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Zhang J, Qiu R, Xie S, Rasmussen M, Xiang X. VezA/vezatin facilitates proper assembly of the dynactin complex in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.19.590248. [PMID: 38659795 PMCID: PMC11042379 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.19.590248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic dynein-mediated intracellular transport needs the multi-component dynactin complex for cargo binding and motor activation. However, cellular factors involved in dynactin assembly remain unexplored. Here we found in Aspergillus nidulans that the vezatin homolog VezA is important for dynactin assembly. VezA affects the microtubule plus-end accumulation of dynein before cargo binding and cargo adapter-mediated dynein activation, two processes that both need dynactin. The dynactin complex contains multiple components including an Arp1 (actin-related protein 1) mini-filament associated with a pointed-end sub-complex. VezA physically interacts with dynactin either directly or indirectly via the Arp1 mini-filament and its pointed-end sub-complex. Loss of VezA causes a defect in dynactin integrity, most likely by affecting the connection between the Arp1 mini-filament and its pointed-end sub-complex. Using various dynactin mutants, we further revealed that assembly of the dynactin complex must be highly coordinated. Together, these results shed important new light on dynactin assembly in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Rongde Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Sean Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
- Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Megan Rasmussen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Xin Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
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He Y, Wang HP, Pan FY, Xu SH, Gao YF. Plasticity changes in neuromuscular junction morphology and related regulatory proteins in the hibernating ground squirrel. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2023; 135:1082-1091. [PMID: 37795532 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00334.2023] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle disuse atrophy can cause degenerative changes in neuromuscular junction morphology. Although Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) are a natural anti-disuse animal model for studying muscle atrophy during hibernation, little is known about the morphological and regulatory mechanisms of their neuromuscular junctions. Here, we found that morphological indices of the soleus muscle were significantly lower during hibernation (torpor and interbout arousal) compared with pre-hibernation but recovered during post-hibernation. In the extensor digitorum longus muscle, neuromuscular junction morphology did not change significantly during hibernation. Agrin-Lrp4-MuSK is a key pathway for the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Our results showed that low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein 4 (Lrp4) expression in the soleus (slow muscle) decreased by 46.2% in the interbout arousal group compared with the pre-hibernation group (P = 0.019), with recovery in the post-hibernation group. Compared with the pre-hibernation group, agrin expression in the extensor digitorum longus (fast muscle) increased by 67.0% in the interbout arousal group (P = 0.016). In conclusion, periodic up-regulation in agrin expression during interbout arousal may be involved in the maintenance of neuromuscular junction morphology in the extensor digitorum longus muscle during hibernation. The degenerative changes in neuromuscular junction morphology and the periodic decrease in Lrp4 protein expression in the soleus during hibernation, these changes recovered to the pre-hibernation levels in the post-hibernation group, exhibiting significant plasticity. This plasticity may be one of the important mechanisms for resisting disuse atrophy in hibernating animals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study is the first to explore the neuromuscular junction morphology of slow- and fast-twitch muscles in Daurian ground squirrels during different periods of hibernation. Results showed that the neuromuscular junction maintained stable morphology in the extensor digitorum longus muscle. The degenerative changes in neuromuscular junction morphology and the periodic decrease in Lrp4 protein expression in the soleus muscle during hibernation recovered in post-hibernation, exhibiting significant plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue He
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Ping Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang-Yang Pan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Shen-Hui Xu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Fang Gao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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Huang X, Jiang J, Xu J. Denervation-Related Neuromuscular Junction Changes: From Degeneration to Regeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:810919. [PMID: 35282655 PMCID: PMC8908450 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.810919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are the key interface between terminal nerves and targeted muscle, which undergo degeneration during denervation periods. Denervation-related NMJs changes limits the recovery level of nerve repair strategies. Insights into mechanisms behind neuromuscular junction degeneration and regeneration, following denervation and reinnervation, are of clinical value. Developing some therapies to maintain or protect structures and functions of NMJs may contribute to a better prognosis. Here, we reviewed previous studies of NMJs focusing on the morphological, functional, and molecular changes after denervation, and if those changes can be reversed after reinnervation. Also, we reviewed about the present probable strategies that have been applied clinically or could still be studied in targeting the neuromuscular junction protection or regeneration improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinying Huang
- Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Hand Reconstruction, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjian Jiang
- Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Hand Reconstruction, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Junjian Jiang,
| | - Jianguang Xu
- Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Hand Reconstruction, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Peripheral Nerve and Microsurgery, Shanghai, China
- Jianguang Xu,
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Wang Y, Yuan J, Yu X, Liu X, Tan C, Chen Y, Xu T. Vezatin regulates seizures by controlling AMPAR-mediated synaptic activity. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:936. [PMID: 34642320 PMCID: PMC8511046 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04233-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Although many studies have explored the mechanism of epilepsy, it remains unclear and deserves further investigation. Vezatin has been reported to be a synaptic regulatory protein involved in regulating neuronal synaptic transmission (NST). However, the role of vezatin in epilepsy remains unknown. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate the underlying roles of vezatin in epilepsy. In this study, vezatin expression was increased in hippocampal tissues from pilocarpine (PILO)-induced epileptic mice and a Mg2+-free medium-induced in vitro seizure-like model. Vezatin knockdown suppressed seizure activity in PILO-induced epileptic mice. Mechanistically, vezatin knockdown suppressed AMPAR-mediated synaptic events in epileptic mice and downregulated the surface expression of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit (GluA1). Interestingly, vezatin knockdown decreased the phosphorylation of GluA1 at serine 845 and reduced protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation; when PKA phosphorylation was suppressed by H-89 (a selective inhibitor of PKA phosphorylation) in vitro, the effects of vezatin knockdown on reducing the phosphorylation of GluA1 at serine 845 and the surface expression of GluA1 were blocked. Finally, we investigated the pattern of vezatin in brain tissues from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and we found that vezatin expression was also increased in patients with TLE. In summary, the vezatin expression pattern is abnormal in individuals with epilepsy, and vezatin regulates seizure activity by affecting AMPAR-mediated NST and the surface expression of GluA1, which is involved in PKA-mediated phosphorylation of GluA1 at serine 845, indicating that vezatin-mediated regulation of epileptic seizures represents a novel target for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wang
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinxian Yuan
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyuan Yu
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 400021, Chongqing, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China
| | - Changhong Tan
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China
| | - Yangmei Chen
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 400010, Chongqing, China.
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An Inside Job: Molecular Determinants for Postsynaptic Localization of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113065. [PMID: 34063759 PMCID: PMC8196675 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediate fast synaptic transmission at neuromuscular and autonomic ganglionic synapses in the peripheral nervous system. The postsynaptic localization of muscle ((α1)2β1γδ) and neuronal ((α3β4)2β4) nicotinic receptors at these synapses is mediated by interactions between the nAChR intracellular domains and cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins. Recent high resolution structures and functional studies provide new insights into the molecular determinants that mediate these interactions. Surprisingly, they reveal that the muscle nAChR binds 1–3 rapsyn scaffolding molecules, which dimerize and thereby form an interconnected lattice between receptors. Moreover, rapsyn binds two distinct sites on the nAChR subunit cytoplasmic loops; the MA-helix on one or more subunits and a motif specific to the β subunit. Binding at the latter site is regulated by agrin-induced phosphorylation of βY390, and increases the stoichiometry of rapsyn/AChR complexes. Similarly, the neuronal nAChR may be localized at ganglionic synapses by phosphorylation-dependent interactions with 14-3-3 adaptor proteins which bind specific motifs in each of the α3 subunit cytoplasmic loops. Thus, postsynaptic localization of nAChRs is mediated by regulated interactions with multiple scaffolding molecules, and the stoichiometry of these complexes likely helps regulate the number, density, and stability of receptors at the synapse.
