Ribosomal Protein Levels Research Articles

The Drosophila ribonucleoprotein Clueless is required for ribosome biogenesis in vivo

As hubs of metabolism, mitochondria contribute critical processes to coordinate and optimize energy and intermediate metabolites. Drosophila Clueless (Clu) and vertebrate CLUH are ribonucleoproteins critical for supporting mitochondrial function yet do so in multiple ways. Clu/CLUH bind mRNAs and CLUH regulates mRNA localization and translation of mRNAs encoding proteins destined for mitochondrial import. In addition, Clu associates with ribosomal proteins and translation factors, yet whether it is required for fundamental ribosome function in vivo is not clear. In this study, we examine the Clu interactome and probe Clu’s requirement in ribosome biogenesis. We previously showed that Clu associates with ribosomal proteins. In this study, we extend these observations to show that clu null mutants display a significant decrease in overall protein synthesis. In addition, Clu associates with ribosomal proteins in an mRNA-independent manner, suggesting Clu’s core ribosomal function may be separate from its role in localizing and translating specific mRNAs. We find that Clu is present in the nucleus and associates with the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing protein fibrillarin but, surprisingly, that processed rRNA products are normal in the absence of Clu. Furthermore, Clu loss does not affect ribosomal protein levels, but does result in a decrease in 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits abundance. Together, these results demonstrate that Clu is present in the nucleus and required for 40S and 60S biogenesis and global translation in vivo. These results highlight the multifaceted role of Clu in supporting cell function through regulation of mRNA encoding mitochondrial proteins and ribosome biogenesis.

Metabolic disruption impairs ribosomal protein levels, resulting in enhanced aminoglycoside tolerance

Metabolic disruption impairs ribosomal protein levels, resulting in enhanced aminoglycoside tolerance

Metabolic disruption impairs ribosomal protein levels, resulting in enhanced aminoglycoside tolerance.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics target ribosomes and are effective against a wide range of bacteria. Here, we demonstrated that knockout strains related to energy metabolism in Escherichia coli showed increased tolerance to aminoglycosides during the mid-exponential growth phase. Contrary to expectations, these mutations did not reduce the proton motive force or aminoglycoside uptake, as there were no significant changes in metabolic indicators or intracellular gentamicin levels between wild-type and mutant strains. Our comprehensive proteomics analysis unveiled a noteworthy upregulation of proteins linked to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in the mutant strains during the mid-exponential growth phase, suggesting that these strains compensate for the perturbation in their energy metabolism by increasing TCA cycle activity to maintain their membrane potential and ATP levels. Furthermore, our pathway enrichment analysis shed light on local network clusters displaying downregulation across all mutant strains, which were associated with both large and small ribosomal binding proteins, ribosome biogenesis, translation factor activity, and the biosynthesis of ribonucleoside monophosphates. These findings offer a plausible explanation for the observed tolerance of aminoglycosides in the mutant strains. Altogether, this research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of aminoglycoside tolerance, paving the way for novel strategies to combat such cells.

MDB-109. CHARACTERIZING DISTINCT SIGNATURES OF RNA TRANSLATIONAL REGULATION UPON MYC OVEREXPRESSION IN H9 NEURAL STEM CELLS

