Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tugce Oz, Valentina Mengoli, Julie Rojas, Katarzyna Jonak, Marianne Braun, Ievgeniia Zagoriy, Wolfgang Zachariae
Summary: This study investigates the coordination between spore differentiation and meiosis in yeast. It finds that spore differentiation begins at metaphase II, when a membrane-nucleating structure is assembled at the centrosome. The components of this structure accumulate during meiosis I but cannot assemble due to occupation of the centrosome. The assembly of this structure depends on specific signaling pathways and is initiated upon degradation of certain proteins during anaphase I.
Article
Biology
Liangyu Zhang, Weston T. Stauffer, John S. Wang, Fan Wu, Zhouliang Yu, Chenshu Liu, Hyung Jun Kim, Abby F. Dernburg
Summary: Meiotic chromosome segregation relies on synapsis and crossover recombination between homologous chromosomes. In C. elegans, recruitment of Polo-like kinase PLK-2 triggers phosphorylation and inactivation of CHK-2, an early meiotic kinase required for pairing, synapsis, and double-strand break induction. Inactivation of CHK-2 terminates double-strand break formation and enables crossover designation and cell cycle progression. These findings illuminate the mechanisms by which meiotic cells ensure crossover formation and accurate chromosome segregation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. Colgren, S. A. Nichols
Summary: The study finds molecular and functional similarities between a contractile module in sponge tissues and muscle tissues in other animals, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
SeongShick Ryu, Jung-Eun Park, Young Jin Ham, Daniel C. Lim, Nicholas P. Kwiatkowski, Do-Hee Kim, Debabrata Bhunia, Nam Doo Kim, Michael B. Yaffe, Woolim Son, Namkyoung Kim, Tae-Ik Choi, Puspanjali Swain, Cheol-Hee Kim, Jin-Young Lee, Nathanael S. Gray, Kyung S. Lee, Taebo Sim
Summary: This study successfully designed and synthesized a series of macrocyclic peptidomimetics with high selectivity and inhibitory activities against Plk1's PBD. Compound 16e showed more potent inhibitory activity than the previous PMQSpTPL. The pi-π stacking interaction between 16a and Arg516 revealed a new design strategy, and PEGylation of 16h caused delocalization and mitotic failure of Plk1. Furthermore, the number of phospho-H3-positive cells in zebrafish embryos correlated with the amount of 16a. These findings suggest that macrocyclic peptidomimetics can serve as valuable templates for potent and novel Plk1-PBD inhibitors.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wai Shan Yuen, Qing Hua Zhang, Anne Bourdais, Deepak Adhikari, Guillaume Halet, John Carroll
Summary: Through inhibition of Plk1 kinase, we found a new role for Plk1 in the establishment of cortical polarity in highly asymmetric cell divisions of oocyte meiosis. Plk1 inhibitors prevent the recruitment of Cdc42 and N-WASP to the cortex, leading to inhibition of actin polymerization. These findings highlight the essential role of Plk1 in coordinating cortical polarity and asymmetric cell division.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Styliani Iliaki, Rudi Beyaert, Inna S. Afonina
Summary: PLK1 is a Ser/Thr kinase that plays crucial roles in cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response, apoptosis, and cancer progression. Overexpression of PLK1 is associated with poor prognosis in cancer, making it an attractive therapeutic target.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sara Gonzalez-Arranz, Isabel Acosta, Jesus A. Carballo, Beatriz Santos, Pedro A. San-Segundo
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism of polo-like kinase Cdc5 during meiotic prophase I to meiosis I transition, showing that its overexpression partially relieves the meiotic delay induced by the checkpoint. However, a mutant version lacking the N-terminal region fails to alleviate the delay. In addition, the double mutant exhibits an exacerbated meiotic block compared to the single mutant.
