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Balasco N, Modjtahedi N, Monti A, Ruvo M, Vitagliano L, Doti N. CHCHD4 Oxidoreductase Activity: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Molecular, Functional, and Structural Properties of Its Redox-Regulated Substrates. Molecules 2025; 30:2117. [PMID: 40430290 PMCID: PMC12114033 DOI: 10.3390/molecules30102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2025] [Revised: 04/24/2025] [Accepted: 05/06/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025] Open
Abstract
The human CHCHD4 protein, which is a prototypical family member, carries a coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix motif that is stabilized by two disulfide bonds. Using its CPC sequence motif, CHCHD4 plays a key role in mitochondrial metabolism, cell survival, and response to stress conditions, controlling the mitochondrial import of diversified protein substrates that are specifically recognized through an interplay between covalent and non-covalent interactions. In the present review, we provide an updated and comprehensive analysis of CHCHD4 substrates controlled by its redox activities. A particular emphasis has been placed on the molecular and structural aspects of these partnerships. The literature survey has been integrated with the mining of structural databases reporting either experimental structures (Protein Data Bank) or structures predicted by AlphaFold, which provide protein three-dimensional models using machine learning-based approaches. In providing an updated view of the thirty-four CHCHD4 substrates that have been experimentally validated, our analyses highlight the notion that this protein can operate on a variety of structurally diversified substrates. Although in most cases, CHCHD4 plays a crucial role in the formation of disulfide bridges that stabilize helix-coil-helix motifs of its substrates, significant variations on this common theme are observed, especially for substrates that have been more recently identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Balasco
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Department of Chemistry, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nazanine Modjtahedi
- Unité Physiopathologie et Génétique du Neurone et du Muscle, UMR CNRS 5261, Inserm U1315, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France;
| | - Alessandra Monti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Nunzianna Doti
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (M.R.)
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Sabetta E, Ferrari D, Massimo L, Kõks S. Tandem repeat expansions and copy number variations as risk factors and diagnostic tools for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurol 2025; 16:1522445. [PMID: 40012994 PMCID: PMC11860076 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1522445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to upper and lower motoneurons degeneration. Although several mechanisms potentially involved in disease development have been identified, its pathogenesis is not fully understood. From the patient side, ALS diagnosis, still based on clinical criteria, can be difficult and may take up to 1 year. More than 30 genes have been associated to genetically inherited ALS, among which four (C9ORF72, SOD1, TARDBP and FUS) would explain around 60-70% of cases. However, familial ALS represents only 5-10% of ALS cases while the remaining are sporadic, with genetics explaining 6-10% of such cases only. In this context, short tandem repeats (STRs) expansions, have recently been found in clinically diagnosed ALS patients. In this review, we discuss the recent discoveries on ALS associated STRs and their potential as biomarkers as well as prognosis and therapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sulev Kõks
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Atienzar-Aroca S, Kat M, López-Castel A. Decoding Nucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases: Novel Insights from Drosophila melanogaster Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:11794. [PMID: 39519345 PMCID: PMC11546515 DOI: 10.3390/ijms252111794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2024] [Revised: 10/27/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster usage has provided substantial insights into the pathogenesis of several nucleotide repeat expansion diseases (NREDs), a group of genetic diseases characterized by the abnormal expansion of DNA repeats. Leveraging the genetic simplicity and manipulability of Drosophila, researchers have successfully modeled close to 15 NREDs such as Huntington's disease (HD), several spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), and myotonic dystrophies type 1 and 2 (DM1/DM2). These models have been instrumental in characterizing the principal associated molecular mechanisms: protein aggregation, RNA toxicity, and protein function loss, thus recapitulating key features of human disease. Used in chemical and genetic screenings, they also enable us to identify promising small molecules and genetic modifiers that mitigate the toxic effects of expanded repeats. This review summarizes the close to 150 studies performed in this area during the last seven years. The relevant highlights are the achievement of the first fly-based models for some NREDs, the incorporation of new technologies such as CRISPR for developing or evaluating transgenic flies containing repeat expanded motifs, and the evaluation of less understood toxic mechanisms in NREDs such as RAN translation. Overall, Drosophila melanogaster remains a powerful platform for research in NREDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Atienzar-Aroca
- Department of Dentristy, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Marleen Kat
- Institute for Life Sciences and Chemistry, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, NL-3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Arturo López-Castel
- Human Translational Genomics Group, University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjasot, Spain
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- CIBERER, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Zhu H. Interference of nuclear speckles: A nexus of RNA foci, dipeptide repeats, and mis-splicing in C9ORF72 ALS/FTD. Neuron 2024; 112:3375-3377. [PMID: 39447539 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
In this issue of Neuron, Wu et al.1 show that nuclear speckle proteins are sequestered by both nuclear RNA foci and cytoplasmic dipeptide repeat aggregates in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. Consequently, dysregulation of splicing induces widespread splicing alterations and contributes to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haining Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Research Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Southern Arizona Health Care, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA.
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Rizea RE, Corlatescu AD, Costin HP, Dumitru A, Ciurea AV. Understanding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Advances. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9966. [PMID: 39337454 PMCID: PMC11432652 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
This review offers an in-depth examination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), addressing its epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic techniques, and current as well as emerging treatments. The purpose is to condense key findings and illustrate the complexity of ALS, which is shaped by both genetic and environmental influences. We reviewed the literature to discuss recent advancements in understanding molecular mechanisms such as protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and axonal transport defects, which are critical for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Significant progress has been made in refining diagnostic criteria and identifying biomarkers, leading to earlier and more precise diagnoses. Although current drug treatments provide some benefits, there is a clear need for more effective therapies. Emerging treatments, such as gene therapy and stem cell therapy, show potential in modifying disease progression and improving the quality of life for ALS patients. The review emphasizes the importance of continued research to address challenges such as disease variability and the limited effectiveness of existing treatments. Future research should concentrate on further exploring the molecular foundations of ALS and developing new therapeutic approaches. The implications for clinical practice include ensuring the accessibility of new treatments and that healthcare systems are equipped to support ongoing research and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radu Eugen Rizea
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Bagdasar-Arseni" Clinical Emergency Hospital, 041915 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antonio-Daniel Corlatescu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Horia Petre Costin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Dumitru
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Morphopathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandru Vlad Ciurea
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Carol Davila", 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Sanador Clinical Hospital, 010991 Bucharest, Romania
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