Review
Immunology
David E. Spaner
Summary: Aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a new hallmark of cancer in the past decade, affecting signaling pathways, protein expression, and gene expression. It is generally thought to promote tumor growth and disease progression, but recent studies suggest a more nuanced view depending on various factors in the cancer cell. Therapeutic strategies targeting O-GlcNAcylation are being developed for potential cancer treatment.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Moriah Gildart Turcotte, Hrishikesh Thakur, Michael S. Kapiloff, Kimberly L. Dodge-Kafka
Summary: Pathological cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, which is a condition characterized by the enlargement of heart cells, is regulated by the pleiotropic Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin. This study reveals that the scaffold protein muscle A-Kinase Anchoring Protein beta (mAKAP beta/AKAP6 beta) organizes perinuclear signalosomes, which are responsible for localized calcium transients and the subsequent activation of calcineurin-dependent NFATc nuclear localization, leading to myocyte hypertrophy upon beta-adrenergic receptor activation. These findings demonstrate the existence of a functionally independent calcium signaling compartment in cardiac myocytes that regulates hypertrophy.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ilhan Akan, Adnan Halim, Sergey Y. Vakhrushev, Henrik Clausen, John A. Hanover
Summary: O-GlcNAcylation is a reversible posttranslational modification that affects cellular events from signaling cascades to epigenetic and transcriptional regulation, involving nutrient-dependent enzymes OGT and OGA. Cataloging the O-GlcNAc proteome has helped understand its biological significance, highlighting its role in growth and longevity.
Article
Biology
Rebecca LaCroix, Benjamin Lin, Tae-Yun Kang, Andre Levchenko
Summary: Using a synthetic molecular interaction system, this study reveals that the translocation of a regulatory subunit of protein kinase A to the plasma membrane has paradoxical effects on membrane kinase activity. It can enhance activity at lower translocation levels, even in the absence of signaling inputs, and inhibit activity at higher translocation levels, suggesting its role as a linker that can couple and decouple signaling processes in a concentration-dependent manner. The study further demonstrates that the abundance gradient of the regulatory subunit can control the directionality of cell migration.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Zhang, Jing Xu, Ruofan Li, Yanrui Ge, Yufei Li, Ruili Li
Summary: Abiotic stress refers to the adverse effect of non-biological factors on plants in a given environment, affecting their growth and development. These stress factors, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, are often interconnected. Plants have developed mechanisms to sense and adapt to these environmental challenges. This review summarizes recent studies on plant stress sensing and regulatory mechanisms, focusing on signal transduction and regulation at multiple levels. The strategies to improve plant growth under stress based on current progress are also discussed. Moreover, the implications of understanding plant responses to abiotic stresses for high-yielding crops and agricultural sustainability are explored. Studying stress signaling and regulation is crucial for comprehending plant responses to abiotic stress, developing stress-resistant crops, and promoting agricultural sustainability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Yi-Xuan Fu, Zi-Ye Zhang, Wu-Yingzheng Guo, Yi-Jie Dai, Zheng-Yu Wang, Wen-Chao Yang, Guang-Fu Yang
Summary: A highly efficient in vivo fluorescent screening method for HPPD-targeted herbicide discovery was developed in this study. The method is capable of real-time imaging in living cells and zebrafish, and enables direct monitoring of HPPD inhibition in plants.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael J. Ziegler, Klaus Yserentant, Valentin Dunsing, Volker Middel, Antoni J. Gralak, Kaisa Pakari, Joern Bargstedt, Christoph Kern, Annett Petrich, Salvatore Chiantia, Uwe Strahle, Dirk-Peter Herten, Richard Wombacher
Summary: The agrochemical mandipropamid (Mandi) has been shown to be a highly efficient chemical inducer of protein proximity (CIP) in cell culture systems and living organisms, with high specificity and orthogonality. It is capable of rapid and efficient protein translocation and network manipulation.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lin-Tao Zhang, Ye Zhou, Su-Ting Han
Summary: MOFs have highly ordered structures with tunable sizes and shapes, responsive to various stimuli, making them suitable for addressing critical issues in sensor applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dominique Arnaud, Michael J. Deeks, Nicholas Smirnoff
