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Articles 61 - 90 of 214

Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Respective Contributions Of Single And Compound Granule Fusion To Secretion By Activated Platelets, Anita Eckly, Jean-Yves Rinckel, Fabienne Proamer, Neslihan Ulas, Smita Joshi, Sidney W. Whiteheart, Christian Gachet Nov 2016

Respective Contributions Of Single And Compound Granule Fusion To Secretion By Activated Platelets, Anita Eckly, Jean-Yves Rinckel, Fabienne Proamer, Neslihan Ulas, Smita Joshi, Sidney W. Whiteheart, Christian Gachet

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Although granule secretion is pivotal in many platelet responses, the fusion routes of α and δ granule release remain uncertain. We used a 3D reconstruction approach based on electron microscopy to visualize the spatial organization of granules in unstimulated and activated platelets. Two modes of exocytosis were identified: a single mode that leads to release of the contents of individual granules and a compound mode that leads to the formation of granule-to-granule fusion, resulting in the formation of large multigranular compartments. Both modes occur during the course of platelet secretion. Single fusion events are more visible at lower levels of …


The Nuts And Bolts Of The Platelet Release Reaction, Smita Joshi, Sidney W. Whiteheart Nov 2016

The Nuts And Bolts Of The Platelet Release Reaction, Smita Joshi, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Secretion is essential to many of the roles that platelets play in the vasculature, e.g., thrombosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, enabling platelets to modulate the microenvironment at sites of vascular lesions with a myriad of bioactive molecules stored in their granules. Past studies demonstrate that granule cargo release is mediated by Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) proteins, which are required for granule-plasma membrane fusion. Several SNARE regulators, which control when, where, and how the SNAREs interact, have been identified in platelets. Additionally, platelet SNAREs are controlled by post-translational modifications, e.g., phosphorylation and acylation. Although there have been many …


P70s6k1 (S6k1)-Mediated Phosphorylation Regulates Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate 5-Kinase Type I Γ Degradation And Cell Invasion, Naser Jafari, Qiaodan Zheng, Liqing Li, Wei Li, Lei Qi, Jianyong Xiao, Tianyan Gao, Cai Huang Oct 2016

P70s6k1 (S6k1)-Mediated Phosphorylation Regulates Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate 5-Kinase Type I Γ Degradation And Cell Invasion, Naser Jafari, Qiaodan Zheng, Liqing Li, Wei Li, Lei Qi, Jianyong Xiao, Tianyan Gao, Cai Huang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type I γ (PIPKIγ90) ubiquitination and subsequent degradation regulate focal adhesion assembly, cell migration, and invasion. However, it is unknown how upstream signals control PIPKIγ90 ubiquitination or degradation. Here we show that p70S6K1 (S6K1), a downstream target of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylates PIPKIγ90 at Thr-553 and Ser-555 and that S6K1-mediated PIPKIγ90 phosphorylation is essential for cell migration and invasion. Moreover, PIPKIγ90 phosphorylation is required for the development of focal adhesions and invadopodia, key machineries for cell migration and invasion. Surprisingly, substitution of Thr-553 and Ser-555 …


Pleckstrin Homology (Ph) Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Phosphatase Controls Cell Polarity By Negatively Regulating The Activity Of Atypical Protein Kinase C, Xiaopeng Xiong, Xin Li, Yang-An Wen, Tianyan Gao Oct 2016

Pleckstrin Homology (Ph) Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Phosphatase Controls Cell Polarity By Negatively Regulating The Activity Of Atypical Protein Kinase C, Xiaopeng Xiong, Xin Li, Yang-An Wen, Tianyan Gao

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The proper establishment of epithelial polarity allows cells to sense and respond to signals that arise from the microenvironment in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Atypical PKCs (aPKCs) are implicated as key regulators of epithelial polarity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the negative regulation of aPKCs remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP), a novel family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases, plays an important role in regulating epithelial polarity by controlling the phosphorylation of both aPKC isoforms. Altered expression of PHLPP1 or PHLPP2 disrupted polarization of Caco2 cells grown in 3D cell cultures …


Lipophosphoglycans From Leishmania Amazonensis Strains Display Immunomodulatory Properties Via Tlr4 And Do Not Affect Sand Fly Infection, Paula M. Nogueira, Rafael R. Assis, Ana C. Torrecilhas, Elvira M. Saraiva, Natália L. Pessoa, Marco A. Campos, Eric F. Marialva, Cláudia M. Ríos-Velasquez, Felipe A. Pessoa, Nágila F. Secundino, Jerônimo N. Rugani, Elsa Nieves, Salvatore J. Turco, Maria N. Melo, Rodrigo P. Soares Aug 2016

