scholarly journals Histone H3K23-specific acetylation by MORF is coupled to H3K14 acylation

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Klein ◽  
Suk Min Jang ◽  
Catherine Lachance ◽  
Wenyi Mi ◽  
Jie Lyu ◽  
...  

Abstract Acetylation of histone H3K23 has emerged as an essential posttranslational modification associated with cancer and learning and memory impairment, yet our understanding of this epigenetic mark remains insufficient. Here, we identify the native MORF complex as a histone H3K23-specific acetyltransferase and elucidate its mechanism of action. The acetyltransferase function of the catalytic MORF subunit is positively regulated by the DPF domain of MORF (MORFDPF). The crystal structure of MORFDPF in complex with crotonylated H3K14 peptide provides mechanistic insight into selectivity of this epigenetic reader and its ability to recognize both histone and DNA. ChIP data reveal the role of MORFDPF in MORF-dependent H3K23 acetylation of target genes. Mass spectrometry, biochemical and genomic analyses show co-existence of the H3K23ac and H3K14ac modifications in vitro and co-occupancy of the MORF complex, H3K23ac, and H3K14ac at specific loci in vivo. Our findings suggest a model in which interaction of MORFDPF with acylated H3K14 promotes acetylation of H3K23 by the native MORF complex to activate transcription.

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (20) ◽  
pp. 11274-11278 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. A. van der Strate ◽  
J. L. Hillebrands ◽  
S. S. Lycklama à Nijeholt ◽  
L. Beljaars ◽  
C. A. Bruggeman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The role of leukocytes in the in vivo dissemination of cytomegalovirus was studied in this experiment. Rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) could be transferred to rat granulocytes and monocytes by cocultivation with RCMV-infected fibroblasts in vitro. Intravenous injection of purified infected granulocytes or monocytes resulted in a systemic infection in rats, indicating that our model is a powerful tool to gain further insight into CMV dissemination and the development of new antivirals.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 563-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Marconi ◽  
Ettore Lanzarone ◽  
Hector De Beaufort ◽  
Michele Conti ◽  
Santi Trimarchi ◽  
...  

Introduction Predicting aortic growth in acute type B dissection is fundamental in planning interventions. Several factors are considered to be growth predictors in the literature and, among them, size and location of entry tears have been recognized to particularly influence the false lumen pressure. In this study, we develop an in vitro setting to analyze the actual impact of size and location of the entry tears on false lumen pressure, in the absence of other confounding factors such as the deformability of the aortic wall. Methods We formalize some indexes that synthetically describe the false lumen pressure with respect to the true lumen pressure. Then, we experimentally derive their values in several configurations of the in vitro setting, and we look for trends in the indexes with respect to the size and location of entry tears. Results: Results show that the tears have a relevant impact on the false lumen pressure, but that their size and location alone are not enough to explain the phenomena observed in vivo. Conclusions To predict the behavior of acute type B dissection, we therefore recommend not limiting to size and location, as many effects may derive from the interactions between these parameters and other patient characteristics.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B Biering ◽  
Francielle Tramontini Gomes de Sousa ◽  
Laurentia V. Tjang ◽  
Felix Pahmeier ◽  
Richard Ruan ◽  
...  