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB), a childhood brain tumor, emerges typically between 6-8 years, originating from cerebellar neuronal stem cells. Recurrent genetic alterations, notably MYC amplifications, are associated with poor therapy response. Subgrouped as WNT-MB, SHH-MB, Group 3 MB, and Group 4 MB, Group 3 MB is characterized by high-level MYC amplification in approximately 17% of cases. Patients with Group 3 MB and MYC activation present distinct transcriptional and proteomic signatures, including elevated levels of ribosomal proteins and ribosome assembly proteins. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq and Ribo-seq in human neural stem cells (H9 NSCs) with amplified MYC expression. H9-NSCs were cultured in tumor stem media and transduced with lentivirus for either GFP control or MYC cDNA. RNA and ribosome-protected fragments were isolated from cell lysates for RNA-seq and Ribo-seq in biological triplicates. Ribo-seq data was analyzed using ORFquant for coding sequence quantification and deltaTE for translational efficiency. RESULTS Overexpressing MYC in H9-NSCs led to significant differential expression of 4194 genes (p adj < 0.05) using RNA-seq and 2860 genes (p adj < 0.05) using Ribo-seq. While RNA-seq and Ribo-seq exhibited high correlation for most genes, we identified 364 differentially translated genes (p adj < 0.05) upon MYC overexpression. Genes regulated solely at the translational level were enriched for functions in cytoplasmic translation initiation, viral translation, and response to interleukin-4. Key genes highly regulated at the Ribo-seq level included CCND3, YBX1, and EEF2. Validating with proteomics data from the CPTAC medulloblastoma tissue set confirmed protein-specific upregulation of these targets in MYC-driven Group 3 medulloblastomas. CONCLUSIONS MYC overexpression revealed distinct behaviors in differentially expressed genes, either regulated at the level of translation alone, correlated with transcription, or independent of transcription. We anticipate that our findings will contribute to a refined understanding of the molecular landscape of MB, particularly in the context of Group 3 MB.

METABOLIC DISRUPTION IMPAIRS RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN LEVELS, RESULTING IN ENHANCED AMINOGLYCOSIDE TOLERANCE.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics display broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria by targeting their ribosomes. Herein, we have demonstrated that energy metabolism plays a crucial role in aminoglycoside tolerance, as knockout strains associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and the electron transport chain (ETC) exhibited increased tolerance to aminoglycosides in the mid-exponential growth phase of Escherichia coli cells. Given that aminoglycoside uptake relies on the energy-driven electrochemical potential across the cytoplasmic membrane, our initial expectation was that these genetic perturbations would decrease the proton motive force (PMF), subsequently affecting the uptake of aminoglycosides. However, our results did not corroborate this assumption. We found no consistent metabolic changes, ATP levels, cytoplasmic pH variations, or membrane potential differences in the mutant strains compared to the wild type. Additionally, intracellular concentrations of fluorophore-labeled gentamicin remained similar across all strains. To uncover the mechanism responsible for the observed tolerance in mutant strains, we employed untargeted mass spectrometry to quantify the proteins within these mutants and subsequently compared them to their wild-type counterparts. Our comprehensive analysis, which encompassed protein-protein association networks and functional enrichment, unveiled a noteworthy upregulation of proteins linked to the TCA cycle in the mutant strains during the mid-exponential growth phase, suggesting that these strains compensate for the perturbation in their energy metabolism by increasing TCA cycle activity to maintain their membrane potential and ATP levels. Furthermore, our pathway enrichment analysis shed light on local network clusters displaying downregulation across all mutant strains, which were associated with both large and small ribosomal binding proteins, ribosome biogenesis, translation factor activity, and the biosynthesis of ribonucleoside monophosphates. These findings offer a plausible explanation for the observed tolerance of aminoglycosides in the mutant strains. Altogether, this research has the potential to uncover mechanisms behind aminoglycoside tolerance, paving the way for novel strategies to combat such cells.

