| 1. |
- Kristan, Matej, et al.
(författare)
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The first visual object tracking segmentation VOTS2023 challenge results
- 2023
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Ingår i: 2023 IEEE/CVF International conference on computer vision workshops (ICCVW). - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. - 9798350307443 - 9798350307450 ; , s. 1788-1810
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Visual Object Tracking Segmentation VOTS2023 challenge is the eleventh annual tracker benchmarking activity of the VOT initiative. This challenge is the first to merge short-term and long-term as well as single-target and multiple-target tracking with segmentation masks as the only target location specification. A new dataset was created; the ground truth has been withheld to prevent overfitting. New performance measures and evaluation protocols have been created along with a new toolkit and an evaluation server. Results of the presented 47 trackers indicate that modern tracking frameworks are well-suited to deal with convergence of short-term and long-term tracking and that multiple and single target tracking can be considered a single problem. A leaderboard, with participating trackers details, the source code, the datasets, and the evaluation kit are publicly available at the challenge website1
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| 2. |
- Yang, X. M., et al.
(författare)
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Overexpression of Rac GTPase Activating Protein 1 Contributes to Proliferation of Cancer Cells by Reducing Hippo Signaling to Promote Cytokinesis
- 2018
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Ingår i: Gastroenterology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0016-5085. ; 155:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND & AIMS: Agents designed to block or alter cytokinesis can kill or stop proliferation of cancer cells. We aimed to identify cytokinesis-related proteins that are overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and might be targeted to slow liver tumor growth. METHODS: Using the Oncomine database, we compared the gene expression patterns in 16 cancer microarray datasets and assessed gene enrichment sets using gene ontology. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of an HCC tissue microarray and identified changes in protein levels that are associated with patient survival times. Candidate genes were overexpressed or knocked down with small hairpin RNAs in SMMC7721, MHCC97H, or HCCLM3 cell lines; we analyzed their proliferation, viability, and clone-formation ability and their growth as subcutaneous or orthotopic xenograft tumors in mice. We performed microarray analyses to identify alterations in signaling pathways and immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays to detect and localize proteins in tissues. Yeast 2-hybrid screens and mass spectrometry combined with co-immunoprecipitation experiments were used to identify binding proteins. Protein interactions were validated with co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, promoter luciferase activity, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to identify factors that regulate transcription of specific genes. RESULTS: The genes that were most frequently overexpressed in different types of cancer cells were involved in cell division processes. We identified 3 cytokinesis-regulatory proteins among the 10 genes most frequently overexpressed by all cancer cell types. Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1) was the cytokinesis-regulatory protein that was most highly overexpressed in multiple cancers. Increased expression of RACGAP1 in tumor tissues was associated with shorter survival times of patients with cancer. Knockdown of RACGAP1 in HCC cells induced cytokinesis failure and cell apoptosis. In microarray analyses, we found knockdown of RACGAP1 in SMMC7721 cells to reduce expression of genes regulated by yes-associated protein (YAP) and WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1 or TAZ). RACGAP1 reduced activation of the Hippo pathway in HCC cells by increasing activity of RhoA and polymerization of filamentous actin. Knockdown of YAP reduced phosphorylation of RACGAP1 and redistribution at the anaphase central spindle. We found transcription of the translocated promoter region, nuclear basket protein (TPR) to be regulated by YAP and coordinately expressed with RACGAP1 to promote proliferation of HCC cells. TPR redistributed upon nuclear envelope breakdown and formed complexes with RACGAP1 during mitosis. Knockdown of TPR in HCC cells reduced phosphorylation of RACGAP1 by aurora kinase B and impaired their redistribution at the central spindle during cytokinesis. STAT3 activated transcription of RACGAP in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of gene expression patterns of multiple tumor types, we found RACGAP1 to be frequently overexpressed, which is associated with shorter survival times of patients. RACGAP1 promotes proliferation of HCC cells by reducing activation of the Hippo and YAP pathways and promoting cytokinesis in coordination with TPR.