Lipophosphoglycans From Leishmania Amazonensis Strains Display Immunomodulatory Properties Via Tlr4 And Do Not Affect Sand Fly Infection, Paula M. Nogueira, Rafael R. Assis, Ana C. Torrecilhas, Elvira M. Saraiva, Natália L. Pessoa, Marco A. Campos, Eric F. Marialva, Cláudia M. Ríos-Velasquez, Felipe A. Pessoa, Nágila F. Secundino, Jerônimo N. Rugani, Elsa Nieves, Salvatore J. Turco, Maria N. Melo, Rodrigo P. Soares

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The immunomodulatory properties of lipophosphoglycans (LPG) from New World species of Leishmania have been assessed in Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis, the causative agents of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. This glycoconjugate is highly polymorphic among species with variation in sugars that branch off the conserved Gal(β1,4)Man(α1)-PO4 backbone of repeat units. Here, the immunomodulatory activity of LPGs from Leishmania amazonensis, the causative agent of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, was evaluated in two strains from Brazil. One strain (PH8) was originally isolated from the sand fly and the other (Josefa) was isolated from a human case. The ability of …


Red-Shifted Aequorin Variants Incorporating Non-Canonical Amino Acids: Applications In In Vivo Imaging, Kristen M. Grinstead, Laura Rowe, Mark Ensor, Smita Joel, Pirouz Daftarian, Emre Dikici, Jean-Marc Zingg, Sylvia Daunert Jul 2016

Red-Shifted Aequorin Variants Incorporating Non-Canonical Amino Acids: Applications In In Vivo Imaging, Kristen M. Grinstead, Laura Rowe, Mark Ensor, Smita Joel, Pirouz Daftarian, Emre Dikici, Jean-Marc Zingg, Sylvia Daunert

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The increased importance of in vivo diagnostics has posed new demands for imaging technologies. In that regard, there is a need for imaging molecules capable of expanding the applications of current state-of-the-art imaging in vivo diagnostics. To that end, there is a desire for new reporter molecules capable of providing strong signals, are non-toxic, and can be tailored to diagnose or monitor the progression of a number of diseases. Aequorin is a non-toxic photoprotein that can be used as a sensitive marker for bioluminescence in vivo imaging. The sensitivity of aequorin is due to the fact that bioluminescence is a …


20-Hydroxyecdysone (20e) Primary Response Gene E75 Isoforms Mediate Steroidogenesis Autoregulation And Regulate Developmental Timing In Bombyx, Kang Li, Ling Tian, Zhongjian Guo, Sanyou Guo, Jianzhen Zhang, Shi-Hong Gu, Subba Reddy Palli, Yang Cao, Sheng Li Jun 2016

20-Hydroxyecdysone (20e) Primary Response Gene E75 Isoforms Mediate Steroidogenesis Autoregulation And Regulate Developmental Timing In Bombyx, Kang Li, Ling Tian, Zhongjian Guo, Sanyou Guo, Jianzhen Zhang, Shi-Hong Gu, Subba Reddy Palli, Yang Cao, Sheng Li

Entomology Faculty Publications

The temporal control mechanisms that precisely control animal development remain largely elusive. The timing of major developmental transitions in insects, including molting and metamorphosis, is coordinated by the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). 20E involves feedback loops to maintain pulses of ecdysteroid biosynthesis leading to its upsurge, whereas the underpinning molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Using the silkworm Bombyx mori as a model, we demonstrated that E75, the 20E primary response gene, mediates a regulatory loop between ecdysteroid biosynthesis and 20E signaling. E75 isoforms A and C directly bind to retinoic acid receptor-related response elements in Halloween gene promoter …


Ubr3, A Novel Modulator Of Hh Signaling Affects The Degradation Of Costal-2 And Kif7 Through Poly-Ubiquitination, Tongchao Li, Junkai Fan, Bernardo Blanco-Sánchez, Nikolaos Giagtzoglou, Guang Lin, Shinya Yamamoto, Manish Jaiswal, Kuchuan Chen, Jie Zhang, Wei Wei, Michael T. Lewis, Andrew K. Groves, Monte Westerfield, Jianhang Jia, Hugo J. Bellen May 2016

Ubr3, A Novel Modulator Of Hh Signaling Affects The Degradation Of Costal-2 And Kif7 Through Poly-Ubiquitination, Tongchao Li, Junkai Fan, Bernardo Blanco-Sánchez, Nikolaos Giagtzoglou, Guang Lin, Shinya Yamamoto, Manish Jaiswal, Kuchuan Chen, Jie Zhang, Wei Wei, Michael T. Lewis, Andrew K. Groves, Monte Westerfield, Jianhang Jia, Hugo J. Bellen