Review
Oncology
Chuanyong Zhang, Chuangye Ni, Hao Lu
Summary: PLK2 plays an important role in the cell cycle, cell differentiation, and maintaining neural homeostasis. Dysfunction of PLK2 can lead to cell cycle disorders and developmental retardation. Additionally, PLK2 may promote cell survival or apoptosis in response to stress stimuli. However, research on the role of PLK2 in immunity to viral infection is limited compared to other family members.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zhenqiang Gao, Cuiting Zheng, Yaqi Xing, Xiyu Zhang, Yunfei Bai, Chen Chen, Yuanyuan Zheng, Wen Wang, Hongbing Zhang, Yan Meng
Summary: In sepsis, Plk-1 promotes the development of SIMD. Inhibition of Plk-1 improves LPS-induced myocardial injury and inflammation, and enhances the survival rate of mice. Plk-1 inhibition also impedes NF-κB signal pathway activation.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Monica J. Bohmer, Jinhua Wang, Eva S. Istvan, Madeline R. Luth, Jennifer E. Collins, Edward L. Huttlin, Lushun Wang, Nimisha Mittal, Mingfeng Hao, Nicholas P. Kwiatkowski, Steven P. Gygi, Ratna Chakrabarti, Xianming Deng, Daniel E. Goldberg, Elizabeth A. Winzeler, Nathanael S. Gray, Debopam Chakrabarti
Summary: Protein kinases have been successful therapeutic targets, especially for cancer treatment, and there is potential to repurpose them as antimalarials. A study discovered BI-2536, a potent inhibitor of human polo-like kinase 1, showing nanomolar antiplasmodial activity. Screening of other PLK1 inhibitors identified more potential antimalarials, and a shared target, PfNEK3, was identified through kinase panel screening. However, there may be additional targets involved as distinct signaling pathways were disrupted by different inhibitors. Genomic analysis of BI-2536-resistant parasites suggested potential inhibition of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Eun-Ah Park, Juri Kim, Mee Young Shin, Soon-Jung Park
Summary: The study reveals the role of GlPLK in Giardia cell division, especially during cytokinesis, and its involvement in flagella formation.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Respiratory System
Rongrong Chen, Hongfei Wang, Cuiting Zheng, Xiyu Zhang, Li Li, Shengwei Wang, Hongyu Chen, Jing Duan, Xian Zhou, Haiyong Peng, Jing Guo, Anchen Zhang, Feifei Li, Wang Wang, Yu Zhang, Jun Wang, Chen Wang, Yan Meng, Xinling Du, Hongbing Zhang
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the role of the mitotic regulator Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The results showed that hypoxia stimulated the expression of PLK1 through the induction of HIF1a and RELA. Overexpression of PLK1 was essential for the development of PH, suggesting that PLK1 could be a potential druggable target for PH.
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mrunal Jadhav, Kaksha Sankhe, Richie R. Bhandare, Zehra Edis, Samir Haj Bloukh, Tabassum Asif Khan
Summary: Recent decades have seen significant progress in the discovery of anticancer drugs containing pyrimidine structures, which exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, including inhibition of protein kinases. Literature and patent analysis reveal extensive research and application of pyrimidine derivatives in the field of anticancer drugs.
Review
Cell Biology
James N. Brandt, Yumi Kim
Summary: PLK family plays a central role in meiotic chromosome dynamics by controlling homolog pairing, synapsis, and meiotic recombination. In C. elegans, the meiosis-specific PLK-2 targets to pairing centers in early meiotic prophase to facilitate homolog pairing and synapsis, and then relocates to the synaptonemal complex after crossover designation to mediate chromosome remodeling.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher A. Raab, Monika Raab, Sven Becker, Klaus Strebhardt
Summary: This article discusses the important roles of PLK1-5 in regulating non-mitotic signaling, as well as the potential of PLK1 and PLK4 as cancer targets. It highlights the need for specific ATP-competitive inhibitors for PLK4 and PLK1, as well as the unique druggable domain, the polo-box-domain (PBD), that offers the opportunity for the development of inhibitors targeting only PLKs.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-REVIEWS ON CANCER
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshinori Makino, Niels H. Jensen, Naoko Yokota, Moritz J. Rossner, Haruhiko Akiyama, Katsuhiko Shirahige, Yuki Okada
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kotaro Tsuboyama, Tatsuya Osaki, Eriko Matsuura-Suzuki, Hiroko Kozuka-Hata, Yuki Okada, Masaaki Oyama, Yoshiho Ikeuchi, Shintaro Iwasaki, Yukihide Tomari
Article
Cell Biology
Chang Rok Kim, Taichi Noda, Hyunkyung Kim, Gibeom Kim, Seongwan Park, Yongwoo Na, Seiya Oura, Keisuke Shimada, Injin Bang, Jun-Yeong Ahn, Yong Ryoul Kim, Se Kyu Oh, Hee-Jung Choi, Jong-Seo Kim, Inkyung Jung, Ho Lee, Yuki Okada, Masahito Ikawa, Sung Hee Baek
Article
Cell Biology
Eriko Fukuda, Hiromitsu Tanaka, Kei Yamaguchi, Mieko Takasaka, Yoshifumi Kawamura, Hidenobu Okuda, Ayako Isotani, Masahito Ikawa, Virginia Smith Shapiro, Junji Tsuchida, Yuki Okada, Akira Tsujimura, Yasushi Miyagawa, Shinichiro Fukuhara, Yoshitaka Kawakami, Morimasa Wada, Yoshitake Nishimune, Naoki Goshima
Summary: TRA98 is a rat monoclonal antibody that recognizes a specific antigen in the nuclei of germ cells, with different antigens identified in mice and humans. The antigen recognized by TRA98 in humans has been identified as nuclear factor-kappa B activating protein (NKAP). NKAP undergoes SUMOylation in the testis and plays an important role in spermatogenesis as revealed by conditional knockout studies.
