7196 research outputs found
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Manumycin polyketides act as molecular glues between UBR7 and P53
No full textMolecular glues are an intriguing therapeutic modality that harness small molecules to induce interactions between proteins that typically do not interact. However, such molecules are rare and have been discovered fortuitously, thus limiting their potential as a general strategy for therapeutic intervention. We postulated that natural products bearing one or more electrophilic sites may be an unexplored source of new molecular glues, potentially acting through multicovalent attachment. Using chemoproteomic platforms, we show that members of the manumycin family of polyketides, which bear multiple potentially reactive sites, target C374 of the putative E3 ligase UBR7 in breast cancer cells, and engage in molecular glue interactions with the neosubstrate tumor-suppressor TP53, leading to p53 transcriptional activation and cell death. Our results reveal an anticancer mechanism of this natural product family, and highlight the potential for combining chemoproteomics and multicovalent natural products for the discovery of new molecular glue
Transcriptome and translatome co-evolution in mammals.
No full textGene-expression programs define shared and species-specific phenotypes, but their evolution remains largely uncharacterized beyond the transcriptome layer. Here we report an analysis of the co-evolution of translatomes and transcriptomes using ribosome-profiling and matched RNA-sequencing data for three organs (brain, liver and testis) in five mammals (human, macaque, mouse, opossum and platypus) and a bird (chicken). Our within-species analyses reveal that translational regulation is widespread in the different organs, in particular across the spermatogenic cell types of the testis. The between-species divergence in gene expression is around 20% lower at the translatome layer than at the transcriptome layer owing to extensive buffering between the expression layers, which especially preserved old, essential and housekeeping genes. Translational upregulation specifically counterbalanced global dosage reductions during the evolution of sex chromosomes and the effects of meiotic sex-chromosome inactivation during spermatogenesis. Despite the overall prevalence of buffering, some genes evolved faster at the translatome layer-potentially indicating adaptive changes in expression; testis tissue shows the highest fraction of such genes. Further analyses incorporating mass spectrometry proteomics data establish that the co-evolution of transcriptomes and translatomes is reflected at the proteome layer. Together, our work uncovers co-evolutionary patterns and associated selective forces across the expression layers, and provides a resource for understanding their interplay in mammalian organs
Dilp-2–mediated PI3-kinase activation coordinates reactivation of quiescent neuroblasts with growth of their glial stem cell niche
No full textDietary nutrients provide macromolecules necessary for organism growth and development. In response to animal feeding, evolutionarily conserved growth signaling pathways are activated, leading to increased rates of cell proliferation and tissue growth. It remains unclear how different cell types within developing tissues coordinate growth in response to dietary nutrients and whether coordinated growth of different cell types is necessary for proper tissue function. Using the early Drosophila larval brain, we asked whether nutrient-dependent growth of neural stem cells (neuroblasts), glia, and trachea is coordinated and whether coordinated growth among these major brain cell types is required for neural development. It is known that in response to dietary nutrients and PI3-kinase activation, brain and ventral nerve cord neuroblasts reactivate from quiescence and ventral nerve cord glia expand their membranes. Here, we assay growth in a cell-type specific manner at short time intervals in the brain and determine that growth is coordinated among different cell types and that coordinated growth is mediated in part through activation of PI3-kinase signaling. Of the 7 Drosophila insulin-like peptides (Dilps), we find that Dilp-2 is required for PI3-kinase activation and growth coordination between neuroblasts and glia in the brain. Dilp-2 induces brain cortex glia to initiate membrane growth and make first contact with quiescent neuroblasts. Once reactivated, neuroblasts promote cortex glia growth to ultimately form a selective membrane barrier. Our results highlight the importance of bidirectional growth signaling between neural stem cells and surrounding cell types in the brain in response to nutrition and demonstrate how coordinated growth among different cell types drives tissue morphogenesis and function
Let Culture Drive Online Innovation Teams
No full textOnline innovation teams need to be especially mindful of cultural sensitivities among members and adapt accordingly. Evidence suggests that cultural diversity is a major asset for innovation teams. Under remote operating environments, cultural awareness and sensitivity is of heightened significance, and appropriate practices need to be deployed