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulates multiple aspects of metazoan development and tissue homeostasis, and is constitutively active in numerous cancers. We identified Ubr3, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a novel, positive regulator of Hh signaling in Drosophila and vertebrates. Hh signaling regulates the Ubr3-mediated poly-ubiquitination and degradation of Cos2, a central component of Hh signaling. In developing Drosophila eye discs, loss of ubr3 leads to a delayed differentiation of photoreceptors and a reduction in Hh signaling. In zebrafish, loss of Ubr3 causes a decrease in Shh signaling in the developing eyes, somites, and sensory neurons. However, not all tissues that require …


Single-Cell Transcriptional Analysis Of Normal, Aberrant, And Malignant Hematopoiesis In Zebrafish, Finola E. Moore, Elaine G. Garcia, Riadh Lobbardi, Esha Jain, Qin Tang, John C. Moore, Mauricio Cortes, Aleksey Molodtsov, Melissa Kasheta, Christina C. Luo, Amaris J. Garcia, Ravi Mylvaganam, Jeffrey A. Yoder, Jessica S. Blackburn, Ruslan I. Sadreyev, Craig J. Ceol, Trista E. North, David M. Langenau May 2016

Single-Cell Transcriptional Analysis Of Normal, Aberrant, And Malignant Hematopoiesis In Zebrafish, Finola E. Moore, Elaine G. Garcia, Riadh Lobbardi, Esha Jain, Qin Tang, John C. Moore, Mauricio Cortes, Aleksey Molodtsov, Melissa Kasheta, Christina C. Luo, Amaris J. Garcia, Ravi Mylvaganam, Jeffrey A. Yoder, Jessica S. Blackburn, Ruslan I. Sadreyev, Craig J. Ceol, Trista E. North, David M. Langenau

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Hematopoiesis culminates in the production of functionally heterogeneous blood cell types. In zebrafish, the lack of cell surface antibodies has compelled researchers to use fluorescent transgenic reporter lines to label specific blood cell fractions. However, these approaches are limited by the availability of transgenic lines and fluorescent protein combinations that can be distinguished. Here, we have transcriptionally profiled single hematopoietic cells from zebrafish to define erythroid, myeloid, B, and T cell lineages. We also used our approach to identify hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and a novel NK-lysin 4+ cell type, representing a putative cytotoxic T/NK cell. Our platform …


Steroid Binding To Autotaxin Links Bile Salts And Lysophosphatidic Acid Signalling, Willem-Jan Keune, Jens Hausmann, Ruth Bolier, Dagmar Tolenaars, Andreas Kremer, Tatjana Heidebrecht, Robbie P. Joosten, Manjula Sunkara, Andrew J. Morris, Elisa Matas-Rico, Wouter H. Moolenaar, Ronald P. Oude Elferink, Anastassis Perrakis Apr 2016

Steroid Binding To Autotaxin Links Bile Salts And Lysophosphatidic Acid Signalling, Willem-Jan Keune, Jens Hausmann, Ruth Bolier, Dagmar Tolenaars, Andreas Kremer, Tatjana Heidebrecht, Robbie P. Joosten, Manjula Sunkara, Andrew J. Morris, Elisa Matas-Rico, Wouter H. Moolenaar, Ronald P. Oude Elferink, Anastassis Perrakis

Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Faculty Publications

Autotaxin (ATX) generates the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). ATX-LPA signalling is involved in multiple biological and pathophysiological processes, including vasculogenesis, fibrosis, cholestatic pruritus and tumour progression. ATX has a tripartite active site, combining a hydrophilic groove, a hydrophobic lipid-binding pocket and a tunnel of unclear function. We present crystal structures of rat ATX bound to 7α-hydroxycholesterol and the bile salt tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA), showing how the tunnel selectively binds steroids. A structure of ATX simultaneously harbouring TUDCA in the tunnel and LPA in the pocket, together with kinetic analysis, reveals that bile salts act as partial non-competitive inhibitors …


Arf6 Controls Platelet Spreading And Clot Retraction Via Integrin ΑIibΒ3 Trafficking, Yunjie Huang, Smita Joshi, Binggang Xiang, Yasunori Kanaho, Zhenyu Li, Beth A. Bouchard, Carole L. Moncman, Sidney W. Whiteheart Mar 2016

