Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiajia He, Ke Liu, Yifan Wu, Chenhui Zhao, Shuaijie Yan, Jia-Hui Chen, Lizhu Hu, Dongmei Wang, Fan Zheng, Wenfan Wei, Chao Xu, Chengdong Huang, Xing Liu, Xuebiao Yao, Lijun Ding, Zhiyou Fang, Ai-Hui Tang, Chuanhai Fu
Summary: Mitochondria constantly undergo fusion and fission, and excessive fission or deficient fusion can lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction. The study reveals that Yta4, the homolog of Msp1 in budding yeast, plays a critical role in preventing excessive mitochondrial fission. Yta4 inhibits mitochondrial fission by reducing the localization of Dnm1 and preventing the assembly of the mitochondrial divisome.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saskia Roedl, Johannes M. Herrmann
Summary: Protein abundance is regulated by synthesis and degradation rates, and the proteasome is the major machinery for protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies have revealed the important role of the proteasome in mitochondrial protein quality control, removing damaged proteins from the mitochondria and maintaining protein homeostasis. This review provides an overview of the components and functions involved in proteasomal degradation of mitochondrial proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, highlighting the dynamic adaptation of protein levels in response to specific conditions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica M. Warren, Thalia Salinas-Giege, Deborah A. Triant, Douglas R. Taylor, Laurence Drouard, Daniel B. Sloan
Summary: Research on mitochondrial genomes of Silene plants reveals the process of tRNA gene loss and replacement, as well as the import of nuclear-encoded tRNAs. Even in systems with recent mitochondrial tRNA gene loss, nuclear-encoded counterparts may likely replace mitochondrial tRNAs, providing insight into the evolutionary history of plant mitochondrial genomes.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catherine Kim, Meredith Juncker, Ryan Reed, Arthur Haas, Jessie Guidry, Michael Matunis, Wei-Chih Yang, Joshua Schwartzenburg, Shyamal Desai
Summary: In cells treated with mitochondrial stressors, SUMOylation of Mfn1/2 facilitates the aggregation of damaged mitochondria at the perinuclear region, potentially through acting as a molecular glue to interact with other proteins.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruairidh Edwards, Ross Eaglesfield, Kostas Tokatlidis
Summary: The mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) is a narrow sub-mitochondrial compartment with diverse protein import mechanisms. IMS proteins do not require energy to cross the outer mitochondrial membrane, unlike import into the matrix or inner membrane. Many IMS proteins are associated with human diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding their normal function and localization in the IMS.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mickaele Hemono, Thalia Salinas-Giege, Jeanne Roignant, Audrey Vingadassalon, Philippe Hammann, Elodie Ubrig, Patryk Ngondo, Anne-Marie Duchene
Summary: This study reveals that the FMT protein in Arabidopsis thaliana is a cytosolic RNA binding protein that associates with cytosolic ribosomes at the surface of mitochondria. Knockout of FMT delays seedling development and causes mitochondrial clustering, disrupting the mitochondrial proteome and the localization of nuclear transcripts encoding mitochondrial proteins at the surface of mitochondria.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Sladowska, Michal Turek, Min-Ji Kim, Krzysztof Drabikowski, Ben Hur Marins Mussulini, Karthik Mohanraj, Remigiusz A. Serwa, Ulrike Topf, Agnieszka Chacinska
Summary: Defects in mitochondrial function trigger compensatory responses in the cell, activating the mitochondrial unfolded protein response and proteasomal activity in the cytosol. This compensatory response plays a crucial role in promoting longevity.
Article
Cell Biology
Lihua He, Andrew S. Kennedy, Scott Houck, Andrei Aleksandrov, Nancy L. Quinney, Alexandra Cyr-Scully, Deborah M. Cholon, Martina Gentzsch, Scott H. Randell, Hong Yu Ren, Douglas M. Cyr
Summary: The N1303K mutation in CFTR protein causes misfolding and resistance to correction. This mutation disrupts the folding process of CFTR protein, affecting its normal trafficking and degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sonia Sa Santos, Joao B. Moreira, Marcia Costa, Rui S. Rodrigues, Ana M. Sebastiao, Sara Xapelli, Susana Sola
Summary: Neural stem cells (NSCs) play a crucial role in memory and buffering depressive behavior in the adult brain. This study shows that the deacetylase Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) plays a role in regulating the fate of NSCs under aging and depression-like contexts. Increasing the expression of SIRT3 can restore the function of aged NSCs.
Review
Cell Biology
Verena Dederer, Marius K. Lemberg
Summary: Precise distribution of proteins is crucial for cell viability, with transmembrane dislocases capable of recognizing and removing mislocalized membrane proteins to enable correct targeting and prevent degradation.
