Browsing by Subject "HEK293 Cells"
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Item Open Access A cellular genome-wide association study reveals human variation in microtubule stability and a role in inflammatory cell death.(Mol Biol Cell, 2014-01) Salinas, Raul E; Ogohara, Cassandra; Thomas, Monica I; Shukla, Kajal P; Miller, Samuel I; Ko, Dennis CPyroptosis is proinflammatory cell death that occurs in response to certain microbes. Activation of the protease caspase-1 by molecular platforms called inflammasomes is required for pyroptosis. We performed a cellular genome-wide association study (GWAS) using Salmonella typhimurium infection of human lymphoblastoid cell lines as a means of dissecting the genetic architecture of susceptibility to pyroptosis and identifying unknown regulatory mechanisms. Cellular GWAS revealed that a common human genetic difference that regulates pyroptosis also alters microtubule stability. An intergenic single-nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 18 is associated with decreased pyroptosis and increased expression of TUBB6 (tubulin, β 6 class V). TUBB6 is unique among tubulin isoforms in that its overexpression can completely disrupt the microtubule network. Cells from individuals with higher levels of TUBB6 expression have lower microtubule stability and less pyroptosis. Reducing TUBB6 expression or stabilizing microtubules pharmacologically with paclitaxel (Taxol) increases pyroptosis without affecting the other major readout of caspase-1 activation, interleukin-1β secretion. The results reveal a new role for microtubules and possibly specific tubulin isoforms in the execution of pyroptosis. Furthermore, the finding that there is common diversity in TUBB6 expression and microtubule stability could have broad consequences for other microtubule-dependent phenotypes, diseases, and pharmacological responses.Item Open Access A chemical glycoproteomics platform reveals O-GlcNAcylation of mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel 2.(Cell Rep, 2013-10-31) Palaniappan, K; Hangauer, M; Smith, T; Smart, B; Pitcher, A; Cheng, E; Bertozzi, C; Boyce, MProtein modification by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a critical cell signaling modality, but identifying signal-specific O-GlcNAcylation events remains a significant experimental challenge. Here, we describe a method for visualizing and analyzing organelle- and stimulus-specific O-GlcNAcylated proteins and use it to identify the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) as an O-GlcNAc substrate. VDAC2(-/-) cells resist the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis caused by global O-GlcNAc perturbation, demonstrating a functional connection between O-GlcNAc signaling and mitochondrial physiology through VDAC2. More broadly, our method will enable the discovery of signal-specific O-GlcNAcylation events in a wide array of experimental contexts.Item Open Access A curative combination cancer therapy achieves high fractional cell killing through low cross-resistance and drug additivity.(eLife, 2019-11) Palmer, Adam C; Chidley, Christopher; Sorger, Peter KCurative cancer therapies are uncommon and nearly always involve multi-drug combinations developed by experimentation in humans; unfortunately, the mechanistic basis for the success of such combinations has rarely been investigated in detail, obscuring lessons learned. Here, we use isobologram analysis to score pharmacological interaction, and clone tracing and CRISPR screening to measure cross-resistance among the five drugs comprising R-CHOP, a combination therapy that frequently cures Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas. We find that drugs in R-CHOP exhibit very low cross-resistance but not synergistic interaction: together they achieve a greater fractional kill according to the null hypothesis for both the Loewe dose-additivity model and the Bliss effect-independence model. These data provide direct evidence for the 50 year old hypothesis that a curative cancer therapy can be constructed on the basis of independently effective drugs having non-overlapping mechanisms of resistance, without synergistic interaction, which has immediate significance for the design of new drug combinations.Item Open Access A novel role for primary cilia in airway remodeling.