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Androsavich JR. Frameworks for transformational breakthroughs in RNA-based medicines. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:421-444. [PMID: 38740953 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00943-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
RNA has sparked a revolution in modern medicine, with the potential to transform the way we treat diseases. Recent regulatory approvals, hundreds of new clinical trials, the emergence of CRISPR gene editing, and the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in dramatic response to the COVID-19 pandemic have converged to create tremendous momentum and expectation. However, challenges with this relatively new class of drugs persist and require specialized knowledge and expertise to overcome. This Review explores shared strategies for developing RNA drug platforms, including layering technologies, addressing common biases and identifying gaps in understanding. It discusses the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to transform medicine, as well as the challenges associated with improving applicability, efficacy and safety profiles. Insights gained from RNA modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs are used to identify important next steps for mRNA and gene editing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Androsavich
- RNA Accelerator, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Ginkgo Bioworks, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Oelschlaeger P. Molecular Mechanisms and the Significance of Synonymous Mutations. Biomolecules 2024; 14:132. [PMID: 38275761 PMCID: PMC10813300 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010132] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Synonymous mutations result from the degeneracy of the genetic code. Most amino acids are encoded by two or more codons, and mutations that change a codon to another synonymous codon do not change the amino acid in the gene product. Historically, such mutations have been considered silent because they were assumed to have no to very little impact. However, research in the last few decades has produced several examples where synonymous mutations play important roles. These include optimizing expression by enhancing translation initiation and accelerating or decelerating translation elongation via codon usage and mRNA secondary structures, stabilizing mRNA molecules and preventing their breakdown before translation, and faulty protein folding or increased degradation due to enhanced ubiquitination and suboptimal secretion of proteins into the appropriate cell compartments. Some consequences of synonymous mutations, such as mRNA stability, can lead to different outcomes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Despite these examples, the significance of synonymous mutations in evolution and in causing disease in comparison to nonsynonymous mutations that do change amino acid residues in proteins remains controversial. Whether the molecular mechanisms described by which synonymous mutations affect organisms can be generalized remains poorly understood and warrants future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Oelschlaeger
- Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
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3
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Bartoszewska S, Sławski J, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. Dual RNase activity of IRE1 as a target for anticancer therapies. J Cell Commun Signal 2023:10.1007/s12079-023-00784-5. [PMID: 37721642 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00784-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cellular mechanism that protects cells during stress conditions in which there is an accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). UPR activates three signaling pathways that function to alleviate stress conditions and promote cellular homeostasis and cell survival. During unmitigated stress conditions, however, UPR activation signaling changes to promote cell death through apoptosis. Interestingly, cancer cells take advantage of this pathway to facilitate survival and avoid apoptosis even during prolonged cell stress conditions. Here, we discuss different signaling pathways associated with UPR and focus specifically on one of the ER signaling pathways activated during UPR, inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1). The rationale is that the IRE1 pathway is associated with cell fate decisions and recognized as a promising target for cancer therapeutics. Here we discuss IRE1 inhibitors and how they might prove to be an effective cancer therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jakub Sławski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a Street, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Rafał Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a Street, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
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4
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Woodall M, Tarran R, Lee R, Anfishi H, Prins S, Counsell J, Vergani P, Hart S, Baines D. Expression of gain-of-function CFTR in cystic fibrosis airway cells restores epithelial function better than wild-type or codon-optimized CFTR. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:593-605. [PMID: 37701179 PMCID: PMC10494266 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Class Ia/b cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) variants cause severe lung disease in 10% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and are untreatable with small-molecule pharmaceuticals. Genetic replacement of CFTR offers a cure, but its effectiveness is limited in vivo. We hypothesized that enhancing protein levels (using codon optimization) and/or activity (using gain-of-function variants) of CFTR would more effectively restore function to CF bronchial epithelial cells. Three different variants of the CFTR protein were tested: codon optimized (high codon adaptation index [hCAI]), a gain-of-function (GOF) variant (K978C), and a combination of both (hˆK978C). In human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells, initial results showed that hCAI and hˆK978C produced greater than 10-fold more CFTR protein and displayed ∼4-fold greater activity than wild-type (WT) CFTR. However, functionality was profoundly different in CF bronchial epithelial cells. Here, K978C CFTR more potently restored essential epithelial functions (anion transport, airway surface liquid height, and pH) than WT CFTR. hCAI and hˆK978C CFTRs had limited impact because of mislocalization in the cell. These data provide a proof of principle showing that GOF variants may be more effective than codon-optimized forms of CFTR for CF gene therapy. Video abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximillian Woodall
