| 1. |
- Kohler, Andreas, Dr. rer. nat. 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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The enzymatic core of the Parkinson’s disease-associated protein LRRK2 impairs mitochondrial biogenesis in aging yeast
- 2018
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1662-5099. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is a prominent trait of cellular decline during aging and intimately linked to neuronal degeneration during Parkinson’s disease (PD). Various proteins associated with PD have been shown to differentially impact mitochondrial dynamics, quality control and function, including the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). Here, we demonstrate that high levels of the enzymatic core of human LRRK2, harboring GTPase as well as kinase activity, decreases mitochondrial mass via an impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis in aging yeast. We link mitochondrial depletion to a global downregulation of mitochondria-related gene transcripts and show that this catalytic core of LRRK2 localizes to mitochondria and selectively compromises respiratory chain complex IV formation. With progressing cellular age, this culminates in dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, decreased respiratory capacity, ATP depletion and generation of reactive oxygen species. Ultimately, the collapse of the mitochondrial network results in cell death. A point mutation in LRRK2 that increases the intrinsic GTPase activity diminishes mitochondrial impairment and consequently provides cytoprotection. In sum, we report that a downregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis rather than excessive degradation of mitochondria underlies the reduction of mitochondrial abundance induced by the enzymatic core of LRRK2 in aging yeast cells. Thus, our data provide a novel perspective for deciphering the causative mechanisms of LRRK2-associated PD pathology.
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| 2. |
- Kohler, Verena, 1992-, et al.
(författare)
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TraN: A novel repressor of an Enterococcus conjugative type IV secretion system
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 46:17, s. 9201-9219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dissemination of multi-resistant bacteria represents an enormous burden on modern healthcare. Plasmid-borne conjugative transfer is the most prevalent mechanism, requiring a type IV secretion system that enables bacteria to spread beneficial traits, such as resistance to last-line antibiotics, among different genera. Inc18 plasmids, like the Gram-positive broad host-range plasmid pIP501, are substantially involved in propagation of vancomycin resistance from Enterococci to methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Here, we identified the small cytosolic protein TraN as a repressor of the pIP501-encoded conjugative transfer system, since deletion of traN resulted in upregulation of transfer factors, leading to highly enhanced conjugative transfer. Furthermore, we report the complex structure of TraN with DNA and define the exact sequence of its binding motif. Targeting this protein–DNA interaction might represent a novel therapeutic approach against the spreading of antibiotic resistances.
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| 3. |
- Schriefl, Andreas J., et al.
(författare)
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An automated approach for three-dimensional quantification of fibrillar structures in optically cleared soft biological tissues
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of the Royal Society Interface. - : The Royal Society. - 1742-5689 .- 1742-5662. ; 10:80, s. 20120760-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a novel approach allowing for a simple, fast and automated morphological analysis of three-dimensional image stacks (z-stacks) featuring fibrillar structures from optically cleared soft biological tissues. Five non-atherosclerotic tissue samples from human abdominal aortas were used to outline the multi-purpose methodology, applicable to various tissue types. It yields a three-dimensional orientational distribution of relative amplitudes, representing the original collagen fibre morphology, identifies regions of isotropy where no preferred fibre orientations are observed and determines structural parameters throughout anisotropic regions for the analysis and numerical modelling of biomechanical quantities such as stress and strain. Our method combines optical tissue clearing with second-harmonic generation imaging, Fourier-based image analysis and maximum-likelihood estimation for distribution fitting. With a new sample preparation method for arteries, we present, for the first time to our knowledge, a continuous three-dimensional distribution of collagen fibres throughout the entire thickness of the aortic wall, revealing novel structural and organizational insights into the three arterial layers.
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| 4. |
- Spribille, Toby, et al.
(författare)
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Basidiomycete yeasts in the cortex of ascomycete macrolichens
- 2016
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 353:6298, s. 488-492
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For over 140 years, lichens have been regarded as a symbiosis between a single fungus, usually an ascomycete, and a photosynthesizing partner. Other fungi have long been known to occur as occasional parasites or endophytes, but the one lichen-one fungus paradigm has seldom been questioned. Here we show that many common lichens are composed of the known ascomycete, the photosynthesizing partner, and, unexpectedly, specific basidiomycete yeasts. These yeasts are embedded in the cortex, and their abundance correlates with previously unexplained variations in phenotype. Basidiomycete lineages maintain close associations with specific lichen species over large geographical distances and have been found on six continents. The structurally important lichen cortex, long treated as a zone of differentiated ascomycete cells, appears to consistently contain two unrelated fungi.
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