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Livia Sassano, Alexander R. R. van Vliet, Ellen Vervoort, Sofie Van Eygen, Chris van den Haute, Benjamin Pavie, Joris Roels, Johannes V. V. Swinnen, Marco Spinazzi, Leen Moens, Kristina Casteels, Isabelle Meyts, Paolo Pinton, Saverio Marchi, Leila Rochin, Francesca Giordano, Blanca Felipe-Abrio, Patrizia Agostinis
Summary: ER-mitochondria appositions play a critical role in the transfer of ions and phospholipids between these organelles and impact mitochondrial bioenergetics. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are not well understood. This study reveals that PERK acts as an adaptor to recruit the lipid transfer protein E-Syt1 at ER-mitochondria contact sites, enabling lipid transport and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. These findings provide insights into the molecular components and functions of the lipid trafficking machinery at ER-mitochondria contact sites.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Navdeep Malik, Young -Im Kim, Hualong Yan, Yu-Chou Tseng, Wendy du Bois, Gamze Ayaz, Andy D. Tran, Laura Vera-Ramirez, Howard Yang, Aleksandra M. Michalowski, Michael Kruhlak, Maxwell Lee, Kent W. Hunter, Jing Huang
Summary: Understanding functional interactions between cancer mutations is crucial for discovering new cancer pathways and developing personalized treatment. In this study, the authors identified driver gene pairs in breast cancer by combining genetic interaction and proteomics data. They found that the PIK3CA mutation and CBFB mutation cooperate to promote breast tumor progression by causing mitochondrial translation dysregulation. Additionally, they demonstrated that combining autophagy and PI3K inhibitors can effectively kill breast cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth. This study provides mechanistic insights and a preclinical rationale for precision medicine in breast cancer.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xumeng Ge, Yian Chen, Violeta Sanchez i Nogue, Yebo Li
Summary: This paper reviews the process of producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from organic waste by using volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as intermediates. It discusses the crucial VFAs recovery process and its challenges in terms of cost and compatibility. The review explores various techniques for dewatering, filtration, and extraction, aiming to contribute to the development of an integrated VFA recovery process with low carbon footprint.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastien Meurant, Lorris Mauclet, Marc Dieu, Thierry Arnould, Sven Eyckerman, Patricia Renard
Summary: Biotin-based proximity labeling approaches, specifically BioID, have been used to study mitochondria proteomes in living cells. Genetically engineered cell lines enable detailed characterization of poorly understood processes (e.g., mitochondrial co-translational import). However, the mechanisms are still unclear, and few actors have been identified in mammals. Using BioID, the TOM20 proxosome was profiled, revealing enrichment of RNA binding proteins, although their role in the co-translational import process was not demonstrated for selected candidates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Ashley L. Reed, Wayne Mitchell, Andrei T. Alexandrescu, Nathan N. Alder
Summary: The targeting of mitochondrial proteins and the interaction with amyloidogenic proteins play important roles in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the mechanisms behind these processes can contribute to the development of therapeutic interventions.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Rico Schieweck, Therese Riedemann, Ignasi Forne, Max Harner, Karl E. Bauer, Daniela Rieger, Foong Yee Ang, Saskia Hutten, Antonia F. Demleitner, Bastian Popper, Sophia Derdak, Bernd Sutor, Martin Bilban, Axel Imhof, Michael A. Kiebler
Summary: Neurons have the ability to adapt to environmental stimuli through cellular plasticity, regulated by a network of RNA-binding proteins. Pum2 and Stau2 have different impacts on the transcriptome and proteome, with Pum2 affecting protein expression and Stau2 influencing RNA levels.
Article
Microbiology
Johannes Forster, Ozlem Koc, Martin B. Koeppel, Axel Hamprecht, Oliver Kurzai, Sebastian Suerbaum, Johannes Wagener, Karl Dichtl
Summary: This study investigated the incidence, mortality, and suitability of fungal biomarkers in Magnusiomyces and Geotrichum infections. The results showed that GM is not a suitable biomarker for diagnosing Magnusiomyces infection, while BDG has a sensitivity comparable to candidemia.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Johannes Forster, Karl Dichtl, Johannes Wagener
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of a recent update to the manufacturer-recommended cut-off for beta-1,3-D-glucan (BDG) testing on the diagnosis of candidemia. The results showed that BDG testing had higher sensitivity compared to antigen and antibody testing, and lowering the BDG cut-off value improved sensitivity, mainly for non-albicans Candida species bloodstream infections.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weihua Qin, Clemens Steinek, Ksenia Kolobynina, Ignasi Forne, Axel Imhof, M. Cristina Cardoso, Heinrich Leonhardt
Summary: The reversible attachment of ubiquitin regulates the interaction, activity, and degradation of proteins. This study employs recombinant binding domains to investigate protein ubiquitination in living cells, using fluorescent ubiquitin binders to detect ubiquitination state. HP1 beta was identified as a novel ubiquitination target of UHRF1, and K48 and K63 linked protein ubiquitination were discriminated using specific ubiquitin binding domains. Complementation assays with split YFP and a cell cycle marker were used to detect the ubiquitination of p53 and its inhibition by Nutlin-3. Overall, the ubiF3H assay proves useful for probing specific protein ubiquitination and screening for regulators of this posttranslational modification.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Karl Dichtl, Rachel Barry, Matthias W. A. Angstwurm, Sebastian Suerbaum, Johannes Wagener