(American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 2017-08) Trempus, Carol S; Song, Weifeng; Lazrak, Ahmed; Yu, Zhihong; Creighton, Judy R; Young, Bethany M; Heise, Rebecca L; Yu, Yen Rei; Ingram, Jennifer L; Tighe, Robert M; Matalon, Sadis; Garantziotis, StavrosPrimary cilia (PC) are solitary cellular organelles that play critical roles in development, homeostasis, and disease pathogenesis by modulating key signaling pathways such as Sonic Hedgehog and calcium flux. The antenna-like shape of PC enables them also to facilitate sensing of extracellular and mechanical stimuli into the cell, and a critical role for PC has been described for mesenchymal cells such as chondrocytes. However, nothing is known about the role of PC in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in the context of airway remodeling. We hypothesized that PC on ASMCs mediate cell contraction and are thus integral in the remodeling process. We found that PC are expressed on ASMCs in asthmatic lungs. Using pharmacological and genetic methods, we demonstrated that PC are necessary for ASMC contraction in a collagen gel three-dimensional model both in the absence of external stimulus and in response to the extracellular component hyaluronan. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the effect of PC on ASMC contraction is, to a small extent, due to their effect on Sonic Hedgehog signaling and, to a larger extent, due to their effect on calcium influx and membrane depolarization. In conclusion, PC are necessary for the development of airway remodeling by mediating calcium flux and Sonic Hedgehog signaling.Item Open Access AAV Gene Therapy for MPS1-associated Corneal Blindness.(Scientific reports, 2016-02-22) Vance, Melisa; Llanga, Telmo; Bennett, Will; Woodard, Kenton; Murlidharan, Giridhar; Chungfat, Neil; Asokan, Aravind; Gilger, Brian; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Samulski, R Jude; Hirsch, Matthew LAlthough cord blood transplantation has significantly extended the lifespan of mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS1) patients, over 95% manifest cornea clouding with about 50% progressing to blindness. As corneal transplants are met with high rejection rates in MPS1 children, there remains no treatment to prevent blindness or restore vision in MPS1 children. Since MPS1 is caused by mutations in idua, which encodes alpha-L-iduronidase, a gene addition strategy to prevent, and potentially reverse, MPS1-associated corneal blindness was investigated. Initially, a codon optimized idua cDNA expression cassette (opt-IDUA) was validated for IDUA production and function following adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector transduction of MPS1 patient fibroblasts. Then, an AAV serotype evaluation in human cornea explants identified an AAV8 and 9 chimeric capsid (8G9) as most efficient for transduction. AAV8G9-opt-IDUA administered to human corneas via intrastromal injection demonstrated widespread transduction, which included cells that naturally produce IDUA, and resulted in a >10-fold supraphysiological increase in IDUA activity. No significant apoptosis related to AAV vectors or IDUA was observed under any conditions in both human corneas and MPS1 patient fibroblasts. The collective preclinical data demonstrate safe and efficient IDUA delivery to human corneas, which may prevent and potentially reverse MPS1-associated cornea blindness.Item Open Access Adjunctive β2-agonist treatment reduces glycogen independently of receptor-mediated acid α-glucosidase uptake in the limb muscles of mice with Pompe disease.(FASEB J, 2014-05) Farah, Benjamin L; Madden, Lauran; Li, Songtao; Nance, Sierra; Bird, Andrew; Bursac, Nenad; Yen, Paul M; Young, Sarah P; Koeberl, Dwight DEnzyme or gene replacement therapy with acid α-glucosidase (GAA) has achieved only partial efficacy in Pompe disease. We evaluated the effect of adjunctive clenbuterol treatment on cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR)-mediated uptake and intracellular trafficking of GAA during muscle-specific GAA expression with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector in GAA-knockout (KO) mice. Clenbuterol, which increases expression of CI-MPR in muscle, was administered with the AAV vector. This combination therapy increased latency during rotarod and wirehang