Severe COVID-19 is associated with epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction within the lung as well as in distal organs. While it is appreciated that an exaggerated inflammatory response is associated with barrier dysfunction, the triggers of this pathology are unclear. Here, we report that cell-intrinsic interactions between the Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and epithelial/endothelial cells are sufficient to trigger barrier dysfunction in vitro and vascular leak in vivo, independently of viral replication and the ACE2 receptor. We identify an S-triggered transcriptional response associated with extracellular matrix reorganization and TGF-β signaling. Using genetic knockouts and specific inhibitors, we demonstrate that glycosaminoglycans, integrins, and the TGF-β signaling axis are required for S-mediated barrier dysfunction. Our findings suggest that S interactions with barrier cells are a contributing factor to COVID-19 disease severity and offer mechanistic insight into SARS-CoV-2 triggered vascular leak, providing a starting point for development of therapies targeting COVID-19 pathogenesis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Guo ◽  
Jianping Zou ◽  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Yan He ◽  
Miao Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Nucleolar and spindle associated protein (NUSAP1) is involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. However, there are limited studies regarding the role of NUSAP1 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: The expression profile and clinical significance of NUSAP1 in GC were analysed in online database using GEPIA, Oncomine and KM plotter, which was further confirmed in clinical specimens.The functional role of NUSAP1 were detected utilizing in vitro and in vivo assays. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, the cycloheximide-chase, immunofluorescence staining and Co-immunoprecipitaion (Co-IP) assays were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism by which NUSAP1 stabilizes YAP protein. Results:In this study, we found that the expression of NUSAP1 was upregulated in GC tissues and correlates closely with progression and prognosis. Additionally, abnormal NUSAP1 expression promoted malignant behaviors of GC cells in vitro and in a xenograft model. Mechanistically, we discovered that NUSAP1 physically interacts with YAP and furthermore stabilizes YAP protein expression, which induces the transcription of Hippo pathway downstream target genes. Furthermore, the effects of NUSAP1 on GC cell growth, migration and invasion were mainly mediated by YAP. Conclusions:Our data demonstrates that the novel NUSAP1-YAP axis exerts an critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression, and therefore could provide a novel therapeutic target for GC treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 1420-1430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixiong He ◽  
Yujing Huang ◽  
Qiaonan Guo ◽  
Hui Zeng ◽  
Chuanfen Zheng ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Our recent study indicated that the serum microcystin-LR (MC-LR) level is positively linked to the risk of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gankyrin is over-expressed in cancers and mediates oncogenesis; however, whether MC-LR induces tumor formation and the role of gankyrin in this process is unclear. Methods: We induced malignant transformation of L02 liver cells via 35 passages with exposure to 1, 10, or 100 nM MC-LR. Wound healing, plate and soft agar colony counts, and nude mice tumor formation were used to evaluate the tumorigenic phenotype of MC-LR-treated cells. Silencing gankyrin was used to confirm its function. We established a 35-week MC-LR exposure rat model by twice weekly intraperitoneal injection with 10 μg/kg body weight. In addition, 96 HCC patients were tested for tumor tissue gankyrin expression and serum MC-LR levels. Results: Chronic low-dose MC-LR exposure increased proliferation, mobility, clone and tumor formation abilities of L02 cells as a result of gankyrin activation, while silencing gankyrin inhibited the carcinogenic phenotype of MC-LR-treated cells. MC-LR also induced neoplastic liver lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats due to up-regulated gankyrin. Furthermore, a trend of increased gankyrin was observed in humans exposed to MC-LR. Conclusion: These results suggest that MC-LR induces hepatocarcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo by increasing gankyrin levels, providing new insight into MC-LR carcinogenicity studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Kusakabe ◽  
Tetsuhiro Chiba ◽  
Motohiko Oshima ◽  
Shuhei Koide ◽  
Ola Rizq ◽  
...  

AbstractBoth EZH2 and its homolog EZH1 function as histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferases and repress the transcription of target genes. Dysregulation of H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) plays an important role in the development and progression of cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the relationship between the expression of EZH1/2 and the level of H3K27me3 in HCC. Additionally, the role of EZH1/2 in cell growth, tumorigenicity, and resistance to sorafenib were also analyzed. Both the lentiviral knockdown and the pharmacological inhibition of EZH1/2 (UNC1999) diminished the level of H3K27me3 and suppressed cell growth in liver cancer cells, compared with EZH1 or EZH2 single knockdown. Although a significant association was observed between EZH2 expression and H3K27me3 levels in HCC samples, overexpression of EZH1 appeared to contribute to enhanced H3K27me3 levels in some EZH2lowH3K27me3high cases. Akt suppression following sorafenib treatment resulted in an increase of the H3K27me3 levels through a decrease in EZH2 phosphorylation at serine 21. The combined use of sorafenib and UNC1999 exhibited synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Combination treatment canceled the sorafenib-induced enhancement in H3K27me3 levels, indicating that activation of EZH2 function is one of the mechanisms of sorafenib-resistance in HCC. In conclusion, sorafenib plus EZH1/2 inhibitors may comprise a novel therapeutic approach in HCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e1009107
Author(s):  
M. Foulon ◽  
M. Robbe-Saule ◽  
J. Manry ◽  
L. Esnault ◽  
Y. Boucaud ◽  
...  