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| 3. |
- Ali, Abukar, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic-killed Staphylococcus aureus induces destructive arthritis in mice.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.). - : Wiley. - 2326-5205 .- 2326-5191. ; 67:1, s. 107-116
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Permanent reduction in joint function is a severe post-infectious complication in patients with Staphylococcus aureus septic arthritis. This reduction in joint function might be caused by persistent joint inflammation after the adequate eradication of bacteria by antibiotics. Methods: We studied whether antibiotic-killed S. aureus induced joint inflammation in mice and elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanism of this type of arthritis. Results: The intraarticular injection of antibiotic-killed S. aureus induced mild to moderate synovitis and bone erosions that lasted for a minimum of 14 days. The frequency and severity of synovitis were significantly reduced in tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE), and toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) knockout mice compared with wild-type animals. The combined depletion of monocytes and neutrophils resulted in a significantly lower frequency of synovitis. Among bacterial factors, insoluble cell debris played a more important role than bacterial DNA or soluble components in inducing joint inflammation. Importantly, anti-TNF therapy abrogated the joint inflammation induced by antibiotic-killed S. aureus. Conclusion: Antibiotic-killed S. aureus induced and maintained the joint inflammation that is mediated through TLR2, TNFR1, and RAGE receptor. The cross-talk between neutrophils and monocytes is responsible for this type of arthritis. Anti-TNF therapy might be used as a novel therapeutic strategy, in combination with antibiotics, to treat staphylococcal septic arthritis. © 2014 American College of Rheumatology.
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| 4. |
- Carlsten, Jonas O P, et al.
(författare)
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Loss of the Mediator subunit Med20 affects transcription of tRNA and other non-coding RNA genes in fission yeast
- 2016
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Ingår i: Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms. - : Elsevier BV. - 1874-9399. ; 1859:2, s. 339-347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mediator is a co-regulator of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), transducing signals from regulatory elements and transcription factors to the general transcription machinery at the promoter. We here demonstrate that Med20 influences ribosomal protein expression in fission yeast. In addition, loss of Med20 leads to an accumulation of aberrant, readthrough tRNA transcripts. These transcripts are polyadenylated and targeted for degradation by the exosome. Similarly, other non-coding RNA molecules, such as snRNA, snoRNA and rRNA, are also enriched in the polyadenylate preparations in the absence of Med20. We suggest that fission yeast Mediator takes part in a regulatory pathway that affects Pol III-dependent transcripts.
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| 5. |
- Carlsten, Jonas O P, et al.
(författare)
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Mediator Promotes CENP-A Incorporation at Fission Yeast Centromeres
- 2012
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Biology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0270-7306 .- 1098-5549. ; 32:19, s. 4035-4043
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- At Schizosaccharomyces pombe centromeres, heterochromatin formation is required for de novo incorporation of the histone H3 variant CENP-A(Cnp1), which in turn directs kinetochore assembly and ultimately chromosome segregation during mitosis. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) directs heterochromatin formation through not only the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery but also RNAi-independent RNA processing factors. Control of centromeric ncRNA transcription is therefore a key factor for proper centromere function. We here demonstrate that Mediator directs ncRNA transcription and regulates centromeric heterochromatin formation in fission yeast. Mediator colocalizes with Pol II at centromeres, and loss of the Mediator subunit Med20 causes a dramatic increase in pericentromeric transcription and desilencing of the core centromere. As a consequence, heterochromatin formation is impaired via both the RNAi-dependent and -independent pathways, resulting in loss of CENP-A(Cnp1) from the core centromere, a defect in kinetochore function, and a severe chromosome segregation defect. Interestingly, the increased centromeric transcription observed in med20 Delta cells appears to directly block CENP-A(Cnp1) incorporation since inhibition of Pol II transcription can suppress the observed phenotypes. Our data thus identify Mediator as a crucial regulator of ncRNA transcription at fission yeast centromeres and add another crucial layer of regulation to centromere function.
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| 6. |
- Carlsten, Jonas O P, et al.
(författare)
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The multitalented Mediator complex
- 2013
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Ingår i: Trends in Biochemical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0968-0004. ; 38:11, s. 531-537
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Mediator complex is needed for regulated transcription of RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-dependent genes. Initially, Mediator was only seen as a protein bridge that conveyed regulatory information from enhancers to the promoter. Later studies have added many other functions to the Mediator repertoire. Indeed, recent findings show that Mediator influences nearly all stages of transcription and coordinates these events with concomitant changes in chromatin organization. We review the multitude of activities associated with Mediator and discuss how this complex coordinates transcription with other cellular events. We also discuss the inherent difficulties associated with in vivo characterization of a coactivator complex that can indirectly affect diverse cellular processes via changes in gene transcription.