Identification of genes related to ribosomal proteins in colorectal cancer: exploring their potential as biomarkers, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both females and males, underscoring the need for the identification of effective biomarkers. We assessed the expression levels of ribosomal proteins (RPs) at both mRNA and protein levels. Subsequently, leveraging the STRING database, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network and identified hub genes. The co-expression network of differentially expressed genes associated with CRC and their target hub RPs was constructed using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis algorithm. Gene ontology and molecular signatures database were conducted to gain insights into the biological roles of genes associated with the identified module. To confirm the results, the expression level of the candidate genes in the CRC samples compared to the adjacent healthy was evaluated by the RT-qPCR method. Our findings indicated that the genes related to RPs were predominantly enriched in biological processes associated with Myc Targets, Oxidative Phosphorylation, and cell proliferation. Also, results demonstrated that elevated levels of GRWD1, MCM5, IMP4, and RABEPK that related to RPs were associated with poor prognostic outcomes for CRC patients. Notably, IMP4 and RABEPK exhibited higher diagnostic value. Moreover, the expression of IMP4 and RABEPK showed a significant association with drug resistance using cancer cell line encyclopedia and genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer databases. Also, the results showed that the expression level of IMP4 and RABEPK in cancerous samples was significantly higher compared to the adjacent healthy ones. The general results of this study have shown that many genes related to RPs are increased in cancer and could be associated with the death rate of patients. We also highlighted the therapeutic and prognostic potentials of RPs genes in CRC.

Abstract 1956: Discovery of a novel and potent mutant-selective inhibitor of PI3Kα

Abstract Gain-of-function mutations in hotspots of PI3Kα including H1047R, E545K, and E542K are well-recognized oncogenic drivers in human cancers. Prevalence of these mutations is enriched in many human malignancies, particularly in hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) breast cancer. PI3Kα inhibition showed clear clinical benefit in treating HR+/HER2− breast cancer and has been approved in combination with fulvestrant. First generation PI3Kα inhibitors such as alpelisib and inavolisib, however, have limited selectivity against wild-type (WT) PI3Kα; therefore, are associated with a variety of on-target adverse effects including grade 3 hyperglycemia, skin rash, and gastrointestinal toxicities. Discovery of a highly-selective inhibitor of mutant PI3Kα could enable deeper target coverage while reducing undesired effects of inhibiting WT PI3Kα. SNV-002 is a novel, proprietary, and mutant-selective inhibitor of PI3Kα. In cellular assays, SNV-002 inhibited Ser473 phosphorylation of AKT (pAKT) with single digit nanomolar potency in PI3Kα H1047R-mutant T47D cells and displayed greater than 50-fold selectivity over SKBR3 WT control. Similar inhibition of pAKT was also observed in other cell lines carrying PI3Kα hotspot mutations, such as CAL33, NCI-H1048, EFM19, and HCC1954. SNV-002 maintained selectivity in helical domain E545K-mutant cell lines including MCF7 and MDA-MB-361. This selectivity was further confirmed using MCF10A isogenic cell lines carrying either WT or mutant PI3Kα (H1047R and E545K). In cellular assays to assess inhibition of other isoforms of PI3K (PI3Kβ, PI3Kγ, and PI3Kδ), the IC50 of SNV-002 was over 10,000 nM. Similarly, a broad kinome screen showed no inhibition of activity of 371 kinases. Compared with alpelisib, SNV-002 showed improved potency and prolonged residence time in T47D breast cancer cells. Importantly, assays using H1047R-mutant cells in the presence of human whole blood showed SNV-002 potency to be less than 100 nM, which was over 10-fold more potent than that of alpelisib. Treatment of breast cancer cells with SNV-002 suppressed PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, as evidenced by reduced levels of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein and associated with loss of cell viability in mutant lines. The pharmacokinetic profile of SNV-002 was excellent across multiple species. Oral administration of HCC1954 tumor-bearing mice with SNV-002 resulted in dose-proportional exposure and >90% pharmacodynamic inhibition of pAKT in the tumor with doses of 10 mg/kg, and no sign of glucose dysregulation in contrast to alpelisib. Together, these data show that SNV-002 is a highly-selective and potent inhibitor of mutant PI3Kα with good drug-like properties that support further development of SNV-002 for treatment of cancers driven by oncogenic PI3Kα mutations. Citation Format: Mingming Gao, Chao Qi, Zhentian Li, Qipeng Fan, Liyang Wang, Fei Zhou, Lin You, Hewen Zheng, Yu Li, Liangxing Wu, Wenqing Yao, Phillip C. Liu. Discovery of a novel and potent mutant-selective inhibitor of PI3Kα [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1956.