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Robert Tarran
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Rhianna Lee
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Hafssa Anfishi
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Stella Prins
- Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John Counsell
- Genetics & Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Paola Vergani
- Neuroscience, Physiology, & Pharmacology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Stephen Hart
- Genetics & Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Deborah Baines
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK
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5
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Gebert M, Sławski J, Kalinowski L, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. The Unfolded Protein Response: A Double-Edged Sword for Brain Health. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1648. [PMID: 37627643 PMCID: PMC10451475 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient brain function requires as much as 20% of the total oxygen intake to support normal neuronal cell function. This level of oxygen usage, however, leads to the generation of free radicals, and thus can lead to oxidative stress and potentially to age-related cognitive decay and even neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of this system requires a complex monitoring network to maintain proper oxygen homeostasis. Furthermore, the high content of mitochondria in the brain has elevated glucose demands, and thus requires a normal redox balance. Maintaining this is mediated by adaptive stress response pathways that permit cells to survive oxidative stress and to minimize cellular damage. These stress pathways rely on the proper function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), a cellular pathway responsible for normal ER function and cell survival. Interestingly, the UPR has two opposing signaling pathways, one that promotes cell survival and one that induces apoptosis. In this narrative review, we discuss the opposing roles of the UPR signaling pathways and how a better understanding of these stress pathways could potentially allow for the development of effective strategies to prevent age-related cognitive decay as well as treat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Gebert
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics—Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-134 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jakub Sławski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14a Street, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Leszek Kalinowski
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics—Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-134 Gdansk, Poland
- BioTechMed Centre, Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
| | - James F. Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14a Street, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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6
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Wang G, Wang Y, Gao C, Xie W. Novel compound heterozygous variants in EMC1 associated with global developmental delay: a lesson from a non-silent synonymous exonic mutation. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1153156. [PMID: 37187958 PMCID: PMC10175691 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1153156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The endoplasmic reticulum-membrane protein complex (EMC) as a molecular chaperone is required for the proper synthesis, folding and traffic of several transmembrane proteins. Variants in the subunit 1 of EMC (EMC1) have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Methods Whole exome sequencing (WES) with Sanger sequencing validation was performed for a Chinese family, including the proband (a 4-year-old girl who displayed global developmental delay, severe hypotonia and visual impairment), her affected younger sister and her non-consanguineous parents. RT-PCR assay and Sanger sequencing were used to detect abnormal RNA splicing. Results Novel compound heterozygous variants in EMC1, including the maternally inherited chr1: 19566812_1956800delinsATTCTACTT[hg19];NM_015047.3:c.765_777delins ATTCTACTT;p.(Leu256fsTer10) and the paternally inherited chr1:19549890G> A[hg19];NM_015047.3:c.2376G>A;p.(Val792=) are identified in the proband and her affected sister. RT-PCR assay followed by Sanger sequencing reveals that the c.2376G>A variant leads to aberrant splicing, with retention of intron 19 (561bp) in the mature mRNA, which is presumed to introduce a premature translational termination codon (p.(Val792fsTer31)). Conclusion Novel compound heterozygous variants in EMC1 have been identified in individuals with global developmental delay. Non-silent synonymous mutations should be kept in mind in genetic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanli Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chao Gao
| | - Wanqin Xie
- National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Birth Defects for Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, China
- Wanqin Xie
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7
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Bartoszewska S, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. The Role of the Hypoxia-Related Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4870. [PMID: 36230792 PMCID: PMC9562011 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite our understanding of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways, the crosstalk between the UPR and the complex signaling networks that different cancers utilize for cell survival remains to be, in most cases, a difficult research barrier. A major problem is the constant variability of different cancer types and the different stages of cancer as well as the complexity of the tumor microenvironments (TME). This complexity often leads to apparently contradictory results. Furthermore, the majority of the studies that have been conducted have utilized two-dimensional in vitro cultures of cancer cells that were exposed to continuous hypoxia, and this approach may not mimic the dynamic and cyclic conditions that are found in solid tumors. Here, we discuss the role of intermittent hypoxia, one of inducers of the UPR in the cellular component of TME, and the way in which intermittent hypoxia induces high levels of reactive oxygen species, the activation of the UPR, and the way in which cancer cells modulate the UPR to aid in their survival. Although the past decade has resulted in defining the complex, novel non-coding RNA-based regulatory networks that modulate the means by which hypoxia influences the UPR, we are now just to beginning to understand some of the connections between hypoxia, the UPR, and the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-416 Gdansk, Poland
