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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

High Mobility Group Motif Proteins’ Role In Fibrosis, Inflammation, And Vascular Injury In Systemic Sclerosis, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Sergio A. Jimenez Jun 2026

High Mobility Group Motif Proteins’ Role In Fibrosis, Inflammation, And Vascular Injury In Systemic Sclerosis, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Sergio A. Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an idiopathic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive cutaneous and systemic fibrosis, severe vasculopathy, and multiple humoral and cellular immunological alterations. The pathogenesis of SSc is highly complex and remains incompletely elucidated. The fibrotic process is a crucial component of SSc and is responsible for organ failure and high mortality. Although an increasing understanding of the fibrotic process has enabled the clinical development of antifibrotic therapeutic agents, these agents have limited clinical efficacy. Recently, the potential role of a group of transcription factors containing a High Mobility Group (HMG) motif, in the development and pathological manifestations …


Chromatin Insulators Homie And Nhomie Can Interact With Distant Copies Either Together Or Separately, With Distinct Outcomes For Enhancer-Promoter Interactions, Miki Fujioka, Wenfan Ke, Paul Schedl, James B. Jaynes Jun 2026

Chromatin Insulators Homie And Nhomie Can Interact With Distant Copies Either Together Or Separately, With Distinct Outcomes For Enhancer-Promoter Interactions, Miki Fujioka, Wenfan Ke, Paul Schedl, James B. Jaynes

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Chromatin insulators, a.k.a. boundary elements, separate regions of the chromosome with distinct chromatin characteristics, including distinct histone modifications. This activity affects gene expression by allowing chromatin domains to be stably regulated and maintained. Insulators also block enhancer-promoter interactions and, somewhat paradoxically, facilitate other interactions, particularly when they stitch together distant regions of the chromosome by pairing with specific partners. Here we explore how long-range interactions facilitated by insulator pairing are affected by the presence of two potentially competing partners. Our results show that when two partners are present, they can reduce each other's effects on distant gene expression, suggesting that …


Crystal Structure Of Mouse Dxo In Complex With The Udp-N-Acetylglucosamine Cap And Molecular Mechanism For The Decapping Reactions, Najeeb Ullah, Selom K. Doamekpor, Liang Tong May 2026

Crystal Structure Of Mouse Dxo In Complex With The Udp-N-Acetylglucosamine Cap And Molecular Mechanism For The Decapping Reactions, Najeeb Ullah, Selom K. Doamekpor, Liang Tong

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Noncanonical metabolite 5' caps have recently been identified on RNAs, and the DXO/Rai1 family of enzymes can remove these caps in eukaryotes. While the binding modes of NAD, FAD and dephospho-CoA (dpCoA) caps in the active site of mouse DXO have been determined, how DXO recognizes the UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) caps is not known. In addition, the molecular mechanism by which DXO catalyzes the decapping reactions is still poorly understood, especially the location of the water/hydroxide that attacks the scissile phosphate to initiate the decapping. Here we report the crystal structure of mouse DXO in complex with UDP-GlcNAc …


Maternal Inflammation Alters Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Methylation Patterns In Neonatal Brain Monocytes, Andrew Ebenezer, Jonathan Hicks, Brooke Hollander, Alexander Hone, Mona Batish, Robert Akins, Adam Marsh, Elizabeth Wright-Jin Apr 2026

Maternal Inflammation Alters Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Methylation Patterns In Neonatal Brain Monocytes, Andrew Ebenezer, Jonathan Hicks, Brooke Hollander, Alexander Hone, Mona Batish, Robert Akins, Adam Marsh, Elizabeth Wright-Jin

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common birth complication that can cause death or lifelong disabling conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. It is well established that maternal infection and inflammation are significant risk factors for HIE but reasons for this increase in neurological risk to the offspring remain unknown. Inflammation or infection are associated with epigenetic changes and may contribute to the increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability in exposed offspring. Here, we analyzed and compared DNA methylation patterns in brain monocytes isolated from control, maternal immune activation (MIA), and an inflammation sensitized HIE (IS-HIE) CF-1 mouse model …