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| 7. |
- Fang, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Concentrations and health risks of lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in rice and edible mushrooms in China
- 2014
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Ingår i: Food Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0308-8146. ; 147, s. 147-151
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, four common heavy metals, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in rice and edible mushrooms of China were studied to evaluate contamination level and edible safety. Ninety two (92) rice samples were collected from the main rice growing regions in China, and 38 fresh and 21 dry edible mushroom samples were collected from typical markets in Nanjing City. The analyzed metal concentrations were significantly different between rice and edible mushroom samples (p < 0.05). The results showed that Pb, Cd and As contents in 4.3%, 3.3% and 2.2% rice samples respectively, were above maximum allowable concentration (MAC). In fresh edible mushroom, Pb and Hg contents in 2.6% samples were above MAC, respectively. However, only Hg content in 4.8% dry edible mushroom samples was above its MAC. Therefore, more than 95% rice and edible mushroom samples in our test had high edible safety. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Fusté, Javier Miralles, et al.
(författare)
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In Vivo Occupancy of Mitochondrial Single-Stranded DNA Binding Protein Supports the Strand Displacement Mode of DNA Replication
- 2014
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Ingår i: Plos Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes for proteins required for oxidative phosphorylation, and mutations affecting the genome have been linked to a number of diseases as well as the natural ageing process in mammals. Human mtDNA is replicated by a molecular machinery that is distinct from the nuclear replisome, but there is still no consensus on the exact mode of mtDNA replication. We here demonstrate that the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSB) directs origin specific initiation of mtDNA replication. MtSSB covers the parental heavy strand, which is displaced during mtDNA replication. MtSSB blocks primer synthesis on the displaced strand and restricts initiation of light-strand mtDNA synthesis to the specific origin of light-strand DNA synthesis (OriL). The in vivo occupancy profile of mtSSB displays a distinct pattern, with the highest levels of mtSSB close to the mitochondrial control region and with a gradual decline towards OriL. The pattern correlates with the replication products expected for the strand displacement mode of mtDNA synthesis, lending strong in vivo support for this debated model for mitochondrial DNA replication.
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| 9. |
- Jiang, M., et al.
(författare)
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The mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein is essential for initiation of mtDNA replication
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 7:27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report a role for the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSB) in regulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication initiation in mammalian mitochondria. Transcription from the light-strand promoter (LSP) is required both for gene expression and for generating the RNA primers needed for initiation of mtDNA synthesis. In the absence of mtSSB, transcription from LSP is strongly up-regulated, but no replication primers are formed. Using deep sequencing in a mouse knockout model and biochemical reconstitution experiments with pure proteins, we find that mtSSB is necessary to restrict transcription initiation to optimize RNA primer formation at both origins of mtDNA replication. Last, we show that human pathological versions of mtSSB causing severe mitochondrial disease cannot efficiently support primer formation and initiation of mtDNA replication. © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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| 10. |
- Jin, Binghan, et al.
(författare)
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Abdominal Adiposity and Total Body Fat as Predictors of Cardiometabolic Health in Children and Adolescents With Obesity
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Endocrinology. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 1664-2392. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective:We aimed to assess the role of adipose tissue distribution in cardiometabolic risk (in particular insulin sensitivity) in a population of children and adolescents with obesity. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, participants were 479 children and adolescents with obesity (322 boys and 157 girls) aged 3 to 18 years attending the Children's Hospital at Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China). Clinical assessments included anthropometry, body composition (DXA scans), carotid artery ultrasounds, and OGTT. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using the Matsuda index. Participants were stratified into groups by sex and pubertal stage. Key predictors were DXA-derived android-to-gynoid-fat ratio (A/G) and total body fat percentage (TBF%). Results:Irrespective of sex and pubertal stage, there was a strong association between increasing A/G (i.e., greater abdominal adiposity) and lower insulin sensitivity. In multivariable models, every 0.1 increase in A/G was associated with a reduction in insulin sensitivity in prepubertal boys [-29% (95% CI -36%, -20%);p< 0.0001], pubertal boys [-13% (95% CI -21%, -6%);p= 0.001], and pubertal girls [-16% (95% CI -24%, -6%);p= 0.002]. In contrast, TBF% was not associated with insulin sensitivity when A/G was adjusted for, irrespective of pubertal stage or sex. In addition, every 0.1 increase in A/G was associated with increased likelihood of dyslipidemia in prepubertal boys [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.62 (95% CI 1.05, 2.49)], impaired glucose tolerance in pubertal boys [aOR 1.64 (95% CI 1.07, 2.51)] and pubertal girls [aOR 1.81 (95% CI 1.10, 2.98)], and odds of NAFLD in both prepubertal [aOR 2.57 (95% CI 1.56, 4.21)] and pubertal [aOR 1.69 (95% CI 1.18, 2.40)] boys. In contrast, higher TBF% was only associated with higher fasting insulin and ALT in pubertal boys, being also predictive of NAFLD in this group [aOR 1.15 per percentage point (95% CI 1.06, 1.26)], but was not associated with the likelihood of other cardiometabolic outcomes assessed in any group. Conclusions:A/G is a much stronger independent predictor of cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents with obesity in China, particularly glucose metabolism.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Kwiecinski, Jakub, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Staphylokinase controls Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and detachment through host plasminogen activation.