testing at 12 wk, in comparison with vector alone. The mean urinary glucose tetrasaccharide (Glc4), a urinary biomarker, was lower in GAA-KO mice following combination therapy, compared with vector alone. Similarly, glycogen content was lower in cardiac and skeletal muscle following 12 wk of combination therapy in heart, quadriceps, diaphragm, and soleus, compared with vector alone. These data suggested that clenbuterol treatment enhanced trafficking of GAA to lysosomes, given that GAA was expressed within myofibers. The integral role of CI-MPR was demonstrated by the lack of effectiveness from clenbuterol in GAA-KO mice that lacked CI-MPR in muscle, where it failed to reverse the high glycogen content of the heart and diaphragm or impaired wirehang performance. However, the glycogen content of skeletal muscle was reduced by the addition of clenbuterol in the absence of CI-MPR, as was lysosomal vacuolation, which correlated with increased AKT signaling. In summary, β2-agonist treatment enhanced CI-MPR-mediated uptake and trafficking of GAA in mice with Pompe disease, and a similarly enhanced benefit might be expected in other lysosomal storage disorders.Item Open Access An Evolutionary Insertion in the Mxra8 Receptor-Binding Site Confers Resistance to Alphavirus Infection and Pathogenesis.(Cell host & microbe, 2020-03) Kim, Arthur S; Zimmerman, Ofer; Fox, Julie M; Nelson, Christopher A; Basore, Katherine; Zhang, Rong; Durnell, Lorellin; Desai, Chandni; Bullock, Christopher; Deem, Sharon L; Oppenheimer, Jonas; Shapiro, Beth; Wang, Ting; Cherry, Sara; Coyne, Carolyn B; Handley, Scott A; Landis, Michael J; Fremont, Daved H; Diamond, Michael SAlphaviruses are emerging, mosquito-transmitted RNA viruses with poorly understood cellular tropism and species selectivity. Mxra8 is a receptor for multiple alphaviruses including chikungunya virus (CHIKV). We discovered that while expression of mouse, rat, chimpanzee, dog, horse, goat, sheep, and human Mxra8 enables alphavirus infection in cell culture, cattle Mxra8 does not. Cattle Mxra8 encodes a 15-amino acid insertion in its ectodomain that prevents Mxra8 binding to CHIKV. Identical insertions are present in zebu, yak, and the extinct auroch. As other Bovinae lineages contain related Mxra8 sequences, this insertion likely occurred at least 5 million years ago. Removing the Mxra8 insertion in Bovinae enhances alphavirus binding and infection, while introducing the insertion into mouse Mxra8 blocks CHIKV binding, prevents infection by multiple alphaviruses in cells, and mitigates CHIKV-induced pathogenesis in mice. Our studies on how this insertion provides resistance to CHIKV infection could facilitate countermeasures that disrupt Mxra8 interactions with alphaviruses.Item Open Access APOL1-mediated monovalent cation transport contributes to APOL1-mediated podocytopathy in kidney disease.(The Journal of clinical investigation, 2024-01) Datta, Somenath; Antonio, Brett M; Zahler, Nathan H; Theile, Jonathan W; Krafte, Doug; Zhang, Hengtao; Rosenberg, Paul B; Chaves, Alec B; Muoio, Deborah M; Zhang, Guofang; Silas, Daniel; Li, Guojie; Soldano, Karen; Nystrom, Sarah; Ferreira, Davis; Miller, Sara E; Bain, James R; Muehlbauer, Michael J; Ilkayeva, Olga; Becker, Thomas C; Hohmeier, Hans-Ewald; Newgard, Christopher B; Olabisi, Opeyemi ATwo coding variants of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), called G1 and G2, explain much of the excess risk of kidney disease in African Americans. While various cytotoxic phenotypes have been reported in experimental models, the proximal mechanism by which G1 and G2 cause kidney disease is poorly understood. Here, we leveraged 3 experimental models and a recently reported small molecule blocker of APOL1 protein, VX-147, to identify the upstream mechanism of G1-induced cytotoxicity. In HEK293 cells, we demonstrated that G1-mediated Na+ import/K+ efflux triggered activation of GPCR/IP3-mediated calcium release from the ER, impaired mitochondrial ATP production, and impaired translation, which were all reversed by VX-147. In human urine-derived podocyte-like epithelial cells (HUPECs), we demonstrated that G1 caused cytotoxicity that was again reversible by VX-147. Finally, in podocytes isolated from APOL1 G1 transgenic mice, we showed that IFN-γ-mediated induction of G1 caused K+ efflux, activation of GPCR/IP3 signaling, and inhibition of translation, podocyte injury, and proteinuria, all reversed by VX-147. Together, these results establish APOL1-mediated Na+/K+ transport as the proximal driver of APOL1-mediated kidney disease.Item Open Access BRD4 Prevents R-Loop Formation and Transcription-Replication Conflicts by Ensuring Efficient Transcription Elongation.