Defining Rna Oligonucleotides That Reverse Deleterious Phase Transitions Of Rna-Binding Proteins With Prion-Like Domains., Lin Guo, Jacob Mann, Jocelyn Mauna, Katie Copley, Hejia Wang, Jack Rubien, Cristian Bergmann, Jenny Carey, Jessica Merjane, Marilyn Ngo, Jiazhen Xu, Hana Odeh, Jiabei Lin, Bo Lim Lee, Laura Ganser, Emma Robinson, Kevin Kim, Anastasia Murthy, Tapas Paul, Bede Portz, Amanda Gleixner, Zamia Diaz, Ashleigh Smirnov, George Padilla, Ellen Lavorando, Carolann Espy, Yulei Shang, Eric Huang, Alessandra Chesi, Nicolas Fawzi, Sua Myong, Christopher Donnelly, James Shorter Jan 2026

Defining Rna Oligonucleotides That Reverse Deleterious Phase Transitions Of Rna-Binding Proteins With Prion-Like Domains., Lin Guo, Jacob Mann, Jocelyn Mauna, Katie Copley, Hejia Wang, Jack Rubien, Cristian Bergmann, Jenny Carey, Jessica Merjane, Marilyn Ngo, Jiazhen Xu, Hana Odeh, Jiabei Lin, Bo Lim Lee, Laura Ganser, Emma Robinson, Kevin Kim, Anastasia Murthy, Tapas Paul, Bede Portz, Amanda Gleixner, Zamia Diaz, Ashleigh Smirnov, George Padilla, Ellen Lavorando, Carolann Espy, Yulei Shang, Eric Huang, Alessandra Chesi, Nicolas Fawzi, Sua Myong, Christopher Donnelly, James Shorter

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with prion-like domains (PrLDs), such as FUS and TDP-43, condense into functional liquids, which can transform into pathological fibrils that underpin fatal neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we define short RNAs that prevent FUS fibrillization by promoting liquid phases and distinct short RNAs that prevent and reverse FUS condensation and fibrillization. These activities require interactions with multiple RNA-binding domains of FUS and are encoded by RNA sequence, length, and structure. We define a short RNA that dissolves cytoplasmic FUS aggregates, restores nuclear FUS, and mitigates FUS toxicity in optogenetic models and ALS …


Structural Basis Of Panx1 Permeation And Positive Modulation By Mefloquine, Yangyang Li, Zheng Ruan, Junuk Lee, Ian Orozco, Edward Zhou, Juan Du, Wei Lü Dec 2025

Structural Basis Of Panx1 Permeation And Positive Modulation By Mefloquine, Yangyang Li, Zheng Ruan, Junuk Lee, Ian Orozco, Edward Zhou, Juan Du, Wei Lü

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Purinergic signaling relies on ATP release through exocytosis and large-pore channels. Large-pore channels permeate both small anions like chloride and large signaling molecules like ATP, but how this broad cargo selectivity is structurally controlled remains elusive. Here we investigate PANX1, a prototypical large-pore channel, and uncover structural plasticity at the extracellular entrance formed by seven tryptophan (W74) residues. The W74 sidechains are flexible, sampling conformations that range from a constricted state permissive only to chloride to a dilated state compatible with ATP. These states are coupled to variable cation-π interactions between W74 and arginine 75 (R75), suggesting a mechanism for …


Targeting The Bcl2 Family: Advances And Challenges In Bh3 Mimetic-Based Therapies, Nabanita Mukherjee, James Sheetz, Yiqun Shellman Oct 2025

Targeting The Bcl2 Family: Advances And Challenges In Bh3 Mimetic-Based Therapies, Nabanita Mukherjee, James Sheetz, Yiqun Shellman

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

The BCL2 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in regulating apoptosis and cellular homeostasis, making them critical therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases characterized by pathological cell survival. BH3 mimetics, small molecules that selectively inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL2 family members, have achieved significant clinical success, particularly in hematologic malignancies. However, several challenges remain, including resistance mechanisms, toxicity (such as MCL1 inhibitor-associated cardiotoxicity), and the intricate balance between apoptotic and non-apoptotic functions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of BCL2 family biology, the development and clinical application and outcomes of BH3 mimetics, and the emerging resistance mechanism known as double-bolt …


Development Of Emerin Mrna Lipid Nanoparticles To Rescue Myogenic Differentiation., Nicholas Marano, Liza Elif Guner, Rachel S Riley, James M Holaska Aug 2025

Development Of Emerin Mrna Lipid Nanoparticles To Rescue Myogenic Differentiation., Nicholas Marano, Liza Elif Guner, Rachel S Riley, James M Holaska

