-
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B Nov 2023Autophagy is a cellular process in which proteins and organelles are engulfed in autophagosomal vesicles and transported to the lysosome/vacuole for degradation.... (Review)
Review
Autophagy is a cellular process in which proteins and organelles are engulfed in autophagosomal vesicles and transported to the lysosome/vacuole for degradation. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a crucial role at many stages of autophagy, which present formidable but attainable targets for autophagy regulation. Moreover, selective regulation of PPIs tends to have a lower risk in causing undesired off-target effects in the context of a complicated biological network. Thus, small-molecule regulators, including peptides and peptidomimetics, targeting the critical PPIs involved in autophagy provide a new opportunity for innovative drug discovery. This article provides general background knowledge of the critical PPIs involved in autophagy and reviews a range of successful attempts on discovering regulators targeting those PPIs. Successful strategies and existing limitations in this field are also discussed.
PubMed: 37969735
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.07.016 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) Oct 2023The pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2)-encoded type III secretion system (injectisome) is assembled following uptake of bacteria into vacuoles in mammalian cells. The...
The pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2)-encoded type III secretion system (injectisome) is assembled following uptake of bacteria into vacuoles in mammalian cells. The injectisome translocates virulence proteins (effectors) into infected cells. Numerous studies have established the requirement for a functional SPI-2 injectisome for growth of Typhimurium in mouse macrophages, but the results of similar studies involving Typhi and human-derived macrophages are not consistent. It is important to clarify the functions of the . Typhi SPI-2 injectisome, not least because an inactivated SPI-2 injectisome forms the basis for live attenuated . Typhi vaccines that have undergone extensive trials in humans. Intracellular expression of injectisome genes and effector delivery take longer in the . Typhi/human macrophage model than for . Typhimurium and we propose that this could explain the conflicting results. Furthermore, strains of both . Typhimurium and . Typhi contain intact genes for several 'core' effectors. In . Typhimurium these cooperate to regulate the vacuole membrane and contribute to intracellular bacterial replication; similar functions are therefore likely in . Typhi.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Humans; Salmonella typhi; Genomic Islands; Bacterial Proteins; Salmonella typhimurium; Macrophages; Mammals
PubMed: 37862087
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001405 -
PLoS Pathogens Jul 2023A key element of Plasmodium biology and pathogenesis is the trafficking of ~10% of the parasite proteome into the host red blood cell (RBC) it infects. To cross the...
A key element of Plasmodium biology and pathogenesis is the trafficking of ~10% of the parasite proteome into the host red blood cell (RBC) it infects. To cross the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane, exported proteins utilise a channel-forming protein complex termed the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is obligatory for parasite survival, both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that at least some exported proteins have essential metabolic functions. However, to date only one essential PTEX-dependent process, the new permeability pathways, has been described. To identify other essential PTEX-dependant proteins/processes, we conditionally knocked down the expression of one of its core components, PTEX150, and examined which pathways were affected. Surprisingly, the food vacuole mediated process of haemoglobin (Hb) digestion was substantially perturbed by PTEX150 knockdown. Using a range of transgenic parasite lines and approaches, we show that two major Hb proteases; falcipain 2a and plasmepsin II, interact with PTEX core components, implicating the translocon in the trafficking of Hb proteases. We propose a model where these proteases are translocated into the PV via PTEX in order to reach the cytostome, located at the parasite periphery, prior to food vacuole entry. This work offers a second mechanistic explanation for why PTEX function is essential for growth of the parasite within its host RBC.
Topics: Animals; Plasmodium falciparum; Vacuoles; Protein Transport; Protozoan Proteins; Erythrocytes; Parasites; Peptide Hydrolases
PubMed: 37523385
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011006 -
Cell Reports Dec 2023Atg15 (autophagy-related 15) is a vacuolar phospholipase essential for the degradation of cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) bodies and autophagic bodies, hereinafter...
Atg15 (autophagy-related 15) is a vacuolar phospholipase essential for the degradation of cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) bodies and autophagic bodies, hereinafter referred to as intravacuolar/intralysosomal autophagic compartments (IACs), but it remains unknown if Atg15 directly disrupts IAC membranes. Here, we show that the recombinant Chaetomium thermophilum Atg15 lipase domain (CtAtg15(73-475)) possesses phospholipase activity. The activity of CtAtg15(73-475) was markedly elevated by limited digestion. We inserted the human rhinovirus 3C protease recognition sequence and found that cleavage between S159 and V160 was important to activate CtAtg15(73-475). Our molecular dynamics simulation suggested that the cleavage facilitated conformational change around the active center of CtAtg15, resulting in an exposed state. We confirmed that CtAtg15 could disintegrate S. cerevisiae IAC in vivo. Further, both mitochondria and IAC of S. cerevisiae were disintegrated by CtAtg15. This study suggests Atg15 plays a role in disrupting any organelle membranes delivered to vacuoles by autophagy.
