Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fabien Guegan, K. Shanmugha Rajan, Fabio Bento, Daniel Pinto-Neves, Mariana Sequeira, Natalia Guminska, Seweryn Mroczek, Andrzej Dziembowski, Smadar Cohen-Chalamish, Tirza Doniger, Beathrice Galili, Antonio M. Estevez, Cedric Notredame, Shulamit Michaeli, Luisa M. Figueiredo
Summary: This study identified 1428 previously uncharacterized lncRNA genes in the T. brucei genome. The key regulator, grumpy lncRNA, was found to promote parasite differentiation into the quiescent stumpy form, with this function being promoted by the encoded small nucleolar RNA. Overexpression of grumpy reduced parasitemia in infected mice.
Review
Parasitology
David Horn
Summary: Genome-scale genetic screens have played a crucial role in African trypanosomes by uncovering mechanisms related to drug resistance, metabolism, and gene expression control. They have also been effective in identifying potential antitrypanosomal drug targets.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Sara Silva Pereira, Andrew P. Jackson, Luisa M. Figueiredo
Summary: An intriguing and remarkable feature of African trypanosomes is their antigenic variation system, mediated by the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) family. Recent studies have revealed that the VSG repertoire has a complex evolutionary history and plays a key role in immune evasion and disease epidemiology. The diversity in sequence, genomic organization, and expression patterns within the VSG family may explain variations in parasite virulence and disease pathology, indicating a need for further exploration of their functional roles.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Douglas Escrivani, Viktor Scheidt, Michele Tinti, Joana Faria, David Horn
Summary: Some pathogens use antigenic variation to evade mammalian host adaptive immune responses. African trypanosomes employ variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) to continually switch their active VSGs and avoid immune recognition. Switched trypanosomes compete in a predictable manner that is dependent on the activated VSG, and the population of cells that activates minichromosome derived VSGs has a competitive advantage.
Article
Oncology
Kelvin Anderson, Nathan Ryan, Divya Nedungadi, Felipe Lamenza, Michael Swingler, Arham Siddiqui, Abhay Satoskar, Puja Upadhaya, Maciej Pietrzak, Steve Oghumu
Summary: Our findings indicate that STAT1 activity plays an important role in tumorigenicity and immunosuppression during HNSCC development. STAT1 expression in tumor cells influences their proliferation by regulating the immunosuppressive marker PD-L1, and mice with Stat1 deficiency display increased incidence and multiplicity of lesions. However, STAT1 is required for the anti-tumor function of T cells.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Xie, Tamjeed Saleh, Paolo Rossi, Darcie Miller, Charalampos G. Kalodimos
Summary: Imatinib binds to an allosteric pocket on Abl, promoting kinase activity and providing a mechanism for drug resistance in Abl variants with imatinib-resistant mutations in the catalytic site. Combining imatinib with allosteric inhibitors maximizes their inhibitory effect on Bcr-Abl.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Franco R. Rossi, Andres Garriz, Maria Marina, Fernando L. Pieckenstain
Summary: The study found that salicylic acid can significantly modulate polyamine metabolism in Arabidopsis, mainly manifested as putrescine accumulation. This accumulation is caused by increased biosynthesis by ARGININE DECARBOXYLASE 2 and decreased oxidation by copper amine oxidase, independent of NPR1 and MKK4/MPK3, but dependent on MPK6. Additionally, infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato also triggers SA-dependent putrescine accumulation.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ann-Kathrin Mehnert, Marco Prorocic, Annick Dujeancourt-Henry, Sebastian Hutchinson, Richard McCulloch, Lucy Glover