Arf6 Controls Platelet Spreading And Clot Retraction Via Integrin ΑIibΒ3 Trafficking, Yunjie Huang, Smita Joshi, Binggang Xiang, Yasunori Kanaho, Zhenyu Li, Beth A. Bouchard, Carole L. Moncman, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Platelet and megakaryocyte endocytosis is important for loading certain granule cargo (ie, fibrinogen [Fg] and vascular endothelial growth factor); however, the mechanisms of platelet endocytosis and its functional acute effects are understudied. Adenosine 5'-diphosphate–ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) is a small guanosine triphosphate–binding protein that regulates endocytic trafficking, especially of integrins. To study platelet endocytosis, we generated platelet-specific Arf6 knockout (KO) mice. Arf6 KO platelets had less associated Fg suggesting that Arf6 affects αIIbβ3-mediated Fg uptake and/or storage. Other cargo was unaffected. To measure Fg uptake, mice were injected with biotinylated- or fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–labeled Fg. Platelets …


P-Rex1 Promotes Resistance To Vegf/Vegfr-Targeted Therapy In Prostate Cancer, Hira Lal Goel, Bryan Pursell, Leonard D. Shultz, Dale L. Greiner, Rolf A Brekken, Craig W. Vander Kooi, Arthur M. Mercurio Mar 2016

P-Rex1 Promotes Resistance To Vegf/Vegfr-Targeted Therapy In Prostate Cancer, Hira Lal Goel, Bryan Pursell, Leonard D. Shultz, Dale L. Greiner, Rolf A Brekken, Craig W. Vander Kooi, Arthur M. Mercurio

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Autocrine VEGF signaling is critical for sustaining prostate and other cancer stem cells (CSCs), and it is a potential therapeutic target, but we observed that CSCs isolated from prostate tumors are resistant to anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) and anti-VEGFR (sunitinib) therapy. Intriguingly, resistance is mediated by VEGF/neuropilin signaling, which is not inhibited by bevacizumab and sunitinib, and it involves the induction of P-Rex1, a Rac GEF, and consequent Rac1-mediated ERK activation. This induction of P-Rex1 is dependent on Myc. CSCs isolated from the PTENpc−/− transgenic model of prostate cancer exhibit Rac1-dependent resistance to bevacizumab. Rac1 inhibition or P-Rex1 downregulation increases the …


Retigabine Holds Kv7 Channels Open And Stabilizes The Resting Potential, Aaron Corbin-Leftwich, Sayeed M. Mossadeq, Junghoon Ha, Iwona Ruchala, Audrey Han Ngoc Le, Carlos A. Villalba-Galea Mar 2016

Retigabine Holds Kv7 Channels Open And Stabilizes The Resting Potential, Aaron Corbin-Leftwich, Sayeed M. Mossadeq, Junghoon Ha, Iwona Ruchala, Audrey Han Ngoc Le, Carlos A. Villalba-Galea

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

The anticonvulsant Retigabine is a KV7 channel agonist used to treat hyperexcitability disorders in humans. Retigabine shifts the voltage dependence for activation of the heteromeric KV7.2/KV7.3 channel to more negative potentials, thus facilitating activation. Although the molecular mechanism underlying Retigabine's action remains unknown, previous studies have identified the pore region of KV7 channels as the drug's target. This suggested that the Retigabine-induced shift in voltage dependence likely derives from the stabilization of the pore domain in an open (conducting) conformation. Testing this idea, we show that the heteromeric KV7.2/KV7.3 channel has at least two open states, which we named O1 …


Measurement Of Elastic Modulus Of Collagen Type I Single Fiber, Pavel Dutov, Olga Antipova, Sameer Varma, Joseph P R O Orgel, Jay D Schieber Jan 2016

Measurement Of Elastic Modulus Of Collagen Type I Single Fiber, Pavel Dutov, Olga Antipova, Sameer Varma, Joseph P R O Orgel, Jay D Schieber

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

Collagen fibers are the main components of the extra cellular matrix and the primary contributors to the mechanical properties of tissues. Here we report a novel approach to measure the longitudinal component of the elastic moduli of biological fibers under conditions close to those found in vivo and apply it to type I collagen from rat tail tendon. This approach combines optical tweezers, atomic force microscopy, and exploits Euler-Bernoulli elasticity theory for data analysis. This approach also avoids drying for measurements or visualization, since samples are freshly extracted. Importantly, strains are kept below 0.5%, which appear consistent with the linear …


Imaging Tumour Cell Heterogeneity Following Cell Transplantation Into Optically Clear Immune-Deficient Zebrafish, Qin Tang, John C. Moore, Myron S. Ignatius, Inês M. Tenente, Madeline N. Hayes, Elaine G. Garcia, Nora Torres Yordán, Caitlin Bourque, Shuning He, Jessica S. Blackburn, A. Thomas Look, Yariv Houvras, David M. Langenau Jan 2016

