Diversity of the SUMOylation machinery in plants

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Maria Lois

In the last decade, SUMOylation has emerged as an essential post-translational modification in eukaryotes. In plants, the biological role of SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) has been studied through genetic approaches that together with recent biochemical studies suggest that the plant SUMOylation system has a high degree of complexity. The present review summarizes our current knowledge on the SUMOylation system in Arabidopsis, focusing on the mechanistic properties of the machinery components identified.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Trapannone ◽  
Karim Rafie ◽  
Daan M.F. van Aalten

The O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) post-translational modification (O-GlcNAcylation) is the dynamic and reversible attachment of N-acetylglucosamine to serine and threonine residues of nucleocytoplasmic target proteins. It is abundant in metazoa, involving hundreds of proteins linked to a plethora of biological functions with implications in human diseases. The process is catalysed by two enzymes: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) that add and remove sugar moieties respectively. OGT knockout is embryonic lethal in a range of animal models, hampering the study of the biological role of O-GlcNAc and the dissection of catalytic compared with non-catalytic roles of OGT. Therefore, selective and potent chemical tools are necessary to inhibit OGT activity in the context of biological systems. The present review focuses on the available OGT inhibitors and summarizes advantages, limitations and future challenges.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 11059
Author(s):  
Martha A. Schalla ◽  
Andreas Stengel

Ghrelin and nesfatin-1 are enteroendocrine peptide hormones expressed in rat X/A-like and human P/D1cells of the gastric mucosa. Besides their effect on food intake, both peptides are also implicated in various other physiological systems. One of these is the reproductive system. This present review illustrates the distribution of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 along the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, their modulation by reproductive hormones, and effects on reproductive functions as well as highlighting gaps in current knowledge to foster further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Kyung So ◽  
Sunghee Kim ◽  
Jong-Sun Kang ◽  
Sang-Jin Lee

Arginine methylation mediated by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) is a post-translational modification of both histone and non-histone substrates related to diverse biological processes. PRMTs appear to be critical regulators in skeletal muscle physiology, including regeneration, metabolic homeostasis, and plasticity. Chronic inflammation is commonly associated with the decline of skeletal muscle mass and strength related to aging or chronic diseases, defined as sarcopenia. In turn, declined skeletal muscle mass and strength can exacerbate chronic inflammation. Thus, understanding the molecular regulatory pathway underlying the crosstalk between skeletal muscle function and inflammation might be essential for the intervention of muscle pathophysiology. In this review, we will address the current knowledge on the role of PRMTs in skeletal muscle physiology and pathophysiology with a specific emphasis on its relationship with inflammation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (19) ◽  
pp. 3649-3672
Author(s):  
Salvatore Rizza ◽  
Giuseppe Filomeni

S-nitrosylation, the post-translational modification of cysteines by nitric oxide, has been implicated in several cellular processes and tissue homeostasis. As a result, alterations in the mechanisms controlling the levels of S-nitrosylated proteins have been found in pathological states. In the last few years, a role in cancer has been proposed, supported by the evidence that various oncoproteins undergo gain- or loss-of-function modifications upon S-nitrosylation. Here, we aim at providing insight into the current knowledge about the role of S-nitrosylation in different aspects of cancer biology and report the main anticancer strategies based on: (i) reducing S-nitrosylation-mediated oncogenic effects, (ii) boosting S-nitrosylation to stimulate cell death, (iii) exploiting S-nitrosylation through synthetic lethality.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5052
Author(s):  
Tatiana A. Korolenko ◽  
Thomas P. Johnston ◽  
Vaclav Vetvicka

The concept of lysosomotropic agents significantly changed numerous aspects of cellular biochemistry, biochemical pharmacology, and clinical medicine. In the present review, we focused on numerous low-molecular and high-molecular lipophilic basic compounds and on the role of lipophagy and autophagy in experimental and clinical medicine. Attention was primarily focused on the most promising agents acting as autophagy inducers, which offer a new window for treatment and/or prophylaxis of various diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, and atherosclerosis. The present review summarizes current knowledge on the lysosomotropic features of medical drugs, as well as autophagy inducers, and their role in pathological processes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 6065
Author(s):  
Jun Goto ◽  
Yoichiro Otaki ◽  
Tetsu Watanabe ◽  
Masafumi Watanabe

