Molecular transduction in receptor-ligand systems by planar electromagnetic fields

The coupling of a ligand with a molecular receptor induces a signal that travels through the receptor, reaching the internal domain and triggering a response cascade. In previous work on T-cell receptors and their coupling with foreign antigens, we observed the presence of planar molecular patterns able to generate electromagnetic fields within the proteins. These planes showed a coherent (synchronized) behavior, replicating immediately in the intracellular domain that which occurred in the extracellular domain as the ligand was coupled. In the present study, we examined this molecular transduction - the capacity of the coupling signal to penetrate deep inside the receptor molecule and induce a response. We verified the presence of synchronized behavior in diverse receptor-ligand systems. To appreciate this diversity, we present four biochemically different systems - TCR-peptide, calcium pump-ADP, haemoglobin-oxygen, and gp120-CD4 viral coupling. The confirmation of synchronized molecular transduction in each of these systems suggests that the proposed mechanism would occur in all biochemical receptor-ligand systems.

Subcellular dynamics and functional activity of the cleaved Na+ channel β1 subunit intracellular domain

The voltage-gated Na+ channel β1 subunit, encoded by SCN1B, regulates cell surface expression and gating of α subunits, and participates in cell adhesion. β1 is cleaved by α/β and γ-secretases, releasing an extracellular domain and intracellular domain (ICD) respectively. Abnormal SCN1B expression/function is linked to pathologies including epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, and cancer. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of secretase cleavage on β1 function in breast cancer cells. Using a series of GFP-tagged β1 constructs, we show that β1-GFP is mainly retained intracellularly, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum and endolysosomal pathway, and accumulates in the nucleus. Reduction in endosomal β1-GFP levels occurred following γ-secretase inhibition, implicating endosomes, and/or the preceding plasma membrane, as important sites for secretase processing. Using live-cell imaging, we report β1-ICD-GFP accumulation in the nucleus. Furthermore, β1-GFP and β1ICD-GFP both increased Na+ current, whereas β1STOP-GFP, which lacks the ICD, did not, thus highlighting that the β1-ICD was necessary and sufficient to increase Na+ current measured at the plasma membrane. Importantly, although the endogenous Na+ current expressed in MDA-MB-231 cells is TTX-resistant (carried by Nav1.5), the Na+ current increased by β1-GFP or β1ICD-GFP was TTX-sensitive. Taken together, this work suggests that the β1-ICD is a critical regulator of β subunit function. Our data further support the notion that γ-secretase may play a key role in regulating β1 function in breast cancer cells. This work thus highlights proteolytic processing of β1 by secretase cleavage to be a relevant mechanism in diseases associated with abnormal β1 function.

Germline and Somatic Variants of CSF3R Define Distinct Myeloid Neoplasia Syndromes

Somatic and germline (GL) variants of CSF3R are found in myeloid neoplasia (MN) and severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). In particular, somatic gain-of-function mutations in the juxtamembrane region of the receptor occur in chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) or secondary AML. Another hotspot for somatic nonsense variants frequently mutated in these categories of pts involves the intracellular domain which regulates inhibitory growth pathways. We hypothesized that the somatic CSF3R variants could reveal previously unrecognized GL SCN mutations. When we studied a cohort of 2,610 pts with MN, we identified a total of 68 CSF3R variants (CSF3RMT). Using a bioanalytic pipeline, we assigned pathogenicity and type of origin (somatic vs. GL) to these variants, particularly those not previously described. In total, we found 32 GL (CSF3RGL) and 36 somatic (CSF3RS) mutations. Of the GL variants, 4 were previously described in pts with SCN consistent with heterozygous loss of function of the CSF3R gene. However, 15 additional alterations were located in similar regions and were predicted to be pathogenic while 13 variants were previously never described. Most of the CSF3RGL mutations were identified in pts with AML and MDS (88%). Interestingly, 2 (6%) pts had co-existing idiopathic neutropenia that progressed to secondary MDS. Another pt had aplastic anemia that eventually progressed to secondary AML. CSF3RGL were most often located in either the intracellular domain (44%) or the extracellular domain (34%) while none of the CSF3RGL mutations were found in the juxtamembrane region (Fig1). AML was detected in 21% of the pts with a CSF3RGL intracellular domain mutation and 18% of the pts with extracellular domain mutations. Of the germline missense variants, E808K (28%), R698C (9%), and E149D (9%) were the most frequently detected. Among the pts with E808K, 22% developed AML. The previously non-reported variants were detected in either the intracellular (50%) or the extracellular domain (50%). Missense variants were detected in 9/10 of the novel mutations in the following locations: L723V (20%), R428K (10%), G731R (10%), V406fs (10%), G687S (10%), P682H (10%), T154I (10%), and S413L (10%). One truncating mutation was found (c.1865-6delC) and it was located in intron 14 and has unknown impact on CSF3R function. Complex karyotype was noted in 19 % of the cases with CSF3RGL. DNMT3A (19%), NRAS (13%), FLT3 (9%), and BCOR (9%), were the most commonly found co-mutations. CSF3R S mutations were all heterozygous and found in 18 pts with AML and 18 pts with MDS and other MN. Overall, these lesions mapped within the intracellular proximal and distal domains (53%), the extracellular domain (14%) the juxtamembrane domain (25%), and the transmembrane domain (8%). Of note, MDS/MPN pts with CSF3RS mutations (11%) had lesions distributed between the intracellular, juxtamembrane and extracellular domains while none of the AML pts had mutations in the extracellular domain. Of all mutations, 36% were truncating events previously described in the context of post SCN AML while 61% were missense mutations. T618I was the most frequent CSF3RS detected (25%), followed by Q749X (11%), Q741X (9%), Q743X (6%). Juxtamembrane hits (CNL-like lesion) were all in the same canonical region (T618I). In contrast, somatic hits otherwise typical for post SCN AML were found in 33% of CSF3RS alterations and included the following: Q749X(4), Q741X (3), Q739X (2), S742X, Q743X, and E405K (not typical for post SCN AML). Taken together the combined allelic burden of these variants did not exceed that of general population (OR: 0.9503) suggesting that they are not significant risk alleles. Of note is that none of these variants were found to be in biallelic (somatic/GL) configurations. Complex karyotype was found in 19% of the pts with CSF3RS followed by del7q in 13% of cases. Importantly, an antecedent history of neutropenia was noted only in 14% of the pts carrying CSF3RS. Regarding associated mutations, ASXL1 (43%), RUNX1 (23%), SETBP1 (23%), TET2 (23%), DNMT3A (17%), SRSF2 (16%), EZH2 (14%), IDH2 (11%), and NRAS (11%) were the most common co-mutations. We have investigated CSF3RS mutations for the presence of GL alterations, but compound heterozygous configurations were not identified. We concluded that CSF3R mutations typically associated with SCN transformation to myeloid neoplasia can occur without GL variants associated with this defect. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Balasubramanian: Servier Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Patel: Apellis: Consultancy, Other: educational talks, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Other: educational talks, Speakers Bureau. Advani: Kite Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; OBI: Research Funding; Immunogen: Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding. Carraway: AbbVie: Other: Independent review committee; Agios: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Stemline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Other: Independent review committee; Astex: Other: Independent review committee; Jazz: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Maciejewski: Novartis: Consultancy; Regeneron: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy; Alexion: Consultancy.

