scholarly journals Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2B mutations in rab7 cause dosage-dependent neurodegeneration due to partial loss of function

eLife ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita Cherry ◽  
Eugene Jennifer Jin ◽  
Mehmet Neset Özel ◽  
Zhiyuan Lu ◽  
Egemen Agi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Charcot Marie Tooth ◽  
Function Mechanism

The small GTPase Rab7 is a key regulator of endosomal maturation in eukaryotic cells. Mutations in rab7 are thought to cause the dominant neuropathy Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2B (CMT2B) by a gain-of-function mechanism. Here we show that loss of rab7, but not overexpression of rab7 CMT2B mutants, causes adult-onset neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model. All CMT2B mutant proteins retain 10–50% function based on quantitative imaging, electrophysiology, and rescue experiments in sensory and motor neurons in vivo. Consequently, expression of CMT2B mutants at levels between 0.5 and 10-fold their endogenous levels fully rescues the neuropathy-like phenotypes of the rab7 mutant. Live imaging reveals that CMT2B proteins are inefficiently recruited to endosomes, but do not impair endosomal maturation. These findings are not consistent with a gain-of-function mechanism. Instead, they indicate a dosage-dependent sensitivity of neurons to rab7-dependent degradation. Our results suggest a therapeutic approach opposite to the currently proposed reduction of mutant protein function.

scholarly journals Conformational dynamics is key to understanding loss-of-function of NQO1 cancer-associated polymorphisms and its correction by pharmacological ligands

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Encarnación Medina-Carmona ◽  
Rogelio J. Palomino-Morales ◽  
Julian E. Fuchs ◽  
Esperanza Padín-Gonzalez ◽  
Noel Mesa-Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Dynamics ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Quinone Oxidoreductase ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Directional Preference

Abstract Protein dynamics is essential to understand protein function and stability, even though is rarely investigated as the origin of loss-of-function due to genetic variations. Here, we use biochemical, biophysical, cell and computational biology tools to study two loss-of-function and cancer-associated polymorphisms (p.R139W and p.P187S) in human NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), a FAD-dependent enzyme which activates cancer pro-drugs and stabilizes several oncosuppressors. We show that p.P187S strongly destabilizes the NQO1 dimer in vitro and increases the flexibility of the C-terminal domain, while a combination of FAD and the inhibitor dicoumarol overcome these alterations. Additionally, changes in global stability due to polymorphisms and ligand binding are linked to the dynamics of the dimer interface, whereas the low activity and affinity for FAD in p.P187S is caused by increased fluctuations at the FAD binding site. Importantly, NQO1 steady-state protein levels in cell cultures correlate primarily with the dynamics of the C-terminal domain, supporting a directional preference in NQO1 proteasomal degradation and the use of ligands binding to this domain to stabilize p.P187S in vivo. In conclusion, protein dynamics are fundamental to understanding loss-of-function in p.P187S and to develop new pharmacological therapies to rescue this function.

Inhibition of Rho-dependent kinases ROCK I/II activates VEGF-driven retinal neovascularization and sprouting angiogenesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. H893-H899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Kroll ◽  
Daniel Epting ◽  
Katrin Kern ◽  
Christian T. Dietz ◽  
Yuxi Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Vegf Receptor ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Sprouting Angiogenesis ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Specific Growth Factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial-specific growth factor that activates the small GTPase RhoA. While the role of RhoA for VEGF-driven endothelial migration and angiogenesis has been studied in detail, the function of its target proteins, the Rho-dependent kinases ROCK I and II, are controversially discussed. Using the mouse model of oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy, ROCK I/II inhibition by H-1152 resulted in increased angiogenesis. This enhanced angiogenesis, however, was completely blocked by the VEGF-receptor antagonist PTK787/ZK222584. Loss-of-function experiments in endothelial cells revealed that inhibition of ROCK I/II using the pharmacological inhibitor H-1152 and ROCK I/II-specific small-interfering RNAs resulted in a rise of VEGF-driven sprouting angiogenesis. These functional data were biochemically substantiated by showing an enhanced VEGF-receptor kinase insert domain receptor phosphorylation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation after inhibition of ROCK I/II. Thus our data identify that the inhibition of Rho-dependent kinases ROCK I/II activates angiogenesis both, in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Knock-in tagging in zebrafish facilitated by insertion into non-coding regions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel S Levic ◽  
Naoya Yamaguchi ◽  
Siyao Wang ◽  
Holger Knaut ◽  
Michel Bagnat
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Coding Regions ◽  
Fluorescent Markers ◽  
Endogenous Expression ◽  
Epithelial Biology

