Project description:AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a pivotal cellular energy sensor. It is activated by stresses that cause depletion of energy and initiates adaptive responses by regulating metabolism balance. AMPK forms αβγ heterotrimer. In fission yeast, activation of AMPK mainly depends on the phosphorylation of AMPKα subunit Ssp2 at Thr189 by upstream kinase Ssp1. However, not much is known about the regulation of this process. In this study, we identified Epe1 as a novel positive regulator of AMPK. Epe1, a jmjC-domain-containing protein, is best-known as a negative regulator of heterochromatin spreading. Although the novel role of Epe1 in regulation of AMPK relies on predicted iron- and 2-oxyglutarate-binding residues inside jmjC domain, it seems to be irrelevant to inhibition of heterochromatin spreading. Epe1 is associated with Ssp2 directly and promotes phosphorylation of Ssp2 upon various environmental stresses, including low-glucose, high-sodium, high-pH and oxidative conditions. Similar to Epe1, Jmj1 and Msc1 also contribute to phosphorylation of Ssp2. Deletion of epe1 + impairs downstream events following phosphorylation of Ssp2, including nuclear translocation of Ssp2, sexual differentiation and inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Our study reveals a novel way in which a jmjC-domain-containing protein regulates adaptive response by directly binding to a principal sensor.
Project description:The function of the Vibrio 7(th) pandemic island-1 (VSP-1) in cholera pathogenesis has remained obscure. Utilizing chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA sequencing to map the regulon of the master virulence regulator ToxT, we identify a TCP island-encoded small RNA that reduces the expression of a previously unrecognized VSP-1-encoded transcription factor termed VspR. VspR modulates the expression of several VSP-1 genes including one that encodes a novel class of di-nucleotide cyclase (DncV), which preferentially synthesizes a previously undescribed hybrid cyclic AMP-GMP molecule. We show that DncV is required for efficient intestinal colonization and downregulates V. cholerae chemotaxis, a phenotype previously associated with hyperinfectivity. This pathway couples the actions of previously disparate genomic islands, defines VSP-1 as a pathogenicity island in V. cholerae, and implicates its occurrence in 7(th) pandemic strains as a benefit for host adaptation through the production of a regulatory cyclic di-nucleotide.
Project description:The inheritance of gene expression patterns is dependent on epigenetic regulation, but the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic landscapes during T cell differentiation are incompletely understood. Here we show that two stage-specific Cd4 cis-elements, the previously characterized enhancer E4p and a novel enhancer E4m, coordinately promote Cd4 transcription in mature thymic MHC-II-specific T cells, in part through the canonical Wnt pathway. Specifically, E4p licenses E4m to orchestrate DNA demethylation by TET1 and TET3, which in turn poises the Cd4 locus for transcription in peripheral T cells. Cd4 locus demethylation is important for subsequent Cd4 transcription in activated peripheral T cells wherein these cis-elements become dispensable. By contrast, in developing thymocytes the loss of TET1/3 does not affect Cd4 transcription, highlighting an uncoupled event between transcription and epigenetic modifications. Together our findings reveal an important function for thymic cis-elements in governing gene expression in the periphery via a heritable epigenetic mechanism.
Project description:The γ subunits of heterotrimeric AMPK complexes contain the binding sites for the regulatory adenine nucleotides AMP, ADP and ATP. We addressed whether complexes containing different γ isoforms display different responses to adenine nucleotides by generating cells stably expressing FLAG-tagged versions of the γ1, γ2 or γ3 isoform. When assayed at a physiological ATP concentration (5 mM), γ1- and γ2-containing complexes were allosterically activated almost 10-fold by AMP, with EC50 values one to two orders of magnitude lower than the ATP concentration. By contrast, γ3 complexes were barely activated by AMP under these conditions, although we did observe some activation at lower ATP concentrations. Despite this, all three complexes were activated, due to increased Thr(172) phosphorylation, when cells were incubated with mitochondrial inhibitors that increase cellular AMP. With γ1 complexes, activation and Thr(172) phosphorylation induced by the upstream kinase LKB1 [liver kinase B1; but not calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase (CaMKKβ)] in cell-free assays was markedly promoted by AMP and, to a smaller extent and less potently, by ADP. However, effects of AMP or ADP on activation and phosphorylation of the γ2 and γ3 complexes were small or insignificant. Binding of AMP or ADP protected all three γ subunit complexes against inactivation by Thr(172) dephosphorylation; with γ2 complexes, ADP had similar potency to AMP, but with γ1 and γ3 complexes, ADP was less potent than AMP. Thus, AMPK complexes containing different γ subunit isoforms respond differently to changes in AMP, ADP or ATP. These differences may tune the responses of the isoforms to fit their differing physiological roles.
Project description:IntroductionAdenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) can influence energy metabolism. Energy metabolism imbalance is closely associated with the occurrence of neuropathic pain (NeP). Rs10789038 and rs2796498 are genetic polymorphisms of PRKAA2, the gene encoding AMPK, which is closely related to energy metabolism imbalance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between PRKAA2 and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the southwestern Chinese Han population.MethodsThis study enrolled 132 PHN patients and 118 healthy subjects. The rs10789038 and rs2796498 PRKAA2 genotypes were identified in all participants. The association between these single nucleotide polymorphisms and PHN susceptibility was evaluated in the dominant and recessive models. Haplotype analysis of patients with PHN and healthy controls was performed.ResultsThe PHN patients were older than the healthy subjects (P < 0.05); however, the other clinical characteristics between two groups were not significantly different (all P >0.05). Genotypes and allele frequencies differed significantly between PHN patients and healthy subjects in the rs10789038 polymorphism (P < 0.05), but not in rs2796498 (P > 0.05). In addition, the GG haplotype of rs10789038-rs2796498 correlated negatively with PHN occurrence in haplotype analysis (P < 0.05).ConclusionPHN occurrence may be related to the PRKAA2 rs10789038 A>G genetic polymorphism in the southwestern Chinese Han population.
