Molecular Basis of Tubulin Transport Within the Cilium by IFT74 and IFT81

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) of ciliary precursors such as tubulin from the cytoplasm to the ciliary tip is involved in the construction of the cilium, a hairlike organelle found on most eukaryotic cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of IFT are poorly understood. Here, we found that the two core IFT proteins IFT74 and IFT81 form a tubulin-binding module and mapped the interaction to a calponin homology domain of IFT81 and a highly basic domain in IFT74. Knockdown of IFT81 and rescue experiments with point mutants showed that tubulin binding by IFT81 was required for ciliogenesis in human cells.

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EH domain binding protein 1-like 1 (EHBP1L1), a protein with calponin homology domain, is expressed in the rat testis

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199420000301 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 441-446

Author(s):

Massimo Venditti ◽

Aldo Donizetti ◽

Francesco Aniello ◽

Sergio Minucci

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Small Gtpase ◽

Apical Plasma Membrane ◽

Rat Tissues ◽

Calponin Homology Domain ◽

Rat Testis ◽

Calponin Homology ◽

New Genes ◽

Eh Domain

SummaryIn this paper, with the aim to find new genes involved in mammalian spermatogenesis, we isolated, for the first time in the rat testis, a partial cDNA clone that encoded EH domain binding protein 1-like 1 (Ehbp1l1), a protein that has a single calponin homology domain (CH). Bioinformatic analysis showed that EHBP1l1 contains three domains: the N-terminal C2-like, the CH and the C-terminal bivalent Mical/EHBP Rab binding (bMERB) domains, which are evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. We found that Ehbp1l1 mRNA was expressed in several rat tissues, including the liver, intestine, kidney and also in the testis during its development, with a higher level in testis from 12-month-old animals. Interestingly, in situ hybridization experiments revealed that Ehbp1l1 is specifically expressed by types I and II spermatocytes, this result was validated by RT-PCR performed on total RNA obtained from enriched fractions of different testicular cell types. As EHBP1l1 has been described as linked to vesicular transport to the actin cytoskeleton and as an effector of the small GTPase Rab8, we hypothesized that it could participate both in cytoskeletal remodelling and in the regulation of vesicle sorting from the trans-Golgi network to the apical plasma membrane. Our findings provide a better understand of the molecular mechanisms of the differentiation process of spermatogenesis; Ehbp1l1 may also be used as a new marker of testicular activity.

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Mitochondrial Dynamics, ROS, and Cell Signaling: A Blended Overview

Life ◽

10.3390/life11040332 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 332

Author(s):

Valentina Brillo ◽

Leonardo Chieregato ◽

Luigi Leanza ◽

Silvia Muccioli ◽

Roberto Costa

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽

Eukaryotic Cells ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Cellular Functions ◽

Lipid Trafficking ◽

Mitochondrial Ros ◽

Intracellular Organelles ◽

Proliferation Regulation ◽

Dynamic Plasticity

Mitochondria are key intracellular organelles involved not only in the metabolic state of the cell, but also in several cellular functions, such as proliferation, Calcium signaling, and lipid trafficking. Indeed, these organelles are characterized by continuous events of fission and fusion which contribute to the dynamic plasticity of their network, also strongly influenced by mitochondrial contacts with other subcellular organelles. Nevertheless, mitochondria release a major amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside eukaryotic cells, which are reported to mediate a plethora of both physiological and pathological cellular functions, such as growth and proliferation, regulation of autophagy, apoptosis, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial ROS could be a promising strategy to overcome and hinder the development of diseases such as cancer, where malignant cells, possessing a higher amount of ROS with respect to healthy ones, could be specifically targeted by therapeutic treatments. In this review, we collected the ultimate findings on the blended interplay among mitochondrial shaping, mitochondrial ROS, and several signaling pathways, in order to contribute to the dissection of intracellular molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of eukaryotic cells, possibly improving future therapeutic approaches.

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Antennal transcriptome analysis and candidate olfactory genes in Crematogaster rogenhoferi

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485321000134 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Xiang Zhou ◽

Jixing Guo ◽

Mingxia Zhang ◽

Chunxiu Bai ◽

Zheng Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Transcriptome Analysis ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Vital Role ◽

Neuron Membrane ◽

Ionotropic Receptors ◽

Soft Scale

Abstract Crematogaster rogenhoferi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an omnivorous ant, is one of the dominant predatory natural enemies of a soft scale pest, Parasaissetia nigra Nietner (Homoptera: Coccidae), and can effectively control P. nigra populations in rubber forests. Olfaction plays a vital role in the process of predation. However, the information about the molecular mechanism of olfaction-evoked behaviour in C. rogenhoferi is limited. In this study, we conducted antennal transcriptome analysis to identify candidate olfactory genes. We obtained 53,892 unigenes, 16,185 of which were annotated. Based on annotations, we identified 49 unigenes related to chemoreception, including four odourant-binding proteins, three chemosensory proteins, 37 odourant receptors, two odourant ionotropic receptors and three sensory neuron membrane proteins. This is the first report on the molecular basis of the chemosensory system of C. rogenhoferi. The findings provide a basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the olfactory-related behaviours of C. rogenhoferi, which would facilitate a better application of C. rogenhoferi as a biological control agent.