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy 1 (EDMD1) arises from mutations in EMD. Most EDMD1 patients lack detectable emerin expression. They experience symptoms such as skeletal muscle wasting, joint contractures, and cardiac conduction defects. Currently, physicians rely on treating patient symptoms without addressing the underlying cause-lack of functional emerin protein. Thus, there is a need for therapeutic approaches that restore emerin protein expression to improve patient outcomes. One way would be to deliver emerin mRNA or protein directly to affected tissues to restore tissue homeostasis. Here, we evaluated the utility of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver emerin mRNA to diseased cells. LNPs …


Genome-Wide Profiling Of Trna Modifications By Induro-Trnaseq Reveals Coordinated Changes, Yuko Nakano, Howard Gamper, Henri Mcguigan, Sunita Maharjan, Jiatong Li, Zhiyi Sun, Erbay Yigit, Sebastian Grünberg, Keerthana Krishnan, Nan-Sheng Li, Joseph Piccirilli, Ralph Kleiner, Nicole Nichols, Brian Gregory, Ya-Ming Hou Jan 2025

Genome-Wide Profiling Of Trna Modifications By Induro-Trnaseq Reveals Coordinated Changes, Yuko Nakano, Howard Gamper, Henri Mcguigan, Sunita Maharjan, Jiatong Li, Zhiyi Sun, Erbay Yigit, Sebastian Grünberg, Keerthana Krishnan, Nan-Sheng Li, Joseph Piccirilli, Ralph Kleiner, Nicole Nichols, Brian Gregory, Ya-Ming Hou

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

While all native tRNAs undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications as a mechanism to regulate gene expression, mapping these modifications remains challenging. The critical barrier is the difficulty of readthrough of modifications by reverse transcriptases (RTs). Here we use Induro-a new group-II intron-encoded RT-to map and quantify genome-wide tRNA modifications in Induro-tRNAseq. We show that Induro progressively increases readthrough over time by selectively overcoming RT stops without altering the misincorporation frequency. In a parallel analysis of Induro vs. a related RT, we provide comparative datasets to facilitate the prediction of each modification. We assess tRNA modifications across five human cell lines and …


Effects Of Cadherin Mediated Contact Normalization On Oncogenic Src Kinase Mediated Gene Expression And Protein Phosphorylation, Rachel E Nicoletto, Cayla J Holdcraft, Ariel C Yin, Edward P Retzbach, Stephanie A Sheehan, Amanda A Greenspan, Christopher M Laugier, Jason Trama, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Gary S Goldberg Oct 2024

Effects Of Cadherin Mediated Contact Normalization On Oncogenic Src Kinase Mediated Gene Expression And Protein Phosphorylation, Rachel E Nicoletto, Cayla J Holdcraft, Ariel C Yin, Edward P Retzbach, Stephanie A Sheehan, Amanda A Greenspan, Christopher M Laugier, Jason Trama, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Nontransformed cells form heterotypic cadherin junctions with adjacent transformed cells to inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. Transformed cells must override this form of growth control, called "contact normalization", to invade and metastasize during cancer progression. Heterocellular cadherin junctions between transformed and nontransformed cells are needed for this process. However, specific mechanisms downstream of cadherin signaling have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we utilized a β-catenin reporter construct to determine if contact normalization affects Wnt signaling in transformed cells. β-catenin driven GFP expression in Src transformed mouse embryonic cells was decreased when cultured with cadherin competent nontransformed cells compared to …


The C-Terminal 4cxxc-Type Zinc Finger Domain Of Cdca7 Recognizes Hemimethylated Dna And Modulates Activities Of Chromatin Remodeling Enzyme Hells, Akeo Shinkai, Hideharu Hashimoto, Chikako Shimura, Hiroaki Fujimoto, Kei Fukuda, Naoki Horikoshi, Masaki Okano, Hitoshi Niwa, Erik W Debler, Hitoshi Kurumizaka, Yoichi Shinkai Sep 2024

The C-Terminal 4cxxc-Type Zinc Finger Domain Of Cdca7 Recognizes Hemimethylated Dna And Modulates Activities Of Chromatin Remodeling Enzyme Hells, Akeo Shinkai, Hideharu Hashimoto, Chikako Shimura, Hiroaki Fujimoto, Kei Fukuda, Naoki Horikoshi, Masaki Okano, Hitoshi Niwa, Erik W Debler, Hitoshi Kurumizaka, Yoichi Shinkai