Summary: Reactive oxygen species are generated in plants in response to pathogens and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Using biosensors, researchers observed oxidative events in various cell compartments during the immune response to flg22 and Pseudomonas syringae. The oxidative burst in the cytosol is partially suppressed by bacterial effectors, while the extracellular oxidative burst requires the involvement of NADPH oxidase and specific signaling components.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Azin EbrahimAmini, Shanthini Mylvaganam, Paolo Bazzigaluppi, Mohamad Khazaei, Alexander Velumian, Bojana Stefanovic, Peter L. Carlen
Summary: The study investigated the effect of astrocytic photostimulation on extracellular potassium ion concentration, finding that stimulating astrocytes led to a decrease in [K]o. This suggests that modifying astrocytic membrane potential could be a potential tool for adjusting [K]o levels in the nervous system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Wenlong Gong, Zeliang Ju, Jikuan Chai, Xiangrui Zhou, Doudou Lin, Weijuan Su, Guiqin Zhao
Summary: Physiological and transcriptome analysis of two oat varieties under PEG-induced drought stress revealed that the drought-resistant variety showed higher antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic adjustment substance content, and photosynthetic efficiency. In contrast, the susceptible variety exhibited suppressed hormone signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insights for improving drought tolerance in oats.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saugat Khanal, Neha Bhavnani, Amy Mathias, Jason Lallo, Shreya Gupta, Vahagn Ohanyan, Jessica M. Ferrell, Priya Raman
Summary: Accumulating evidence suggests that protein O-GlcNAcylation may play a pathogenic role in diabetic vascular complications. In this study, the researchers investigated the role of smooth muscle OGT in hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerotic lesion formation and SMC de-differentiation. The results showed that loss of smOGT had a protective effect on atherosclerosis and regulated the expression of SM contractile genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan Wang, Qiyang Chen, Weiwei Chen, Qigao Guo, Yan Xia, Shuming Wang, Danlong Jing, Guolu Liang
Summary: This study analyzed the protective effects and regulatory mechanisms of melatonin (MT) on drought stress in grafted loquat seedlings, showing that MT effectively mitigated chlorophyll degradation, increased photosynthetic efficiency, and improved starch content. Transcriptome results revealed that MT regulated genes involved in various pathways including Ca2+ signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. Additionally, MT increased endogenous MT, IAA, and CTK contents, while decreasing ABA content under drought condition.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shuxia Li, Yuan Wang, Xueqin Gao, Jian Lan, Bingzhe Fu
Summary: Melatonin can promote the growth of alfalfa seedlings under salt stress by increasing photosynthetic capacity and starch content, while decreasing cell membrane damage and ROS accumulation. It enhances salt tolerance in alfalfa by regulating hormone signal transduction pathways and starch/sucrose metabolism pathways.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Isabel Cristina Velez-Bermudez, Wolfgang Schmidt
Summary: Iron sensing and signaling in plants is a complex process that involves multiple physiological readouts and coordination with other signaling networks.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Virology
Isabelle Bernard, Daniel Limonta, Lara K. Mahal, Tom C. Hobman
Summary: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a persistent threat to global public health, with extrapulmonary manifestations including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, and neurological diseases. Recent studies suggest that dysfunction of the endothelium during COVID-19 may exacerbate deleterious events through inflammatory and microvascular thrombotic processes, potentially due to SARS-CoV-2 infecting endothelial cells via ACE2 receptor binding.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Erick G. Baez Bolivar, Duong T. Bui, Elena N. Kitova, Ling Han, Ruixiang B. Zheng, Erik J. Luber, Sayed Youssef Sayed, Lara K. Mahal, John S. Klassen
Summary: This study demonstrates the facile quantification of low-affinity glycan-GBP interactions using nanoflow ESI emitters and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The use of submicron emitters effectively eliminates nonspecific binding, enabling direct measurement of interactions with affinities as low as 5 mM. Additionally, this technique allows for the measurement of glycan affinities on specific GBPs, such as C-type lectins, and the influence of calcium ions on these interactions.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kira J. Noordwijk, Rui Qin, Maria E. Diaz-Rubio, Sheng Zhang, Jin Su, Lara K. Mahal, Heidi L. Reesink
Summary: This study identified differentially expressed metabolic and glycosylation pathways in synovial fluid from healthy horses and horses with naturally occurring carpal osteoarthritis. The results suggest potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for equine osteoarthritis, and further targeted metabolomic and glycomic studies are recommended to verify these findings. Lectin microarrays could be a potential screening tool for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of equine osteoarthritis.
EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Won-Min Song, Praveen Agrawal, Richard Von Itter, Barbara Fontanals-Cirera, Minghui Wang, Xianxiao Zhou, Lara K. Mahal, Eva Hernando, Bin Zhang
Summary: This study establishes predictive gene network models of molecular alterations in primary melanoma by integrating various types of data, revealing key factors influencing melanoma development. Tumors with high immune infiltrates are associated with good prognosis, potentially due to induced CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity. Experimental validation shows that 17 key regulators associated with poor prognosis have pro-tumorigenic effects in melanoma.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuhui Chen, Rui Qin, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: Glycans, essential molecules found in organisms, have significant roles in various diseases. Studying glycosylation and glycomic changes enhances understanding of disease progression and aids in the development of novel therapeutics. High-throughput glycomic technologies allow for rapid and comprehensive analysis, contributing to the integration of glycomics into systems biology.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Anil Kumar, Ray Ishida, Tania Strilets, Jamie Cole, Joaquin Lopez-Orozco, Nawell Fayad, Alberto Felix-Lopez, Mohamed Elaish, Danyel Evseev, Katharine E. Magor, Lara K. Mahal, Les P. Nagata, David H. Evans, Tom C. Hobman
Summary: This study reveals two novel mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 blocks the IFN pathway, including reduced induction of IFNs and ISGs, and inhibition of IFN signaling by proteins like NSP1 and nucleocapsid. The findings provide new insights into how SARS-CoV-2 successfully evades the IFN system to establish infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chu T. Thu, Jonathan Y. Chung, Deepika Dhawan, Christopher A. Vaiana, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) play a crucial role in fine-tuning protein expression and targeting networks of genes that control specific biological processes, including glycosylation. Recent research suggests that miRs may predict the biological functions of glycosylation enzymes, leading to the miRNA proxy hypothesis. However, the lack of knowledge about miR targets impedes the testing of this hypothesis. Developing a high-throughput experimental platform like miRFluR can shed more light on miR-target interactions and the potential impact on biological phenotypes.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shiyu Chen, Beyza Vurusaner, Stephanie Pena, Chu T. Thu, Lara K. Mahal, Edward A. Fisher, James W. Canary
Summary: A fluorescent probe that selectively reacts with peroxynitrite, yielding over 200-fold change, effectively visualized fluctuations in peroxynitrite generation by arginase 1 in vivo and in vitro. This provides evidence that arginase 1 is a critical regulator of peroxynitrite.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rui Qin, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: Recent discoveries have shed light on the roles of glycans in infectious diseases, particularly in the host glycome response to infection. While the functions and dynamics of host glycans during infection are still not fully understood, new findings have provided insights into the mechanisms and implications of these interactions in host immunity.
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Bojar, Lawrence Meche, Guanmin Meng, William Eng, David F. Smith, Richard D. Cummings, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: Glycans play critical roles in biology and medicine, but the specificity of lectins, which are key proteins in glycans binding, has not been well-defined. In this study, machine learning algorithms and expert annotation were used to define the lectin specificity for 57 unique lectins. This research provides important insights into the complex binding features of commercially available lectins.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhixiong Li, Pavel Kitov, Elena N. Kitova, Duong T. Bui, Kelley W. Moremen, Warren W. Wakarchuk, Lara K. Mahal, Matthew S. Macauley, John S. Klassen
Summary: The study introduces a new method using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to measure the kinetics of CAZyme reactions involving glycoprotein substrates, named CoMMon. This method does not require calibration curves, internal standards, labeling, or mass spectrum deconvolution.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linh Nguyen, Kelli A. McCord, Duong T. Bui, Kim M. Bouwman, Elena N. Kitova, Mohamed Elaish, Dhanraj Kumawat, Gour C. Daskhan, Ilhan Tomris, Ling Han, Pradeep Chopra, Tzu-Jing Yang, Steven D. Willows, Andrew L. Mason, Lara K. Mahal, Todd L. Lowary, Lori J. West, Shang-Te Danny Hsu, Tom Hobman, Stephen M. Tompkins, Geert-Jan Boons, Robert P. de Vries, Matthew S. Macauley, John S. Klassen
Summary: Evidence suggests that host glycans, specifically glycolipids containing sialic acid, play a role in facilitating the entry of SARS-CoV-2 virus into host cells by binding to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Depletion of cell surface sialic acid levels through various methods decreases RBD binding and infection of the virus, indicating the importance of sialylated glycans in viral entry.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Duong T. Bui, Jaesoo Jung, Elena N. Kitova, Zhixiong Li, Steven D. Willows, Marie E. Boddington, Pavel Kitov, Andrew L. Mason, Chantelle J. Capicciotti, Lara K. Mahal, Matthew S. Macauley, John S. Klassen
Summary: Mass spectrometry-based shotgun glycomics (MS-SG) is a rapid and sensitive method for discovering natural ligands of glycan-binding proteins (GBPs). By combining CaR-ESI-MS data with HILIC quantification, relative affinities can be ranked. The study suggests that the 2-AB(CaR-ESI-MS)/2-AB(HILIC) combination provides the most reliable description of GBP binding specificities for N-glycans.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Daniel W. Heindel, Shuhui Chen, Peter Aziz, Jonathan Y. Chung, Jamey D. Marth, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: Sepsis causes changes in the glycome of the blood sera, regardless of the Gram-positive or Gram-negative nature of the bacteria. It leads to a decrease in bisecting GlcNAc and an increase in core 1/3 O-glycans. The major cause of this glycan shift is a high molecular weight protein induced by the four bacterial pathogens, which include ITIHs and fibronectin.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rui Qin, Guanmin Meng, Smruti Pushalkar, Michael A. Carlock, Ted M. Ross, Christine Vogel, Lara K. Mahal
Summary: Understanding the association between glycosylation and vaccine-induced antibody levels is crucial for improving vaccine design and vaccination strategies. A study on Caucasian adults receiving the FLUZONE influenza vaccine found that nonresponders had higher levels of Lewis A antigen (Lea) before vaccination. Glycoproteomic analysis suggested that glycosylation may play a role in modulating complement protein activities, which could be relevant to vaccine responses. Additionally, high responders showed an increase in sialyl Lewis X antigen (sLex) and a decrease in high mannose glycans after vaccination, indicating active modulation of glycosylation by the immune system.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2022)