Imaging Tumour Cell Heterogeneity Following Cell Transplantation Into Optically Clear Immune-Deficient Zebrafish, Qin Tang, John C. Moore, Myron S. Ignatius, Inês M. Tenente, Madeline N. Hayes, Elaine G. Garcia, Nora Torres Yordán, Caitlin Bourque, Shuning He, Jessica S. Blackburn, A. Thomas Look, Yariv Houvras, David M. Langenau

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Cancers contain a wide diversity of cell types that are defined by differentiation states, genetic mutations and altered epigenetic programmes that impart functional diversity to individual cells. Elevated tumour cell heterogeneity is linked with progression, therapy resistance and relapse. Yet, imaging of tumour cell heterogeneity and the hallmarks of cancer has been a technical and biological challenge. Here we develop optically clear immune-compromised rag2E450fs (casper) zebrafish for optimized cell transplantation and direct visualization of fluorescently labelled cancer cells at single-cell resolution. Tumour engraftment permits dynamic imaging of neovascularization, niche partitioning of tumour-propagating cells in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, emergence of clonal …


Effect Of Hydroxychloroquine And Characterization Of Autophagy In A Mouse Model Of Endometriosis, A. Ruiz, S. Rockfield, N. Taran, E. Haller, Robert Engelman, I Flores, P Panina-Bordignon, Meera Nanjundan Jan 2016

Effect Of Hydroxychloroquine And Characterization Of Autophagy In A Mouse Model Of Endometriosis, A. Ruiz, S. Rockfield, N. Taran, E. Haller, Robert Engelman, I Flores, P Panina-Bordignon, Meera Nanjundan

Molecular Biosciences Faculty Publications

In endometriosis, the increased survival potential of shed endometrial cells (which normally undergo anoikis) is suggested to promote lesion development. One mechanism that may alter anoikis is autophagy. Using an autophagic flux inhibitor hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), we identified that it reduces the in vitro survival capacity of human endometriotic and endometrial T-HESC cells. We also identified that HCQ could decrease lesion numbers and disrupt lesion histopathology, as well as increase the levels of peritoneal macrophages and the IP-10 (10 kDa interferon-γ-induced protein) chemokine in a mouse model of endometriosis. We noted that RNA levels of a subset of autophagic …


It Is All About (U)Biquitin: Role Of Altered Ubiquitin-Proteasome System And Uchl1 In Alzheimer Disease, Antonella Tramutola, Fabio Di Domenico, Eugenio Barone, Marzia Perluigi, D. Allan Butterfield Jan 2016

It Is All About (U)Biquitin: Role Of Altered Ubiquitin-Proteasome System And Uchl1 In Alzheimer Disease, Antonella Tramutola, Fabio Di Domenico, Eugenio Barone, Marzia Perluigi, D. Allan Butterfield

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Free radical-mediated damage to macromolecules and the resulting oxidative modification of different cellular components are a common feature of aging, and this process becomes much more pronounced in age-associated pathologies, including Alzheimer disease (AD). In particular, proteins are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress-induced damage and these irreversible modifications lead to the alteration of protein structure and function. In order to maintain cell homeostasis, these oxidized/damaged proteins have to be removed in order to prevent their toxic accumulation. It is generally accepted that the age-related accumulation of “aberrant” proteins results from both the increased occurrence of damage and the decreased efficiency …


Repositioning Of Drugs Using Open-Access Data Portal Dtome: A Test Case With Probenecid (Review), Mohammad U. Ahmed, Dylan J. Bennett, Tze-Chen Hsieh, Barbara B. Doonan, Saba Ahmed, Joseph M. Wu Jan 2016

Repositioning Of Drugs Using Open-Access Data Portal Dtome: A Test Case With Probenecid (Review), Mohammad U. Ahmed, Dylan J. Bennett, Tze-Chen Hsieh, Barbara B. Doonan, Saba Ahmed, Joseph M. Wu

NYMC Faculty Publications

The one gene-one enzyme hypothesis, first introduced by Beadle and Tatum in the 1940s and based on their genetic analysis and observation of phenotype changes in Neurospora crassa challenged by various experimental conditions, has witnessed significant advances in recent decades. Much of our understanding of the association between genes and their phenotype expression has benefited from the completion of the human genome project, and has shown continual transformation guided by the effort directed at the annotation and characterization of human genes. Similarly, the idea of one drug‑one primary disease indication that traditionally has been the benchmark for the labeling and …