The proton-sensing GPR4 receptor regulates paracellular gap formation and permeability of vascular endothelial cells
No full textTissue acidosis can be a consequence of numerous disease states including stroke, myocardial infarction, limb ischemia, and inflammation. Blood vessels existing in the affected tissues are associated with the progression of acidosis-related diseases. However, the mechanisms by which endothelial cells (ECs) lining the affected blood vessels sense and respond to an acidic microenvironment remain largely unclear. We investigated the functional effects of the proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptor GPR4 in acidosis-induced endothelial inflammation. GPR4 is highly expressed in ECs and known to regulate EC inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses within acidic microenvironments. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that GPR4 activation by acidosis increases EC paracellular gap formation and permeability. We further demonstrate that GPR4-mediated paracellular gap formation is dependent on the Gα12/13 signaling pathway. To assess the functional role of GPR4 in the inflammatory response in vivo, we utilized an acute hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion mouse model. We demonstrate that both genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of GPR4 reduce tissue edema, exudate formation, endothelial adhesion molecule expression, and leukocyte infiltration in the inflamed limb tissue. Collectively these data suggest GPR4/Gα12/13 signaling mediates acidosis-induced endothelial paracellular gap formation and permeability. This study implicates GPR4 as a candidate therapeutic target for the remediation of inflammation and tissue edema
A cell-based immunogenicity assay to detect antibodies against chimeric antigen receptor expressed by tisagenlecleucel
No full textThe use of T-cells expressing Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) offers new opportunities for cancer treatment, as well as new challenges for the bioanalysis of this new class of drugs. The analysis of humoral immunogenicity (anti-drug antibodies) against CARs could be performed with a bridging ELISA, using labeled CAR fragments. However, outside of its native cell membrane environment and without potential interaction partners on the cell surface, a labeled or coated recombinant CAR fragment may structurally differ from the membrane-bound CAR expressed on CAR-T cells. Consequently, immunogenicity to CARs may be missed due to the artificial nature of a ligand binding assay setup. T-cell lines expressing the CAR offer the opportunity to measure anti-drug antibodies to the CAR in its natural cell environment, as an alternative to ligand-binding assays. Here we describe a novel, flow cytometry-based humoral immunogenicity assay for tisagenlecleucel (CTL019, Kymriah®) using a human T-cell line that expresses murine CAR19. The assay described here was fully validated according to health authority guidelines for the development and validation of immunogenicity assays and has a sensitivity of 100 ng/mL. A good correlation of screening assay signal strengths to titer assay results was observed while exploring options to increase titration assay throughput. Pre-existing antibodies against the cell line used in the assay as well as against the CAR itself complicate the assay and data interpretation
The discovery of 4-((2S,4S)-4-ethoxy-1-((5-methoxy-7-methyl-1H-indol-4-yl)methyl)piperidin-2-yl)benzoic acid (LNP023), a Factor B inhibitor, specifically designed to be applicable to treating a diverse array of complement mediated diseases
No full textThe alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of several human diseases including age-related macular degeneration, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and various glomerular diseases. The serine protease Factor B (FB) is a key node in the AP and is integral to the formation of C3 and C5 convertase. Despite the prominent role of FB in the AP pathway selective, orally bioavailable inhibitors has not been reported previously. Herein we describe our efforts to identify FB inhibitors by leveraging insights from several X-ray co-crystal structures. This work culminated in the discovery of LNP023 (41), which is currently being evaluated clinically in several diverse indications
Selective Acylation of Aryl- and Heteroarylmagnesium Reagents with Esters in Continuous Flow
No full textA selective acylation of readily accessible organomagnesium reagents with commercially available esters proceeds at convenient temperatures (-5 to 25 °C) and short residence times (2-10 min) in continuous flow producing various functionalized ketones. The use of flow conditions allows to prevent premature collapse of the hemiacetal intermediates despite non-cryogenic conditions, thus furnishing ketones in good yields. Several ester electrophiles, including ethyl trifluoroacetate, diethyl oxalate and N-heterocyclic esters were suitable substrates for this acylation procedure. Throughout, the coordinating ability of the ester and/or Grignard was found to be a determinant factor in the reaction outcome. This was leveraged by the obtention of several bis-aryl ketones
using 2-hydroxy ester derivatives as substrate