(Cell reports, 2020-09) Edwards, Drake S; Maganti, Rohin; Tanksley, Jarred P; Luo, Jie; Park, James JH; Balkanska-Sinclair, Elena; Ling, Jinjie; Floyd, Scott REffective spatio-temporal control of transcription and replication during S-phase is paramount to maintaining genomic integrity and cell survival. Dysregulation of these systems can lead to conflicts between the transcription and replication machinery, causing DNA damage and cell death. BRD4 allows efficient transcriptional elongation by stimulating phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). We report that bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein loss of function (LOF) causes RNAPII pausing on the chromatin and DNA damage affecting cells in S-phase. This persistent RNAPII-dependent pausing leads to an accumulation of RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) at sites of BRD4 occupancy, leading to transcription-replication conflicts (TRCs), DNA damage, and cell death. Finally, our data show that the BRD4 C-terminal domain, which interacts with P-TEFb, is required to prevent R-loop formation and DNA damage caused by BET protein LOF.Item Open Access Ca2+ channel nanodomains boost local Ca2+ amplitude.(Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2013-09-24) Tadross, Michael R; Tsien, Richard W; Yue, David TLocal Ca(2+) signals through voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (CaVs) drive synaptic transmission, neural plasticity, and cardiac contraction. Despite the importance of these events, the fundamental relationship between flux through a single CaV channel and the Ca(2+) signaling concentration within nanometers of its pore has resisted empirical determination, owing to limitations in the spatial resolution and specificity of fluorescence-based Ca(2+) measurements. Here, we exploited Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of CaV channels as a nanometer-range Ca(2+) indicator specific to active channels. We observed an unexpected and dramatic boost in nanodomain Ca(2+) amplitude, ten-fold higher than predicted on theoretical grounds. Our results uncover a striking feature of CaV nanodomains, as diffusion-restricted environments that amplify small Ca(2+) fluxes into enormous local Ca(2+) concentrations. This Ca(2+) tuning by the physical composition of the nanodomain may represent an energy-efficient means of local amplification that maximizes information signaling capacity, while minimizing global Ca(2+) load.Item Open Access Cancer-cell-derived GABA promotes β-catenin-mediated tumour growth and immunosuppression.(Nature cell biology, 2022-02) Huang, De; Wang, Yan; Thompson, J Will; Yin, Tao; Alexander, Peter B; Qin, Diyuan; Mudgal, Poorva; Wu, Haiyang; Liang, Yaosi; Tan, Lianmei; Pan, Christopher; Yuan, Lifeng; Wan, Ying; Li, Qi-Jing; Wang, Xiao-FanMany cancers have an unusual dependence on glutamine. However, most previous studies have focused on the contribution of glutamine to metabolic building blocks and the energy supply. Here, we report that cancer cells with aberrant expression of glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) rewire glutamine metabolism for the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-a prominent neurotransmitter-in non-nervous tissues. An analysis of clinical samples reveals that increased GABA levels predict poor prognosis. Mechanistically, we identify a cancer-intrinsic pathway through which GABA activates the GABAB receptor to inhibit GSK-3β activity, leading to enhanced β-catenin signalling. This GABA-mediated β-catenin activation both stimulates tumour cell proliferation and suppresses CD8+ T cell intratumoural infiltration, such that targeting GAD1 or GABABR in mouse models overcomes resistance to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our findings uncover a signalling role for tumour-derived GABA beyond its classic function as a neurotransmitter that can be targeted pharmacologically to reverse immunosuppression.Item Open Access Chronic oxidative stress promotes GADD34-mediated phosphorylation of the TAR DNA-binding protein TDP-43, a modification linked to neurodegeneration.