scholarly journals Analysis of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Capsid Protein Function in the Inhibition of Cellular Transcription

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (24) ◽  
pp. 13552-13565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Garmashova ◽  
Svetlana Atasheva ◽  
Wenli Kang ◽  
Scott C. Weaver ◽  
Elena Frolova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Sindbis Virus ◽  
New World ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Cellular Transcription

ABSTRACT The encephalitogenic New World alphaviruses, including Venezuelan (VEEV), eastern (EEEV), and western equine encephalitis viruses, constitute a continuing public health threat in the United States. They circulate in Central, South, and North America and have the ability to cause fatal disease in humans and in horses and other domestic animals. We recently demonstrated that these viruses have developed the ability to interfere with cellular transcription and use it as a means of downregulating a cellular antiviral response. The results of the present study suggest that the N-terminal, ∼35-amino-acid-long peptide of VEEV and EEEV capsid proteins plays the most critical role in the downregulation of cellular transcription and development of a cytopathic effect. The identified VEEV-specific peptide CVEE33-68 includes two domains with distinct functions: the α-helix domain, helix I, which is critically involved in supporting the balance between the presence of the protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and the downstream peptide, which might contain a functional nuclear localization signal(s). The integrity of both domains not only determines the intracellular distribution of the VEEV capsid but is also essential for direct capsid protein functioning in the inhibition of transcription. Our results suggest that the VEEV capsid protein interacts with the nuclear pore complex, and this interaction correlates with the protein's ability to cause transcriptional shutoff and, ultimately, cell death. The replacement of the N-terminal fragment of the VEEV capsid by its Sindbis virus-specific counterpart in the VEEV TC-83 genome does not affect virus replication in vitro but reduces cytopathogenicity and results in attenuation in vivo. These findings can be used in designing a new generation of live, attenuated, recombinant vaccines against the New World alphaviruses.

scholarly journals Analysis of Cellular Factors That Mediate Nuclear Export of RNAs Bearing the Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus Constitutive Transport Element

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (13) ◽  
pp. 5863-5871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibin Kang ◽  
Hal P. Bogerd ◽  
Bryan R. Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Constitutive Transport Element ◽  
Rna Export

ABSTRACT There is now convincing evidence that the human Tap protein plays a critical role in mediating the nuclear export of mRNAs that contain the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus constitutive transport element (CTE) and significant evidence that Tap also participates in global poly(A)+ RNA export. Previously, we had mapped carboxy-terminal sequences in Tap that serve as an essential nucleocytoplasmic shuttling domain, while others had defined an overlapping Tap sequence that can bind to the FG repeat domains of certain nucleoporins. Here, we demonstrate that these two biological activities are functionally correlated. Specifically, mutations in Tap that block nucleoporin binding also block both nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and the Tap-dependent nuclear export of CTE-containing RNAs. In contrast, mutations that do not inhibit nucleoporin binding also fail to affect Tap shuttling. Together, these data indicate that Tap belongs to a novel class of RNA export factors that can target bound RNA molecules directly to the nuclear pore without the assistance of an importin β-like cofactor. In addition to nucleoporins, Tap has also been proposed to interact with a cellular cofactor termed p15. Although we were able to confirm that Tap can indeed bind p15 specifically both in vivo and in vitro, a mutation in Tap that blocked p15 binding only modestly inhibited CTE-dependent nuclear RNA export. However, p15 did significantly enhance the affinity of Tap for the CTE in vitro and readily formed a ternary complex with Tap on the CTE. This result suggests that p15 may play a significant role in the recruitment of the Tap nuclear export factor to target RNA molecules in vivo.

scholarly journals Generating Robust and Informative NonclinicalIn VitroandIn VivoBacterial Infection Model Efficacy Data To Support Translation to Humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen B. Bulitta ◽  
William W. Hope ◽  
Ann E. Eakin ◽  
Tina Guina ◽  
Vincent H. Tam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Optimal Dosage ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Dosage Regimens

ABSTRACTIn June 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, organized a workshop entitled “Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) for Development of Therapeutics against Bacterial Pathogens.” The aims were to discuss details of various PK/PD models and identify sound practices for deriving and utilizing PK/PD relationships to design optimal dosage regimens for patients. Workshop participants encompassed individuals from academia, industry, and government, including the United States Food and Drug Administration. This and the accompanying review on clinical PK/PD summarize the workshop discussions and recommendations. Nonclinical PK/PD models play a critical role in designing human dosage regimens and are essential tools for drug development. These includein vitroandin vivoefficacy models that provide valuable and complementary information for dose selection and translation from the laboratory to human. It is crucial that studies be designed, conducted, and interpreted appropriately. For antibacterial PK/PD, extensive published data and expertise are available. These have been leveraged to develop recommendations, identify common pitfalls, and describe the applications, strengths, and limitations of various nonclinical infection models and translational approaches. Despite these robust tools and published guidance, characterizing nonclinical PK/PD relationships may not be straightforward, especially for a new drug or new class. Antimicrobial PK/PD is an evolving discipline that needs to adapt to future research and development needs. Open communication between academia, pharmaceutical industry, government, and regulatory bodies is essential to share perspectives and collectively solve future challenges.