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Zelada D, Bermedo-García F, Collao N, Henríquez JP. Motor function recovery: deciphering a regenerative niche at the neuromuscular synapse. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:752-766. [PMID: 33336525 PMCID: PMC7986695 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The coordinated movement of many organisms relies on efficient nerve–muscle communication at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a peripheral synapse composed of a presynaptic motor axon terminal, a postsynaptic muscle specialization, and non‐myelinating terminal Schwann cells. NMJ dysfunctions are caused by traumatic spinal cord or peripheral nerve injuries as well as by severe motor pathologies. Compared to the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system displays remarkable regenerating abilities; however, this capacity is limited by the denervation time frame and depends on the establishment of permissive regenerative niches. At the injury site, detailed information is available regarding the cells, molecules, and mechanisms involved in nerve regeneration and repair. However, a regenerative niche at the final functional step of peripheral motor innervation, i.e. at the mature neuromuscular synapse, has not been deciphered. In this review, we integrate classic and recent evidence describing the cells and molecules that could orchestrate a dynamic ecosystem to accomplish successful NMJ regeneration. We propose that such a regenerative niche must ensure at least two fundamental steps for successful NMJ regeneration: the proper arrival of incoming regenerating axons to denervated postsynaptic muscle domains, and the resilience of those postsynaptic domains, in morphological and functional terms. We here describe and combine the main cellular and molecular responses involved in each of these steps as potential targets to help successful NMJ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Zelada
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Center for Advanced Microscopy (CMA Bio-Bio), Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
| | - Francisca Bermedo-García
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Center for Advanced Microscopy (CMA Bio-Bio), Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
| | - Nicolás Collao
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Center for Advanced Microscopy (CMA Bio-Bio), Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan P Henríquez
- Neuromuscular Studies Laboratory (NeSt Lab), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Center for Advanced Microscopy (CMA Bio-Bio), Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile
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7
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Rodríguez Cruz PM, Cossins J, Beeson D, Vincent A. The Neuromuscular Junction in Health and Disease: Molecular Mechanisms Governing Synaptic Formation and Homeostasis. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:610964. [PMID: 33343299 PMCID: PMC7744297 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.610964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a highly specialized synapse between a motor neuron nerve terminal and its muscle fiber that are responsible for converting electrical impulses generated by the motor neuron into electrical activity in the muscle fibers. On arrival of the motor nerve action potential, calcium enters the presynaptic terminal, which leads to the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). ACh crosses the synaptic gap and binds to ACh receptors (AChRs) tightly clustered on the surface of the muscle fiber; this leads to the endplate potential which initiates the muscle action potential that results in muscle contraction. This is a simplified version of the events in neuromuscular transmission that take place within milliseconds, and are dependent on a tiny but highly structured NMJ. Much of this review is devoted to describing in more detail the development, maturation, maintenance and regeneration of the NMJ, but first we describe briefly the most important molecules involved and the conditions that affect their numbers and function. Most important clinically worldwide, are myasthenia gravis (MG), the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), each of which causes specific molecular defects. In addition, we mention the neurotoxins from bacteria, snakes and many other species that interfere with neuromuscular transmission and cause potentially fatal diseases, but have also provided useful probes for investigating neuromuscular transmission. There are also changes in NMJ structure and function in motor neuron disease, spinal muscle atrophy and sarcopenia that are likely to be secondary but might provide treatment targets. The NMJ is one of the best studied and most disease-prone synapses in the nervous system and it is amenable to in vivo and ex vivo investigation and to systemic therapies that can help restore normal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Rodríguez Cruz
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Neurosciences Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Judith Cossins
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Neurosciences Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Beeson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Neurosciences Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Vincent
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Neurosciences Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Spinner MA, Pinter K, Drerup CM, Herman TG. A Conserved Role for Vezatin Proteins in Cargo-Specific Regulation of Retrograde Axonal Transport. Genetics 2020; 216:431-445. [PMID: 32788307 PMCID: PMC7536845 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Active transport of organelles within axons is critical for neuronal health. Retrograde axonal transport, in particular, relays neurotrophic signals received by axon terminals to the nucleus and circulates new material among enpassant synapses. A single motor protein complex, cytoplasmic dynein, is responsible for nearly all retrograde transport within axons: its linkage to and transport of diverse cargos is achieved by cargo-specific regulators. Here, we identify Vezatin as a conserved regulator of retrograde axonal transport. Vertebrate Vezatin (Vezt) is required for the maturation and maintenance of cell-cell junctions and has not previously been implicated in axonal transport. However, a related fungal protein, VezA, has been shown to regulate retrograde transport of endosomes in hyphae. In a forward genetic screen, we identified a loss-of-function mutation in the Drosophila vezatin-like (vezl) gene. We here show that vezl loss prevents a subset of endosomes, including signaling endosomes containing activated BMP receptors, from initiating transport out of motor neuron terminal boutons. vezl loss also decreases the transport of endosomes and dense core vesicles, but not mitochondria, within axon shafts. We disrupted vezt in zebrafish and found that vezt loss specifically impairs the retrograde axonal transport of late endosomes, causing their accumulation in axon terminals. Our work establishes a conserved, cargo-specific role for Vezatin proteins in retrograde axonal transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Spinner
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Katherine Pinter
- Unit on Neuronal Cell Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Catherine M Drerup
- Unit on Neuronal Cell Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Tory G Herman
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
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