(The Journal of biological chemistry, 2018-01) Goh, Catherine Wenhui; Lee, Irene Chengjie; Sundaram, Jeyapriya Rajameenakshi; George, Simi Elizabeth; Yusoff, Permeen; Brush, Matthew Hayden; Sze, Newman Siu Kwan; Shenolikar, ShirishOxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stresses are hallmarks of the pathophysiology of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. In these stresses, different kinases phosphorylate eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2α, enabling the translation of stress response genes; among these is GADD34, the protein product of which recruits the α-isoform of protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit (PP1α) and eIF2α to assemble a phosphatase complex catalyzing eIF2α dephosphorylation and resumption of protein synthesis. Aberrations in this pathway underlie the aforementioned disorders. Previous observations indicating that GADD34 is induced by arsenite, a thiol-directed oxidative stressor, in the absence of eIF2α phosphorylation suggest other roles for GADD34. Here, we report that arsenite-induced oxidative stress differs from thapsigargin- or tunicamycin-induced ER stress in promoting GADD34 transcription and the preferential translation of its mRNA in the absence of eIF2α phosphorylation. Arsenite also stabilized GADD34 protein, slowing its degradation. In response to oxidative stress, but not ER stress, GADD34 recruited TDP-43, and enhanced cytoplasmic distribution and cysteine modifications of TDP-43 promoted its binding to GADD34. Arsenite also recruited a TDP-43 kinase, casein kinase-1ϵ (CK1ϵ), to GADD34. Concomitant with TDP-43 aggregation and proteolysis after prolonged arsenite exposure, GADD34-bound CK1ϵ catalyzed TDP-43 phosphorylations at serines 409/410, which were diminished or absent in GADD34-/- cells. Our findings highlight that the phosphatase regulator, GADD34, also functions as a kinase scaffold in response to chronic oxidative stress and recruits CK1ϵ and oxidized TDP-43 to facilitate its phosphorylation, as seen in TDP-43 proteinopathies.Item Open Access Cistrome analysis of YY1 uncovers a regulatory axis of YY1:BRD2/4-PFKP during tumorigenesis of advanced prostate cancer.(Nucleic acids research, 2021-05) Xu, Chenxi; Tsai, Yi-Hsuan; Galbo, Phillip M; Gong, Weida; Storey, Aaron J; Xu, Yuemei; Byrum, Stephanie D; Xu, Lingfan; Whang, Young E; Parker, Joel S; Mackintosh, Samuel G; Edmondson, Ricky D; Tackett, Alan J; Huang, Jiaoti; Zheng, Deyou; Earp, H Shelton; Wang, Gang Greg; Cai, LingCastration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a terminal disease and the molecular underpinnings of CRPC development need to be better understood in order to improve its treatment. Here, we report that a transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is significantly overexpressed during prostate cancer progression. Functional and cistrome studies of YY1 uncover its roles in promoting prostate oncogenesis in vitro and in vivo, as well as sustaining tumor metabolism including the Warburg effect and mitochondria respiration. Additionally, our integrated genomics and interactome profiling in prostate tumor show that YY1 and bromodomain-containing proteins (BRD2/4) co-occupy a majority of gene-regulatory elements, coactivating downstream targets. Via gene loss-of-function and rescue studies and mutagenesis of YY1-bound cis-elements, we unveil an oncogenic pathway in which YY1 directly binds and activates PFKP, a gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis, significantly contributing to the YY1-enforced Warburg effect and malignant growth. Altogether, this study supports a master regulator role for YY1 in prostate tumorigenesis and reveals a YY1:BRD2/4-PFKP axis operating in advanced prostate cancer with implications for therapy.Item Open Access Dose-dependent expression of claudin-5 is a modifying factor in schizophrenia.