Topics: Chaetomium; Fungal Proteins; Phospholipases; Recombinant Proteins; Protein Domains; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Mitochondria; Intracellular Membranes; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Models, Molecular; Enzyme Activation
PubMed: 38118441
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113567 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Plant proteases are essential enzymes that play key roles during crucial phases of plant life. Some proteases are mainly involved in general protein turnover and recycle... (Review)
Review
Plant proteases are essential enzymes that play key roles during crucial phases of plant life. Some proteases are mainly involved in general protein turnover and recycle amino acids for protein synthesis. Other proteases are involved in cell signalling, cleave specific substrates and are key players during important genetically controlled molecular processes. Cathepsin B is a cysteine protease that can do both because of its exopeptidase and endopeptidase activities. Animal cathepsin B has been investigated for many years, and much is known about its mode of action and substrate preferences, but much remains to be discovered about this potent protease in plants. Cathepsin B is involved in plant development, germination, senescence, microspore embryogenesis, pathogen defence and responses to abiotic stress, including programmed cell death. This review discusses the structural features, the activity of the enzyme and the differences between the plant and animal forms. We discuss its maturation and subcellular localisation and provide a detailed overview of the involvement of cathepsin B in important plant life processes. A greater understanding of the cell signalling processes involving cathepsin B is needed for applied discoveries in plant biotechnology.
PubMed: 38463572
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1305855 -
Cell Reports Aug 2023The nucleolus is the most prominent membraneless organelle within the nucleus. How the nucleolar structure is regulated is poorly understood. Here, we identified two...
The nucleolus is the most prominent membraneless organelle within the nucleus. How the nucleolar structure is regulated is poorly understood. Here, we identified two types of nucleoli in C. elegans. Type I nucleoli are spherical and do not have visible nucleolar vacuoles (NoVs), and rRNA transcription and processing factors are evenly distributed throughout the nucleolus. Type II nucleoli contain vacuoles, and rRNA transcription and processing factors exclusively accumulate in the periphery rim. The NoV contains nucleoplasmic proteins and is capable of exchanging contents with the nucleoplasm. The high-order structure of the nucleolus is dynamically regulated in C. elegans. Faithful rRNA processing is important to prohibit NoVs. The depletion of 27SA rRNA processing factors resulted in NoV formation. The inhibition of RNA polymerase I (RNAPI) transcription and depletion of two conserved nucleolar factors, nucleolin and fibrillarin, prohibits the formation of NoVs. This finding provides a mechanism to coordinate structure maintenance and gene expression.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Nuclear Proteins; Vacuoles; Cell Nucleolus; Cell Nucleus; RNA, Ribosomal
PubMed: 37537842
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112915 -
Microorganisms Dec 2023With the prevalence of systemic fungal infections caused by and non- species and their resistance to classical antifungals, there is an urgent need to explore...
With the prevalence of systemic fungal infections caused by and non- species and their resistance to classical antifungals, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives. Herein, we evaluate the impact of the monoterpene carvacrol, a major component of oregano and thyme oils, on clinical and laboratory strains of and . Carvacrol induces a wide range of antifungal effects, including the inhibition of growth and hyphal and biofilm formation. Using biochemical and microscopic approaches, we elucidate carvacrol-induced hyphal inhibition. The significantly reduced survival rates following exposure to carvacrol were accompanied by dose-dependent vacuolar acidification, disrupted membrane integrity, and aberrant morphology. Germ tube assays, used to elucidate the relationship between vacuolar dysfunction and hyphal inhibition, showed that carvacrol significantly reduced hyphal formation, which was accompanied by a defective morphology. Thus, we show a link between vacuolar acidification/disrupted vacuole membrane integrity and compromised candidal morphology/morphogenesis, demonstrating that carvacrol exerts its anti-hyphal activity by altering vacuole integrity.
PubMed: 38138059
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122915 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jul 2023To ensure their survival in the human bloodstream, malaria parasites degrade up to 80% of the host erythrocyte hemoglobin in an acidified digestive vacuole. Here, we...
To ensure their survival in the human bloodstream, malaria parasites degrade up to 80% of the host erythrocyte hemoglobin in an acidified digestive vacuole. Here, we combine conditional reverse genetics and quantitative imaging approaches to demonstrate that the human malaria pathogen employs a heteromultimeric V-ATPase complex to acidify the digestive vacuole matrix, which is essential for intravacuolar hemoglobin release, heme detoxification, and parasite survival. We reveal an additional function of the membrane-embedded V-ATPase subunits in regulating morphogenesis of the digestive vacuole independent of proton translocation. We further show that intravacuolar accumulation of antimalarial chemotherapeutics is surprisingly resilient to severe deacidification of the vacuole and that modulation of V-ATPase activity does not affect parasite sensitivity toward these drugs.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Antimalarials; Adenosine Triphosphatases; Vacuoles; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Parasites
PubMed: 37463201
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306420120 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Oct 2023Most cellular ubiquitin signaling is initiated by UBA1, which activates and transfers ubiquitin to tens of E2 enzymes. Clonally acquired missense mutations cause an...