In vivo evidence for homeostatic regulation of ribosomal protein levels in Drosophila.

The ribosome is a molecular machine essential for protein synthesis, which is composed of approximately 80 different ribosomal proteins (Rps). Studies in yeast and cell culture systems have revealed that the intracellular level of Rps is finely regulated by negative feedback mechanisms or ubiquitin-proteasome system, which prevents over- or under-abundance of Rps in the cell. However, in vivo evidence for the homeostatic regulation of intracellular Rp levels has been poor. Here, using Drosophila genetics, we show that intracellular Rp levels are regulated by proteasomal degradation of excess Rps that are not incorporated into the ribosome. By establishing an EGFP-fused Rp gene system that can monitor endogenously expressed Rp levels, we found that endogenously expressed EGFP-RpS20 or -RpL5 is eliminated from the cell when RpS20 or RpL5 is exogenously expressed. Notably, the level of endogenously expressed Hsp83, a housekeeping gene, was not affected by exogenous expression of Hsp83, suggesting that the strict negative regulation of excess protein is specific for intracellular Rps. Further analyses revealed that the maintenance of cellular Rp levels is not regulated at the transcriptional level but by proteasomal degradation of excess free Rps as a protein quality control mechanism. Our observations provide not only the in vivo evidence for the homeostatic regulation of Rp levels but also a novel genetic strategy to study in vivo regulation of intracellular Rp levels and its role in tissue homeostasis via cell competition.Key words: ribosomal protein, proteasomal degradation, Drosophila.

Prevalence and impact of diabetes on survival of patients with multiple myeloma in different racial groups

AbstractMultiple myeloma (MM) is twice as common in Black individuals compared with in White individuals, and diabetes mellitus (DM) disproportionately affects Black patients. Although numerous studies have shown a correlation between DM and MM, this has not been studied in the context of race and in vivo mechanisms. We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 5383 patients with MM of which 15% had DM (White, 12% and Black, 25%). Multivariable Cox models showed reduced overall survival (OS) for patients with DM (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.47; P < .001). This appeared to be driven by a marked difference in OS between White patients with and without DM but not in Black patients. In contrast, obesity was associated with better OS in Black patients but not in White patients. To complement this analysis, we assessed MM growth in a genetically engineered immunocompromised nonobese diabetic (Rag1−/−/muscle creatinine kinase promoter expression of a human IGF1R [M] with a lysine [K] to arginine [R] point mutation) mouse model to evaluate the mechanisms linking DM and MM. MM.1S xenografts grew in more Rag1−/−/MKR mice and grew more rapidly in the Rag1−/−/MKR mice compared with in controls. Western blot analysis found that MM1.S xenografts from Rag1−/−/MKR mice had higher phosphorylated S6 ribosomal protein (Ser235/236) levels, indicating greater activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Our study is, to our knowledge, the first to evaluate racial differences in DM prevalence and survival in MM, as well as the effect of DM on tumor growth in mouse models. Our results suggest that DM may contribute to the higher incidence of MM in Black patients; and to improve survival in MM, DM management cannot be ignored.

Azithromycin downregulates ICOS (CD278) and OX40 (CD134) expression and mTOR activity of TCR-activated T cells to inhibit proliferation

The precise mechanism of macrolide antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) mediated CD4+ T cell suppression is not fully understood. Given the crucial role of co-stimulatory signaling in T-lymphocyte function, we tested in vitro effects of AZM on two of the most extensively investigated costimulatory molecules, ICOS and OX40 in context to CD4+ T cell proliferation. Using multi-color flow cytometry approach on TCR-activated healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we observed a marked reduction in the frequencies and surface expression of ICOS and OX40 receptors following AZM treatment. Functionally, in contrast to ICOS- and OX40- CD3+ CD4+ T cells, AZM treated ICOS+ and OX40+ displayed profound reduction in cell proliferation. Furthermore, AZM treated T cells displaying reduced levels of ICOS and OX40 found to be associated with suppressed mTOR activity as detected by phosphorylation levels of S6 ribosomal protein. This study provides new insights on potential mechanism of AZM mediated inhibition of T cell proliferation by targeting costimulatory pathways.