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The chromatin-remodeling enzyme helicase lymphoid-specific (HELLS) interacts with cell division cycle-associated 7 (CDCA7) on nucleosomes and is involved in the regulation of DNA methylation in higher organisms. Mutations in these genes cause immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome, which also results in DNA hypomethylation of satellite repeat regions. We investigated the functional domains of human CDCA7 in HELLS using several mutant CDCA7 proteins. The central region is critical for binding to HELLS, activation of ATPase, and nucleosome sliding activities of HELLS-CDCA7. The N-terminal region tends to inhibit ATPase activity. The C-terminal 4CXXC-type zinc finger domain contributes to CpG …


Stem-Loop And Circle-Loop Tads Generated By Directional Pairing Of Boundary Elements Have Distinct Physical And Regulatory Properties, Wenfan Ke, Miki Fujioka, Paul Schedl, James Jaynes Aug 2024

Stem-Loop And Circle-Loop Tads Generated By Directional Pairing Of Boundary Elements Have Distinct Physical And Regulatory Properties, Wenfan Ke, Miki Fujioka, Paul Schedl, James Jaynes

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The chromosomes in multicellular eukaryotes are organized into a series of topologically independent loops called TADs. In flies, TADs are formed by physical interactions between neighboring boundaries. Fly boundaries exhibit distinct partner preferences, and pairing interactions between boundaries are typically orientation-dependent. Pairing can be head-to-tail or head-to-head. The former generates a stem-loop TAD, while the latter gives a circle-loop TAD. The TAD that encompasses the Drosophila even skipped (eve) gene is formed by the head-to-tail pairing of the nhomie and homie boundaries. To explore the relationship between loop topology and the physical and regulatory landscape, we flanked the nhomie boundary …


G12/13 Signaling In Asthma, Elizabeth L. Mcduffie, Reynold A Panettieri, Charles P. Scott Aug 2024

G12/13 Signaling In Asthma, Elizabeth L. Mcduffie, Reynold A Panettieri, Charles P. Scott

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Shortening of airway smooth muscle and bronchoconstriction are pathognomonic for asthma. Airway shortening occurs through calcium-dependent activation of myosin light chain kinase, and RhoA-dependent calcium sensitization, which inhibits myosin light chain phosphatase. The mechanism through which pro-contractile stimuli activate calcium sensitization is poorly understood. Our review of the literature suggests that pro-contractile G protein coupled receptors likely signal through G12/13 to activate RhoA and mediate calcium sensitization. This hypothesis is consistent with the effects of pro-contractile agonists on RhoA and Rho kinase activation, actin polymerization and myosin light chain phosphorylation. Recognizing the likely role of G12/13 signaling in the pathophysiology …


Mutant Androgen Receptor Induces Neurite Loss And Senescence Independently Of Are Binding In A Neuronal Model Of Sbma, Jordyn Karliner, Y Liu, Diane Merry Jul 2024

Mutant Androgen Receptor Induces Neurite Loss And Senescence Independently Of Are Binding In A Neuronal Model Of Sbma, Jordyn Karliner, Y Liu, Diane Merry

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a slowly progressing neuromuscular disease caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ)-encoding CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, leading to AR aggregation, lower motor neuron death, and muscle atrophy. AR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates neuronal architecture and promotes axon regeneration; however, whether AR transcriptional functions contribute to disease pathogenesis is not fully understood. Using a differentiated PC12 cell model of SBMA, we identified dysfunction of polyQ-expanded AR in its regulation of neurite growth and maintenance. Specifically, we found that in the presence of androgens, polyQ-expanded AR inhibited neurite …


Frontotemporal Dementia-Like Disease Progression Elicited By Seeded Aggregation And Spread Of Fus, Sonia Vazquez-Sanchez, Britt Tilkin, Fatima Gasset-Rosa, Sitao Zhang, Diana Piol, Melissa Mcalonis-Downes, Jonathan Artates, Noe Govea-Perez, Yana Verresen, Lin Guo, Don Cleveland, James Shorter, Sandrine Da Cruz Jun 2024

Frontotemporal Dementia-Like Disease Progression Elicited By Seeded Aggregation And Spread Of Fus, Sonia Vazquez-Sanchez, Britt Tilkin, Fatima Gasset-Rosa, Sitao Zhang, Diana Piol, Melissa Mcalonis-Downes, Jonathan Artates, Noe Govea-Perez, Yana Verresen, Lin Guo, Don Cleveland, James Shorter, Sandrine Da Cruz