Project description:Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal Na(+)-conducting channels activated by extracellular acidification. ASICs are involved in pain sensation, expression of fear, and neurodegeneration after ischemic stroke. Functional ASICs are composed of three identical or homologous subunits, whose extracellular part has a handlike structure. Currently, it is unclear how protonation of residues in extracellular domains controls ASIC activity. Knowledge of these mechanisms would allow a rational development of drugs acting on ASICs. Protonation may induce conformational changes that control the position of the channel gate. We used voltage-clamp fluorometry with fluorophores attached to residues in different domains of ASIC1a to detect conformational changes. Comparison of the timing of fluorescence and current signals identified residues involved in movements that preceded desensitization and may therefore be associated with channel opening or early steps leading to desensitization. Other residues participated in movements intimately linked to desensitization and recovery from desensitization. Fluorescence signals of all mutants were detected at more alkaline pH than ionic currents. Their midpoint of pH dependence was close to that of steady-state desensitization, whereas the steepness of the pH fluorescence relationship was closer to that of current activation. A sequence of movements was observed upon acidification, and its backward movements during recovery from desensitization occurred in the reverse order, indicating that the individual steps are interdependent. Furthermore, the fluorescence signal of some labeled residues in the finger domain was strongly quenched by a Trp residue in the neighboring β-ball domain. Upon channel activation, their fluorescence intensity increased, indicating that the finger moved away from the β ball. This extensive analysis of activity-dependent conformational changes in ASICs sheds new light on the mechanisms by which protonation controls ASIC activity.
Project description:A constant ratio of ferritin heavy chain homolog (HCH) and light chain homolog (LCH) subunits seems to be required to compose the ferritin heteropolymer protein in insects. However, the mechanism by which insect LCH genes regulate protein levels remains unclear. We report that alternative promoters and alternative splicing contribute to maintaining a constant ratio of the two subunits, BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH (ferritin 1 HCH and ferritin 2 LCH), in Bactrocera dorsalis, a notorious quarantine pest. The genes BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were identified with a series of potential transcription factor binding sites and were shown to be clustered within the genome in a "head to head" fashion. Thus, we unearthed a potential post-transcriptional mechanism to regulate the levels of LCH subunits, and confirmed that the expressions of BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were induced by 20-hydroecdysone, iron overload, and immune challenge.
Project description:miR-155 plays critical roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes, however, its function in the regulation of blood glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we reveal that miR-155 levels are downregulated in serum from type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, suggesting that miR-155 might be involved in blood glucose control and diabetes. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in mice demonstrate that miR-155 has no effects on the pancreatic β-cell proliferation and function. Global transgenic overexpression of miR-155 in mice leads to hypoglycaemia, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Conversely, miR-155 deficiency in mice causes hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. In addition, consistent with a positive regulatory role of miR-155 in glucose metabolism, miR-155 positively modulates glucose uptake in all cell types examined, while mice overexpressing miR-155 transgene show enhanced glycolysis, and insulin-stimulated AKT and IRS-1 phosphorylation in liver, adipose tissue or skeletal muscle. Furthermore, we reveal these aforementioned phenomena occur, at least partially, through miR-155-mediated repression of important negative regulators (i.e. C/EBPβ, HDAC4 and SOCS1) of insulin signaling. Taken together, these findings demonstrate, for the first time, that miR-155 is a positive regulator of insulin sensitivity with potential applications for diabetes treatment.
Project description:Heterotrimeric G proteins are signal transduction proteins involved in regulating numerous signaling events. In particular, previous studies have demonstrated a role for G-proteins in regulating ?-catenin signaling. However, the link between G-proteins and ?-catenin signaling is controversial and appears to depend on G-protein specificity. We describe a detailed analysis of a link between specific G-alpha subunits and ?-catenin using G-alpha subunit genetic knockout and knockdown approaches. The Pasteurella multocida toxin was utilized as a unique tool to activate G-proteins, with LiCl treatment serving as a ?-catenin signaling agonist. The results show that Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) significantly enhanced LiCl-induced active ?-catenin levels in HEK293T cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts. Evaluation of the effect of specific G-alpha proteins on the regulation of ?-catenin showed that Gq/11 and G12/13 knockout cells had significantly higher levels of active and total ?-catenin than wild-type cells. The stimulation of active ?-catenin by PMT and LiCl was lost upon both constitutive and transient knockdown of G12 and G13 but not Gq Based on our results, we conclude that endogenous G-alpha proteins are negative regulators of active ?-catenin; however, PMT-activated G-alpha subunits positively regulate LiCl-induced ?-catenin expression in a G12/13-dependent manner. Hence, G-alpha subunit regulation of ?-catenin is context dependent.
Project description:How cells regulate the size of intracellular structures and organelles is a longstanding question. Recent experiments suggest that size control of intracellular structures is achieved through the depletion of a limiting subunit pool in the cytoplasm. While the limiting pool model ensures organelle-to-cell size scaling, it does not provide a mechanism for robust size control of multiple co-existing structures. Here we develop a generalized theory for size-dependent growth of intracellular structures to demonstrate that robust size control of multiple intracellular structures, competing for a limiting subunit pool, is achieved via a negative feedback between the growth rate and the size of the individual structure. This design principle captures size maintenance of a wide variety of subcellular structures, from cytoskeletal filaments to three-dimensional organelles. We identify the feedback motifs for structure size regulation based on known molecular processes, and compare our theory to existing models of size regulation in biological assemblies. Furthermore, we show that positive feedback between structure size and growth rate can lead to bistable size distribution and spontaneous size selection.