- 2016
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Ingår i: The Journal of infectious diseases. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 213:1, s. 139-148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, a leading cause of persistent infections, are highly resistant to immune defenses and antimicrobial therapies. In this study, we investigated the contribution of fibrin and staphylokinase to biofilm formation. Both in clinical S. aureus isolates and in laboratory strains, high staphylokinase-producing strains formed less biofilm than strains that lacked staphylokinase, suggesting that staphylokinase prevents biofilm formation. Additionally, staphylokinase induced detachment of mature biofilms. This effect depended on plasminogen activation by staphylokinase. Host-derived fibrin, the main substrate cleaved by staphylokinase-activated plasminogen, was a major component of biofilm matrix and dissolution of this fibrin scaffold greatly increased susceptibility of biofilms to antibiotics and neutrophil phagocytosis. Staphylokinase also attenuated biofilm-associated catheter infections in mouse models. In conclusion, our results reveal a novel role for staphylokinase-induced plasminogen activation that prevents S. aureus biofilm formation and induces detachment of existing biofilms through proteolytic cleavage of biofilm matrix components.
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| 13. |
- Kwiecinski, Jakub, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Staphylokinase Promotes the Establishment of Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infections While Decreasing Disease Severity
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 208:6, s. 990-999
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Skin infections are frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus and can lead to a fatal sepsis. The microbial mechanisms controlling the initiation and progression from mild skin infection to a severe disseminated infection remain poorly understood. Using a combination of clinical data and in vitro and ex vivo assays, we show that staphylokinase, secreted by S. aureus, promoted the establishment of skin infections in humans and increased bacterial penetration through skin barriers by activating plasminogen. However, when infection was established, the interaction between staphylokinase and plasminogen did not promote systemic dissemination but induced the opening and draining of abscesses and decreased disease severity in neutropenic mice. Also, increased staphylokinase production was associated with noninvasive S. aureus infections in patients. Our results point out the dual roles of staphylokinase in S. aureus skin infections as promoting the establishment of infections while decreasing disease severity.
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| 14. |
- Lindström, Michelle, et al.
(författare)
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Lsm7 phase-separated condensates trigger stress granule formation
- 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
- Stress granules are non-membranous organelles connected to stress responses and age-related disease. Here, the authors identify a conserved yeast protein, Lsm7, that facilitates stress granule formation through dynamic liquid-liquid phase separation condensates upon 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced stress. Stress granules (SGs) are non-membranous organelles facilitating stress responses and linking the pathology of age-related diseases. In a genome-wide imaging-based phenomic screen, we identify Pab1 co-localizing proteins under 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) induced stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that deletion of one of the Pab1 co-localizing proteins, Lsm7, leads to a significant decrease in SG formation. Under 2-DG stress, Lsm7 rapidly forms foci that assist in SG formation. The Lsm7 foci form via liquid-liquid phase separation, and the intrinsically disordered region and the hydrophobic clusters within the Lsm7 sequence are the internal driving forces in promoting Lsm7 phase separation. The dynamic Lsm7 phase-separated condensates appear to work as seeding scaffolds, promoting Pab1 demixing and subsequent SG initiation, seemingly mediated by RNA interactions. The SG initiation mechanism, via Lsm7 phase separation, identified in this work provides valuable clues for understanding the mechanisms underlying SG formation and SG-associated human diseases.
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| 15. |
- Liu, Qian, et al.