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

RNA binding proteins have emerged as central players in the mechanisms of many neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, a proteinopathy of fused in sarcoma (FUS) is present in some instances of familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and about 10% of sporadic Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Here we establish that focal injection of sonicated human FUS fibrils into brains of mice in which ALS-linked mutant or wild-type human FUS replaces endogenous mouse FUS is sufficient to induce focal cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of mutant and wild-type FUS which with time spreads to distal regions of the brain. Human FUS fibril-induced FUS aggregation …


Rewiring The Sex-Determination Pathway During The Evolution Of Self-Fertility., Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Jonathan Harbin, Richa Amin, Allison Vassalotti, Joseph Romanowski, Emily Schmidt, Alexis Tierney, Ronald E Ellis Jun 2024

Rewiring The Sex-Determination Pathway During The Evolution Of Self-Fertility., Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Jonathan Harbin, Richa Amin, Allison Vassalotti, Joseph Romanowski, Emily Schmidt, Alexis Tierney, Ronald E Ellis

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Although evolution is driven by changes in how regulatory pathways control development, we know little about the molecular details underlying these transitions. The TRA-2 domain that mediates contact with TRA-1 is conserved in Caenorhabditis. By comparing the interaction of these proteins in two species, we identified a striking change in how sexual development is controlled. Identical mutations in this domain promote oogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans but promote spermatogenesis in Caenorhabditis briggsae. Furthermore, the effects of these mutations involve the male-promoting gene fem-3 in C. elegans but are independent of fem-3 in C. briggsae. Finally, reciprocal mutations in these genes show …


Neuronal Lrp4 Directs The Development, Maturation And Cytoskeletal Organization Of Drosophila Peripheral Synapses, Alison Depew, Joseph Bruckner, Kate O'Connor-Giles, Timothy Mosca Jun 2024

Neuronal Lrp4 Directs The Development, Maturation And Cytoskeletal Organization Of Drosophila Peripheral Synapses, Alison Depew, Joseph Bruckner, Kate O'Connor-Giles, Timothy Mosca

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Synaptic development requires multiple signaling pathways to ensure successful connections. Transmembrane receptors are optimally positioned to connect the synapse and the rest of the neuron, often acting as synaptic organizers to synchronize downstream events. One such organizer, the LDL receptor-related protein LRP4, is a cell surface receptor that has been most well-studied postsynaptically at mammalian neuromuscular junctions. Recent work, however, identified emerging roles, but how LRP4 acts as a presynaptic organizer and the downstream mechanisms of LRP4 are not well understood. Here, we show that LRP4 functions presynaptically at Drosophila neuromuscular synapses, acting in motoneurons to instruct pre- and postsynaptic …


Biomarkers For Managing Neurodegenerative Diseases, Lara Cheslow, Adam E. Snook, Scott A. Waldman Mar 2024

Biomarkers For Managing Neurodegenerative Diseases, Lara Cheslow, Adam E. Snook, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of cognitive and physical disability worldwide, affecting 15% of the global population. Due to the demographics of aging, the prevalence of neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, will double over the next two decades. Unfortunately, while available therapies provide symptomatic relief for cognitive and motor impairment, there is an urgent unmet need to develop disease-modifying therapies that slow the rate of pathological progression. In that context, biomarkers could identify at-risk and prodromal patients, monitor disease progression, track responses to therapy, and parse the causality of molecular events to identify novel targets for further clinical investigation. …


Differentially Disrupted Spinal Cord And Muscle Energy Metabolism In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, Danielle Debartolo, Frederick Arnold, Y Liu, Elana Molotsky, Hsin-Yao Tang, Diane Merry Mar 2024

Differentially Disrupted Spinal Cord And Muscle Energy Metabolism In Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy, Danielle Debartolo, Frederick Arnold, Y Liu, Elana Molotsky, Hsin-Yao Tang, Diane Merry

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Prior studies showed that polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor (AR) is aberrantly acetylated and that deacetylation of the mutant AR by overexpression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent (NAD+-dependent) sirtuin 1 is protective in cell models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Based on these observations and reduced NAD+ in muscles of SBMA mouse models, we tested the therapeutic potential of NAD+ restoration in vivo by treating postsymptomatic transgenic SBMA mice with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR). NR supplementation failed to alter disease progression and had no effect on increasing NAD+ or ATP content in muscle, despite producing a modest increase of …