(Molecular psychiatry, 2018-11) Greene, C; Kealy, J; Humphries, MM; Gong, Y; Hou, J; Hudson, N; Cassidy, LM; Martiniano, R; Shashi, V; Hooper, SR; Grant, GA; Kenna, PF; Norris, K; Callaghan, CK; Islam, M dN; O'Mara, SM; Najda, Z; Campbell, SG; Pachter, JS; Thomas, J; Williams, NM; Humphries, P; Murphy, KC; Campbell, MSchizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects up to 1% of the general population. Various genes show associations with schizophrenia and a very weak nominal association with the tight junction protein, claudin-5, has previously been identified. Claudin-5 is expressed in endothelial cells forming part of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, schizophrenia occurs in 30% of individuals with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a population who are haploinsufficient for the claudin-5 gene. Here, we show that a variant in the claudin-5 gene is weakly associated with schizophrenia in 22q11DS, leading to 75% less claudin-5 being expressed in endothelial cells. We also show that targeted adeno-associated virus-mediated suppression of claudin-5 in the mouse brain results in localized BBB disruption and behavioural changes. Using an inducible 'knockdown' mouse model, we further link claudin-5 suppression with psychosis through a distinct behavioural phenotype showing impairments in learning and memory, anxiety-like behaviour and sensorimotor gating. In addition, these animals develop seizures and die after 3-4 weeks of claudin-5 suppression, reinforcing the crucial role of claudin-5 in normal neurological function. Finally, we show that anti-psychotic medications dose-dependently increase claudin-5 expression in vitro and in vivo while aberrant, discontinuous expression of claudin-5 in the brains of schizophrenic patients post mortem was observed compared to age-matched controls. Together, these data suggest that BBB disruption may be a modifying factor in the development of schizophrenia and that drugs directly targeting the BBB may offer new therapeutic opportunities for treating this disorder.Item Open Access Drebrin regulates angiotensin II-induced aortic remodelling.(Cardiovascular research, 2018-11) Zhang, Lisheng; Wu, Jiao-Hui; Huang, Tai-Qin; Nepliouev, Igor; Brian, Leigh; Zhang, Zhushan; Wertman, Virginia; Rudemiller, Nathan P; McMahon, Timothy J; Shenoy, Sudha K; Miller, Francis J; Crowley, Steven D; Freedman, Neil J; Stiber, Jonathan AAims
The actin-binding protein Drebrin is up-regulated in response to arterial injury and reduces smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation through its interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that SMC Drebrin inhibits angiotensin II-induced remodelling of the proximal aorta.Methods and results
Angiotensin II was administered via osmotic minipumps at 1000 ng/kg/min continuously for 28 days in SM22-Cre+/Dbnflox/flox (SMC-Dbn-/-) and control mice. Blood pressure responses to angiotensin II were assessed by telemetry. After angiotensin II infusion, we assessed remodelling in the proximal ascending aorta by echocardiography and planimetry of histological cross sections. Although the degree of hypertension was equivalent in SMC-Dbn-/- and control mice, SMC-Dbn-/- mice nonetheless exhibited 60% more proximal aortic medial thickening and two-fold more outward aortic remodelling than control mice in response to angiotensin II. Proximal aortas demonstrated greater cellular proliferation and matrix deposition in SMC-Dbn-/- mice than in control mice, as evidenced by a higher prevalence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive nuclei and higher levels of collagen I. Compared with control mouse aortas, SMC-Dbn-/- aortas demonstrated greater angiotensin II-induced NADPH oxidase activation and inflammation, evidenced by higher levels of Ser-536-phosphorylated NFκB p65 subunits and higher levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and adventitial macrophages.Conclusions