(författare)
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Yeast mismatch repair components are required for stable inheritance of gene silencing
- 2020
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Ingår i: Plos Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7404. ; 16:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alterations in epigenetic silencing have been associated with ageing and tumour formation. Although substantial efforts have been made towards understanding the mechanisms of gene silencing, novel regulators in this process remain to be identified. To systematically search for components governing epigenetic silencing, we developed a genome-wide silencing screen for yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) silent mating type locus HMR. Unexpectedly, the screen identified the mismatch repair (MMR) components Pms1, Mlh1, and Msh2 as being required for silencing at this locus. We further found that the identified genes were also required for proper silencing in telomeres. More intriguingly, the MMR mutants caused a redistribution of Sir2 deacetylase, from silent mating type loci and telomeres to rDNA regions. As a consequence, acetylation levels at histone positions H3K14, H3K56, and H4K16 were increased at silent mating type loci and telomeres but were decreased in rDNA regions. Moreover, knockdown of MMR components in human HEK293T cells increased subtelomeric DUX4 gene expression. Our work reveals that MMR components are required for stable inheritance of gene silencing patterns and establishes a link between the MMR machinery and the control of epigenetic silencing. Author summary During aging, gene silencing also decreases and it has been hypothesized that the collapse of epigenetic control networks may in part explain age-related diseases. For example, changes in epigenetic silencing are linked with different stages of tumor formation and progression. Great efforts have been made on investigating the mechanisms of establishment and maintenance silencing at silent mating cassettes in yeast. In this work, by applying a genome-wide silencing screening approach, we identified the conserved subunits of the mismatch repair (MMR) machinery (Pms1, Mlh1 and Msh2) as new components of the epigenetic silencing regulation machinery in yeast. We also found that depletion of mismatch repair subunits (Mlh1 and Msh2) led to impaired telomere-length related expression in mammalian cells. This indicates that these components probably have an evolutionarily conserved role on influencing gene silencing from yeast to humans. Further studies the functional roles of these MMR components on epigenetic silencing in mammalian model systems or relevant cancer patient samples will increase our understanding of MMR-related oncogenesis.
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| 16. |
- Macao, Bertil, 1969, et al.
(författare)
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The exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase gamma is required for ligation during mitochondrial DNA replication
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase gamma (POL gamma) harbours a 3'-5' exonuclease proofreading activity. Here we demonstrate that this activity is required for the creation of ligatable ends during mtDNA replication. Exonuclease-deficient POL gamma fails to pause on reaching a downstream 5'-end. Instead, the enzyme continues to polymerize into double-stranded DNA, creating an unligatable 5'-flap. Disease-associated mutations can both increase and decrease exonuclease activity and consequently impair DNA ligation. In mice, inactivation of the exonuclease activity causes an increase in mtDNA mutations and premature ageing phenotypes. These mutator mice also contain high levels of truncated, linear fragments of mtDNA. We demonstrate that the formation of these fragments is due to impaired ligation, causing nicks near the origin of heavy-strand DNA replication. In the subsequent round of replication, the nicks lead to double-strand breaks and linear fragment formation.
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| 17. |
- Shi, Yonghong, et al.
(författare)
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Mitochondrial transcription termination factor 1 directs polar replication fork pausing
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 44:12, s. 5732-5742
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During replication of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), clashes with the transcription apparatus can cause replication fork collapse and genomic instability. To avoid this problem, a replication fork barrier protein is situated downstream of rDNA, there preventing replication in the direction opposite rDNA transcription. A potential candidate for a similar function in mitochondria is the mitochondrial transcription termination factor 1 (MTERF1, also denoted mTERF), which binds to a sequence just downstream of the ribosomal transcription unit. Previous studies have shown that MTERF1 prevents antisense transcription over the ribosomal RNA genes, a process which we here show to be independent of the transcription elongation factor TEFM. Importantly, we now demonstrate that MTERF1 arrests mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication with distinct polarity. The effect is explained by the ability of MTERF1 to act as a directional contrahelicase, blocking mtDNA unwinding by the mitochondrial helicase TWINKLE. This conclusion is also supported by in vivo evidence that MTERF1 stimulates TWINKLE pausing. We conclude that MTERF1 can direct polar replication fork arrest in mammalian mitochondria.
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| 18. |
- Song, J., et al.