MLL-Associated Leukemias Drive Expression of MiR-9, Required for Tumorigenesis

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 525-525
Author(s):  
Colles Price ◽  
Ping Chen ◽  
Zejuan Li ◽  
Yuanyuan Li ◽  
Anissa Wiley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cellular Migration

Abstract Abstract 525 Acute leukemia represents one of the most deadly cancers in the United States. Clinical treatments in leukemia have progressed significantly through the use of therapies targeted specifically to chromosomal translocations. The success of these therapies has provided a model for future treatment in various cancers. However, there are various subtypes of leukemia where five-year survival and relapse rates have poor clinical outcome, indicating that new therapies are needed. A particular leukemia subtype, namely mixed lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged leukemia that is a result of chromosomal rearrangements leading to fusions between MLL and partner genes, is associated with a dismal outcome. Therapeutic targeting of MLL rearrangements has proven challenging as there have been dozens of described rearrangements. An emerging hallmark of cancer is the deregulation of non-coding RNAs called microRNAs (miRs). We hypothesized that MLL-associated leukemias have aberrant microRNA expression. We performed microRNA microarray analyses on leukemia patient samples and showed that microRNA-9 (miR-9) is highly upregulated in MLL-associated leukemias. We discovered that expression of miR-9 enhances cell transformation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo, and the opposite is true when miR-9 function is inhibited by anti-miR sponges. Interestingly, we observed that mice transplanted with both MLL-AF9 and miR-9 had a significantly higher amount of blast-like cells and immature cells in the bone marrow and fewer in the peripheral blood compared to mice transplanted with MLL-AF9 alone. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-9 function causes a significant defect in stem cell self-renewal and myeloid differentiation. Thus, this suggests that miR-9 has a critical role in stem cell potentiation and myeloid promotion in MLL-associated leukemias. To investigate target genes of miR-9, we correlated microarray expression of miR-9 and those of its putative target genes predicted with multiple prediction algorithms. We identified six potential target genes that exhibit a significantly inverse correlation of expression with miR-9 and are inhibited in MLL-associated leukemia. These identified genes are Transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBI), E-cadherin (CDH1), Nuclear factor-kappa-B p105 subunit (NFkB1), Ras homolog gene family member H (RHOH), Ring1 and YY1-binding protein (RYBP) and Foxhead Box O3 (FOXO3), We demonstrated that all these targets genes are inhibited upon expression of miR-9, in vitro and in vivo and blocking miR-9 function rescues their expression. As these target genes affect multiple cell processes such as proliferation, stem cell differentiation, chromatin remodeling, and cellular migration, it appears that miR-9 is a potential master regulator during MLL-associated tumorigenesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Repurposing N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA), a Pharmaceutical Excipient, as a Prototype Novel Anti-inflammatory Agent for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Preterm Birth

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 989-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Gorasiya ◽  
Juliet Mushi ◽  
Ryan Pekson ◽  
Sabesan Yoganathan ◽  
Sandra E. Reznik
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
The United States ◽  
Occurrence Rate ◽  
Pharmaceutical Excipient ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Exciting Line ◽  
Pregnant Mice

Background: Preterm birth (PTB), or birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation, accounts for the majority of perinatal morbidity and mortality. As of 2016, PTB has an occurrence rate of 9.6% in the United States and accounts for up to 18 percent of births worldwide. Inflammation has been identified as the most common cause of PTB, but effective pharmacotherapy has yet to be developed to prevent inflammation driven PTB. Our group has discovered that N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), a readily available solvent commonly used as a pharmaceutical excipient, rescues lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced timed pregnant mice from PTB. Methods: We have used in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches to investigate this compound further. Results: Interestingly, we found that DMA suppresses cytokine secretion by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In ongoing work in this exciting line of investigation, we are currently investigating structural analogs of DMA, some of them novel, to optimize this approach focused on the inflammation associated with PTB. Conclusion: Successful development of pharmacotherapy for the prevention of PTB rests upon the pursuit of multiple strategies to solve this important clinical challenge.

