Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Randy E. Strauss, Louisa Mezache, Rengasayee Veeraraghavan, Robert G. Gourdie
Summary: The alpha CT1 peptide, originally designed to inhibit Cx43/ZO1 interaction, was found to protect endothelium from thrombin-induced breakdown in cell-cell contacts by remodeling the F-actin cytoskeleton and promoting the border localization of endothelial barrier-associated proteins, suggesting a therapeutic potential in treating vascular edema.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ramona Matuseviciute, Egle Ignataviciute, Rokas Mickus, Sergio Bordel, Vytenis Arvydas Skeberdis, Vytautas Raskevicius
Summary: This study used molecular docking, QSAR, and 3D-QSAR to evaluate known Cx43 GJ inhibitors and identified a potential inhibitor - d-limonene. Experimental validation showed a good correlation between predicted and experimental inhibitory concentrations.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Svetlana N. Rubtsova, Irina Y. Zhitnyak, Natalya A. Gloushankova
Summary: Cancer cells exhibit phenotypic plasticity through rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and adherens junctions, allowing them to survive and thrive in alien environments by achieving advantageous epithelial/mesenchymal phenotypes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ishika Basu, Hanjun Li, Andrew J. Trease, Paul L. Sorgen
Summary: T and B cell receptor signaling activates Akt, MAPKs, PKC, intracellular Ca2+, and calmodulin. This process involves Src and the phosphorylation of Cx43 residues Y247, Y265, and Y313 by BTK and ITK. Overexpression of BTK or ITK leads to increased Cx43 phosphorylation and decreased gap junction communication in HEK-293T cells. Activation of B cell receptor or T cell receptor enhances BTK and ITK activity, resulting in decreased Cx43 phosphorylation and altered gap junction function.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bingchen Che, Wei Zhao, Yanan Liu, Dan Sun, Guangyin Jing, Jintao Bai, Xiqiao Feng, Ce Zhang
Summary: The study reveals that under specific conditions, cells are able to collectively respond to stimulation frequencies higher than their intrinsic values by translating chemical stimulation into dynamic mechanical cues through cell-cell connections and cytoskeleton reorganizations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miyuki Tauchi, Kensuke Oshita, Katharina Urschel, Roman Furtmair, Constanze Kuehn, Florian M. Stumpfe, Balazs Botos, Stephan Achenbach, Barbara Dietel
Summary: This study investigated the activation of endothelial cells under non-uniform shear stress, focusing on stress-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and downstream signaling, as well as their relation to gap junction proteins, Connexins (Cxs). The results showed that JNK1/2 and ERK were activated by non-uniform shear stress, and inhibiting JNK1/2 reduced THP-1 cell adhesion under non-uniform shear stress. In addition, the expression of Cx43 in human carotid plaques was found to be associated with plaque vulnerability, suggesting its contribution to plaque progression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleonora Sarantelli, Apostolis Mourkakis, Lefteris C. Zacharia, Andreas Stylianou, Vasiliki Gkretsi
Summary: As metastasis is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, understanding the cellular and molecular events involved in cancer cell migration and invasion is crucial for developing novel anti-metastatic therapies. Fascin-1, an actin-bundling protein, plays a fundamental role in cell migration processes. It is significantly elevated in most cancers and its high expression is associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Recent studies show that Fascin-1 is critically involved in metastasis and suggest it as a promising target for anti-metastatic treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Irene Sargiannidou, Violetta Christophidou-Anastasiadou, Andreas Hadjisavvas, George A. Tanteles, Kleopas A. Kleopa
Summary: Oculodentodigital dysplasia syndrome is linked to pathogenic variants in GJA1 gene. A new in-frame deletion (p.Lys134del) was identified in a patient with typical dysmorphic features. Functional study showed reduction in gap junction plaques in cells, with many retained inside.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Anne-Betty Ndiaye, Gijsje H. Koenderink, Michal Shemesh
Summary: The mammalian cytoskeleton plays an important role in transmitting external forces to the cell interior and generating intracellular forces. The three interpenetrating structural proteins, actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, have interdependent functions and the intermediate filaments play a central role in mechanosensitivity. Cytoskeletal crosstalk regulates the stability and organization of all three filament families at different scales, and also affects cell adaptation to external cues.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Susan E. Leggett, Alex M. Hruska, Ming Guo, Ian Y. Wong
Summary: The process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is intricately linked to alterations in the intracellular cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix, leading to cellular elongation and polarity changes. Recent bioengineering approaches have shed light on the mechanisms behind EMT and cytoskeletal dynamics, with a focus on multicellular behavior, vimentin function, and contact guidance patterning. These technologies allow for a deeper understanding of EMT at the single cell level and offer insights into its implications for cancer progression.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rokas Mickus, Gintare Janciuke, Vytautas Raskevicius, Valeryia Mikalayeva, Inga Matulyte, Mindaugas Marksa, Kestutis Maciunas, Jurga Bernatoniene, Vytenis Arvydas Skeberdis
Summary: This study identified nutmeg essential oil (NEO) and its constituents as potent inhibitors of Cx43 gap junctions by a slow gating mechanism. Additionally, NEO was found to reduce Novikoff hepatoma cell viability, proliferation, and colony formation capability at higher doses, but this effect was unrelated to its impact on gap junction dependent intercellular communication.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Frederic Larbret, Pierric Biber, Nicholas Dubois, Stoyan Ivanov, Laurence Lafanechere, Sophie Tartare-Deckert, Marcel Deckert