Zebrafish provide an excellent model for in vivo cell biology studies due to their amenability to live imaging. Protein visualization in zebrafish has traditionally relied on overexpression of fluorescently tagged proteins from heterologous promoters, making it difficult to recapitulate endogenous expression patterns and protein function. One way to circumvent this problem is to tag the proteins by modifying their endogenous genomic loci. Such an approach is not widely available to zebrafish researchers due to inefficient homologous recombination and the error-prone nature of targeted integration in zebrafish. Here, we report a simple approach for tagging proteins in zebrafish on their N- or C termini with fluorescent markers by inserting PCR-generated donor amplicons into non-coding regions of the corresponding genes. Using this approach, we generated endogenously tagged alleles for several genes critical for epithelial biology and organ development including the tight junction components ZO-1 and Cldn15la, the trafficking effector Rab11a, and the ECM receptor β1 integrin. Our approach facilitates the generation of knock-in lines in zebrafish, opening the way for accurate quantitative imaging studies.

scholarly journals The Amyloid Precursor-like Protein APL-1 Regulates Axon Regeneration

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewie Zeng ◽  
Rachid El Bejjani ◽  
Marc Hammarlund
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Axon Regeneration ◽  
Neuronal Response ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Mature Neurons ◽  
And Function

AbstractMembers of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) family have important functions during neuronal development. However, their physiological functions in the mature nervous system are not fully understood. Here we use the C. elegans GABAergic motor neurons to study the post-developmental function of the APP-like protein APL-1 in vivo. We find that apl-1 has minimum roles in the maintenance of gross neuron morphology and function. However, we show that apl-1 is an inhibitor of axon regeneration, acting on mature neurons to limit regrowth in response to injury. The small GTPase Rab6/RAB-6.2 also inhibits regeneration, and does so in part by maintaining protein levels of APL-1. To inhibit regeneration, APL-1 functions via the E2 domain of its ectodomain; the cytoplasmic tail, transmembrane anchoring, and the E1 domain are not required for this function. Our data defines a novel role for APL-1 in modulating the neuronal response to injury.

Abstract 5356: Brca1 Is An Essential Regulator Of Cardiac Function

Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Praphulla C Shukla ◽  
Krishna K Singh ◽  
Fina Lovren ◽  
Yi Pan ◽  
Guilin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Systolic Dysfunction ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
P53 Expression

INTRODUCTION: Preservation of structure and function of the myocardium is critically dependent upon improving the survival of existing cardiomyocytes (CM), through strategies that limit CM apoptosis and DNA damage. BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene which functions to promote DNA repair, and protect cells against oxidative and genotoxic stress. We hypothesized that BRCA1 is a novel cellular target to limit CM apoptosis, and prevent aberrant cardiac remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental MI in mice caused a profound 16-fold upregulation in BRCA1 expression, which peaked at 72 hours (p<0.01). In vitro gain-of-function experiments demonstrated that Ad-BRCA1 overexpression protected neonatal rat CM against doxorubicin- and H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis, as assessed by FACS (p<0.01) and activated caspase-3. Ad-BRCA1-expressing CM exhibited a profound reduction in p53 expression in response to doxorubicin and H 2 O 2 . Co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated a distinct physical interaction of BRCA1 with p53. Inhibition of p53, with pifithrin-alpha, blocked doxorubicin-induced CM apoptosis in a manner similar to BRCA1, but BRCA1-overexpressing CM, when treated with doxorubicin did not show further reduction with pifithrin-alpha, indicating an essential requirement of BRCA1 to modulate p53. In vivo gain-of-function studies demonstrated that systemic Ad-BRCA1 delivery completely prevented doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice (echocardiography, p<0.01). In vivo loss-of-function studies were performed in CM -specific BRCA1-KO mice (developed using Cre-lox P technology), which demonstrated marked cardiac dysfunction and mortality in response to doxorubicin administration (p< 0.01 vs. WT + Dox). CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time an essential role of BRCA1 to limit CM apoptosis, and improve cardiac function in response to genotoxic and oxidative stress. Heart specific deletion of BRCA1 promotes severe systolic dysfunction, and limits survival. In addition to the immediate implications for cardiovascular repair, these data may have ramifications for individuals with BRCA1 mutations or cancer syndromes, particularly in the setting of adjuvant chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Disease-associated missense mutations in the EVH1 domain disrupt intrinsic WASp function causing dysregulated actin dynamics and impaired dendritic cell migration