Notch Intracellular Domain Plasmid Delivery via Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles to Upregulate Notch Pathway Molecules

Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling system that is required for embryonic development and regeneration of organs. When the signal is lost, maldevelopment occurs and leads to a lethal state. Delivering exogenous genetic materials encoding Notch into cells can reestablish downstream signaling and rescue cellular functions. In this study, we utilized the negatively charged and FDA approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to encapsulate Notch Intracellular Domain-containing plasmid in nanoparticles. We show that primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) readily uptake the nanoparticles with and without specific antibody targets. We demonstrated that our nanoparticles are non-toxic, stable over time, and compatible with blood. We further demonstrated that HUVECs could be successfully transfected with these nanoparticles in static and dynamic environments. Lastly, we elucidated that these nanoparticles could upregulate the downstream genes of Notch signaling, indicating that the payload was viable and successfully altered the genetic downstream effects.

Optogenetic control of NOTCH1 signalling

The Notch signalling pathway is a crucial regulator of cell differentiation as well as tissue organisation. Dysregulation of Notch signalling has been linked to the pathogenesis of different diseases. Notch plays a key role in breast cancer progression by controlling the interaction between the tumour cells and the microenvironment as well as by increasing cell motility and invasion. NOTCH1 is a mechanosensitive receptor, where mechanical force is required to activate the proteolytic cleavage and release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). Here, we circumvent this step by regulating Notch activity by light. To achieve this, we have engineered a membrane-bound optogenetic NOTCH1 receptor (optoNotch) to control the activation of NOTCH1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) and its downstream transcriptional activities. Using optoNotch we confirm that NOTCH1 activation increases cell proliferation in MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells in 2D and spheroid 3D cultures. OptoNotch allows fine-tuning ligand-independent regulation of N1ICD to understand the spatiotemporal complexity of Notch signalling.

Cleaved Delta like 1 intracellular domain regulates neural development via Notch signal dependent and independent pathways

Notch-Delta signaling regulates many developmental processes, including tissue homeostasis, and maintenance of stem cells. Upon interaction of juxtaposed cells via Notch and Delta proteins, intracellular domains of both transmembrane proteins are cleaved and translocate to the nucleus. Notch intracellular domain activates target gene expression; however, the role of the Delta intracellular domain remains elusive. Here, we show the biological function of Delta like 1 intracellular domain (D1ICD) by modulating its production. We find the sustained production of D1ICD abrogates cell proliferation but enhances neurogenesis in the developing dorsal root ganglia (DRG), whereas inhibition of D1ICD production promotes cell proliferation and gliogenesis. D1ICD acts as an integral component of lateral inhibition mechanism by inhibiting Notch activity. In addition, D1ICD promotes neurogenesis through a Notch signaling independent manner. We show that D1ICD binds to Erk1/2 in neural crest stem cells, and inhibits the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. In summary, our results indicate that D1ICD regulates DRG development via modulating not only Notch signaling but also the MAP kinase pathway.