Proteomic insight into human directed selection of the domesticated chicken Gallus gallus.

Chicken domestication began at least 3,500 years ago for purposes of divination, cockfighting, and food. Prior to industrial scale chicken production, domestication selected larger birds with increased egg production. In the mid-20th century companies began intensive selection with the broiler (meat) industry focusing on improved feed conversion, rapid growth, and breast muscle yield. Here we present proteomic analysis comparing the modern broiler line, Ross 708, with the UIUC legacy line which is not selected for growth traits. Breast muscle proteome analysis identifies cellular processes that have responded to human directed artificial selection. Mass spectrometry was used to identify protein level differences in the breast muscle of 6-day old chicks from Modern and Legacy lines. Our results indicate elevated levels of stress proteins, ribosomal proteins and proteins that participate in the innate immune pathway in the Modern chickens. Furthermore, the comparative analyses indicated expression differences for proteins involved in multiple biochemical pathways. In particular, the Modern line had elevated levels of proteins affecting the pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle and fatty acid oxidation while proteins involved in the first phase of glycolysis were reduced compared to the Legacy line. These analyses provide hypotheses linking the morphometric changes driven by human directed selection to biochemical pathways. These results also have implications for the poultry industry, specifically Wooden Breast disease which is linked to rapid breast muscle growth.

Lipo-chitooligosaccharide and thuricin 17 act as plant growth promoters and alleviate drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Lipo-chito-oligosaccharide (LCO-from Bradyrhizobium japonicum) and thuricin 17 (Th17-from Bacillus thuringiensis) are bacterial signal compounds from the rhizosphere of soybean that have been shown to enhance plant growth in a range of legumes and non-legumes. In this study, an attempt to quantify phytohormones involved in the initial hours after exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to these compounds was conducted using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A petri-plate assay was conducted to screen for drought stress tolerance to PEG 8000 infusion and plant growth was studied 21-days post-stress. Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown in trays with drought stress imposed by water withhold were used for free proline determination, elemental analysis, and untargeted proteomics using LC-MS/MS studies. At 24 h post-exposure to the signal compounds under optimal growth conditions, Arabidopsis thaliana rosettes varied in their responses to the two signals. While LCO-treated rosettes showed a decrease in total IAA, cytokinins, gibberellins, and jasmonic acid, increases in ABA and SA was very clear. Th17-treated rosettes, on the other hand, showed an increase in IAA and SA. Both treatments resulted in decreased JA levels. Under severe drought stress imposed by PEG 8000 infusion, LCO and Th17 treatments were found to significantly increase fresh and dry weight over drought-stressed control plates, indicating that the presence of the signaling compounds decreased the negative effects experienced by the plants. Free proline content increased in LCO- and Th17-treated plants after water-withhold drought stress. Elemental analysis showed a significant increase in carbon percentage at the lower concentration of Th17. Untargeted proteomics revealed changes in the levels of drought-specific ribosomal proteins, glutathione S-transferase, late embryogenesis proteins, vegetative storage proteins 1 and 2, thaumatin-like proteins, and those related to chloroplast and carbon metabolism. The roles of some of these significantly affected proteins detected under drought stress are discussed.