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austen J. J. Worth ◽  
Joao Metelo ◽  
Gerben Bouma ◽  
Dale Moulding ◽  
Marco Fritzsche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Dendritic Cell Migration ◽  
Biologic Function

Abstract Wiskott Aldrich syndrome (WAS), an X-linked immunodeficiency, results from loss-of-function mutations in the human hematopoietic cytoskeletal regulator gene WAS. Many missense mutations in the Ena Vasp homology1 (EVH1) domain preserve low-level WAS protein (WASp) expression and confer a milder clinical phenotype. Although disrupted binding to WASp-interacting protein (WIP) leads to enhanced WASp degradation in vivo, the intrinsic function of EVH1-mutated WASp is poorly understood. In the present study, we show that, despite mediating enhanced actin polymerization compared with wild-type WASp in vitro, EVH1 missense mutated proteins did not support full biologic function in cells, even when levels were restored by forced overexpression. Podosome assembly was aberrant and associated with dysregulated lamellipodia formation and impaired persistence of migration. At sites of residual podosome-associated actin polymerization, localization of EVH1-mutated proteins was preserved even after deletion of the entire domain, implying that WIP-WASp complex formation is not absolutely required for WASp localization. However, retention of mutant proteins in podosomes was significantly impaired and associated with reduced levels of WASp tyrosine phosphorylation. Our results indicate that the EVH1 domain is important not only for WASp stability, but also for intrinsic biologic activity in vivo.

scholarly journals Characterization of novel mutations at the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc2 regulatory phosphorylation site, tyrosine 15.

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1573-1586 ◽  
Author(s):  
K L Gould ◽  
A Feoktistova
Keyword(s):  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Contractile Ring ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Regulatory Phosphorylation ◽  
Binding Loop

The cdc2 protein kinase family is regulated negatively by phosphorylation in the glycine ATP-binding loop at a conserved tyrosine residue, Y15, alone or in combination with T14 phosphorylation. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe and other systems, substitution of these residues with structurally similar but nonphosphorylatable amino acids has generated proteins (Y15F or T14AY15F) that behave as constitutively tyrosine-dephosphorylated proteins or threonine and tyrosine-dephosphorylated proteins. Here we report the characteristics of three additional mutants at Y15--Y15E, Y15S, and Y15T--in S. pombe cdc2p. All three mutant proteins are active in in vitro kinase assays, but are unable to functionally complement cdc2 loss-of-function mutations in vivo. Additionally, all three mutants are dominant negatives. A more detailed analysis of the Y15T mutant indicates that it can initiate chromosome condensation and F-actin contractile ring formation, but is unable to drive the reorganization of microtubules into a mitotic spindle.

scholarly journals A Bridging [4Fe-4S] Cluster and Nucleotide Binding Are Essential for Function of the Cfd1-Nbp35 Complex as a Scaffold in Iron-Sulfur Protein Maturation

2012 ◽  
Vol 287 (15) ◽  
pp. 12365-12378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daili J. A. Netz ◽  
Antonio J. Pierik ◽  
Martin Stümpfig ◽  
Eckhard Bill ◽  
Anil K. Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Nucleotide Binding ◽  
Protein Assembly ◽  
Cysteine Residues ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Iron Sulfur ◽  
Sulfur Protein

