Article
Microbiology
Ryan J. Rahman, Ramesh Rijal, Shiyu Jing, Te-An Chen, Issam Ismail, Richard H. Gomer
Summary: Research has discovered that polyphosphate (polyP) inhibits the killing ability of macrophages towards ingested bacteria by utilizing the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and other components in the signal transduction pathway. Additionally, high concentrations of polyP also inhibit cell division. These findings suggest that pharmacologically blocking the polyP inhibition of bacterial killing pathway may enhance the killing of pathogenic bacteria by macrophages.
Article
Cell Biology
Romain Bodinier, Ayman Sabra, Jade Leiba, Anna Marchetti, Otmane Lamrabet, Imen Ayadi, Vedrana Filic, Takefumi Kawata, Igor Weber, Pierre Cosson
Summary: The genetic inactivation of lrrkA leads to enhanced phagocytosis and cell motility in D. discoideum cells, while also causing an abnormal response to folate. Folate increases motility in parental cells but not in lrrkA KO cells, indicating the pivotal role of LrrkA in cellular response to folate. The study identifies gene products involved in the control of intracellular killing, cell motility, and gene transcription, shedding light on how D. discoideum can efficiently migrate, engulf, and kill bacteria when encountering bacterially-secreted folate.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jing Chen, Xu Cao, Bolei Li, Zhangchen Zhao, Siqi Chen, Seigmund W. T. Lai, Sabina A. Muend, Gianna K. Nossa, Lei Wang, Weihua Guo, Jian Ye, Peter P. Lee, Mingye Feng
Summary: Research has shown that cancer cells evade macrophage-mediated phagocytosis through extracellular acidification, a mechanism independent of CD47. Targeting V-ATPase can reverse this acidic microenvironment, inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. In addition, blockade of extracellular acidification enhances cell surface exposure of CD71, promoting cancer cell phagocytosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jake Cross, Joanne Durgan, David G. McEwan, Matthew Tayler, Kevin M. Ryan, Oliver Florey
Summary: Cross et al. demonstrate that non-canonical autophagy activation is responsible for the majority of ATG8 lipidation in response to lysosome damage, rather than lysophagy. They show that ATG8 proteins directly conjugate to lysosomal membranes and interact with the lipid transfer protein ATG2. This study reveals a parallel ATG8 response to lysosome damage that is mechanistically distinct from lysophagy and involves important links to lipid transfer and dynamics.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Thorsten Seidel
Summary: V-ATPase is the dominant proton pump in plant cells, playing crucial roles in cytosolic pH homeostasis, endomembrane transport processes, and stress responses. Its complex structure and multiple subunit isoforms provide structural flexibility, but also require sophisticated assembly machinery and transport routes in cells.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Supinya Nijpanich, Adun Nimpaiboon, Porntip Rojruthai, Jae-Hyeok Park, Takeshi Hagio, Ryoichi Ichino, Jitladda Sakdapipanich
Summary: In this study, the photochemical degradation method was used to modify the properties of natural rubber. TiO2-coated hollow glass beads (TiO2-HGBs) were introduced as photocatalysts to functionalize deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR). The molecular weight of DPNR was significantly reduced and functional groups were successfully incorporated. Remarkably, TiO2-HGBs maintained their performance after multiple cycles of reuse, showing great potential for the advanced functionalization of natural rubber.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rong Wang, Jin Wang, Abdirahman Hassan, Chia-Hsueh Lee, Xiao-Song Xie, Xiaochun Li
Summary: The study reveals the structural basis for Bafilomycin A1 inhibition of V-ATPase, showing that six Bafilomycin A1 molecules bind to the c-ring and disrupt the interactions between the c-ring and subunit a, thus preventing proton translocation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catia Santos-Pereira, Ligia R. Rodrigues, Manuela Corte-Real
Summary: Lactoferrin is a protein derived from milk that shows potential as a therapeutic agent against various cancers. It selectively targets cancer cells and is well-tolerated in humans. Previous research has identified plasmalemmal V-ATPase as a target of lactoferrin in cancer cells. This proton pump plays a critical role in the acidity of the tumor microenvironment. Plasmalemmal V-ATPase can serve as a biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes of lactoferrin-based anticancer strategies.
