scholarly journals Ubiquitylome Analysis Reveals a Central Role for the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Plant Innate Immunity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiyu Ma ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
Do Young Kim ◽  
Yanyan Huang ◽  
Elizabeth Chatt ◽  
...  

Abstract Protein ubiquitylation profoundly expands proteome functionality and diversifies cellular signaling processes, with recent studies providing ample evidence for its importance to plant immunity. To gain a proteome-wide appreciation of ubiquitylome dynamics during immune recognition, we employed a two-step affinity enrichment protocol based on a 6His-tagged ubiquitin (Ub) variant coupled with high sensitivity mass spectrometry to identify Arabidopsis proteins rapidly ubiquitylated upon plant perception of the microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) peptide flg22. The catalog from 2-week-old seedlings treated for 30 minutes with flg22 contained 690 conjugates, 64 Ub footprints, and all seven types of Ub linkages, and included previously uncharacterized conjugates of immune components. In vivo ubiquitylation assays confirmed modification of several candidates upon immune elicitation, and revealed distinct modification patterns and dynamics for key immune components, including poly- and monoubiquitylation, as well as induced or reduced levels of ubiquitylation. Gene ontology and network analyses of the collection also uncovered rapid modification of the Ub-proteasome system itself, suggesting a critical auto-regulatory loop necessary for an effective MAMP-triggered immune response and subsequent disease resistance. Included targets were UBIQUITIN-CONJUGATING ENZYME 13 (UBC13) and proteasome component REGULATORY PARTICLE NON-ATPASE SUBUNIT 8b (RPN8b), whose subsequent biochemical and genetic analyses implied negative roles in immune elicitation. Collectively, our proteomic analyses further strengthened the connection between ubiquitylation and flg22-based immune signaling, identified components and pathways regulating plant immunity, and increased the database of ubiquitylated substrates in plants.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiyu Ma ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
Do Young Kim ◽  
Yanyan Huang ◽  
Ping He ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTProtein ubiquitylation profoundly expands proteome functionality and diversifies cellular signaling processes, with recent studies providing ample evidence for its importance to plant immunity. To gain a proteome-wide appreciation of ubiquitylome dynamics during immune recognition, we employed a two-step affinity enrichment protocol based on a 6His-tagged ubiquitin (Ub) variant coupled with high sensitivity mass spectrometry to identify Arabidopsis proteins rapidly ubiquitylated upon plant perception of the microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) peptide flg22. The catalog from two-week-old seedlings treated for only 30 minutes with flg22 contained nearly 1,000 conjugates, 150 Ub footprints, and all seven types of Ub linkages, and included previously uncharacterized conjugates of immune components, such as RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 (RKL1) shown to negatively regulate plant immunity. In vivo ubiquitylation assays confirmed modification of several candidates upon immune elicitation, and revealed distinct modification patterns and dynamics for key immune components, including poly- and monoubiquitylation, as well as induced or reduced levels of ubiquitylation. Gene ontology and network analyses of the collection also uncovered rapid modification of the Ub-proteasome system itself, suggesting a critical auto-regulatory loop necessary for an effective MAMP-triggered immune response and subsequent disease resistance. Included targets were UBIQUITIN-CONJUGATING ENZYME 13 (UBC13) and proteasome component REGULATORY PARTICLE NON-ATPASE SUBUNIT 8b (RPN8b), whose subsequent biochemical and genetic analyses implied negative roles in immune elicitation. Collectively, our proteomic analyses further strengthened the connection between ubiquitylation and flg22-based immune signaling, identified novel components and pathways regulating plant immunity, and increased the database of ubiquitylated substrates in plants.One-sentence summaryProteome-wide catalogs of ubiquitylated proteins revealed a rapid engagement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in Arabidopsis innate immunity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 814-826
Author(s):  
Pradeep Hanumanthappa ◽  
Arpitha Ashok ◽  
Inderjit Prakash ◽  
Carmel I. Priya ◽  
Julie Zinzala ◽  
...  

Background: Parkinson’s disease ranks second, after Alzheimer’s as the major neurodegenerative disorder, for which no cure or disease-modifying therapies exist. Ample evidence indicate that PD manifests as a result of impaired anti-oxidative machinery leading to neuronal death wherein Cullin-3 has ascended as a potential therapeutic target for diseases involving damaged anti-oxidative machinery. Objective: The design of target specific inhibitors for the Cullin-3 protein might be a promising strategy to increase the Nrf2 levels and to decrease the possibility of “off-target” toxic properties. Methods: In the present study, an integrated computational and wet lab approach was adopted to identify small molecule inhibitors for Cullin-3. The rational drug designing process comprised homology modeling and derivation of the pharmacophore for Cullin-3, virtual screening of Zinc natural compound database, molecular docking and Molecular dynamics based screening of ligand molecules. In vivo validations of an identified lead compound were conducted in the PD model of C. elegans. Results and Discussion: Our strategy yielded a potential inhibitor; (Glide score = -12.31), which was evaluated for its neuroprotective efficacy in the PD model of C. elegans. The inhibitor was able to efficiently defend against neuronal death in PD model of C. elegans and the neuroprotective effects were attributed to its anti-oxidant activities, supported by the increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and the diminution of acetylcholinesterase and reactive oxygen species levels. In addition, the Cullin-3 inhibitor significantly restored the behavioral deficits in the transgenic C. elegans. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings highlight the potential utility of Cullin-3 inhibition to block the persistent neuronal death in PD. Further studies focusing on Cullin-3 and its mechanism of action would be interesting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nian Liu ◽  
Xiao Chen ◽  
Xia Sun ◽  
Xiaolian Sun ◽  
Junpeng Shi

AbstractPersistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) are unique optical materials that emit afterglow luminescence after ceasing excitation. They exhibit unexpected advantages for in vivo optical imaging of tumors, such as autofluorescence-free, high sensitivity, high penetration depth, and multiple excitation sources (UV light, LED, NIR laser, X-ray, and radiopharmaceuticals). Besides, by incorporating other functional molecules, such as photosensitizers, photothermal agents, or therapeutic drugs, PLNPs are also widely used in persistent luminescence (PersL) imaging-guided tumor therapy. In this review, we first summarize the recent developments in the synthesis and surface functionalization of PLNPs, as well as their toxicity studies. We then discuss the in vivo PersL imaging and multimodal imaging from different excitation sources. Furthermore, we highlight PLNPs-based cancer theranostics applications, such as fluorescence-guided surgery, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, drug/gene delivery and combined therapy. Finally, future prospects and challenges of PLNPs in the research of translational medicine are also discussed.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Dina Aweida ◽  
Shenhav Cohen

Protein degradation maintains cellular integrity by regulating virtually all biological processes, whereas impaired proteolysis perturbs protein quality control, and often leads to human disease. Two major proteolytic systems are responsible for protein breakdown in all cells: autophagy, which facilitates the loss of organelles, protein aggregates, and cell surface proteins; and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which promotes degradation of mainly soluble proteins. Recent findings indicate that more complex protein structures, such as filamentous assemblies, which are not accessible to the catalytic core of the proteasome in vitro, can be efficiently degraded by this proteolytic machinery in systemic catabolic states in vivo. Mechanisms that loosen the filamentous structure seem to be activated first, hence increasing the accessibility of protein constituents to the UPS. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms underlying the disassembly and loss of the intricate insoluble filamentous myofibrils, which are responsible for muscle contraction, and whose degradation by the UPS causes weakness and disability in aging and disease. Several lines of evidence indicate that myofibril breakdown occurs in a strictly ordered and controlled manner, and the function of AAA-ATPases is crucial for their disassembly and loss.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Imam Uddin ◽  
Tyler C. Kilburn ◽  
Sara Z. Jamal ◽  
Craig L. Duvall ◽  
John S. Penn

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity and retinal vein occlusion are potentially blinding conditions largely due to their respective neovascular components. The development of real-time in vivo molecular imaging methods, to assess levels of retinal neovascularization (NV), would greatly benefit patients afflicted with these conditions. mRNA hybridization techniques offer a potential method to image retinal NV. The success of these techniques hinges on the selection of a target mRNA whose tissue levels and spatial expression patterns correlate closely with disease burden. Using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), we previously observed dramatic increases in retinal endoglin that localized to neovascular structures (NV), directly correlating with levels of neovascular pathology. Based on these findings, we have investigated Endoglin mRNA as a potential marker for imaging retinal NV in OIR mice. Also of critical importance, is the application of innovative technologies capable of detecting mRNAs in living systems with high sensitivity and specificity. To detect and visualize endoglin mRNA in OIR mice, we have designed and synthesized a novel imaging probe composed of short-hairpin anti-sense (AS) endoglin RNA coupled to a fluorophore and black hole quencher (AS-Eng shRNA). This assembly allows highly sensitive fluorescence emission upon hybridization of the AS-Eng shRNA to cellular endoglin mRNA. The AS-Eng shRNA is further conjugated to a diacyl-lipid (AS-Eng shRNA–lipid referred to as probe). The lipid moiety binds to serum albumin facilitating enhanced systemic circulation of the probe. OIR mice received intraperitoneal injections of AS-Eng shRNA–lipid. Ex vivo imaging of their retinas revealed specific endoglin mRNA dependent fluorescence superimposed on neovascular structures. Room air mice receiving AS-Eng shRNA–lipid and OIR mice receiving a non-sense control probe showed little fluorescence activity. In addition, we found that cells in neovascular lesions labelled with endoglin mRNA dependent fluorescence, co-labelled with the macrophage/microglia-associated marker IBA1. Others have shown that cells expressing macrophage/microglia markers associate with retinal neovascular structures in proportion to disease burden. Hence we propose that our probe may be used to image and to estimate the levels of retinal neovascular disease in real-time in living systems.


Function ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie M Baehr ◽  
David C Hughes ◽  
Sarah A Lynch ◽  
Delphi Van Haver ◽  
Teresa Mendes Maia ◽  
...  