The essential P-loop NTPases Cfd1 and Nbp35 of the cytosolic iron-sulfur (Fe-S) protein assembly machinery perform a scaffold function for Fe-S cluster synthesis. Both proteins contain a nucleotide binding motif of unknown function and a C-terminal motif with four conserved cysteine residues. The latter motif defines the Mrp/Nbp35 subclass of P-loop NTPases and is suspected to be involved in transient Fe-S cluster binding. To elucidate the function of these two motifs, we first created cysteine mutant proteins of Cfd1 and Nbp35 and investigated the consequences of these mutations by genetic, cell biological, biochemical, and spectroscopic approaches. The two central cysteine residues (CPXC) of the C-terminal motif were found to be crucial for cell viability, protein function, coordination of a labile [4Fe-4S] cluster, and Cfd1-Nbp35 hetero-tetramer formation. Surprisingly, the two proximal cysteine residues were dispensable for all these functions, despite their strict evolutionary conservation. Several lines of evidence suggest that the C-terminal CPXC motifs of Cfd1-Nbp35 coordinate a bridging [4Fe-4S] cluster. Upon mutation of the nucleotide binding motifs Fe-S clusters could no longer be assembled on these proteins unless wild-type copies of Cfd1 and Nbp35 were present in trans. This result indicated that Fe-S cluster loading on these scaffold proteins is a nucleotide-dependent step. We propose that the bridging coordination of the C-terminal Fe-S cluster may be ideal for its facile assembly, labile binding, and efficient transfer to target Fe-S apoproteins, a step facilitated by the cytosolic iron-sulfur (Fe-S) protein assembly proteins Nar1 and Cia1 in vivo.

scholarly journals mRNA compartmentalisation spatially orients tissue morphogenesis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Costa ◽  
Joshua Bradbury ◽  
Nawseen Tarannum ◽  
Shane P. Herbert
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Spatial Diversity ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Tissue Morphogenesis ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Endogenous Gene ◽  
Spatial Coupling ◽  
Single Molecule Analysis

ABSTRACTPolarised targeting of diverse mRNAs to motile cellular protrusions is a hallmark of cell migration1–3. Although a widespread phenomenon, definitive functions for endogenous targeted mRNAs and their relevance to modulation of in-vivo tissue dynamics remain elusive. Here, using single-molecule analysis, endogenous gene-edited mRNAs and zebrafish in-vivo live-cell imaging, we report that mRNA polarisation acts as a molecular compass that orients motile cell polarity and spatially directs tissue movement. Clustering of protrusion-derived RNAseq datasets defined a core 192 bp localisation element underpinning precise mRNA targeting to incipient sites of filopodia formation at cell protrusions. Such targeting of the small GTPase, RAB13, generated tight spatial coupling of mRNA localisation, translation and protein activity, achieving precise subcellular compartmentalisation of RAB13 protein function to create a polarised domain of filopodia extension. Consequently, genomic excision of this localisation element and specific perturbation of endogenous RAB13 targeting – but not translation – depolarised filopodial dynamics in motile endothelial cells and induced miss-patterning of nascent blood vessels in-vivo. Hence, mRNA polarisation, not expression, is the primary spatial determinant of the site of RAB13 action, preventing ectopic functionality at inappropriate subcellular loci and orienting tissue morphogenesis. Considering the unexpected spatial diversity of other polarised mRNA clusters we identified, mRNA-mediated compartmentalisation of protein function at distinct subcellular sites likely coordinates broad aspects of in-vivo tissue behaviour.

scholarly journals Drosophila Models for Charcot–Marie–Tooth Neuropathy Related to Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1519
Author(s):  
Laura Morant ◽  
Maria-Luise Erfurth ◽  
Albena Jordanova
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorder ◽  
Charcot Marie Tooth ◽  
Trna Synthetases ◽  
Aminoacyl Trna Synthetases ◽  
Global Protein Synthesis ◽  
Peripheral Sensory ◽  
Drosophila Models

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) represent the largest cluster of proteins implicated in Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy (CMT), the most common neuromuscular disorder. Dominant mutations in six aaRS cause different axonal CMT subtypes with common clinical characteristics, including progressive distal muscle weakness and wasting, impaired sensory modalities, gait problems and skeletal deformities. These clinical manifestations are caused by “dying back” axonal degeneration of the longest peripheral sensory and motor neurons. Surprisingly, loss of aminoacylation activity is not a prerequisite for CMT to occur, suggesting a gain-of-function disease mechanism. Here, we present the Drosophila melanogaster disease models that have been developed to understand the molecular pathway(s) underlying GARS1- and YARS1-associated CMT etiology. Expression of dominant CMT mutations in these aaRSs induced comparable neurodegenerative phenotypes, both in larvae and adult animals. Interestingly, recent data suggests that shared molecular pathways, such as dysregulation of global protein synthesis, might play a role in disease pathology. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the important function of nuclear YARS1 in transcriptional regulation and the binding properties of mutant GARS1 are also conserved and can be studied in D. melanogaster in the context of CMT. Taken together, the fly has emerged as a faithful companion model for cellular and molecular studies of aaRS-CMT that also enables in vivo investigation of candidate CMT drugs.

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