Review
Cell Biology
Robin S. B. Williams, Jonathan R. Chubb, Robert Insall, Jason S. King, Catherine J. Pears, Elinor Thompson, Cornelis J. Weijer
Summary: The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum serves as an excellent model for research in various biological disciplines due to its low genetic complexity and versatile experimental techniques, enabling multidisciplinary studies and leading to breakthroughs in research. Numerous laboratories in the United Kingdom utilize Dictyostelium as their core research model for studying distinct areas and benefiting from the tractable nature of this model system.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kulpavee Jitapunkul, Yanling Zhao, Luckhana Lawtrakul, Michel A. Van Hove, Ruiqin Zhang
Summary: This study presents a computer modeling approach to investigate F-type ATP synthase and vacuolar ATP hydrolase. It is found that F-ATPase behaves as a random rotor with a preference for clockwise rotation during ATP synthesis, while V-ATPase tends to rotate counterclockwise during ATP hydrolysis. The presence of surrounding solvent also affects their rotational behaviors. The torque approach used in this study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanistic rotation of biomolecular motors.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Sara A. Kirolos, Chance E. Hatfield, Ryan J. Rahman, Kristen M. Consalvo, Nolan K. Dittenhauser, Richard H. Gomer
Summary: During developmental and immune responses, cells can move towards or away from signals. The movement of cells away from a stimulus, known as chemorepulsion, is poorly understood. In this study, researchers found that a protein called AprA is secreted by cells to repel other cells. They also identified an enzyme called PIPkinA that is necessary for chemorepulsion. PIPkinA controls the activation of a protein called Ras and regulates the movement of cells away from AprA.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Alder, Cecilia P. Sanchez, Matthew R. G. Russell, Lucy M. Collinson, Michael Lanzer, Michael J. Blackman, Tim-Wolf Gilberger, Joachim M. Matz
Summary: Malaria parasites use a complex to acidify the digestive vacuole and degrade host erythrocyte hemoglobin, which is essential for their survival in the human bloodstream.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siyi Zhang, Zhenzhen He, Chenyuan Wu, Zihe Wang, Yingwen Mai, Ruiwen Hu, Xiaojie Zhang, Wei Huang, Yuehui Tian, Dehua Xia, Cheng Wang, Qingyun Yan, Zhili He, Longfei Shu
Summary: Nano- and microplastics negatively affect the fitness and development of soil amoeba, having complex bilateral interactions and influencing each other's fate in the soil environment. The amoeba ingests and excretes the plastics, and the exposure disrupts its nutrient and energy metabolisms and affects the expression of key genes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kirsty M. Hooper, Elise Jacquin, Taoyingnan Li, Jonathan M. Goodwin, John H. Brumell, Joanne Durgan, Oliver Florey
Summary: This study reveals the important role of V-ATPase in non-canonical autophagy, as it is sufficient to activate CASM. V-ATPase recruits ATG16L1 during LAP, STING- and drug-induced CASM, indicating a common mechanism. Key molecular players, including NADPH oxidase/ROS, converge on V-ATPase during LAP. The study also demonstrates the contribution of CASM to the Salmonella host response and the disruption of V-ATPase-ATG16L1 axis by SopF.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael C. Jaskolka, Maureen Tarsio, Anne M. Smardon, Md Murad Khan, Patricia M. Kane
Summary: The vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a proton pump responsible for acidifying organelles in cells. The RAVE complex plays a crucial role in the reassembly of V-ATPases through the rapid and reversible disassembly and reassembly processes. Native RAVE and RAVE-V1 complexes purified using an inducible overexpression system contain substoichiometric levels of subunit C, suggesting their importance in V-ATPase reassembly.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)