Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maxime Blijlevens, Jing Li, Victor W. van Beusechem
Summary: Dysregulation of mRNA processing, particularly mRNA splicing, is a hallmark of cancer, providing opportunities for new targeted treatment approaches. The spliceosome, a dynamic complex responsible for precursor mRNA splicing, is part of the supraspliceosome coordinating all co-transcriptional mRNA processing activities. Targeting the spliceosome may offer potential for new therapeutic strategies against lung cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ivaylo P. Ivanov, James A. Saba, Chen-Ming Fan, Ji Wang, Andrew E. Firth, Chune Cao, Rachel Green, Thomas E. Dever
Summary: Start site selection in eukaryotes is influenced by the context nucleotides flanking the AUG codon and by levels of translation initiation factors. We found that some Hox genes initiate in suboptimal context and contain conserved uORFs. Analysis of CAGE-seq data revealed that the 5' leaders of Hox mRNAs are shorter than reported and lack proposed IRES elements. We showed that uORFs inhibit Hox reporter expression and start codon selection stringency can be altered by overexpressing translation initiation factors or modifying ribosome homeostasis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Diane E. Garsetti, Khushboo Sahay, Yue Wang, Melissa B. Rogers
Summary: Evolution and change have led to incredible biodiversity on Earth. However, certain processes in life are highly conserved and resistant to change, such as the synthesis of eukaryotic messenger RNA. Despite the assumption that transcription and processing are the same in both sexes, recent research has shown significant differences in gene expression and regulation. Understanding these sex differences is crucial for furthering our knowledge of RNA biology in all humans.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Changshou Wang, Lin Xu, Chen Du, Hao Yun, Keyun Wang, Hui Liu, Mingliang Ye, Jing Fan, Yu Zhou, Hong Cheng
Summary: CDK11 is a potential druggable target for cancer therapy, as it plays important roles in phosphorylating transcription and splicing factors and facilitating cell cycle progression in cancer cells. This study reveals that CDK11 forms a tight complex with cyclins L1/L2 and SAP30BP, and that SAP30BP is a critical activator of CDK11, regulating global pre-mRNA splicing.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergey Margasyuk, Lev Zavileyskiy, Changchang Cao, Dmitri Pervouchine
Summary: RNA structure plays a critical role in the biogenesis and turnover of transcripts. An innovative computational pipeline called PHRIC has been developed to predict long-range RNA structures beyond conserved regions. Application to human cell lines revealed thousands of stable RNA structures with sequence conservation and compensatory substitution patterns.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Anne Sophie Reuter, David Stern, Alice Bernard, Chiara Goossens, Arnaud Lavergne, Lydie Flasse, Virginie Von Berg, Isabelle Manfroid, Bernard Peers, Marianne L. Voz
Summary: ARP/ASCL transcription factors play a crucial role in cell fate determination. This study investigates the specific activities of these factors, recognizing highly similar DNA motifs. Overexpressing different factors in zebrafish embryos reveals their ability to rescue different secretory cell lineages. The functional divergence is encoded by a 19-aa ultra-conserved element (UCE) found in Neurod members. The UCE acts as a goblet cell fate repressor by inhibiting gfi1aa expression.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Carrie Kovalak, Scott Donovan, Alicia A. Bicknell, Mihir Metkar, Melissa J. Moore
Summary: The RIPiT-Seq method allows for purification of pre-translational mRNPs, providing a more accurate assessment of splicing pathway flux compared to traditional RNA-Seq. It also revealed numerous previously unannotated splicing events, some of which are associated with poor cancer prognosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shune Wang, Mei Xue, Chan He, Danyu Shen, Chunhao Jiang, Hongwei Zhao, Dongdong Niu
Summary: The study reveals that AtMC1 regulates plant immunity to bacterial pathogens and is physically associated with LSM4. The protein levels of AtMC1 and LSM4 increase with coexpression in vivo. Additionally, AtMC1 modulates the splicing of pre-mRNAs, including 4CL3, which regulates plant immunity.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irfana Saleem, Sameer Mirza, Aniruddha Sarkar, Mohsin Raza, Bhopal Mohapatra, Insha Mushtaq, Jun Hyun Kim, Nitish K. Mishra, Mansour A. Alsaleem, Emad A. Rakha, Fang Qiu, Chittibabu Guda, Hamid Band, Vimla Band
Summary: The mammalian orthologue of ECD protein plays important roles in embryogenesis, cell cycle progression, and mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress. ECD interacts with key components of mRNA export complexes and the DEAD BOX protein helicase DDX39A to facilitate RNA export, with its overexpression correlating with poor patient survival in ErbB2+ and triple-negative breast cancer.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samih Alqawlaq, Izhar Livne-Bar, Declan Williams, Joseph D'Ercole, Sara W. Leung, Darren Chan, Alessandra Tuccitto, Alessandro Datti, Jeffrey L. Wrana, Anita H. Corbett, Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, Jeremy M. Sivak
Summary: Astrocytes secrete signals that support neuronal survival by protecting against neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cascades, with PI3K identified as a central player in this neuroprotective process. Proteomic analysis revealed PI3K interactors, including PDGFRA, ZC3H14, and THOC1, with ZC3H14 playing a crucial role in promoting PDGF-induced neuroprotection and presenting a potential strategy for astrocyte-secreted prosurvival signals.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas A. Meirelles, Elena K. Perry, Megan Bergkessel, Dianne K. Newman
