Journal of Molecular Cell Biology最新文献

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are important components of transposable elements that constitute ∼40% of the mouse genome. ERVs exhibit dynamic expression patterns during early embryonic development and are engaged in numerous biological processes. Therefore, ERV expression must be closely monitored in cells. Most studies have focused on the regulation of ERV expression in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and during early embryonic development. This review touches on the classification, expression, and functions of ERVs in mouse ESCs and early embryos and mainly discusses ERV modulation strategies from the perspectives of transcription, epigenetic modification, nucleosome/chromatin assembly, and post-transcriptional control.

During ribosome biogenesis, the small subunit (SSU) processome is responsible for 40S assembly. The BMS1/RCL1 complex is a core component of the SSU processome that plays an important role in 18S rRNA processing and maturation. Genetic studies using zebrafish mutants indicate that both Bms1-like (Bms1l) and Rcl1 are essential for digestive organ development. In spite of vital functions of this complex, the mutual dependence of these two nucleolar proteins for the stability and function remains elusive. In this study, we identified an RCL1-interacting domain in BMS1, which is conserved in zebrafish and humans. Moreover, both the protein stability and nucleolar entry of RCL1 depend on its interaction with BMS1, otherwise RCL1 degraded through the ubiquitination-proteasome pathway. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of RCL1 in BMS1-knockdown cells can partially rescue the defects in 18S rRNA processing and cell proliferation, and hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Rcl1 can resume zebrafish liver development in the bms1l substitution mutant bms1lsq163/sq163but not in the knockout mutant bms1lzju1/zju1, which is attributed to the nucleolar entry of Rcl1 in the former mutant. Our data demonstrate that BMS1 and RCL1 interaction is essential for not only pre-rRNA processing but also the communication between ribosome biogenesis and cell cycle regulation.

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is an important driver and therapeutic target in ∼70% of breast cancers. How ERα drives breast carcinogenesis is not fully understood. In this study, we show that ERα is a negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) response. Activation of ERα by its natural ligand estradiol inhibits IFN-β-induced transcription of downstream IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), whereas ERα deficiency or the stimulation with its antagonist fulvestrant has opposite effects. Mechanistically, ERα induces the expression of the histone 2A variant H2A.Z to restrict the engagement of the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) complex to the promoters of ISGs and also interacts with STAT2 to disrupt the assembly of the ISGF3 complex. These two events mutually lead to the inhibition of ISG transcription induced by type I IFNs. In a xenograft mouse model, fulvestrant enhances the ability of IFN-β to suppress ERα+ breast tumor growth. Consistently, clinical data analysis reveals that ERα+ breast cancer patients with higher levels of ISGs exhibit higher long-term survival rates. Taken together, our findings suggest that ERα inhibits type I IFN response via two distinct mechanisms to promote breast carcinogenesis.

The effective proliferation and differentiation of trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) is indispensable for the development of the placenta, which is the key to maintaining normal fetal growth during pregnancy. Kruppel-like factor 5 (Klf5) is implicated in the activation of pluripotency gene expression in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), yet its function in TSCs is poorly understood. Here, we showed that Klf5 knockdown resulted in the downregulation of core TSC-specific genes, consequently causing rapid differentiation of TSCs. Consistently, Klf5-depleted embryos lost the ability to establish TSCs in vitro. At the molecular level, Klf5 preferentially occupied the proximal promoter regions and maintained an open chromatin architecture of key TSC-specific genes. Deprivation of Klf5 impaired the enrichment of p300, a major histone acetyl transferase of H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac), and further reduced the occupancy of H3K27ac at promoter regions, leading to decreased transcriptional activity of TSC pluripotency genes. Thus, our findings highlight a novel mechanism of Klf5 in regulating the self-renewal and differentiation of TSCs and provide a reference for understanding placental development and improving pregnancy rates.