Despite advances in medicine, cardiac disease remains an increasing health problem associated with a high mortality rate. Maladaptive cardiac remodeling, such as cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, is a risk factor for heart failure; therefore, it is critical to identify new therapeutic targets. Failing heart is reported to be associated with hyper-ubiquitylation and impairment of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, indicating an importance of ubiquitylation in the development of cardiac disease. Ubiquitylation is a post-translational modification that plays a pivotal role in protein function and degradation. In 1995, homologous to E6AP C-terminus (HECT) type E3 ligases were discovered. E3 ligases are key enzymes in ubiquitylation and are classified into three families: really interesting new genes (RING), HECT, and RING-between-RINGs (RBRs). Moreover, 28 HECT-type E3 ligases have been identified in human beings. It is well conserved in evolution and is characterized by the direct attachment of ubiquitin to substrates. HECT-type E3 ligase is reported to be involved in a wide range of human diseases and health. The role of HECT-type E3 ligases in the development of cardiac diseases has been uncovered in the last decade. There are only a few review articles summarizing recent advancements regarding HECT-type E3 ligase in the field of cardiac disease. This study focused on cardiac remodeling and described the role of HECT-type E3 ligases in the development of cardiac disease. Moreover, this study revealed that the current knowledge could be exploited for the development of new clinical therapies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 462 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Shmakova ◽  
Michael Batie ◽  
Jimena Druker ◽  
Sonia Rocha

Responding appropriately to changes in oxygen availability is essential for multicellular organism survival. Molecularly, cells have evolved intricate gene expression programmes to handle this stressful condition. Although it is appreciated that gene expression is co-ordinated by changes in transcription and translation in hypoxia, much less is known about how chromatin changes allow for transcription to take place. The missing link between co-ordinating chromatin structure and the hypoxia-induced transcriptional programme could be in the form of a class of dioxygenases called JmjC (Jumonji C) enzymes, the majority of which are histone demethylases. In the present review, we will focus on the function of JmjC histone demethylases, and how these could act as oxygen sensors for chromatin in hypoxia. The current knowledge concerning the role of JmjC histone demethylases in the process of organism development and human disease will also be reviewed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Gago ◽  
Danilo M. Daloso ◽  
Marc Carriquí ◽  
Miquel Nadal ◽  
Melanie Morales ◽  
...  

Besides stomata, the photosynthetic CO2 pathway also involves the transport of CO2 from the sub-stomatal air spaces inside to the carboxylation sites in the chloroplast stroma, where Rubisco is located. This pathway is far to be a simple and direct way, formed by series of consecutive barriers that the CO2 should cross to be finally assimilated in photosynthesis, known as the mesophyll conductance (gm). Therefore, the gm reflects the pathway through different air, water and biophysical barriers within the leaf tissues and cell structures. Currently, it is known that gm can impose the same level of limitation (or even higher depending of the conditions) to photosynthesis than the wider known stomata or biochemistry. In this mini-review, we are focused on each of the gm determinants to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms driving gm from anatomical to metabolic and biochemical perspectives. Special attention deserve the latest studies demonstrating the importance of the molecular mechanisms driving anatomical traits as cell wall and the chloroplast surface exposed to the mesophyll airspaces (Sc/S) that significantly constrain gm. However, even considering these recent discoveries, still is poorly understood the mechanisms about signaling pathways linking the environment a/biotic stressors with gm responses. Thus, considering the main role of gm as a major driver of the CO2 availability at the carboxylation sites, future studies into these aspects will help us to understand photosynthesis responses in a global change framework.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel

Abstract. Prospective Memory (PM; i.e., the ability to remember to perform planned tasks) represents a key proxy of healthy aging, as it relates to older adults’ everyday functioning, autonomy, and personal well-being. The current review illustrates how PM performance develops across the lifespan and how multiple cognitive and non-cognitive factors influence this trajectory. Further, a new, integrative framework is presented, detailing how those processes interplay in retrieving and executing delayed intentions. Specifically, while most previous models have focused on memory processes, the present model focuses on the role of executive functioning in PM and its development across the lifespan. Finally, a practical outlook is presented, suggesting how the current knowledge can be applied in geriatrics and geropsychology to promote healthy aging by maintaining prospective abilities in the elderly.


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