Fused In Sarcoma Regulates Glutamate Signaling And Oxidative Stress Response, Chiong-Hee Wong, Abu Rahat, Howard C Chang Jan 2024

Fused In Sarcoma Regulates Glutamate Signaling And Oxidative Stress Response, Chiong-Hee Wong, Abu Rahat, Howard C Chang

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Mutations in fused in sarcoma (fust-1) are linked to ALS. However, how these ALS causative mutations alter physiological processes and lead to the onset of ALS remains largely unknown. By obtaining humanized fust-1 ALS mutations via CRISPR-CAS9, we generated a C. elegans ALS model. Homozygous fust-1 ALS mutant and fust-1 deletion animals are viable in C. elegans. This allows us to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of fust-1-dependent responses. We found FUST-1 plays a role in regulating superoxide dismutase, glutamate signaling, and oxidative stress. FUST-1 suppresses SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 in the nervous system. FUST-1 also regulates synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor …


Increasing Glutathione Levels By A Novel Posttranslational Mechanism Inhibits Neuronal Hyperexcitability, Ashwini Sri Hari, Rajeswari Banerji, Li-Ping Liang, Ruth E Fulton, Christopher Quoc Huynh, Timothy Fabisiak, Pallavi Bhuyan Mcelroy, James R Roede, Manisha Patel Nov 2023

Increasing Glutathione Levels By A Novel Posttranslational Mechanism Inhibits Neuronal Hyperexcitability, Ashwini Sri Hari, Rajeswari Banerji, Li-Ping Liang, Ruth E Fulton, Christopher Quoc Huynh, Timothy Fabisiak, Pallavi Bhuyan Mcelroy, James R Roede, Manisha Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Glutathione (GSH) depletion, and impaired redox homeostasis have been observed in experimental animal models and patients with epilepsy. Pleiotropic strategies that elevate GSH levels via transcriptional regulation have been shown to significantly decrease oxidative stress and seizure frequency, increase seizure threshold, and rescue certain cognitive deficits. Whether elevation of GSH per se alters neuronal hyperexcitability remains unanswered. We previously showed that thiols such as dimercaprol (DMP) elevate GSH via post-translational activation of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), the rate limiting GSH biosynthetic enzyme. Here, we asked if elevation of cellular GSH by DMP altered neuronal hyperexcitability in-vitro and in-vivo. Treatment of …


Novel Treatments For Pxe: Targeting The Systemic And Local Drivers Of Ectopic Calcification, Ida Joely Jacobs, Qiaoli Li Oct 2023

Novel Treatments For Pxe: Targeting The Systemic And Local Drivers Of Ectopic Calcification, Ida Joely Jacobs, Qiaoli Li

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable multisystem ectopic calcification disorder. The gene responsible for PXE, ABCC6, encodes ABCC6, a hepatic efflux transporter regulating extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent endogenous calcification inhibitor. Recent studies demonstrated that in addition to the deficiency of plasma PPi, the activated DDR/PARP signaling in calcified tissues provides an additional possible mechanism of ectopic calcification in PXE. This study examined the effects of etidronate (ETD), a stable PPi analog, and its combination with minocycline (Mino), a potent inhibitor of DDR/PARP, on ectopic calcification in an Abcc6-/- mouse model of PXE. Abcc6-/- mice, at 4 weeks of …


Study Of Polytopic Membrane Protein Topological Organization As A Function Of Membrane Lipid Composition, Takefumi Morizumi, Kyumhyuk Kim, Hai Li, Elena G Govorunova, Oleg A Sineshchekov, Yumei Wang, Lei Zheng, Éva Bertalan, Ana-Nicoleta Bondar, Azam Askari, Leonid S Brown, John L Spudich, Oliver P Ernst Jul 2023

Study Of Polytopic Membrane Protein Topological Organization As A Function Of Membrane Lipid Composition, Takefumi Morizumi, Kyumhyuk Kim, Hai Li, Elena G Govorunova, Oleg A Sineshchekov, Yumei Wang, Lei Zheng, Éva Bertalan, Ana-Nicoleta Bondar, Azam Askari, Leonid S Brown, John L Spudich, Oliver P Ernst