Mycolactone, a lipid-like toxin, is the major virulence factor of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the etiological agent of Buruli ulcer. Its involvement in lesion development has been widely described in early stages of the disease, through its cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activities, but less is known about later stages. Here, we revisit the role of mycolactone in disease outcome and provide the first demonstration of the pro-inflammatory potential of this toxin. We found that the mycolactone-containing mycobacterial extracellular vesicles produced by M. ulcerans induced the production of IL-1β, a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, in a TLR2-dependent manner, targeting NLRP3/1 inflammasomes. We show our data to be relevant in a physiological context. The in vivo injection of these mycolactone-containing vesicles induced a strong local inflammatory response and tissue damage, which were prevented by corticosteroids. Finally, several soluble pro-inflammatory factors, including IL-1β, were detected in infected tissues from mice and Buruli ulcer patients. Our results revisit Buruli ulcer pathophysiology by providing new insight, thus paving the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies taking the pro-inflammatory potential of mycolactone into account.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 30-30
Author(s):  
A Doeschl-Wilson ◽  
I Kyriazakis ◽  
L Galina-Pantoja

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an endemic pig disease in most European countries, causing respiratory distress, fever and growth reductions in growing pigs and increased litter mortality in sows. The disease is characterised by exceptionally long-term viral persistence within the host, a weak innate host immune response and delayed adaptive host immune response, and large between animal variation in the immune response (Murtaugh et al., 2004). Although numerous in-vitro and in-vivo studies produced valid insight into the fine details of the virus dynamics and its interaction with the host’s immune response, several fundamental questions concerning the role of diverse immune components and host genetics remain unanswered. In this study mathematical models were developed to investigate the role of diverse processes caused by the virus or the immune response on the infection characteristics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Li ◽  
Jun Che ◽  
Mian Jiang ◽  
Ming Cui ◽  
Guoxing Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Radioresistance is a major challenge in lung cancer radiotherapy, and new radiosensitizers are urgently needed. Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is involved in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, the role of ERβ in the response to radiotherapy in lung cancer remains elusive. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying ERβ-mediated transcriptional activation and radioresistance of NSCLC cells. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of CLPTM1L, ERβ and other target genes. The mechanism of CLPTM1L in modulation of radiosensitivity was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, luciferase reporter gene assay, immunofluorescence staining, confocal microscopy, coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. The functional role of CLPTM1L was detected by function assays in vitro and in vivo. Results CLPTM1L expression was negatively correlated with the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines, and irradiation upregulated CLPTM1L in radioresistant (A549) but not in radiosensitive (H460) NSCLC cells. Meanwhile, IR induced the translocation of CLPTM1L from the cytoplasm into the nucleus in NSCLC cells. Moreover, CLPTM1L induced radioresistance in NSCLC cells. iTRAQ-based analysis and cDNA microarray identified irradiation-related genes commonly targeted by CLPTM1L and ERβ, and CLPTM1L upregulated ERβ-induced genes CDC25A, c-Jun, and BCL2. Mechanistically, CLPTM1L coactivated ERβ by directly interacting with ERβ through the LXXLL NR (nuclear receptor)-binding motif. Functionally, ERβ silencing was sufficient to block CLPTM1L-enhanced radioresistance of NSCLC cells in vitro. CLPTM1L shRNA treatment in combination with irradiation significantly inhibited cancer cell growth in NSCLC xenograft tumors in vivo. Conclusions The present results indicate that CLPTM1L acts as a critical coactivator of ERβ to promote the transcription of its target genes and induce radioresistance of NSCLC cells, suggesting a new target for radiosensitization in NSCLC therapy.


2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Minder ◽  
Hans-Martin Fischer ◽  
Hauke Hennecke ◽  
Franz Narberhaus

ABSTRACT A large number of bacteria regulate chaperone gene expression by the CIRCE-HrcA system in which a DNA element called CIRCE serves as binding site for the repressor protein HrcA under non-heat-shock conditions. We have cloned the two consecutive genes hrcAand grpE of Bradyrhizobium japonicum by using a complementation approach that screened for GrpE function. In vivo and in vitro transcript mapping demonstrated that both genes are transcribed separately from RpoH (ς32)-dependent promoters. To investigate the supposed negative regulatory function of HrcA, we compared the expression of putative target genes in the wild type with that in an hrcA mutant. Transcription of the CIRCE-associated chaperonin operons groESL 4 andgroESL 5, as well as the β-galactosidase activity derived from corresponding groE-lacZ fusions, was strongly elevated in the hrcA mutant even at physiological temperatures. Expression of other heat shock regulons (RpoH or ROSE dependent) was not affected. To study the activity of HrcA in vitro, we purified a histidine-tagged version of the protein under nondenaturing conditions. Specific binding to the CIRCE element was obtained with a soluble fraction of HrcA in gel retardation experiments.


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