(författare)
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Essential Genetic Interactors of SIR2 Required for Spatial Sequestration and Asymmetrical Inheritance of Protein Aggregates
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLoS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 10:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sir2 is a central regulator of yeast aging and its deficiency increases daughter cell inheritance of stress-and aging-induced misfolded proteins deposited in aggregates and inclusion bodies. Here, by quantifying traits predicted to affect aggregate inheritance in a passive manner, we found that a passive diffusion model cannot explain Sir2-dependent failures in mother-biased segregation of either the small aggregates formed by the misfolded Huntingtin, Htt103Q, disease protein or heat-induced Hsp104-associated aggregates. Instead, we found that the genetic interaction network of SIR2 comprises specific essential genes required for mother-biased segregation including those encoding components of the actin cytoskeleton, the actin-associated myosin V motor protein Myo2, and the actin organization protein calmodulin, Cmd1. Co-staining with Hsp104-GFP demonstrated that misfolded Htt103Q is sequestered into small aggregates, akin to stress foci formed upon heat stress, that fail to coalesce into inclusion bodies. Importantly, these Htt103Q foci, as well as the ATPase-defective Hsp104(Y662A)-associated structures previously shown to be stable stress foci, co-localized with Cmd1 and Myo2-enriched structures and super-resolution 3-D microscopy demonstrated that they are associated with actin cables. Moreover, we found that Hsp42 is required for formation of heat-induced Hsp104(Y662A) foci but not Htt103Q foci suggesting that the routes employed for foci formation are not identical. In addition to genes involved in actin-dependent processes, SIR2-interactors required for asymmetrical inheritance of Htt103Q and heat-induced aggregates encode essential sec genes involved in ER-to-Golgi trafficking/ER homeostasis.
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| 19. |
- Tan, Benedict, et al.
(författare)
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The human mitochondrial genome contains a second light strand promoter
- 2022
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Ingår i: Molecular Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-2765. ; 82:19, s. 3646-3660
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The human mitochondrial genome must be replicated and expressed in a timely manner to maintain energy metabolism and supply cells with adequate levels of adenosine triphosphate. Central to this process is the idea that replication primers and gene products both arise via transcription from a single light strand promoter (LSP) such that primer formation can influence gene expression, with no consensus as to how this is regulated. Here, we report the discovery of a second light strand promoter (LSP2) in humans, with features characteristic of a bona fide mitochondrial promoter. We propose that the position of LSP2 on the mitochondrial genome allows replication and gene expression to be orchestrated from two distinct sites, which ex-pands our long-held understanding of mitochondrial gene expression in humans.
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| 20. |
- Xie, Xie, et al.
(författare)
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Visualization of mtDNA Using FISH
- 2023
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Ingår i: Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). - New York, NY : Springer US. - 1940-6029. ; 2615, s. 89-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proper mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels are critical for many cellular biological functions and are associated with aging and many mitochondria disorders. Defects in core subunits of the mtDNA replication machinery lead to decreased mtDNA levels. Other indirect mitochondrial contexts including ATP concentration, lipid composition, and nucleotide composition also contribute to mtDNA maintenance. Furthermore, mtDNA molecules are distributed evenly throughout the mitochondrial network. This uniform distribution pattern is required for oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production and has been linked to many diseases when perturbed. Thus, it is important to visualize mtDNA in the cellular context. Here we provide detailed protocols for cellular visualization of mtDNA using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The fluorescent signals are targeted to the mtDNA sequence directly, ensuring both sensitivity and specificity. This mtDNA FISH method can be combined with immunostaining and used for visualizing mtDNA-protein interactions and dynamics.
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| 21. |
- Zhao, Lin-Ling, 1957, et al.
(författare)
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A genome-wide imaging-based screening to identify genes involved in synphilin-1 inclusion formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Synphilin-1 is a major component of Parkinson's disease (PD) inclusion bodies implicated in PD pathogenesis. However, the machinery controlling synphilin-1 inclusion formation remains unclear. Here, we investigated synphilin-1 inclusion formation using a systematic genome-wide, high-content imaging based screening approach (HCI) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By combining with a secondary screening for mutants showing significant changes on fluorescence signal intensity, we filtered out hits that significantly decreased the expression level of synphilin-1. We found 133 yeast genes that didn't affect synphilin-1 expression but that were required for the formation of synphilin-1 inclusions. Functional enrichment and physical interaction network analysis revealed these genes to encode for functions involved in cytoskeleton organization, histone modification, sister chromatid segregation, glycolipid biosynthetic process, DNA repair and replication. All hits were confirmed by conventional microscopy. Complementation assays were performed with a selected group of mutants, results indicated that the observed phenotypic changes in synphilin-1 inclusion formation were directly caused by the loss of corresponding genes of the deletion mutants. Further growth assays of these mutants showed a significant synthetic sick effect upon synphilin-1 expression, which supports the hypothesis that matured inclusions represent an end stage of several events meant to protect cells against the synphilin-1 cytotoxicity.