Article
Cell Biology
Wei Ma, Jingwen Zhou, Jian Chen, Antony M. Carr, Yoshinori Watanabe
Summary: The study elucidates the molecular mechanisms of Moa1 in regulating centromeric cohesion protection by associating with Plo1 kinase to control Rec8 phosphorylation, enhancing the activity of PP2A associated with Sgo1, and preventing the cleavage of Rec8 by separase through dephosphorylation at another site.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Correction
Cell Biology
Wei Ma, Jingwen Zhou, Jian Chen, Antony M. Carr, Yoshinori Watanabe
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Tadashi Yamamuro, Shuhei Nakamura, Yu Yamano, Tsutomu Endo, Kyosuke Yanagawa, Ayaka Tokumura, Takafumi Matsumura, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Hideto Mori, Yusuke Enokidani, Gota Yoshida, Hitomi Imoto, Tsuyoshi Kawabata, Maho Hamasaki, Akiko Kuma, Sohei Kuribayashi, Kentaro Takezawa, Yuki Okada, Manabu Ozawa, Shinichiro Fukuhara, Takashi Shinohara, Masahito Ikawa, Tamotsu Yoshimori
Summary: This study reveals that androgens regulate the autophagic degradation of GATA4 in Sertoli cells by controlling Rubicon levels in the testis, providing an important mechanism for maintaining male reproductive function. By preventing the autophagic degradation of GATA4, Rubicon promotes Sertoli cell function, and this mechanism could be regulated by androgens.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Yuji Tanno, Hiroki Sugishita, Yusuke Kishi, Yoshinori Makino, Yuki Okada
Summary: Epigenome research uses various methods to locate proteins like transcription factors and histone modifications. The CUT&Tag method, employing a Protein-A Tn5 transposase fusion protein, is important for chromatin accessibility. Dynabeads, particularly MyOne-T1, show improved suspendability and sensitivity for CUT&Tag assays.
Article
Cell Biology
Yuki Okada
Summary: This review provides a brief overview of the research history of sperm chromatin structure and summarizes recent advancements in related studies, offering a more comprehensive perspective on the highly compacted black box of sperm chromatin.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kei Fukuda, Yoshinori Makino, Satoru Kaneko, Chikako Shimura, Yuki Okada, Kenji Ichiyanagi, Yoichi Shinkai
Summary: The Kruppel-associated box domain zinc finger proteins are associated with DNA methylation of retroelements in human primordial germ cells, and during human spermatogenesis, the hominoid-specific retroelement SINE-VNTR-Alus (SVA) may undergo transcription-directed de novo DNA methylation, leading to significant inter-individual epigenetic variation in sperm.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xuemin Feng, Takafumi Matsumura, Yuki Yamashita, Takuya Sato, Kiyoshi Hashimoto, Hisakazu Odaka, Yoshinori Makino, Yuki Okada, Hiroko Nakamura, Hiroshi Kimura, Teruo Fujii, Takehiko Ogawa
Summary: It has been found that spermatogenesis in mice can be reproduced in vitro by culturing testis tissue masses, and this study investigated whether the same method is applicable when the testis tissues are divided into smaller segments such as seminiferous tubules. The results showed that spermatogenesis can still be induced even when the tubules are cut into short segments and cultured in isolation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuki Okada
Summary: Sperm chromatin condensation is a crucial step in protecting paternal DNA and acquiring fertility. Various events interact with each other during this process, affecting sperm shape and chromatin state. This review discusses nuclear and non-nuclear factors that influence sperm chromatin condensation and explores its potential clinical applications.
GENES & GENETIC SYSTEMS
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Mary Ann Handel, Yuki Okada
Summary: Meiosis is a specialized cell division that produces unique gametes through homologous recombination. Recent studies have shown that R-loops play a crucial role in transcription and genome integrity during meiosis. However, our understanding of the function of R-loops in meiosis is limited.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Byeong Seong Ki, Sung Han Shim, Chanhyeok Park, Hyunjin Yoo, Hyeonwoo La, Ok-Hee Lee, Youngjoo Kwon, David G. Skalnik, Yuki Okada, Ho-Geun Yoon, Jin-Hoi Kim, Kwonho Hong, Youngsok Choi
Summary: A protein called Cfp1 has been found to play an important role in the development of sperm cells in mice. Its absence interferes with the process of meiosis, which leads to abnormal sperm formation. Cfp1 controls gene expression, including genes related to meiosis and homologous recombination.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chang Rok Kim, Taichi Noda, Yuki Okada, Masahito Ikawa, Sung Hee Baek
Summary: Isolation of spermatid fractions using unit gravity sedimentation in a BSA density gradient can be used to analyze changes in transcript or protein expression during spermiogenesis.