Lesions on the DNA template can impact transcription via distinct regulatory pathways. Ionizing radiation (IR) as the mainstay modality for many malignancies elicits most of the cytotoxicity by inducing a variety of DNA damages in the genome. How the IR treatment alters the transcription cycle and whether it contributes to the development of radioresistance remain poorly understood. Here, we report an increase in the paused RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), as indicated by the phosphorylation at serine 5 residue of its C-terminal domain, in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patient samples after IR treatment and cultured NPC cells developing IR resistance. Reducing the pool of paused RNAPII by either inhibiting TFIIH-associated CDK7 or stimulating the positive transcription elongation factor b, a CDK9-CycT1 heterodimer, attenuates IR resistance of NPC cells. Interestingly, the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of CycT1, which disrupts its phase separation, is elevated in the IR-resistant cells. Mutation of the major poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation sites of CycT1 decreases RNAPII pausing and restores IR sensitivity. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing analyses reveal that several genes involved in radiation response and cell cycle control are subject to the regulation imposed by the paused RNAPII. Particularly, we identify the NIMA-related kinase NEK7 under such regulation as a new radioresistance factor, whose downregulation results in the increased chromosome instability, enabling the development of IR resistance. Overall, our results highlight a novel link between the alteration in the transcription cycle and the acquisition of IR resistance, opening up new opportunities to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy and thwart radioresistance in NPC.

Mono-ADP-ribosylation (MARylation) is a post-translational modification that regulates a variety of biological processes, including DNA damage repair, cell proliferation, metabolism, and stress and immune responses. In mammals, MARylation is mainly catalyzed by ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs), which consist of two groups: ART cholera toxin-like (ARTCs) and ART diphtheria toxin-like (ARTDs, also known as PARPs). The human ARTC (hARTC) family is composed of four members: two active mono-ADP-ARTs (hARTC1 and hARTC5) and two enzymatically inactive enzymes (hARTC3 and hARTC4). In this study, we systematically examined the homology, expression, and localization pattern of the hARTC family, with a particular focus on hARTC1. Our results showed that hARTC3 interacted with hARTC1 and promoted the enzymatic activity of hARTC1 by stabilizing hARTC1. We also identified vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB) as a new target of hARTC1 and pinpointed Arg50 of VAPB as the ADP-ribosylation site. Furthermore, we demonstrated that knockdown of hARTC1 impaired intracellular calcium homeostasis, highlighting the functional importance of hARTC1-mediated VAPB Arg50 ADP-ribosylation in regulating calcium homeostasis. In summary, our study identified a new target of hARTC1 in the endoplasmic reticulum and suggested that ARTC1 plays a role in regulating calcium signaling.

To facilitate survival, replication, and dissemination, the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila relies on its unique type IVB secretion system (T4SS) to deliver over 330 effectors to hijack host cell pathways in a spatiotemporal manner. The effectors and their host targets are largely unexplored due to their low sequence identity to the known proteins and functional redundancy. The T4SS effector SidN (Lpg1083) is secreted into host cells during the late infection period. However, to the best of our knowledge, the molecular characterization of SidN has not been studied. Herein, we identified SidN as a nuclear envelope-localized effector. Its structure adopts a novel fold, and the N-terminal domain is crucial for its specific subcellular localization. Furthermore, we found that SidN is transported by eukaryotic karyopherin Importin-13 into the nucleus, where it attaches to the N-terminal region of Lamin-B2 to interfere with the integrity of the nuclear envelope, causing nuclear membrane disruption and eventually cell death. Our work provides new insights into the structure and function of an L. pneumophila effector protein, and suggests a potential strategy utilized by the pathogen to promote host cell death and then escape from the host for secondary infection.

A small fraction of patients diagnosed with obesity or diabetes mellitus has an underlying monogenic cause. Here, we constructed a targeted gene panel consisting of 83 genes reported to be causative for monogenic obesity or diabetes. We performed this panel in 481 patients to detect causative variants and compared these results with whole-exome sequencing (WES) data available for 146 of these patients. The coverage of targeted gene panel sequencing was significantly higher than that of WES. The diagnostic yield in patients sequenced by the panel was 32.9% with subsequent WES leading to three additional diagnoses with two novel genes. In total, 178 variants in 83 genes were detected in 146 patients by targeted sequencing. Three of the 178 variants were missed by WES, although the WES-only approach had a similar diagnostic yield. For the 335 samples only receiving targeted sequencing, the diagnostic yield was 32.2%. In conclusion, taking into account the lower costs, shorter turnaround time, and higher quality of data, targeted sequencing is a more effective screening method for monogenic obesity and diabetes compared to WES. Therefore, this approach could be routinely established and used as a first-tier test in clinical practice for specific patients.