Summary: In Trypanosoma brucei, RAD50 and MRE11 are essential for RAD51-dependent homologous recombination and phosphorylation of histone H2A following a DNA double strand break. RAD50 suppresses DSB repair using short stretches of homology at a subtelomeric locus, while MRE11 directs DSB resection at the same locus. Loss of either MRE11 or RAD50 leads to increased diversity of expressed VSG variants following DSB repair, suggesting that MRN promotes stringent homologous recombination at subtelomeric loci and restrains antigenic variation.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vitor Mendes, Simon R. Green, Joanna C. Evans, Jeannine Hess, Michal Blaszczyk, Christina Spry, Owain Bryant, James Cory-Wright, Daniel S-H Chan, Pedro H. M. Torres, Zhe Wang, Navid Nahiyaan, Sandra O'Neill, Sebastian Damerow, John Post, Tracy Bayliss, Sasha L. Lynch, Anthony G. Coyne, Peter C. Ray, Chris Abell, Kyu Y. Rhee, Helena I. M. Boshoff, Clifton E. Barry, Valerie Mizrahi, Paul G. Wyatt, Tom L. Blundell
Summary: Coenzyme A (CoA) is a crucial factor in various metabolic pathways and cellular processes, particularly in prokaryotes such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The biosynthesis of CoA involves five steps, with the second and third steps catalyzed by a bifunctional protein CoaBC in most prokaryotes. The researchers identified inhibitors of M. tuberculosis CoaB through a high-throughput screen and discovered a cryptic allosteric binding site within the enzyme.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li Zhang, Lei Li, Ziqing Wei, Hao Zhou, Haowen Liu, Shen Wang, Yijing Ren, Tiankai Dai, Jiafan Wang, Zhitao Hu, Cong Ma
Summary: This study reveals the crystal structure of the CAPS-1 C2PH module, showing a tight interaction between the C2 and PH domains and enhanced binding to PI(4,5)P2 membrane. A novel PI(4,5)P2-binding site is identified in the C2 domain. Disruption of the C2-PH interaction or the PIP2-binding sites impairs CAPS-1 function in Ca2+-regulated exocytosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Moona Kurttila, Jessica Rumfeldt, Heikki Takala, Janne A. Ihalainen
Summary: In red-light sensing phytochromes, isomerization of the bilin chromophore triggers structural and dynamic changes, and a hairpin-like structure called "arm" is crucial for signal transduction leading to control of the output module activity. The systems without arms can still respond to light, but lack subsequent regulation of the output module activity. Thermal denaturation experiments reveal that the arms stabilize the phytochrome structure.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zeyu Chen, Junwei Yuan, Yi Yao, Jiahao Cao, Wenjie Yang, Yu Long, Juanxu Liu, Weiyuan Yang
Summary: In this study, the authors identified the petunia anthocyanin acyltransferase gene, PhAAT1, which is located in the cytoplasm. Silencing of PhAAT1 resulted in changes in flower color and reduced the stability of anthocyanins. Metabolomics analysis showed a decrease in p-coumaroylated and caffeoylated anthocyanins upon PhAAT1 silencing. Additionally, PhAAT1 was found to be positively regulated by the MYB transcription factor, PhAN2, which directly interacts with the promoter of PhAAT1.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miriam Rico-Jimenez, Gloria Ceballos-Perez, Claudia Gomez-Linan, Antonio M. Estevez
Summary: The study identified a protein complex composed of PuREBP1 and PuREBP2 in Trypanosoma brucei that interacts with specific mRNAs to regulate gene expression, particularly in response to purines.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chaekyun Kim
Summary: Bone homeostasis is regulated by the balanced actions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which differentiate from different progenitor cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including ERKs, play a crucial role in the differentiation and function of osteoclasts. However, the role of ERKs in osteoclast differentiation is still controversial.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Min Li, Yuxiao Tang, Dongyao Wang, Xiaofeng Zhai, Hui Shen, Chen Zhong, Man Yao, Aiguo Jin, Zhengjun Zhou, Shaolai Zhou, Jia Fan, Chang-quan Ling, Chen Ling
Summary: This study elucidated the mechanisms of iron's enhancement activity on HCC metastasis and identified SPNS2 as a potential therapeutic target for preventing HCC pulmonary metastasis.