Wip1 regulates wound healing by affecting activities of keratinocytes and endothelial cells through ATM-p53 and mTOR signaling

BackgroundAs a p53-regulated gene, Wip1 regulates proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and senescence of several type cells, but its biological functions in keratinocytes and endothelial cells which are involved wound healing are not fully understood. This study aims to reveal the function and underlying mechanism of Wip1 in wound healing using models of transgenic animal, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells. MethodsUsing Wip1 knockout C57 BL/6 mice, we investigated effect of Wip1 deficiency on wound healing and angiogenesis; And using HaCaT and HUVEC as keratinocytes and endothelial cells, combined using primary keratinocytes from Wip1 knockout mice, we studied the effects of Wip1 knockdown/knockout or overexpression on proliferation, migration, and protein expressions of signaling components in ATM-p53 and mTOR pathway. ResultsWip1 deficiency in mice impaired the wound repair and endothelial angiogenesis, reduced the thickness of granulation tissue, and decreased the number of Ki67-positive cells and CD31 positive vessels in granulation tissue. Knockdown of Wip1 by shRNAs suppressed the proliferation and migration of HaCaT and HUVEC cells and induced notably apoptosis in the two cells. In western blot, Wip1 knockdown enriched p53 and ATM proteins, while decreased activated AKT, mTOR and activated S6 ribosomal protein (pS6) levels in HaCaT and HUVEC cells. Ectopic expression of Wip1 decreased the p53 and ATM proteins, while increased activated AKT, mTOR and pS6 levels in HaCaT and HUVEC cells. And in primary keratinocytes from mice tail skin, Wip1 knockout increased p53 and ATM, while decreased activated AKT, mTOR and pS6 protein levels. ConclusionOur study directly supports that Wip1 regulated skin wound healing possibly by affecting bioactivities including proliferation, migration and apoptosis of keratinocytes and endothelial cells at least through by modulating ATM-p53 and mTOR signaling.

Arginine metabolism regulates human erythroid differentiation through hypusination of eIF5A

AbstractMetabolic programs contribute to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) fate, but it is not known whether the metabolic regulation of protein synthesis controls HSPC differentiation. Here, we show that SLC7A1/cationic amino acid transporter 1–dependent arginine uptake and its catabolism to the polyamine spermidine control human erythroid specification of HSPCs via the activation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). eIF5A activity is dependent on its hypusination, a posttranslational modification resulting from the conjugation of the aminobutyl moiety of spermidine to lysine. Notably, attenuation of hypusine synthesis in erythroid progenitors, by the inhibition of deoxyhypusine synthase, abrogates erythropoiesis but not myeloid cell differentiation. Proteomic profiling reveals mitochondrial translation to be a critical target of hypusinated eIF5A, and accordingly, progenitors with decreased hypusine activity exhibit diminished oxidative phosphorylation. This affected pathway is critical for eIF5A-regulated erythropoiesis, as interventions augmenting mitochondrial function partially rescue human erythropoiesis under conditions of attenuated hypusination. Levels of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (RPs) were especially sensitive to the loss of hypusine, and we find that the ineffective erythropoiesis linked to haploinsufficiency of RPS14 in chromosome 5q deletions in myelodysplastic syndrome is associated with a diminished pool of hypusinated eIF5A. Moreover, patients with RPL11-haploinsufficient Diamond-Blackfan anemia as well as CD34+ progenitors with downregulated RPL11 exhibit a markedly decreased hypusination in erythroid progenitors, concomitant with a loss of mitochondrial metabolism. Thus, eIF5A-dependent protein synthesis regulates human erythropoiesis, and our data reveal a novel role for RPs in controlling eIF5A hypusination in HSPCs, synchronizing mitochondrial metabolism with erythroid differentiation.

Nuclear α-Synuclein-Derived Cytotoxic Effect via Altered Ribosomal RNA Processing in Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts.