We conclude that SMC Drebrin deficiency augments angiotensin II-induced inflammation and adverse aortic remodelling.Item Open Access Essential cell-extrinsic requirement for PDIA6 in lymphoid and myeloid development.(The Journal of experimental medicine, 2020-04) Choi, Jin Huk; Zhong, Xue; Zhang, Zhao; Su, Lijing; McAlpine, William; Misawa, Takuma; Liao, Tzu-Chieh; Zhan, Xiaoming; Russell, Jamie; Ludwig, Sara; Li, Xiaohong; Tang, Miao; Anderton, Priscilla; Moresco, Eva Marie Y; Beutler, BruceIn a forward genetic screen of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutant mice for aberrant immune function, we identified mice with a syndromic disorder marked by growth retardation, diabetes, premature death, and severe lymphoid and myeloid hypoplasia together with diminished T cell-independent (TI) antibody responses. The causative mutation was in Pdia6, an essential gene encoding protein disulfide isomerase A6 (PDIA6), an oxidoreductase that functions in nascent protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. The immune deficiency caused by the Pdia6 mutation was, with the exception of a residual T cell developmental defect, completely rescued in irradiated wild-type recipients of PDIA6-deficient bone marrow cells, both in the absence or presence of competition. The viable hypomorphic allele uncovered in these studies reveals an essential role for PDIA6 in hematopoiesis, but one extrinsic to cells of the hematopoietic lineage. We show evidence that this role is in the proper folding of Wnt3a, BAFF, IL-7, and perhaps other factors produced by the extra-hematopoietic compartment that contribute to the development and lineage commitment of hematopoietic cells.Item Open Access Fibronectin aggregation and assembly: the unfolding of the second fibronectin type III domain.(The Journal of biological chemistry, 2011-11) Ohashi, Tomoo; Erickson, Harold PThe mechanism of fibronectin (FN) assembly and the self-association sites are still unclear and contradictory, although the N-terminal 70-kDa region ((I)1-9) is commonly accepted as one of the assembly sites. We previously found that (I)1-9 binds to superfibronectin, which is an artificial FN aggregate induced by anastellin. In the present study, we found that (I)1-9 bound to the aggregate formed by anastellin and a small FN fragment, (III)1-2. An engineered disulfide bond in (III)2, which stabilizes folding, inhibited aggregation, but a disulfide bond in (III)1 did not. A gelatin precipitation assay showed that (I)1-9 did not interact with anastellin, (III)1, (III)2, (III)1-2, or several (III)1-2 mutants including (III)1-2KADA. (In contrast to previous studies, we found that the (III)1-2KADA mutant was identical in conformation to wild-type (III)1-2.) Because (I)1-9 only bound to the aggregate and the unfolding of (III)2 played a role in aggregation, we generated a (III)2 domain that was destabilized by deletion of the G strand. This mutant bound (I)1-9 as shown by the gelatin precipitation assay and fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis, and it inhibited FN matrix assembly when added to cell culture. Next, we introduced disulfide mutations into full-length FN. Three disulfide locks in (III)2, (III)3, and (III)11 were required to dramatically reduce anastellin-induced aggregation. When we tested the disulfide mutants in cell culture, only the disulfide bond in (III)2 reduced the FN matrix. These results suggest that the unfolding of (III)2 is one of the key factors for FN aggregation and assembly.Item Open Access Functional stability of unliganded envelope glycoprotein spikes among isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).(PloS one, 2011-01) Agrawal, Nitish; Leaman, Daniel P; Rowcliffe, Eric; Kinkead, Heather; Nohria, Raman; Akagi, Junya; Bauer, Katherine; Du, Sean X; Whalen, Robert G; Burton, Dennis R; Zwick, Michael BThe HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike is challenging to study at the molecular level, due in part to its genetic variability, structural heterogeneity and lability. However, the extent of lability in Env function, particularly for primary isolates across clades, has not been explored. Here, we probe stability of function for variant Envs of a range of isolates from chronic and acute infection, and from clades A, B and C, all on a constant virus backbone. Stability is elucidated in terms of the sensitivity of isolate infectivity to destabilizing conditions. A heat-gradient assay was used to determine T(90) values, the temperature at which HIV-1 infectivity is decreased by 90% in 1 h, which ranged between ∼40 to 49°C (n = 34). For select Envs (n = 10), the half-lives of infectivity decay at 37°C were also determined and these correlated significantly with the T(90) (p = 0.029), though two 'outliers' were identified. Specificity in functional Env stability was also evident. For example, Env variant HIV-1(ADA) was found to be labile to heat, 37°C decay, and guanidinium hydrochloride