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Moving toward molecular mechanisms for chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e19-07-0393 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (23) ◽

pp. 2873-2877

Author(s):

Peter Devreotes

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Eukaryotic Cells ◽

To Receive

It is a tremendous honor to receive the 2019 E.B. Wilson Award and be recognized for my work on chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells. In writing this essay, I hope to achieve three aims: 1) to tell the story of how people in my group made discoveries over the years; 2) to outline key principles we have learned about chemotaxis; and 3) to point to the most important outstanding questions.

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Crystal structure of a calponin homology domain

Natural Structural Biology ◽

10.1038/nsb0397-175 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 175-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

Kristina Djinovic Carugo ◽

Sonia Bañuelos ◽

Matti Saraste

Keyword(s):

Crystal Structure ◽

Calponin Homology Domain ◽

Calponin Homology

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Shedding new light on the regulation of complementary chromatic adaptation

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.2478/s11535-008-0039-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 351-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Beronda Montgomery

Keyword(s):

Molecular Basis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Cellular Morphology ◽

Chromatic Adaptation ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Complementary Chromatic Adaptation ◽

Light Sensing ◽

Central Elements ◽

Over 40 Years

AbstractComplementary chromatic adaptation (CCA) is a light-dependent acclimation process that occurs in cyanobacteria and likely is related to increased fitness of these organisms in natural environments. Although CCA has been studied for over 40 years, significant advances in our understanding of the molecular foundations of CCA are still emerging. In this minireview, I explore recently reported developments that include novel insights into the molecular mechanisms utilized in the photoregulation of pigmentation and the molecular basis of light-dependent changes in cellular morphology, which are central elements of the process of CCA. I also discuss future avenues of study that are expected to lead to additional progress in our understanding of CCA and our general appreciation of light sensing and photomorphogenesis in cyanobacteria.

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Transcriptomic Analysis of the Differential Nephrotoxicity of Diverse Brominated Flame Retardants in Rat and Human Renal Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms221810044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (18) ◽

pp. 10044

Author(s):

Lillie Marie A. Barnett ◽

Naomi E. Kramer ◽

Amanda N. Buerger ◽

Deirdre H. Love ◽

Joseph H. Bisesi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

Flame Retardants ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Annexin V ◽

Enrichment Analysis ◽

Brominated Flame Retardants ◽

Human Cells ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Coagulation Cascade ◽

Transcriptional Changes

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are environmentally persistent, are detected in humans, and some have been banned due to their potential toxicity. BFRs are developmental neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors; however, few studies have explored their potential nephrotoxicity. We addressed this gap in the literature by determining the toxicity of three different BFRs (tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47)) in rat (NRK 52E) and human (HK-2 and RPTEC) tubular epithelial cells. All compounds induced time- and concentration-dependent toxicity based on decreases in MTT staining and changes in cell and nuclear morphology. The toxicity of BFRs was chemical- and cell-dependent, and human cells were more susceptible to all three BFRs based on IC50s after 48 h exposure. BFRs also had chemical- and cell-dependent effects on apoptosis as measured by increases in annexin V and PI staining. The molecular mechanisms mediating this toxicity were investigated using RNA sequencing. Principal components analysis supported the hypothesis that BFRs induce different transcriptional changes in rat and human cells. Furthermore, BFRs only shared nine differentially expressed genes in rat cells and five in human cells. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated chemical- and cell-dependent effects; however, some commonalities were also observed. Namely, gene sets associated with extracellular matrix turnover, the coagulation cascade, and the SNS-related adrenal cortex response were enriched across all cell lines and BFR treatments. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that BFRs induce differential toxicity in rat and human renal cell lines that is mediated by differential changes in gene expression.

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Molecular basis of disregulation of programmed lymphocytes’ death in chronic viral infection

Bulletin of Siberian Medicine ◽

10.20538/1682-0363-2006-2-23-34 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 23-34

Author(s):

V. V. Novitsky ◽

N. V. Ryazantseva ◽

O. B. Zhoukova

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Programmed Cell Death ◽

Viral Infection ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Recent Literature ◽

Chronic Viral Infection ◽

Persistent Viruses

The review analyses information from recent literature and results of the authors’ own investigations concerning imbalance of programmed cell death in forming chronic viral infection. Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis modulation of immune cells by persistent viruses are discussed in the article.

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Interactions between Neisseria meningitidis and human cells that promote colonisation and disease

Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1462399404008087 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 6 (14) ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anne Corbett ◽

Rachel Exley ◽

Sandrine Bourdoulous ◽

Christoph M. Tang

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Bacterial Meningitis ◽

Neisseria Meningitidis ◽

Human Cell ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cellular Level ◽

Human Cells ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Host Pathogen

Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, a potentially fatal condition that particularly affects children. Multiple steps are involved during the pathogenesis of infection, including the colonisation of healthy individuals and invasion of the bacterium into the cerebrospinal fluid. The bacterium is capable of adhering to, and entering into, a range of human cell types, which facilitates its ability to cause disease. This article summarises the molecular basis of host–pathogen interactions at the cellular level during meningococcal carriage and disease.

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