A Cytosolic Multiprotein Complex Containing P85Α Is Required For Β-Catenin Activation In Colitis And Colitis-Associated Cancer, Tatiana Goretsky, Emily M. Bradford, Hyunji Ryu, Maryam Tahir, Mary Pat Moyer, Tianyan Gao, Linheng Li, Terrence A. Barrett Nov 2015

A Cytosolic Multiprotein Complex Containing P85Α Is Required For Β-Catenin Activation In Colitis And Colitis-Associated Cancer, Tatiana Goretsky, Emily M. Bradford, Hyunji Ryu, Maryam Tahir, Mary Pat Moyer, Tianyan Gao, Linheng Li, Terrence A. Barrett

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for crypt structure maintenance. We previously observed nuclear accumulation of Ser-552 phosphorylated β-catenin (pβ-CatSer-552) in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) during colitis and colitis-associated cancer. Data here delineate a novel multiprotein cytosolic complex (MCC) involved in β-catenin signaling in the intestine. The MCC contains p85α, the class IA subunit of PI3K, along with β-catenin, 14-3-3ζ, Akt, and p110α. MCC levels in IEC increase in colitis and colitis-associated cancer patients. IEC-specific p85α-deficient (p85ΔIEC) mice develop more severe dextran sodium …


Autophagy Is Induced Upon Platelet Activation And Is Essential For Hemostasis And Thrombosis, Madhu M. Ouseph, Yunjie Huang, Meenakshi Banerjee, Smita Joshi, Laura Macdonald, Yu Zhong, Huijuan Liu, Xianting Li, Binggang Xiang, Guoying Zhang, Masaaki Komatsu, Zhenyu Yue, Zhenyu Li, Brian Storrie, Sidney W. Whiteheart, Qing Jun Wang Sep 2015

Autophagy Is Induced Upon Platelet Activation And Is Essential For Hemostasis And Thrombosis, Madhu M. Ouseph, Yunjie Huang, Meenakshi Banerjee, Smita Joshi, Laura Macdonald, Yu Zhong, Huijuan Liu, Xianting Li, Binggang Xiang, Guoying Zhang, Masaaki Komatsu, Zhenyu Yue, Zhenyu Li, Brian Storrie, Sidney W. Whiteheart, Qing Jun Wang

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Autophagy is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and thus its deficiency is implicated in a broad spectrum of human diseases. Its role in platelet function has only recently been examined. Our biochemical and imaging studies demonstrate that the core autophagy machinery exists in platelets, and that autophagy is constitutively active in resting platelets. Moreover, autophagy is induced upon platelet activation, as indicated by agonist-induced loss of the autophagy marker LC3II. Additional experiments, using inhibitors of platelet activation, proteases, and lysosomal acidification, as well as platelets from knockout mouse strains, show that agonist-induced LC3II loss is a consequence of platelet signaling …


Coupling Between Cytoplasmic Concentration Gradients Through Local Control Of Protein Mobility In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Zygote, Youjun Wu, Huaiying Zhang, Erik E. Griffin Jun 2015

Coupling Between Cytoplasmic Concentration Gradients Through Local Control Of Protein Mobility In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Zygote, Youjun Wu, Huaiying Zhang, Erik E. Griffin

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cell polarity is characterized by the asymmetric distribution of factors at the cell cortex and in the cytoplasm. Although mechanisms that establish cortical asymmetries have been characterized, less is known about how persistent cytoplasmic asymmetries are generated. During the asymmetric division of the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote, the PAR proteins orchestrate the segregation of the cytoplasmic RNA-binding proteins MEX-5/6 to the anterior cytoplasm and PIE-1, POS-1, and MEX-1 to the posterior cytoplasm. In this study, we find that MEX-5/6 control the segregation of GFP::PIE-1, GFP::POS-1, and GFP::MEX-1 by locally increasing their mobility in the anterior cytoplasm. Remarkably, PIE-1, POS-1, and MEX-1 …


Preventing Farnesylation Of The Dynein Adaptor Spindly Contributes To The Mitotic Defects Caused By Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors, Andrew J. Holland, Rita M. Reis, Sherry Niessen, Cláudia Pereira, Douglas A. Andres, H. Peter Spielmann, Don W. Cleveland, Arshad Desai, Reto Gassmann May 2015

Preventing Farnesylation Of The Dynein Adaptor Spindly Contributes To The Mitotic Defects Caused By Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors, Andrew J. Holland, Rita M. Reis, Sherry Niessen, Cláudia Pereira, Douglas A. Andres, H. Peter Spielmann, Don W. Cleveland, Arshad Desai, Reto Gassmann

