| 1. |
- de Maré, Sofia W., et al.
(författare)
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Structural Basis for Glycerol Efflux and Selectivity of Human Aquaporin 7
- 2020
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Ingår i: Structure. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-2126. ; 28:2, s. 3-222
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AQP7 is an important glycerol channel in human adipocytes, and its dysfunction is linked to metabolic disorders. The high-resolution X-ray structures of AQP7 unravels the molecular details of how glycerol travels through the channel and provide a structural basis for development of small-molecule drugs for targeting AQP7.
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| 2. |
- Eltschkner, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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The structure of songbird MHC class I reveals antigen binding that is flexible at the N-terminus and static at the C-terminus
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - 1664-3224. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-distance migratory animals such as birds and bats have evolved to withstand selection imposed by pathogens across the globe, and pathogen richness is known to be particularly high in tropical regions. Immune genes, so-called Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes, are highly duplicated in songbirds compared to other vertebrates, and this high MHC diversity has been hypothesised to result in a unique adaptive immunity. To understand the rationale behind the evolution of the high MHC genetic diversity in songbirds, we determined the structural properties of an MHC class I protein, Acar3, from a long-distance migratory songbird, the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (in short: Acar). The structure of Acar3 was studied in complex with pathogen-derived antigens and shows an overall antigen presentation similar to human MHC class I. However, the peptides bound to Acar3 display an unusual conformation: Whereas the N-terminal ends of the peptides display enhanced flexibility, the conformation of their C-terminal halves is rather static. This uncommon peptide-binding mode in Acar3 is facilitated by a central Arg residue within the peptide-binding groove that fixes the backbone of the peptide at its central position, and potentially permits successful interactions between MHC class I and innate immune receptors. Our study highlights the importance of investigating the immune system of wild animals, such as birds and bats, to uncover unique immune mechanisms which may neither exist in humans nor in model organisms.
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| 3. |
- Górecki, Kamil, et al.
(författare)
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Microfluidic-Derived Detection of Protein-Facilitated Copper Flux Across Lipid Membranes
- 2022
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Ingår i: Analytical Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0003-2700 .- 1520-6882. ; 94:34, s. 11831-11837
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Measurement of protein-facilitated copper flux across biological membranes is a considerable challenge. Here, we demonstrate a straightforward microfluidic-derived approach for visualization and measurement of membranous Cu flux. Giant unilamellar vesicles, reconstituted with the membrane protein of interest, are prepared, surface-immobilized, and assessed using a novel quencher-sensor reporter system for detection of copper. With the aid of a syringe pump, the external buffer is exchanged, enabling consistent and precise exchange of solutes, without causing vesicle rupture or uneven local metal concentrations brought about by rapid mixing. This approach bypasses common issues encountered when studying heavy metal-ion flux, thereby providing a new platform for in vitro studies of metal homeostasis aspects that are critical for all cells, health, and disease.
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| 4. |
- Hansen, Jesper S., et al.
(författare)
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Peptide-Oleate Complexes Create Novel Membrane-Bound Compartments
- 2020
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Ingår i: Molecular biology and evolution. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0737-4038 .- 1537-1719. ; 37:11, s. 3083-3093
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A challenging question in evolutionary theory is the origin of cell division and plausible molecular mechanisms involved. Here, we made the surprising observation that complexes formed by short alpha-helical peptides and oleic acid can create multiple membrane-enclosed spaces from a single lipid vesicle. The findings suggest that such complexes may contain the molecular information necessary to initiate and sustain this process. Based on these observations, we propose a new molecular model to understand protocell division.
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| 5. |
- Huang, Peng, et al.
(författare)
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Aquaglyceroporins and orthodox aquaporins in human adipocytes
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. - : Elsevier BV. - 0005-2736. ; 1864:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aquaporins play a crucial role in water homeostasis in the human body, and recently the physiological importance of aquaporins as glycerol channels have been demonstrated. The aquaglyceroporins (AQP3, AQP7, AQP9 and AQP10) represent key glycerol channels, enabling glycerol flux across the membranes of cells. Adipocytes are the major source of glycerol and during lipolysis, glycerol is released to be metabolized by other tissues through a well-orchestrated process. Here we show that both AQP3 and AQP7 bind to the lipid droplet protein perilipin 1 (PLIN1), suggesting that PLIN1 is involved in the coordination of the subcellular translocation of aquaglyceroporins in human adipocytes. Moreover, in addition to aquaglyceroporins, we discovered by transcriptome sequencing that AQP1 is expressed in human primary adipocytes. AQP1 is mainly a water channel and thus is thought to be involved in the response to hyper-osmotic stress by efflux of water during hyperglycemia. Thus, this data suggests a contribution of both orthodox aquaporin and aquaglyceroporin in human adipocytes to maintain the homeostasis of glycerol and water during fasting and feeding.
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| 6. |
- Huang, Peng, et al.