Most cellular ubiquitin signaling is initiated by UBA1, which activates and transfers ubiquitin to tens of E2 enzymes. Clonally acquired missense mutations cause an inflammatory-hematologic overlap disease called VEXAS (vacuoles, E1, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome. Despite extensive clinical investigation into this lethal disease, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, by dissecting VEXAS-causing mutations, we discovered that p.Met41 mutations alter cytoplasmic isoform expression, whereas other mutations reduce catalytic activity of nuclear and cytoplasmic isoforms by diverse mechanisms, including aberrant oxyester formation. Strikingly, non-p.Met41 mutations most prominently affect transthioesterification, revealing ubiquitin transfer to cytoplasmic E2 enzymes as a shared property of pathogenesis amongst different VEXAS syndrome genotypes. A similar E2 charging bottleneck exists in some lung cancer-associated mutations, but not in spinal muscular atrophy-causing mutations, which instead, render UBA1 thermolabile. Collectively, our results highlight the precision of conformational changes required for faithful ubiquitin transfer, define distinct and shared mechanisms of UBA1 inactivation in diverse diseases, and suggest that specific E1-E2 modules control different aspects of tissue differentiation and maintenance.
PubMed: 37873213
DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561769 -
Journal of Cellular and Molecular... Jul 2023To analyse the clinical features, imaging manifestation, pathological typing and genetic testing results of patients undergoing surgery for ground-glass opacity (GGO)...
To analyse the clinical features, imaging manifestation, pathological typing and genetic testing results of patients undergoing surgery for ground-glass opacity (GGO) nodules, and explore the reasonable diagnosis and treatment program for GGO patients as to provide the basis for the establishment of GGO treatment process. This study is an exploratory study. 465 cases with GGO confirmed by HRCT, undergoing surgery and approved by pathologic diagnosis in Shanghai pulmonary hospital were enrolled in this study. All the patients with GGO were cases with single lesion. The relationship between the clinical, imaging, pathological and molecular biological data of single GGO were statistically studied. (1) Among 465 cases, the median age was 58 years and females were 315 (67.7%); there were 397 (85.4%) non-smoking, and 354 cases (76.1%) had no clinical symptoms. There were 33 cases of benign and 432 cases of malignant GGO. Significant differences were observed on the size, vacuole sign, pleural indentation and blood vessel sign of GGO between two groups (p < 0.05). Of 230 mGGO, there were no AAH, 13 cases of AIS, 25 cases of MIA and 173 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma. The probability of solid nodules in invasive adenocarcinoma was higher than that in micro invasive carcinoma, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). 360 cases were followed up with the average follow-up time of 6.05 months, and GGO of 34 cases (9.4%) increased. (2) In 428 adenocarcinoma samples approved by pathologic diagnosis, there were 262 (61.2%) lesions of EGFR mutation, 14 (3.3%) lesions of KRAS mutation, 1 (0.2%) lesion of Braf mutation, 9 (2.1%) lesions of EML4-ALK gene fusion and 2 (0.5%) lesions of ROS1 fusion. The detection rate of gene mutation in mGGO was higher than that of pGGO. During the follow-up period, genetic testing results of 32 GGO showed that EGFR mutation rate was 53.1%, ALK positive rate of 6.3%, KRAS mutation rate of 3.1% and no ros1 and BRAF gene mutation. No statistically significant difference was observed in comparison with unchanged GGO. (3) EGFR mutation rate of invasive adenocarcinoma was the highest (168/228, 73.7%), mainly in the 19Del and L858R point mutations. No KRAS mutation was found in atypical adenoma hyperplasia. No significant difference was observed on the mutation rate of KRAS between different types of GGO (p = 0.811). EML4-ALK fusion gene was mainly detected in invasive adenocarcinoma (7/9). GGO tends to occur in young, non-smoking women. The size of GGO is related to the degree of malignancy. Pleural depression sign, vacuole sign and vascular cluster sign are all characteristic images of malignant GGO. pGGO and mGGO reflect the pathological development of GGO. During the follow-up, it is found that GGO increases and solid components appear, which is the indication of surgical resection. The detection rate of EGFR mutations in mGGO and invasive adenocarcinoma is high. pGGO has heterogeneity in imaging, pathology and molecular biology. Heterogeneity research helps to formulate correct individualized diagnosis and treatment plans.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Lung Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; China; Adenocarcinoma; Genotype; ErbB Receptors; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37340599
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17797