α-Synuclein (αSyn) is an important player in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. The aggregation of αSyn is mainly formed in the cytoplasm, whereas some αSyn accumulation has also been found in the nuclei of neurons. To assess the effect of nuclear αSyn, we generated αSyn conjugated with a nuclear export signal (NES) or a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and compared them with wild-type αSyn in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) using DNA transfection. Overexpression of NLS-αSyn increased cytotoxicity. The levels of apoptotic markers were increased by NLS-αSyn in MEF. Interestingly, an increase in the levels of 40S ribosomal protein 15 was observed in MEF expressing NLS-αSyn. These MEF also showed a higher 28S/18S rRNA ratio. Intriguingly, the expression of NLS-αSyn in MEF enhanced segmentation of nucleolin (NCL)-positive nucleolar structures. We also observed that the downregulation of NCL, using shRNA, promoted a relatively higher 28S/18S rRNA ratio. The reduction in NCL expression accelerated the accumulation of αSyn, and NCL transfection enhanced the degradation of αSyn. These results suggest that nuclear αSyn contributes to the alteration in ribosomal RNA processing via NCL malfunction-mediated nucleolar segmentation, and that NCL is a key factor for the degradation of αSyn.

The Glutaminase Inhibitor Compound 968 Exhibits Potent In vitro and In vivo Anti-tumor Effects in Endometrial Cancer.

Glutamine is one of the primary nutrients utilized by cancer cells for energy production and biosynthesis. Hence, interfering with glutamine metabolism may impose anti-tumor effects. In this study, we assessed the anti-tumorigenic effects of glutaminase-1 enzyme (GLS1) inhibition in endometrial cancer in vitro and in vivo. The human endometrial cancer cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1B were used. The effects of compound 968 on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cellular stress, and AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition were assessed. The synergistic effects of compound 968 and paclitaxel were also analyzed. The in vivo effect of compound 968 was evaluated using tumor xenografts. We found that the GLS1-targeting compound 968 was able to reduce cancer cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Compound 968 combined with a low concentration of paclitaxel showed stronger inhibitory effects. Further analyses indicated that compound 968 induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, as well as increased the production of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoted cellular stress and cancer cell apoptosis. Additionally, the treatment of endometrial cancer with compound 968 downregulated the expression of GLS1 and cyclin D1 and upregulated the expression of P21 and E-cadherin. Moreover, the treatment of endometrial cancer cells with compound 968 significantly reduced the levels of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein and phospho-AKT (Ser473), indicative of AKT/mTOR/S6 signaling pathway inhibition. In xenograft mouse models of endometrial cancer, compound 968 significantly suppressed tumor growth. In addition, western blotting analysis indicated that GLS1 expression was upregulated in human endometrial cancer tissues. Compound 968 may be a promising approach for the management of human endometrial cancer.

Glucocorticoid regulation of the mTORC1 pathway modulates CD4+ T cell responses during infection.

Conventional glucocorticoid (GC) treatment poses significant risks for opportunistic infections due to its suppressive impact on CD4+ T cells. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms by which GCs modulate the functionality of CD4+ Tcells during infection. We consistently measured FOXP3, inflammatory cytokines and phospho-S6 ribosomal protein levels in CD4+ T cells from patients undergoing conventional GC treatment. Using Foxp3EGFP animals, we investigated the dynamicactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway and its correlation with the immunoregulatory function of CD4+ T cells under the influence of GCs. GCs dynamically altered the expression pattern of FOXP3 in CD4+ T cells, promoting their acquisition of an active T regulatory (Treg) cell phenotype upon stimulation. Mechanistically, GCs undermined the kinetics of the mTORC1 pathway, which was closely correlated with phenotype conversion and functional properties of CD4+ T cells. Dynamic activation of the mTORC1 signaling modified the GC-dampened immunoregulatory capacity of CD4+ T cells by phenotypically and functionally bolstering the FOXP3+ Treg cells. Interventions targeting the mTORC1 pathway effectively modulated the GC-dampened immunoregulatory capacity of CD4+ T cells. These findings highlight a novel mTORC1-mediated mechanism underlying CD4+ T cell immunity in the context of conventional GC treatment.

Ribosomal Stress Couples with the Hypoxia Response in Dec1-Dependent Orthodontic Tooth Movement.