but not to urea or extremes of pH, when compared to its thermostable counterpart, HIV-1(JR-CSF). Blue native PAGE analyses revealed that Env-dependent viral inactivation preceded complete dissociation of Env trimers. The viral membrane and membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of gp41 were also shown to be important for maintaining trimer stability at physiological temperature. Overall, our results indicate that primary HIV-1 Envs can have diverse sensitivities to functional inactivation in vitro, including at physiological temperature, and suggest that parameters of functional Env stability may be helpful in the study and optimization of native Env mimetics and vaccines.Item Open Access Hydrostatic isolated limb perfusion with adeno-associated virus vectors enhances correction of skeletal muscle in Pompe disease.(Gene Ther, 2010-12) Sun, B; Li, S; Bird, A; Koeberl, DDGlycogen storage disease type II (Pompe disease; MIM 232300) stems from the inherited deficiency of acid-α-glucosidase (GAA; acid maltase; EC 3.2.1.20), which primarily involves cardiac and skeletal muscles. We hypothesized that hydrostatic isolated limb perfusion (ILP) administration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector containing a muscle-specific promoter could achieve relatively higher transgene expression in the hindlimb muscles of GAA-knockout (GAA-KO) mice, in comparison with intravenous (IV) administration. ILP administration of AAV2/8 vectors encoding alkaline phosphatase or human GAA-transduced skeletal muscles of the hindlimb widely, despite the relatively low number of vector particles administered (1 × 10¹¹), and IV administration of an equivalent vector dose failed to transduce skeletal muscle detectably. Similarly, ILP administration of fewer vector particles of the AAV2/9 vector encoding human GAA (3 × 10¹⁰) transduced skeletal muscles of the hindlimb widely and significantly reduced glycogen content to, in comparison with IV administration. The only advantage for IV administration was moderately high-level transduction of cardiac muscle, which demonstrated compellingly that ILP administration sequestered vector particles within the perfused limb. Reduction of glycogen storage in the extensor digitorum longus demonstrated the potential advantage of ILP-mediated delivery of AAV vectors in Pompe disease, because type II myofibers are resistant to enzyme replacement therapy. Thus, ILP will enhance AAV transduction of multiple skeletal muscles while reducing the required dosages in terms of vector particle numbers.Item Open Access Infection of monkeys by simian-human immunodeficiency viruses with transmitted/founder clade C HIV-1 envelopes.(Virology, 2015-01-15) Asmal, Mohammed; Luedemann, Corinne; Lavine, Christy L; Mach, Linh V; Balachandran, Harikrishnan; Brinkley, Christie; Denny, Thomas N; Lewis, Mark G; Anderson, Hanne; Pal, Ranajit; Sok, Devin; Le, Khoa; Pauthner, Matthias; Hahn, Beatrice H; Shaw, George M; Seaman, Michael S; Letvin, Norman L; Burton, Dennis R; Sodroski, Joseph G; Haynes, Barton F; Santra, SampaSimian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) that mirror natural transmitted/founder (T/F) viruses in man are needed for evaluation of HIV-1 vaccine candidates in nonhuman primates. Currently available SHIVs contain HIV-1 env genes from chronically-infected individuals and do not reflect the characteristics of biologically relevant HIV-1 strains that mediate human transmission. We chose to develop clade C SHIVs, as clade C is the major infecting subtype of HIV-1 in the world. We constructed 10 clade C SHIVs expressing Env proteins from T/F viruses. Three of these ten clade C SHIVs (SHIV KB9 C3, SHIV KB9 C4 and SHIV KB9 C5) replicated in naïve rhesus monkeys. These three SHIVs are mucosally transmissible and are neutralized by sCD4 and several HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies. However, like natural T/F viruses, they exhibit low Env reactivity and a Tier 2 neutralization sensitivity. Of note, none of the clade C T/F SHIVs elicited detectable autologous neutralizing antibodies in the infected monkeys, even though antibodies that neutralized a heterologous Tier 1 HIV-1 were generated. Challenge with these three new clade C SHIVs will provide biologically relevant tests for vaccine protection in rhesus macaques.