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Kalium channelrhodopsin 1 from Hyphochytrium catenoides (HcKCR1) is a light-gated channel used for optogenetic silencing of mammalian neurons. It selects K+ over Na+ in the absence of the canonical tetrameric K+ selectivity filter found universally in voltage- and ligand-gated channels. The genome of H. catenoides also encodes a highly homologous cation channelrhodopsin (HcCCR), a Na+ channel with >100-fold larger Na+ to K+ permeability ratio. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine atomic structures of these two channels embedded in peptidiscs to elucidate structural foundations of their dramatically different cation selectivity. Together with structure-guided mutagenesis, we show that K+ versus Na+ …


Examining Parent-Of-Origin Effects On Transcription And Rna Methylation In Mediating Aggressive Behavior In Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera), Sean T. Bresnahan, Ellen Lee, Lindsay Clark, Rong Ma, Michael P. Markey, Juliana Rangel, Christina M. Grozinger, Hongmei Li-Byarlay Jun 2023

Examining Parent-Of-Origin Effects On Transcription And Rna Methylation In Mediating Aggressive Behavior In Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera), Sean T. Bresnahan, Ellen Lee, Lindsay Clark, Rong Ma, Michael P. Markey, Juliana Rangel, Christina M. Grozinger, Hongmei Li-Byarlay

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Conflict between genes inherited from the mother (matrigenes) and the father (patrigenes) is predicted to arise during social interactions among offspring if these genes are not evenly distributed among offspring genotypes. This intragenomic conflict drives parent-specific transcription patterns in offspring resulting from parent-specific epigenetic modifications. Previous tests of the kinship theory of intragenomic conflict in honey bees (Apis mellifera) provided evidence in support of theoretical predictions for variation in worker reproduction, which is associated with extreme variation in morphology and behavior. However, more subtle behaviors – such as aggression – have not been extensively studied. Additionally, the canonical epigenetic mark …


Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Mrna Delivery In Lung Fibrosis, Matteo Massaro, Suhong Wu, Gherardo Baudo, Haoran Liu, Scott Collum, Hyunho Lee, Cinzia Stigliano, Victor Segura-Ibarra, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Elvin Blanco Apr 2023

Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated Mrna Delivery In Lung Fibrosis, Matteo Massaro, Suhong Wu, Gherardo Baudo, Haoran Liu, Scott Collum, Hyunho Lee, Cinzia Stigliano, Victor Segura-Ibarra, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Elvin Blanco

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

mRNA delivery enables the specific synthesis of proteins with therapeutic potential, representing a powerful strategy in diseases lacking efficacious pharmacotherapies. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and subsequent alveolar remodeling. Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2) and fibroblasts represent important targets in IPF given their role in initiating and driving aberrant wound healing responses that lead to excessive ECM deposition. Our objective was to examine a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA construct as a viable strategy to target alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts in IPF. mRNA-containing LNPs measuring ∼34 nm had …


Neuronal Sirt3 Deletion Predisposes To Female-Specific Alterations In Cellular Metabolism, Memory, And Network Excitability, Jennifer N Pearson-Smith, Ruth Fulton, Christopher Q Huynh, Anna G Figueroa, Gia B Huynh, Li-Ping Liang, Lindsey B Gano, Cole R Michel, Nichole Reisdorph, Richard Reisdorph, Kristofer S Fritz, Eric Verdin, Manisha Patel Mar 2023

Neuronal Sirt3 Deletion Predisposes To Female-Specific Alterations In Cellular Metabolism, Memory, And Network Excitability, Jennifer N Pearson-Smith, Ruth Fulton, Christopher Q Huynh, Anna G Figueroa, Gia B Huynh, Li-Ping Liang, Lindsey B Gano, Cole R Michel, Nichole Reisdorph, Richard Reisdorph, Kristofer S Fritz, Eric Verdin, Manisha Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of neurologic disorders and aging. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) regulates mitochondrial function in response to the cellular environment through the reversible deacetylation of proteins involved in metabolism and reactive oxygen species detoxification. As the primary mitochondrial deacetylase, germline, or peripheral tissue-specific deletion of SIRT3 produces mitochondrial hyperacetylation and the accelerated development of age-related diseases. Given the unique metabolic demands of neurons, the role of SIRT3 in the brain is only beginning to emerge. Using mass spectrometry-based acetylomics, high-resolution respirometry, video-EEG, and cognition testing, we report targeted deletion of SIRT3 from select neurons …


Dpc29 Promotes Post-Initiation Mitochondrial Translation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kyle A. Hubble, Michael F. Henry Feb 2023