(författare)
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Cryo-EM structure supports a role of AQP7 as a junction protein
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 14, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aquaglyceroporin 7 (AQP7) facilitates glycerol flux across the plasma membrane with a critical physiological role linked to metabolism, obesity, and associated diseases. Here, we present the single-particle cryo-EM structure of AQP7 determined at 2.55 Å resolution adopting two adhering tetramers, stabilized by extracellularly exposed loops, in a configuration like that of the well-characterized interaction of AQP0 tetramers. The central pore, in-between the four monomers, displays well-defined densities restricted by two leucine filters. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) results show that the AQP7 sample contains glycerol 3-phosphate (Gro3P), which is compatible with the identified features in the central pore. AQP7 is shown to be highly expressed in human pancreatic α- and β- cells suggesting that the identified AQP7 octamer assembly, in addition to its function as glycerol channel, may serve as junction proteins within the endocrine pancreas.
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| 7. |
- Huang, Peng, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular basis for human aquaporin inhibition
- 2024
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - 1091-6490. ; 121:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer invasion and metastasis are known to be potentiated by the expression of aquaporins (AQPs). Likewise, the expression levels of AQPs have been shown to be prognostic for survival in patients and have a role in tumor growth, edema, angiogenesis, and tumor cell migration. Thus, AQPs are key players in cancer biology and potential targets for drug development. Here, we present the single-particle cryo-EM structure of human AQP7 at 3.2-Å resolution in complex with the specific inhibitor compound Z433927330. The structure in combination with MD simulations shows that the inhibitor binds to the endofacial side of AQP7. In addition, cancer cells treated with Z433927330 show reduced proliferation. The data presented here serve as a framework for the development of AQP inhibitors.
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| 8. |
- Huang, Peng, et al.
(författare)
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The intracellular helical bundle of human glucose transporter GLUT4 is important for complex formation with ASPL
- 2023
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Ingår i: FEBS Open Bio. - 2211-5463. ; 13:11, s. 2094-2107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are responsible for transporting hexose molecules across cellular membranes. In adipocytes, insulin stimulates glucose uptake by redistributing GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. In unstimulated adipose-like mouse cell lines, GLUT4 is known to be retained intracellularly by binding to TUG protein, while upon insulin stimulation, GLUT4 dissociates from TUG. Here, we report that the TUG homolog in human, ASPL, exerts similar properties, i.e., forms a complex with GLUT4. We describe the structural details of complex formation by combining biochemical assays with cross-linking mass spectrometry and computational modeling. Combined, the data suggest that the intracellular domain of GLUT4 binds to the helical lariat of ASPL and contributes to the regulation of GLUT4 trafficking by cooperative binding.
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| 9. |
- Li, Ping, et al.
(författare)
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PcoB is a defense outer membrane protein that facilitates cellular uptake of copper
- 2022
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Ingår i: Protein Science. - : Wiley. - 0961-8368 .- 1469-896X. ; 31:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Copper (Cu) is one of the most abundant trace metals in all organisms, involved in a plethora of cellular processes. Yet elevated concentrations of the element are harmful, and interestingly prokaryotes are more sensitive for environmental Cu stress than humans. Various transport systems are present to maintain intracellular Cu homeostasis, including the prokaryotic plasmid-encoded multiprotein pco operon, which is generally assigned as a defense mechanism against elevated Cu concentrations. Here we structurally and functionally characterize the outer membrane component of the Pco system, PcoB, recovering a 2.0 Å structure, revealing a classical β-barrel architecture. Unexpectedly, we identify a large opening on the extracellular side, linked to a considerably electronegative funnel that becomes narrower towards the periplasm, defining an ion-conducting pathway as also supported by metal binding quantification via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. However, the structure is partially obstructed towards the periplasmic side, and yet flux is permitted in the presence of a Cu gradient as shown by functional characterization in vitro. Complementary in vivo experiments demonstrate that isolated PcoB confers increased sensitivity towards Cu. Aggregated, our findings indicate that PcoB serves to permit Cu import. Thus, it is possible the Pco system physiologically accumulates Cu in the periplasm as a part of an unorthodox defense mechanism against metal stress. These results point to a previously unrecognized principle of maintaining Cu homeostasis and may as such also assist in the understanding and in efforts towards combatting bacterial infections of Pco-harboring pathogens.
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| 10. |
- Li, Ping, et al.
(författare)
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Structures of Atm1 provide insight into [2Fe-2S] cluster export from mitochondria
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In eukaryotes, iron-sulfur clusters are essential cofactors for numerous physiological processes, but these clusters are primarily biosynthesized in mitochondria. Previous studies suggest mitochondrial ABCB7-type exporters are involved in maturation of cytosolic iron-sulfur proteins. However, the molecular mechanism for how the ABCB7-type exporters participate in this process remains elusive. Here, we report a series of cryo-electron microscopy structures of a eukaryotic homolog of human ABCB7, CtAtm1, determined at average resolutions ranging from 2.8 to 3.2 Å, complemented by functional characterization and molecular docking in silico. We propose that CtAtm1 accepts delivery from glutathione-complexed iron-sulfur clusters. A partially occluded state links cargo-binding to residues at the mitochondrial matrix interface that line a positively charged cavity, while the binding region becomes internalized and is partially divided in an early occluded state. Collectively, our findings substantially increase the understanding of the transport mechanism of eukaryotic ABCB7-type proteins.
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