, the mutant is proficient in forming crossovers, indicating the uncoupling of meiotic recombination with SC formation in the mutant. Furthermore, the deletion of the PCH2 gene encoding a meiosis-specific AAA+ ATPase suppresses SC-assembly defects induced by CDC53 depletion. On the other hand, the pch2 cdc53 double mutant is defective in meiotic crossover formation, suggesting the assembly of SC with unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks. A temperature-sensitive mutant of CDC4, which encodes an F-box protein of SCF, shows meiotic defects similar to those of the CDC53-depletion mutant. These results suggest that SCFCdc4, probably SCFCdc4-dependent protein ubiquitylation, regulates and collaborates with Pch2 in SC assembly and meiotic recombination.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202000933
  41. Gut. 2020 Dec 10. pii: gutjnl-2020-321386. [Epub ahead of print]
    Reticulon 3-mediated Chk2/p53 activation suppresses hepatocellular carcinogenesis and is blocked by hepatitis B virus.
    Shushu Song, Yinghong Shi, Weicheng Wu, Hao Wu, Lei Chang, Peike Peng, Lei Zhang, Jia Fan, Jianxin Gu, Yuanyuan Ruan.
       OBJECTIVE: Dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins is closely related to homeostasis disturbance and malignant transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Reticulons (RTN) are a family of ER-resident proteins critical for maintaining ER function. Nevertheless, the precise roles of RTN in HCC remain largely unclear. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of reticulon family member RTN3 on HCC development and explore the underlying mechanisms.
    DESIGN: Clinical HCC samples were collected to assess the relationship between RTN3 expression and patients' outcome. HCC cell lines were employed to examine the effects of RTN3 on cellular proliferation, apoptosis and signal transduction in vitro. Nude mice model was used to detect the role of RTN3 in modulating tumour growth in vivo.
    RESULTS: We found that RTN3 was highly expressed in normal hepatocytes but frequently downregulated in HCC. Low RTN3 expression predicted poor outcome in patients with HCC in TP53 gene mutation and HBV infection status-dependent manner. RTN3 restrained HCC growth and induced apoptosis by activating p53. Mechanism studies indicated that RTN3 facilitated p53 Ser392 phosphorylation via Chk2 and enhanced subsequent p53 nuclear localisation. RTN3 interacted with Chk2, recruited it to ER and promoted its activation in an ER calcium-dependent manner. Nevertheless, the tumour suppressive effects of RTN3 were abrogated in HBV-positive cells. HBV surface antigen competed with Chk2 for RTN3 binding and blocked RTN3-mediated Chk2/p53 activation.
    CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that RTN3 functions as a novel suppressor of HCC by activating Chk2/p53 pathway and provide more clues to better understand the oncogenic effects of HBV.
    Keywords:  cell death; cell proliferation; hepatoma; signal transduction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321386
  42. ACS Chem Biol. 2020 Dec 08.
    Kinase Photoaffinity Labeling Reveals Low Selectivity Profile of the IRE1 Targeting Imidazopyrazine-Based KIRA6 Inhibitor.
    Dimitris Korovesis, Nicole Rufo, Rita Derua, Patrizia Agostinis, Steven H L Verhelst.
      Inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is one of three endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors. Upon activation of its kinase domain, IRE1α splices the mRNA substrate XBP1, which activates the unfolded protein response. IRE1α has emerged as a therapeutic target as its hyperactivation is implicated in various diseases. Kinase inhibiting RNase attenuator 6 (KIRA6) is an allosteric IRE1α inhibitor targeting the ATP binding pocket, resulting in effective blockage of the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway in mouse models of diabetes and pain. However, recent studies indicate that KIRA6 is not as selective as initially thought. Here, we developed a photoaffinity-based KIRA6 probe to reveal its selectivity. Surprisingly, the majority of off-targets that we identified were not protein kinases but mostly nucleotide-binding proteins. Furthermore, we found that the promiscuous off-target profile of KIRA6 is not cell-line-dependent. Overall, this study calls for caution when KIRA6 is used in IRE1α-targeted studies and illustrates the power of kinase photoaffinity probes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.0c00802
  43. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Dec 10.
    Deficiency in E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Parkin Exacerbates Chronic Alcohol Intake-Induced Cardiomyopathy through an Ambra1-Dependent Mechanism.
    Mingjie Yang, Shuyi Wang, Shouzhi Fu, Ne N Wu, Xihui Xu, Shiqun Sun, Yingmei Zhang, Jun Ren.
       BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic alcohol consumption contributes to contractile dysfunction and unfavorable geometric changes in myocardium, accompanied with altered autophagy and disturbed mitochondrial homeostasis. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin encoded by PARK2 gene maintains a fundamental role in regulating mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis although little is known for its role in the etiology of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
    EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: This study aimed to discern the impact of Parkin deletion in chronic alcohol-evoked cardiotoxicity. Following alcohol (4%) or control diet intake for 8 weeks, adult male wild-type (WT) and PARK2 knockout (Parkin-/- ) mice were examined using echocardiography. Cardiomyocyte mechanical properties, morphology of myocardium and mitochondrial damage were also evaluated. Besides, autophagy and mitophagy levels were assessed by LC3B and GFP-LC3 puncta, whereas lysosome-dependent autophagic flux was scrutinized using GFP-mRFP-LC3 puncta and Bafilomycin A1 treatment.
    KEY RESULTS: Our data indicated that chronic alcohol exposure provoked unfavorable geometric changes in myocardium, including enlarged left ventricles, increased cell size, worsened interstitial fibrosis and mitochondrial swelling. Moreover, alcohol intake led to mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac contractile defects, such as decreased ejection fraction, fractional shortening, peak shortening, velocity of shortening and relengthening, and prolonged relengthening duration, the effects of which were further exacerbated by Parkin knockout. Chronic alcohol exposure provoked autophagy and PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy without affecting lysosome-dependent autophagic flux, the effects of which were diminished by Parkin ablation. Parkin adenovirus infection in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes further increased autophagy and protected against alcohol-induced myocardial injury, the effect of which was negated by Ambra1 (Autophagy and Beclin1 regulator 1) silencing by siRNA. Immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation assay denoted evident interaction between Parkin and Ambra1.
    CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In conclusion, our results revealed that Parkin is obligatory to the cardiac homeostasis in alcohol challenge, likely due to promotion of autophagy/mitophagy and maintenance of mitochondrial integrity through its interaction with Ambra1.
    Keywords:  Ambra1; Parkin; alcohol; autophagy; cardiac function; mitophagy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15340
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