scholarly journals RNF141 interacts with KRAS to promote colorectal cancer progression

Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiuna Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyu Jiang ◽  
Jie Yin ◽  
Shiying Dou ◽  
Xiaoli Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ring Finger ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

AbstractRING finger proteins (RNFs) play a critical role in cancer initiation and progression. RNF141 is a member of RNFs family; however, its clinical significance, roles, and mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the expression of RNF141 in 64 pairs of CRC and adjacent normal tissues by real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis. We found that there was more expression of RNF141 in CRC tissue compared with its adjacent normal tissue and high RNF141 expression associated with T stage. In vivo and in vitro functional experiments were conducted and revealed the oncogenic role of RNF141 in CRC. RNF141 knockdown suppressed proliferation, arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase, inhibited migration, invasion and HUVEC tube formation but promoted apoptosis, whereas RNF141 overexpression exerted the opposite effects in CRC cells. The subcutaneous xenograft models showed that RNF141 knockdown reduced tumor growth, but its overexpression promoted tumor growth. Mechanistically, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry indicated RNF141 interacted with KRAS, which was confirmed by Co-immunoprecipitation, Immunofluorescence assay. Further analysis with bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays showed that RNF141 could directly bind to KRAS. Importantly, the upregulation of RNF141 increased GTP-bound KRAS, but its knockdown resulted in a reduction accordingly. Next, we demonstrated that RNF141 induced KRAS activation via increasing its enrichment on the plasma membrane not altering total KRAS expression, which was facilitated by the interaction with LYPLA1. Moreover, KRAS silencing partially abolished the effect of RNF141 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, our findings presented that RNF141 functioned as an oncogene by upregulating KRAS activity in a manner of promoting KRAS enrichment on the plasma membrane in CRC.

scholarly journals Emerging Roles for Ion Channels in Ovarian Cancer: Pathomechanisms and Pharmacological Treatment

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 668
Author(s):  
Concetta Altamura ◽  
Maria Raffaella Greco ◽  
Maria Rosaria Carratù ◽  
Rosa Angela Cardone ◽  
Jean-François Desaphy
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gynecologic Cancer ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential Channels ◽  
Platinum Resistance

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, due to late diagnosis, development of platinum resistance, and inadequate alternative therapy. It has been demonstrated that membrane ion channels play important roles in cancer processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and invasion. Here, we review the contribution of ion channels in the development and progression of OC, evaluating their potential in clinical management. Increased expression of voltage-gated and epithelial sodium channels has been detected in OC cells and tissues and shown to be involved in cancer proliferation and invasion. Potassium and calcium channels have been found to play a critical role in the control of cell cycle and in the resistance to apoptosis, promoting tumor growth and recurrence. Overexpression of chloride and transient receptor potential channels was found both in vitro and in vivo, supporting their contribution to OC. Furthermore, ion channels have been shown to influence the sensitivity of OC cells to neoplastic drugs, suggesting a critical role in chemotherapy resistance. The study of ion channels expression and function in OC can improve our understanding of pathophysiology and pave the way for identifying ion channels as potential targets for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

scholarly journals Loss of ferroportin induces memory impairment by promoting ferroptosis in Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Dai Bao ◽  
Pei Pang ◽  
Xiao-Ting Zhou ◽  
Fan Hu ◽  
Wan Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Intracellular Iron

AbstractIron homeostasis disturbance has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and excess iron exacerbates oxidative damage and cognitive defects. Ferroptosis is a nonapoptotic form of cell death dependent upon intracellular iron. However, the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of AD remains elusive. Here, we report that ferroportin1 (Fpn), the only identified mammalian nonheme iron exporter, was downregulated in the brains of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice as an Alzheimer’s mouse model and Alzheimer’s patients. Genetic deletion of Fpn in principal neurons of the neocortex and hippocampus by breeding Fpnfl/fl mice with NEX-Cre mice led to AD-like hippocampal atrophy and memory deficits. Interestingly, the canonical morphological and molecular characteristics of ferroptosis were observed in both Fpnfl/fl/NEXcre and AD mice. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of ferroptosis-related RNA-seq data showed that the differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in gene sets associated with AD. Furthermore, administration of specific inhibitors of ferroptosis effectively reduced the neuronal death and memory impairments induced by Aβ aggregation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, restoring Fpn ameliorated ferroptosis and memory impairment in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Our study demonstrates the critical role of Fpn and ferroptosis in the progression of AD, thus provides promising therapeutic approaches for this disease.

scholarly journals Important Role for Phylogenetically Invariant PP2Acα Active Site and C-Terminal Residues Revealed by Mutational Analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R H Evans ◽  
Brian A Hemmings
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Catalytic Function