Summary: In this study, the Actin CytoFRET method was used to screen PTM-interfering compounds, and small molecule inhibitors of DUBs were found to induce actin polymerization and block cell migration. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that ROS-dependent cofilin modulation plays a key role in the regulation of actin dynamics.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Scott D. Barnett, Hazik Asif, Mitchell Anderson, Iain L. O. Buxton
Summary: The currently available tocolytics are ineffective at significantly delaying preterm birth due to a lack of understanding of the mechanisms that drive spontaneous preterm labor (sPTL). However, this study has identified dysregulation of the contractile-associated protein connexin-43 (Cx43) in sPTL myometrium, and the pharmacological inhibition of Cx43 and its S-nitrosation with 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid and nebivolol provide a novel approach to significantly reduce contractions in human myometrial tissue. This new approach leverages maladjusted pathways in women who experience sPTL, offering potential for improved treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Laura Bozal-Basterra, Maria Gonzalez-Santamarta, Veronica Muratore, Natalia Martin-Martin, Amaia Ercilla, Jose A. Rodriguez, Arkaitz Carracedo, James D. Sutherland, Rosa Barrio
Summary: LUZP1 exhibits frequent genomic aberrations in cancer, particularly gene deletions, and its loss promotes cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, and alterations in cell morphology. Additionally, LUZP1 plays regulatory roles beyond actin filament bundling, affecting actin polymerization through changes in ACTR3 and phospho-cofilin ratios. These findings suggest a novel role for LUZP1 in cancer regulation through actin cytoskeleton control.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Susana Lechuga, Manuel B. B. Braga-Neto, Nayden G. G. Naydenov, Florian Rieder, Andrei I. I. Ivanov
Summary: Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier is a common feature in mucosal inflammation, which leads to an inflammatory response. Previous studies on the breakdown of the gut barrier have mainly utilized colon cancer cell lines, which do not fully represent normal human intestinal epithelial cells. The development of human intestinal organoids provides a more physiologically-relevant platform to study the regulation and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. This review discusses the use of human intestinal organoids to understand gut barrier disruption during mucosal inflammation, comparing them to conventional cell lines and identifying unique research questions that can be addressed using organoid platforms.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan Boucher, Arnaud Monvoisin, Justine Vix, Marc Mesnil, Dominique Thuringer, Francoise Debiais, Laurent Cronier
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward Leithe, Marc Mesnil, Trond Aasen
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marc Mesnil, Trond Aasen, Jonathan Boucher, Amandine Chepied, Laurent Cronier, Norah Defamie, Petra Kameritsch, Dale W. Laird, Paul D. Lampe, Justin D. Lathia, Edward Leithe, Parmender P. Mehta, Arnaud Monvoisin, Kristin Pogoda, Wun-Chey Sin, Arantxa Tabernero, Hiroshi Yamasaki, Elizabeth S. Yeh, Maria Lucia Zaidan Dagli, Christian C. Naus
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2018)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denis Sarrouilhe, Marc Mesnil
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denis Sarrouilhe, Marc Mesnil, Catherine Dejean
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan Boucher, Claire Simonneau, Golthlay Denet, Jonathan Clarhaut, Annie-Claire Balandre, Marc Mesnil, Laurent Cronier, Arnaud Monvoisin
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2018)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sheila V. Graham, Jean X. Jiang, Marc Mesnil
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Dounia El Hamrani, Amandine Chepied, William Meme, Marc Mesnil, Norah Defamie, Sandra Meme
MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2018)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Trond Aasen, Edward Leithe, Sheila V. Graham, Petra Kameritsch, Maria D. Mayan, Marc Mesnil, Kristin Pogoda, Arantxa Tabernero
Article
Neurosciences
Qurratulain Aftab, Marc Mesnil, Emmanuel Ojefua, Alisha Poole, Jenna Noordenbos, Pierre-Olivier Strale, Chris Sitko, Caitlin Le, Nikolay Stoynov, Leonard J. Foster, Wun-Chey Sin, Christian C. Naus, Vincent C. Chen
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Review
Oncology
Catalina Asencio-Barria, Norah Defamie, Juan C. Saez, Marc Mesnil, Alejandro S. Godoy
Article
Cell Biology
Amandine Chepied, Zeinaba Daoud-Omar, Annie-Claire Meunier-Balandre, Dale W. Laird, Marc Mesnil, Norah Defamie
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marc Mesnil, Norah Defamie, Christian Naus, Denis Sarrouilhe
Summary: This article investigates the increase in incidence of brain pathologies, suggesting pollutant exposures as a potential but underestimated cause of major brain disorders due to alterations in gap-junctional function caused by long-term exposure to pollutants. The study addresses the organization and function of gap junctions and connexins, the impact of major pollutants on their functions, and describes various brain disorders where connexin dysfunction and pollutant involvement have been observed. The potential involvement of pollutant-inhibited gap junctions in brain disorders from prenatal and postnatal exposures is discussed based on different aspects explored in the research.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denis Sarrouilhe, Norah Defamie, Marc Mesnil
Summary: Serotonin, a biogenic monoamine, plays crucial roles as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, local mediator in the gut, and vasoactive agent in the blood. High comorbidity between certain diseases is partly due to shared etiologies involving the serotoninergic system. Environmental neurotoxic substances can impact the serotoninergic system, potentially contributing to the development of various neurological disorders.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Marc Mesnil, Andrew K. J. Boyce, Catherine S. S. Wright
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)