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| 22. |
- Zhu, Hong, et al.
(författare)
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Affordable Quality of Service Assessment for Cellular-Connected UAV Communications
- 2021
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Ingår i: ICWMC 2021 : The Seventeenth International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Communications - The Seventeenth International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Communications. - 9781612088785
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)have been used extensively in military and civilian fields, making the research on cellular-connected UAVs a popular topic forFifth Generation (5G) and beyond communications. In order to support the increasing amount of applications, it is essential to evaluate the performance of UAV communications. In this work, the end-to-end delay, packet success rate, and through put of Air-to-Ground (A2G) communications are evaluated based on a realistic channel model obtained from measurements. The measurement campaign, conducted in a suburban environment, includes both Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Obstructed Line-of-Sight(OLoS) scenarios. From the results, it can be seen that architectural elements close to the flight route can severely decrease the communications performance even when the visibility between the Base Station (BS) and the UAV is permanently ensured. Moreover, we have shown that the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for critical communications proposed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) can be fulfilled by establishing a threshold on the received Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR). This way, the SINR can be used as a condense dperformance metric for the design of safe flight routes for critical communications for UAVs.
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| 23. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Article Non-coding 7S RNA inhibits transcription via mitochondrial RNA polymerase dimerization
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 0092-8674 .- 1097-4172. ; 185:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mitochondrial genome encodes 13 components of the oxidative phosphorylation system, and altered mitochondrial transcription drives various human pathologies. A polyadenylated, non-coding RNA molecule known as 7S RNA is transcribed from a region immediately downstream of the light strand promoter in mammalian cells, and its levels change rapidly in response to physiological conditions. Here, we report that 7S RNA has a regulatory function, as it controls levels of mitochondrial transcription both in vitro and in cultured human cells. Using cryo-EM, we show that POLRMT dimerization is induced by interactions with 7S RNA. The resulting POLRMT dimer interface sequesters domains necessary for promoter recognition and unwinding, thereby preventing transcription initiation. We propose that the non-coding 7S RNA molecule is a component of a negative feedback loop that regulates mitochondrial transcription in mammalian cells.
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| 24. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Distinct differences in chromatin structure at subtelomeric X and Y' elements in budding yeast.
- 2009
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 4:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, all ends of telomeric DNA contain telomeric repeats of (TG(1-3)), but the number and position of subtelomeric X and Y' repeat elements vary. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and genome-wide analyses, we here demonstrate that the subtelomeric X and Y' elements have distinct structural and functional properties. Y' elements are transcriptionally active and highly enriched in nucleosomes, whereas X elements are repressed and devoid of nucleosomes. In contrast to X elements, the Y' elements also lack the classical hallmarks of heterochromatin, such as high Sir3 and Rap1 occupancy as well as low levels of histone H4 lysine 16 acetylation. Our analyses suggest that the presence of X and Y' elements govern chromatin structure and transcription activity at individual chromosome ends.
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| 25. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Genome-wide occupancy profile of mediator and the Srb8-11 module reveals interactions with coding regions
- 2006
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Ingår i: Molecular Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 1097-2765 .- 1097-4164. ; 22:2, s. 169-178
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mediator exists in a free form containing the Med12, Med13, CDK8, and CycC subunits (the Srb8-11 module) and a smaller form, which lacks these four subunits and associates with RNA polymerase II (Pol II), forming a holoenzyme. We use chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and DNA microarrays to investigate genome-wide localization of Mediator and the Srb8-11 module in fission yeast. Mediator and the Srb8-11 module display similar binding patterns, and interactions with promoters and upstream activating sequences correlate with increased transcription activity. Unexpectedly, Mediator also interacts with the downstream coding region of many genes. These interactions display a negative bias for positions closer to the 5' ends of open reading frames (ORFs) and appear functionally important, because downregulation of transcription in a temperature-sensitive med17 mutant strain correlates with increased Mediator occupancy in the coding region. We propose that Mediator coordinates transcription initiation with transcriptional events in the coding region of eukaryotic genes.