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The clinical interest in farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) makes it important to understand how these compounds affect cellular processes involving farnesylated proteins. Mitotic abnormalities observed after treatment with FTIs have so far been attributed to defects in the farnesylation of the outer kinetochore proteins CENP-E and CENP-F, which are involved in chromosome congression and spindle assembly checkpoint signaling. Here we identify the cytoplasmic dynein adaptor Spindly as an additional component of the outer kinetochore that is modified by farnesyltransferase (FTase). We show that farnesylation of Spindly is essential for its localization, and thus for the proper localization of dynein and its …


Proteasome-Mediated Proteolysis Of The Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Is A Late Event In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (Sbma) Pathogenesis., Erin M Heine, Tamar R Berger, Anna Pluciennik, Christopher R Orr, Lori Zboray, Diane E Merry May 2015

Proteasome-Mediated Proteolysis Of The Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Is A Late Event In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (Sbma) Pathogenesis., Erin M Heine, Tamar R Berger, Anna Pluciennik, Christopher R Orr, Lori Zboray, Diane E Merry

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Proteolysis of polyglutamine-expanded proteins is thought to be a required step in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. The accepted view for many polyglutamine proteins is that proteolysis of the mutant protein produces a "toxic fragment" that induces neuronal dysfunction and death in a soluble form; toxicity of the fragment is buffered by its incorporation into amyloid-like inclusions. In contrast to this view, we show that, in the polyglutamine disease spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, proteolysis of the mutant androgen receptor (AR) is a late event. Immunocytochemical and biochemical analyses revealed that the mutant AR aggregates as a full-length protein, …


Transcriptional Activity Of The Islet Β Cell Factor Pdx1 Is Augmented By Lysine Methylation Catalyzed By The Methyltransferase Set7/9, Aarthi V. Maganti, Bernhard Maier, Sarah A. Tersey, Megan L. Sampley, Amber L. Mosley, Sabire Özcan, Boobalan Pachaiyappan, Patrick M. Woster, Chad S. Hunter, Roland Stein, Raghavendra G. Mirmira Apr 2015

Transcriptional Activity Of The Islet Β Cell Factor Pdx1 Is Augmented By Lysine Methylation Catalyzed By The Methyltransferase Set7/9, Aarthi V. Maganti, Bernhard Maier, Sarah A. Tersey, Megan L. Sampley, Amber L. Mosley, Sabire Özcan, Boobalan Pachaiyappan, Patrick M. Woster, Chad S. Hunter, Roland Stein, Raghavendra G. Mirmira

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The transcription factor Pdx1 is crucial to islet β cell function and regulates target genes in part through interaction with coregulatory factors. Set7/9 is a Lys methyltransferase that interacts with Pdx1. Here we tested the hypothesis that Lys methylation of Pdx1 by Set7/9 augments Pdx1 transcriptional activity. Using mass spectrometry and mutational analysis of purified proteins, we found that Set7/9 methylates the N-terminal residues Lys-123 and Lys-131 of Pdx1. Methylation of these residues occurred only in the context of intact, full-length Pdx1, suggesting a specific requirement of secondary and/or tertiary structural elements for catalysis by Set7/9. Immunoprecipitation assays and mass …


Analysis Of Cathepsin And Furin Proteolytic Enzymes Involved In Viral Fusion Protein Activation In Cells Of The Bat Reservoir Host, Farah El Najjar, Levi Lampe, Michelle L. Baker, Lin-Fa Wang, Rebecca Ellis Dutch Feb 2015

Analysis Of Cathepsin And Furin Proteolytic Enzymes Involved In Viral Fusion Protein Activation In Cells Of The Bat Reservoir Host, Farah El Najjar, Levi Lampe, Michelle L. Baker, Lin-Fa Wang, Rebecca Ellis Dutch

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Bats of different species play a major role in the emergence and transmission of highly pathogenic viruses including Ebola virus, SARS-like coronavirus and the henipaviruses. These viruses require proteolytic activation of surface envelope glycoproteins needed for entry, and cellular cathepsins have been shown to be involved in proteolysis of glycoproteins from these distinct virus families. Very little is currently known about the available proteases in bats. To determine whether the utilization of cathepsins by bat-borne viruses is related to the nature of proteases in their natural hosts, we examined proteolytic processing of several viral fusion proteins in cells derived from …


Multiple Drivers Of Decline In The Global Status Of Freshwater Crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea)., Nadia I Richman, Monika Böhm, Susan B Adams, Fernando Alvarez, Elizabeth A Bergey, Keith A Crandall, +Several Additional Authors Feb 2015

Multiple Drivers Of Decline In The Global Status Of Freshwater Crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea)., Nadia I Richman, Monika Böhm, Susan B Adams, Fernando Alvarez, Elizabeth A Bergey, Keith A Crandall, +Several Additional Authors

Computational Biology Institute

No abstract provided.