This study characterized the effects of a deficiency of the hypoxia-responsive gene, differentiated embryonic chondrocyte gene 1 (Dec1), in attenuating the biological function of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and examined the roles of ribosomal proteins in the hypoxic environment during OTM. HIF-1α transgenic mice and control mice were used for hypoxic regulation of periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts. Dec1 knockout (Dec1KO) and wild-type (WT) littermate C57BL/6 mice were used as in vivo models of OTM. The unstimulated contralateral side served as a control. In vitro, human PDL fibroblasts were exposed to compression forces for 2, 4, 6, 24, and 48 h. HIF-1α transgenic mice had high expression levels of Dec1, HSP105, and ribosomal proteins compared to control mice. The WT OTM mice displayed increased Dec1 expression in the PDL fibroblasts. Micro-CT analysis showed slower OTM in Dec1KO mice compared to WT mice. Increased immunostaining of ribosomal proteins was observed in WT OTM mice compared to Dec1KO OTM mice. Under hypoxia, Dec1 knockdown caused a significant suppression of ribosomal protein expression in PDL fibroblasts. These results reveal that the hypoxic environment in OTM could have implications for the functions of Dec1 and ribosomal proteins to rejuvenate periodontal tissue homeostasis.

Persistent CAD activity in memory CD8+ T cells supports rRNA synthesis and ribosomal biogenesis required at rechallenge.

Memory CD8+ T cells are characterized by their ability to persist long after the initial antigen encounter and their capacity to generate a rapid recall response. Recent studies have identified a role for metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial function in promoting the longevity of memory T cells. However, detailed mechanisms involved in promoting their rapid recall response are incompletely understood. Here, we identify a role for the initial and continued activation of the trifunctional rate-limiting enzyme of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway CAD (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase) as critical in promoting the rapid recall response of previously activated CD8+ T cells. We found that CAD was rapidly phosphorylated upon naïve T cell activation in an mTORC1-dependent manner, yet remained phosphorylated long after initial activation. Previously activated CD8+ T cells displayed continued de novo pyrimidine synthesis in the absence of mitogenic signals, and interfering with this pathway diminished the speed and magnitude of cytokine production upon rechallenge. Inhibition of CAD did not affect cytokine transcript levels but diminished available pre-rRNA (ribosomal RNA), the polycistronic rRNA precursor whose synthesis is the rate-limiting step in ribosomal biogenesis. CAD inhibition additionally decreased levels of detectable ribosomal proteins in previously activated CD8+ T cells. Conversely, overexpression of CAD improved both the cytokine response and proliferation of memory T cells. Overall, our studies reveal a critical role for CAD-induced pyrimidine synthesis and ribosomal biogenesis in promoting the rapid recall response characteristic of memory T cells.

Glycine-rich RNA-binding cofactor RZ1AL is associated with tomato ripening and development

Tomato ripening is a complex and dynamic process coordinated by many regulatory elements, including plant hormones, transcription factors, and numerous ripening-related RNAs and proteins. Although recent studies have shown that some RNA-binding proteins are involved in the regulation of the ripening process, understanding of how RNA-binding proteins affect fruit ripening is still limited. Here, we report the analysis of a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein, RZ1A-Like (RZ1AL), which plays an important role in tomato ripening, especially fruit coloring. To analyze the functions of RZ1AL in fruit development and ripening, we generated knockout cr-rz1al mutant lines via the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system. Knockout of RZ1AL reduced fruit lycopene content and weight in the cr-rz1al mutant plants. RZ1AL encodes a nucleus-localized protein that is associated with Cajal-related bodies. RNA-seq data demonstrated that the expression levels of genes that encode several key enzymes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and metabolism were notably downregulated in cr-rz1al fruits. Proteomic analysis revealed that the levels of various ribosomal subunit proteins were reduced. This could affect the translation of ripening-related proteins such as ZDS. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that RZ1AL may participate in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis and metabolism and affect tomato development and fruit ripening.