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| 26. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Histone modifications influence mediator interactions with chromatin.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Nucleic acids research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1362-4962 .- 0305-1048. ; 39:19, s. 8342-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Mediator complex transmits activation signals from DNA bound transcription factors to the core transcription machinery. Genome wide localization studies have demonstrated that Mediator occupancy not only correlates with high levels of transcription, but that the complex also is present at transcriptionally silenced locations. We provide evidence that Mediator localization is guided by an interaction with histone tails, and that this interaction is regulated by their post-translational modifications. A quantitative, high-density genetic interaction map revealed links between Mediator components and factors affecting chromatin structure, especially histone deacetylases. Peptide binding assays demonstrated that pure wild-type Mediator forms stable complexes with the tails of Histone H3 and H4. These binding assays also showed Mediator-histone H4 peptide interactions are specifically inhibited by acetylation of the histone H4 lysine 16, a residue critical in transcriptional silencing. Finally, these findings were validated by tiling array analysis that revealed a broad correlation between Mediator and nucleosome occupancy in vivo, but a negative correlation between Mediator and nucleosomes acetylated at histone H4 lysine 16. Our studies show that chromatin structure and the acetylation state of histones are intimately connected to Mediator localization.
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| 27. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Mediator influences telomeric silencing and cellular life span.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Molecular and cellular biology. - 1098-5549. ; 31:12, s. 2413-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Mediator complex is required for the regulated transcription of nearly all RNA polymerase II-dependent genes. Here we demonstrate a new role for Mediator which appears to be separate from its function as a transcriptional coactivator. Mediator associates directly with heterochromatin at telomeres and influences the exact boundary between active and inactive chromatin. Loss of the Mediator Med5 subunit or mutations in Med7 cause a depletion of the complex from regions located near subtelomeric X elements, which leads to a change in the balance between the Sir2 and Sas2 proteins. These changes in turn result in increased levels of H4K16 acetylation near telomeres and in desilencing of subtelomeric genes. Increases in H4K16 acetylation have been observed at telomeres in aging cells. In agreement with this observation, we found that the loss of MED5 leads to shortening of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) replicative life span.
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| 28. |
- Zhu, Xuefeng, et al.
(författare)
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Mediator tail subunits can form amyloid-like aggregates in vivo and affect stress response in yeast
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 43:15, s. 7306-7314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Med2, Med3 and Med15 proteins form a heterotrimeric subdomain in the budding yeast Mediator complex. This Med15 module is an important target for many gene specific transcription activators. A previous proteome wide screen in yeast identified Med3 as a protein with priogenic potential. In the present work, we have extended this observation and demonstrate that both Med3 and Med15 form amyloid-like protein aggregates under H2O2 stress conditions. Amyloid formation can also be stimulated by overexpression of Med3 or of a glutamine-rich domain present in Med15, which in turn leads to loss of the entire Med15 module from Mediator and a change in stress response. In combination with genome wide transcription analysis, our data demonstrate that amyloid formation can change the subunit composition of Mediator and thereby influence transcriptional output in budding yeast.
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| 29. |
- Zhuang, Ting, et al.
(författare)
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SHARPIN stabilizes estrogen receptor a and promotes breast cancer cell proliferation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 8:44, s. 77137-77151
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen receptor a is expressed in the majority of breast cancers and promotes estrogen-dependent cancer progression. In our study, we identified the novel E3 ubiquitin ligase SHARPIN function to facilitate ERα signaling. SHARPIN is highly expressed in human breast cancer and correlates with ERα protein level by immunohistochemistry. SHARPIN expression level correlates with poor prognosis in ERα positive breast cancer patients. SHARPIN depletion based RNA-sequence data shows that ERα signaling is a potential SHARPIN target. SHARPIN depletion significantly decreases ERα protein level, ERα target genes expression and estrogen response element activity in breast cancer cells, while SHARPIN overexpression could reverse these effects. SHARPIN depletion significantly decreases estrogen stimulated cell proliferation in breast cancer cells, which effect could be further rescued by ERα overexpression. Further mechanistic study reveals that SHARPIN mainly localizes in the cytosol and interacts with ERα both in the cytosol and the nuclear. SHARPIN regulates ERα signaling through protein stability, not through gene expression. SHARPIN stabilizes ERα protein via prohibiting ERα protein poly-ubiquitination. Further study shows that SHARPIN could facilitate the mono-ubiquitinaiton of ERα at K302/303 sites and facilitate ERE luciferase activity. Together, our findings propose a novel ERα modulation mechanism in supporting breast cancer cell growth, in which SHARPIN could be one suitable target for development of novel therapy for ERα positive breast cancer.
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