Trail-Based High Throughput Screening Reveals A Link Between Trail-Mediated Apoptosis And Glutathione Reductase, A Key Component Of Oxidative Stress Response., Dmitri Rozanov, Anton Cheltsov, Eduard Sergienko, Stefan Vasile, Vladislav Golubkov, Alexander E Aleshin, Trevor Levin, Elie Traer, Byron Hann, Julia Freimuth, Nikita Alexeev, Max A Alekseyev, Sergey P Budko, Hans Peter Bächinger, Paul Spellman Jan 2015

Trail-Based High Throughput Screening Reveals A Link Between Trail-Mediated Apoptosis And Glutathione Reductase, A Key Component Of Oxidative Stress Response., Dmitri Rozanov, Anton Cheltsov, Eduard Sergienko, Stefan Vasile, Vladislav Golubkov, Alexander E Aleshin, Trevor Levin, Elie Traer, Byron Hann, Julia Freimuth, Nikita Alexeev, Max A Alekseyev, Sergey P Budko, Hans Peter Bächinger, Paul Spellman

Computational Biology Institute

A high throughput screen for compounds that induce TRAIL-mediated apoptosis identified ML100 as an active chemical probe, which potentiated TRAIL activity in prostate carcinoma PPC-1 and melanoma MDA-MB-435 cells. Follow-up in silico modeling and profiling in cell-based assays allowed us to identify NSC130362, pharmacophore analog of ML100 that induced 65-95% cytotoxicity in cancer cells and did not affect the viability of human primary hepatocytes. In agreement with the activation of the apoptotic pathway, both ML100 and NSC130362 synergistically with TRAIL induced caspase-3/7 activity in MDA-MB-435 cells. Subsequent affinity chromatography and inhibition studies convincingly demonstrated that glutathione reductase (GSR), a key …


Atrial Fibrillation: Biophysics, Molecular Mechanisms, And Novel Therapies., Alexey V. Glukhov, Leonid V. Rosenshtraukh, Anamika Bhargava, Michele Miragoli, Bas J. D. Boukens Jan 2015

Atrial Fibrillation: Biophysics, Molecular Mechanisms, And Novel Therapies., Alexey V. Glukhov, Leonid V. Rosenshtraukh, Anamika Bhargava, Michele Miragoli, Bas J. D. Boukens

Anatomy and Regenerative Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Mtorc2 Is Required For Rit-Mediated Oxidative Stress Resistance, Weikang Cai, Douglas A. Andres Dec 2014

Mtorc2 Is Required For Rit-Mediated Oxidative Stress Resistance, Weikang Cai, Douglas A. Andres

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Rit, a member of the Ras family of GTPases, has been shown to promote cell survival in response to oxidative stress, in part by directing an evolutionarily conserved p38 MAPK-Akt survival cascade. Aberrant Rit signaling has recently been implicated as a driver mutation in human cancer, adding importance to the characterization of critical Rit effector pathways. However, the mechanism by which Rit-p38 signaling regulated Akt activity was unknown. Here, we identify mTORC2 as a critical downstream mediator of Rit-dependent survival signaling in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Rit interacts with Sin1 (MAPKAP1), and Rit loss compromises ROS-dependent mTORC2 …


Transcription Of The Streptococcus Pyogenes Hyaluronic Acid Capsule Biosynthesis Operon Is Regulated By Previously Unknown Upstream Elements, Marina Falaleeva, Oliwia W. Zurek, Robert L. Watkins, Robert W. Reed, Hadeel Ali, Paul Sumby, Jovanka M. Voyich, Natalia Korotkova Dec 2014

Transcription Of The Streptococcus Pyogenes Hyaluronic Acid Capsule Biosynthesis Operon Is Regulated By Previously Unknown Upstream Elements, Marina Falaleeva, Oliwia W. Zurek, Robert L. Watkins, Robert W. Reed, Hadeel Ali, Paul Sumby, Jovanka M. Voyich, Natalia Korotkova

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) produces a hyaluronic acid (HA) capsule that plays critical roles in immune evasion. Previous studies showed that the hasABC operon encoding the capsule biosynthesis enzymes is under the control of a single promoter, P1, which is negatively regulated by the two-component regulatory system CovR/S. In this work, we characterize the sequence upstream of P1 and identify a novel regulatory region controlling transcription of the capsule biosynthesis operon in the M1 serotype strain MGAS2221. This region consists of a promoter, P2, which initiates transcription of a novel small RNA, HasS, an …