Abstract PP2A is a central regulator of eukaryotic signal transduction. The human catalytic subunit PP2Acα functionally replaces the endogenous yeast enzyme, Pph22p, indicating a conservation of function in vivo. Therefore, yeast cells were employed to explore the role of invariant PP2Ac residues. The PP2Acα Y127N substitution abolished essential PP2Ac function in vivo and impaired catalysis severely in vitro, consistent with the prediction from structural studies that Tyr-127 mediates substrate binding and its side chain interacts with the key active site residues His-118 and Asp-88. The V159E substitution similarly impaired PP2Acα catalysis profoundly and may cause global disruption of the active site. Two conditional mutations in the yeast Pph22p protein, F232S and P240H, were found to cause temperature-sensitive impairment of PP2Ac catalytic function in vitro. Thus, the mitotic and cell lysis defects conferred by these mutations result from a loss of PP2Ac enzyme activity. Substitution of the PP2Acα C-terminal Tyr-307 residue by phenylalanine impaired protein function, whereas the Y307D and T304D substitutions abolished essential function in vivo. Nevertheless, Y307D did not reduce PP2Acα catalytic activity significantly in vitro, consistent with an important role for the C terminus in mediating essential protein-protein interactions. Our results identify key residues important for PP2Ac function and characterize new reagents for the study of PP2A in vivo.

scholarly journals The role of the PZP domain of AF10 in acute leukemia driven by AF10 translocations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Klein ◽  
Anagha Deshpande ◽  
Khan L. Cox ◽  
Fan Xuan ◽  
Mohamad Zandian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Cellular Transformation ◽  
Acute Leukemias ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Nucleosome Core ◽  
Stem And Progenitor Cells ◽  
Transforming Activity

AbstractChromosomal translocations of the AF10 (or MLLT10) gene are frequently found in acute leukemias. Here, we show that the PZP domain of AF10 (AF10PZP), which is consistently impaired or deleted in leukemogenic AF10 translocations, plays a critical role in blocking malignant transformation. Incorporation of functional AF10PZP into the leukemogenic CALM-AF10 fusion prevents the transforming activity of the fusion in bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo and abrogates CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis in vivo. Crystallographic, biochemical and mutagenesis studies reveal that AF10PZP binds to the nucleosome core particle through multivalent contacts with the histone H3 tail and DNA and associates with chromatin in cells, colocalizing with active methylation marks and discriminating against the repressive H3K27me3 mark. AF10PZP promotes nuclear localization of CALM-AF10 and is required for association with chromatin. Our data indicate that the disruption of AF10PZP function in the CALM-AF10 fusion directly leads to transformation, whereas the inclusion of AF10PZP downregulates Hoxa genes and reverses cellular transformation. Our findings highlight the molecular mechanism by which AF10 targets chromatin and suggest a model for the AF10PZP-dependent CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis.

scholarly journals TNFα secreted by glioma associated macrophages promotes endothelial activation and resistance against anti-angiogenic therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingxia Wei ◽  
Olivia Singh ◽  
Can Ekinci ◽  
Jaspreet Gill ◽  
Mira Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Gene Expression Signature ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Tumor Vascularization ◽  
Angiogenic Therapy ◽  
Mouse Glioma ◽  
Novel Therapeutic ◽  
Tumor Area

AbstractOne of the most prominent features of glioblastoma (GBM) is hyper-vascularization. Bone marrow-derived macrophages are actively recruited to the tumor and referred to as glioma-associated macrophages (GAMs) which are thought to provide a critical role in tumor neo-vascularization. However, the mechanisms by which GAMs regulate endothelial cells (ECs) in the process of tumor vascularization and response to anti-angiogenic therapy (AATx) is not well-understood. Here we show that GBM cells secrete IL-8 and CCL2 which stimulate GAMs to produce TNFα. Subsequently, TNFα induces a distinct gene expression signature of activated ECs including VCAM-1, ICAM-1, CXCL5, and CXCL10. Inhibition of TNFα blocks GAM-induced EC activation both in vitro and in vivo and improve survival in mouse glioma models. Importantly we show that high TNFα expression predicts worse response to Bevacizumab in GBM patients. We further demonstrated in mouse model that treatment with B20.4.1.1, the mouse analog of Bevacizumab, increased macrophage recruitment to the tumor area and correlated with upregulated TNFα expression in GAMs and increased EC activation, which may be responsible for the failure of AATx in GBMs. These results suggest TNFα is a novel therapeutic that may reverse resistance to AATx. Future clinical studies should be aimed at inhibiting TNFα as a concurrent therapy in GBMs.

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