Abstract MuRF1 (TRIM63) is a muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase and component of the ubiquitin proteasome system. MuRF1 is transcriptionally upregulated under conditions that cause muscle loss, in both rodents and humans, and is a recognized marker of muscle atrophy. In this study, we used in vivo electroporation to determine if MuRF1 overexpression alone can cause muscle atrophy and, in combination with ubiquitin proteomics, identify the endogenous MuRF1 substrates in skeletal muscle. Overexpression of MuRF1 in adult mice increases ubiquitination of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins, increases expression of genes associated with neuromuscular junction instability, and causes muscle atrophy. A total of 169 ubiquitination sites on 56 proteins were found to be regulated by MuRF1. MuRF1-mediated ubiquitination targeted both thick and thin filament contractile proteins, as well as, glycolytic enzymes, deubiquitinases, p62, and VCP. These data reveal a potential role for MuRF1 in not only the breakdown of the sarcomere, but also the regulation of metabolism and other proteolytic pathways in skeletal muscle.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 247-251
Author(s):  
Tilmann Sander ◽  
Anna Jodko-Władzińska ◽  
Stefan Hartwig ◽  
Rüdiger Brühl ◽  
Thomas Middelmann

AbstractThe electrophysiological activities in the human body generate electric and magnetic fields that can be measured noninvasively by electrodes on the skin, or even, not requiring any contact, by magnetometers. This includes the measurement of electrical activity of brain, heart, muscles and nerves that can be measured in vivo and allows to analyze functional processes with high temporal resolution. To measure these extremely small magnetic biosignals, traditionally highly sensitive superconducting quantum-interference devices have been used, together with advanced magnetic shields. Recently, they have been complemented in usability by a new class of sensors, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs). These quantum sensors offer a high sensitivity without requiring cryogenic temperatures, allowing the design of small and flexible sensors for clinical applications. In this letter, we describe the advantages of these upcoming OPMs in two exemplary applications that were recently carried out at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB): (1) magnetocardiography (MCG) recorded during exercise and (2) auditory-evoked fields registered by magnetoencephalography.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-221
Author(s):  
Jiafeng Wan ◽  
Xiaoyuan Zhang ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Zhiqiang Su

Abstract In recent years, nanomaterials have attracted lots of attention from researchers due to their unique properties. Nanometer fluorescent materials, such as organic dyes, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), metal nano-clusters (MNCs), carbon dots (CDs), etc., are widely used in biological imaging due to their high sensitivity, short response time, and excellent accuracy. Nanometer fluorescent probes can not only perform in vitro imaging of organisms but also achieve in vivo imaging. This provides medical staff with great convenience in cancer treatment. Combined with contemporary medical methods, faster and more effective treatment of cancer is achievable. This article explains the response mechanism of three-nanometer fluorescent probes: the principle of induced electron transfer (PET), the principle of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the principle of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), showing the semiconductor QDs, precious MNCs, and CDs. The excellent performance of the three kinds of nano fluorescent materials in biological imaging is highlighted, and the application of these three kinds of nano fluorescent probes in targeted biological imaging is also introduced. Nanometer fluorescent materials will show their significance in the field of biomedicine.


Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (10) ◽  
pp. 2157-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudarson Sundarrajan ◽  
Junjappa Raghupatil ◽  
Aradhana Vipra ◽  
Nagalakshmi Narasimhaswamy ◽  
Sanjeev Saravanan ◽  
...  

P128 is an anti-staphylococcal protein consisting of the Staphylococcus aureus phage-K-derived tail-associated muralytic enzyme (TAME) catalytic domain (Lys16) fused with the cell-wall-binding SH3b domain of lysostaphin. In order to understand the mechanism of action and emergence of resistance to P128, we isolated mutants of Staphylococcus spp., including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resistant to P128. In addition to P128, the mutants also showed resistance to Lys16, the catalytic domain of P128. The mutants showed loss of fitness as shown by reduced rate of growth in vitro. One of the mutants tested was found to show reduced virulence in animal models of S. aureus septicaemia suggesting loss of fitness in vivo as well. Analysis of the antibiotic sensitivity pattern showed that the mutants derived from MRSA strains had become sensitive to meticillin and other β-lactams. Interestingly, the mutant cells were resistant to the lytic action of phage K, although the phage was able to adsorb to these cells. Sequencing of the femA gene of three P128-resistant mutants showed either a truncation or deletion in femA, suggesting that improper cross-bridge formation in S. aureus could be causing resistance to P128. Using glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion peptides as substrates it was found that both P128 and Lys16 were capable of cleaving a pentaglycine sequence, suggesting that P128 might be killing S. aureus by cleaving the pentaglycine cross-bridge of peptidoglycan. Moreover, peptides corresponding to the reported cross-bridge of Staphylococcus haemolyticus (GGSGG, AGSGG), which were not cleaved by lysostaphin, were cleaved efficiently by P128. This was also reflected in high sensitivity of S. haemolyticus to P128. This showed that in spite of sharing a common mechanism of action with lysostaphin, P128 has unique properties, which allow it to act on certain lysostaphin-resistant Staphylococcus strains.


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