Summary: Bacterial opportunistic pathogens with intrinsic antibiotic resistance can be driven by their evolutionary history as environmental chemical warfare microbes. Self-produced antibiotics by these pathogens can dramatically modulate the efficacy of clinical antibiotics and the evolution of antibiotic resistance for themselves and other members of clinically relevant polymicrobial communities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jennifer M. Spangle, Homa Ghalei, Anita H. Corbett
Summary: The ASBMB Leadership Awards were introduced in 2020 to recognize individuals dedicated to advancing women's careers in biochemistry and molecular biology, while also excelling in research, discovery, and service. The commentary focuses on the importance of mentoring and diverse expertise for success in STEM careers, beyond formal mentoring committees.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edwin B. Corgiat, Sara M. List, J. Christopher Rounds, Anita H. Corbett, Kenneth H. Moberg
Summary: The study identified roles for Nab2 in controlling the dynamic growth of axons in the developing brain mushroom bodies and regulating abundance of a small fraction of brain proteome. The Nab2-regulated brain proteins have functions related to brain morphogenesis, neuroblast proliferation, circadian sleep/wake cycles, and synaptic development.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Megan Bergkessel
Summary: Bacteria in natural environments often experience periods of limited nutrients and non-dividing states, during which new transcription still occurs and is crucial for survival. Despite challenges posed by low and heterogeneous transcription levels during growth arrest, new methods have provided exciting opportunities for studying transcriptional activity. Additionally, insights from decades of research on bacterial transcriptional machinery are relevant to understanding transcription during growth arrest.
TRANSCRIPTION-AUSTIN
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Reina E. Ambrocio, Laramie D. Lemon, Sneha Kannan, Kim Wai Mo, Miranda Adams, Milo B. Fasken, Jennifer M. Spangle, Anita H. Corbett
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Laramie D. Lemon, Sneha Kannan, Kim Wai Mo, Miranda Adams, Haley G. Choi, Alexander O. D. Gulka, Elise S. Withers, Hasset T. Nurelegne, Valeria Gomez, Reina E. Ambrocio, Rhea Tumminkatti, Richard S. Lee, Morris Wan, Milo B. Fasken, Jennifer M. Spangle, Anita H. Corbett
Summary: Missense mutations in histone genes can transform essential proteins into oncogenes, driving oncogenesis. By studying the budding yeast model, researchers have identified the functional consequences of several oncohistone mutations, as well as genes associated with histone function and transcriptional regulation.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Edwin B. Corgiat, Sara M. List, J. Christopher Rounds, Dehong Yu, Ping Chen, Anita H. Corbett, Kenneth H. Moberg
Summary: Nab2 RNA-binding protein restricts dendrite growth and branching in Drosophila sensory neurons and is linked to the planar cell polarity pathway.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Karena H. Nguyen, Kyle Thomas, Robert C. Liu, Anita H. Corbett
Summary: This article presents specific approaches utilized in a recent faculty search process to contribute to an inclusive hiring process, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by a global pandemic. The detailed description of each step in the search provides guidance for institutions planning their own faculty searches and insights for applicants in understanding the process.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria C. Sterrett, Daniela Farchi, Sarah E. Strassler, Lawrence H. Boise, Milo B. Fasken, Anita H. Corbett
Summary: A rare missense mutation in the EXOSC2 gene was identified in a multiple myeloma patient, which affects the function of the RNA exosome and provides insights into the critical interaction between the RNA exosome and Mtr4.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anita H. Corbett, Milo B. Fasken
Summary: Akey et al. utilize complementary experimental approaches and AI-based structure prediction to uncover new details of the yeast nuclear pore complex structure, providing crucial insights into its evolution, assembly, and nucleocytoplasmic transport mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher John Harding, Marcus Bischoff, Megan Bergkessel, Clarissa Melo Czekster
Summary: This study investigated the role of PaAP, an aminopeptidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in biofilm development and nutrient recycling. The crystal structures revealed the autoinhibition mechanism and a potent cyclic-peptide inhibitor was designed to target secreted proteins in a biofilm context.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Binta Jalloh, Carly L. Lancaster, J. Christopher Rounds, Brianna E. Brown, Sara W. Leung, Ayan Banerjee, Derrick J. Morton, Rick S. Bienkowski, Milo B. Fasken, Isaac J. Kremsky, Matthew Tegowski, Kate Meyer, Anita Corbett, Ken Moberg
Summary: The Drosophila protein Nab2 plays a specific role in regulating splicing events in the head transcriptome, particularly in the sex determination factor Sex-lethal. It associates with Sxl pre-mRNA and limits the m(6)A methylation at specific sites. Additionally, reducing the expression of Mettl3 complex components or the m(6)A reader Ythdc1 can rescue mutant phenotypes in Nab2 flies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Megan Bergkessel, Laurent Delavaine
Summary: Heterotrophic Proteobacteria are versatile opportunists that have been extensively studied. Surviving in different niches requires the ability to persist in growth-arrested states for long periods of time. The tendency to grow in dense biofilm communities leads to steep nutrient gradients, even in nutrient-rich environments.
MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)