Dpc29 Promotes Post-Initiation Mitochondrial Translation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kyle A. Hubble, Michael F. Henry

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Mitochondrial ribosomes synthesize essential components of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system in a tightly regulated process. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, mitochondrial mRNAs require specific translational activators, which orchestrate protein synthesis by recognition of their target gene's 5'-untranslated region (UTR). Most of these yeast genes lack orthologues in mammals, and only one such gene-specific translational activator has been proposed in humans-TACO1. The mechanism by which TACO1 acts is unclear because mammalian mitochondrial mRNAs do not have significant 5'-UTRs, and therefore must promote translation by alternative mechanisms. In this study, we examined the role of the TACO1 orthologue in yeast. We …


The Emerging Spectrum Of Cardiopulmonary Pathology Of The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): Report Of 3 Autopsies From Houston, Texas, And Review Of Autopsy Findings From Other United States Cities, Manish Bodas, Bharathiraja Subramaniyan, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Peter F Vitiello, Matthew S Walters Sep 2022

The Emerging Spectrum Of Cardiopulmonary Pathology Of The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): Report Of 3 Autopsies From Houston, Texas, And Review Of Autopsy Findings From Other United States Cities, Manish Bodas, Bharathiraja Subramaniyan, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Peter F Vitiello, Matthew S Walters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The mammalian respiratory system or lung is a tree-like branching structure, and the main site of gas exchange with the external environment. Structurally, the lung is broadly classified into the proximal (or conducting) airways and the distal alveolar region, where the gas exchange occurs. In parallel with the respiratory tree, the pulmonary vasculature starts with large pulmonary arteries that subdivide rapidly ending in capillaries adjacent to alveolar structures to enable gas exchange. The NOTCH signalling pathway plays an important role in lung development, differentiation and regeneration post-injury. Signalling via the NOTCH pathway is mediated through activation of four NOTCH receptors …


Neuron-Specific Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Results In Epilepsy, Glucose Dysregulation And A Striking Astrocyte Response, Ruth E Fulton, Jennifer N Pearson-Smith, Christopher Q Huynh, Timothy Fabisiak, Li-Ping Liang, Stefanos Aivazidis, Brigit A High, Georgia Buscaglia, Timothy Corrigan, Robert Valdez, Takahiko Shimizu, Manisha N Patel Oct 2021

Neuron-Specific Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Results In Epilepsy, Glucose Dysregulation And A Striking Astrocyte Response, Ruth E Fulton, Jennifer N Pearson-Smith, Christopher Q Huynh, Timothy Fabisiak, Li-Ping Liang, Stefanos Aivazidis, Brigit A High, Georgia Buscaglia, Timothy Corrigan, Robert Valdez, Takahiko Shimizu, Manisha N Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mitochondrial superoxide (O2.−) production is implicated in aging, neurodegenerative disease, and most recently epilepsy. Yet the specific contribution of neuronal O2.− to these phenomena is unclear. Here, we selectively deleted superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) in neuronal basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (NEX)-expressing cells restricting deletion to a subset of excitatory principle neurons primarily in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus). This resulted in nSOD2 KO mice that lived into adulthood (2-3 months) with epilepsy, selective loss of neurons, metabolic rewiring and a marked mitohormetic gene response. Surprisingly, expression of an astrocytic gene, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was significantly increased relative …


Mitochondrial Transfer From Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Neuronal Metabolism After Oxidant Injury In Vitro: The Role Of Miro1, Nancy Tseng, Scott C Lambie, Christopher Q Huynh, Bridget Sanford, Manisha Patel, Paco S Herson, D Ryan Ormond Apr 2021

Mitochondrial Transfer From Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Neuronal Metabolism After Oxidant Injury In Vitro: The Role Of Miro1, Nancy Tseng, Scott C Lambie, Christopher Q Huynh, Bridget Sanford, Manisha Patel, Paco S Herson, D Ryan Ormond

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Stroke-induced cerebral ischemia is a major cause of death and disability. The disruption of blood flow results in neuronal and glial cell death leading to brain injury. Reperfusion restores oxygen to the affected tissue, but can also cause damage through an enhanced oxidative stress and inflammatory response. This study examines mitochondrial transfer from MSC to neurons and the role it plays in neuronal preservation after oxidant injury. We observed the transfer of mitochondria from MSC to mouse neurons in vitro following hydrogen peroxide exposure. The observed transfer was dependent on cell-to-cell contact and led to increased neuronal survival and improved …