Summary: Invasive aspergillosis is a major threat to immunocompromised individuals. This study compared the performance of endotracheal aspirate GM as a screening tool to predict BAL fluid GM-positivity in patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis. The findings suggest that endotracheal aspirate could be considered for GM testing to avoid unnecessary BAL.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Bo Sun, Pawel Smialowski, Wasim Aftab, Andreas Schmidt, Ignasi Forne, Tobias Straub, Axel Imhof
Summary: Data-independent acquisition (DIA) of tandem mass spectrometry spectra is a promising technology to improve protein coverage and quantification in complex mixtures. The quality of spectral libraries used for database searching is crucial for the success of DIA experiments. A new algorithm called deep-learning for SWATH analysis (dpSWATH) has been developed to generate theoretical libraries for SWATH experiments, allowing for increased protein identification rate compared to traditional or library-free methods. dpSWATH is superior to other algorithms based on Orbitrap data in predicting SWATH-MS measurements.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pedro Weickert, Hao-Yi Li, Maximilian J. Goetz, Sophie Duerauer, Denitsa Yaneva, Shubo Zhao, Jacqueline Cordes, Aleida C. Acampora, Ignasi Forne, Axel Imhof, Julian Stingele
Summary: DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are common DNA lesions induced by reactive metabolites and chemotherapeutic agents. A novel technique called PxP is developed to identify and track different types of DPCs in mammalian cells. The study reveals an unexpected role for the SPRTN protease in replication-independent repair of DPCs and demonstrates the mechanisms involved.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Clara Baldin, Alexander Kuehbacher, Petra Merschak, Johannes Wagener, Fabio Gsaller
Summary: Inducible promoters are crucial for modulating gene expression as needed. This study investigated different inducible systems in a human pathogenic fungus, identified three candidate promoters, and showed for the first time that multiple systems can be used simultaneously without interference.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anuroop Venkateswaran Venkatasubramani, Toshiharu Ichinose, Mai Kanno, Ignasi Forne, Hiromu Tanimoto, Shahaf Peleg, Axel Imhof
Summary: Proteins involved in cellular metabolism and molecular regulation can extend lifespan in the laboratory, but their effect in real life depends on the ability to survive in non-ideal conditions. Loss of the acetyltransferase chameau (chm) in Drosophila melanogaster leads to increased healthy lifespan but decreased weight and starvation resistance, indicating a failure to regulate energy storage and expenditure. The ability to survive in environments with restricted food availability is a stronger evolutionary driver than the ability to live a long life, explaining why chm is still present in the organism's genome.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vera Kleene, Valentina Corvaglia, Erika Chacin, Ignasi Forne, David B. Konrad, Pardis Khosravani, Celine Douat, Christoph F. Kurat, Ivan Huc, Axel Imhof
Summary: The use of synthetic foldamers that mimic double-stranded DNA has shown potential for interfering with protein-DNA interactions and disrupting the chromatin-bound proteome. These foldamers have been found to efficiently interfere with the association of the origin recognition complex with chromatin, leading to disruption of the cell cycle. This interaction is mediated by a direct interaction between the foldamers and the origin recognition complex, resulting in a failure to organize chromatin around replication origins.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Richard Klaus, Teresa K. K. Barth, Axel Imhof, Franziska Thalmeier, Barbel Lange-Sperandio
Summary: This study assessed the influence of urine bag and clean catch collection methods on urinary proteomics in infants. The results showed that these two collection methods had minimal impact on urinary proteomics, with the biological characteristics of the urine samples being more important.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karl Dichtl, Andreas Osterman, Johannes Forster, Lena Jakob, Sebastian Suerbaum, Michael J. J. Flaig, Soren Schubert, Johannes Wagener
Summary: Sexually transmitted diseases are a major challenge worldwide, and rapid diagnosis is crucial for early treatment. The Euroarray STI-11 microarray is a novel assay that can detect multiple pathogens and has potential applications in STI diagnostics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Isabel Klugherz, Marion Basch, Natanya Ng, Zhaojun Zhu, Nikola Wagener, Johannes Wagener
Summary: Mitochondrial translocase Bcs1 is crucial for the assembly of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III. The pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus encodes three putative Bcs1 homologs, out of which Bcs1A significantly affects growth and susceptibility to antifungal drugs, and Bcs1B and Bcs1C are localized outside mitochondria and exert different cellular functions.
Article
Microbiology
Maximilian Liebl, Ludwig Huber, Hesham Elsaman, Petra Merschak, Johannes Wagener, Fabio Gsaller, Christoph Mueller
Summary: The ergosterol pathway is a vital target for the development of new antifungal drugs. Researchers have developed a whole-cell screening method to identify compounds that interact with the enzymes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis, a critical part of the ergosterol pathway. This method has been validated according to the guidelines set by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Pichler, Markus Hillmeier, Matthias Heiss, Elsa Peev, Stylianos Xefteris, Barbara Steigenberger, Ines Thoma, Markus Mueller, Marco Borso, Axel Imhof, Thomas Carell
Summary: Queuosine is a highly complex hypermodified RNA nucleoside found in tRNAs. It has several derivatives, including glutamylated Queuosine (gluQ), which is only found in bacteria.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