| | - James F. Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14a Street, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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8
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Rossi R, Fang M, Zhu L, Jiang C, Yu C, Flesia C, Nie C, Li W, Ferlini A. Calculating and comparing codon usage values in rare disease genes highlights codon clustering with disease-and tissue- specific hierarchy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265469. [PMID: 35358230 PMCID: PMC8970475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We designed a novel strategy to define codon usage bias (CUB) in 6 specific small cohorts of human genes. We calculated codon usage (CU) values in 29 non-disease-causing (NDC) and 31 disease-causing (DC) human genes which are highly expressed in 3 distinct tissues, kidney, muscle, and skin. We applied our strategy to the same selected genes annotated in 15 mammalian species. We obtained CUB hierarchical clusters for each gene cohort which showed tissue-specific and disease-specific CUB fingerprints. We showed that DC genes (especially those expressed in muscle) display a low CUB, well recognizable in codon hierarchical clustering. We defined the extremely biased codons as "zero codons" and found that their number is significantly higher in all DC genes, all tissues, and that this trend is conserved across mammals. Based on this calculation in different gene cohorts, we identified 5 codons which are more differentially used across genes and mammals, underlining that some genes have favorite synonymous codons in use. Since of the muscle genes clear clusters, and, among these, dystrophin gene surprisingly does not show any "zero codon" we adopted a novel approach to study CUB, we called "mapping-on-codons". We positioned 2828 dystrophin missense and nonsense pathogenic variations on their respective codon, highlighting that its frequency and occurrence is not dependent on the CU values. We conclude our strategy consents to identify a hierarchical clustering of CU values in a gene cohort-specific fingerprints, with recognizable trend across mammals. In DC muscle genes also a disease-related fingerprint can be observed, allowing discrimination between DC and NDC genes. We propose that using our strategy which studies CU in specific gene cohorts, as rare disease genes, and tissue specific genes, may provide novel information about the CUB role in human and medical genetics, with implications on synonymous variations interpretation and codon optimization algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Rossi
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lin Zhu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | | | - Cong Yu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cristina Flesia
- Department of Earth and Environment Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Ferlini
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Zhao L, Li F, Liu T, Yuan L, Zhang X, Zhang D, Li X, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Song Q, Wang J, Zhou B, Cheng J, Xu D, Li W, Lin C, Wang W. Ovine ELOVL5 and FASN genes polymorphisms and their correlations with sheep tail fat deposition. Gene 2022; 807:145954. [PMID: 34500050 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Reducing tail fat deposition can increase the economic value of a carcass and improve feed efficiency. This study aimed to explore ELOVL5 and FASN polymorphisms associated with tail fat deposition and their expression levels of sheep. Association analysis showed that ELOVL5 synonymous mutation g.62534 C > T was associated with tail width, tail fat weight, and relative tail fat weight (P < 0.05). FASN synonymous mutation g.12694 A > G was associated with tail length and width (P < 0.05). Combined effect analyses indicated significant differences between the combined genotypes and tail fat deposition. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR indicated that the ELOVL5 and FASN expression levels were significantly higher in tail fat than in other tissues (P < 0.05). ELOVL5 expression levels in tail-fat tissue of big-tail sheep was significantly higher than that in small-tail sheep (P < 0.01). FASN expression levels were significantly higher in tail-fat tissue of small-tail sheep than in that of big-tail sheep (P < 0.05). During development, ELOVL5 tail fat expression increased significantly from 0 to 6 months old (P < 0.05), and FASN expression at 3 months old was significantly higher than that at 0 (minimum) and 6 months old (P < 0.05). Therefore, ELOVL5 and FASN polymorphisms could represent new candidate molecular markers and targets to reduce tail fat deposition in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Fadi Li
- Engineering Laboratory of Sheep Breeding and Reproduction Biotechnology in Gansu Province, Minqin, China; The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730020, China
| | - Teng Liu
- Suzhou Zelgen Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Kunshan, Jiangsu 215300, China
| | - Lvfeng Yuan
- Engineering Laboratory of Sheep Breeding and Reproduction Biotechnology in Gansu Province, Minqin, China
| | - Xiaoxue Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Deyin Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Yukun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Qizhi Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Jianghui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Bubo Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Jiangbo Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Dan Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Changchun Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
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10
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Marquez Loza LI, Cooney AL, Dong Q, Randak CO, Rivella S, Sinn PL, McCray PB. Increased CFTR expression and function from an optimized lentiviral vector for cystic fibrosis gene therapy. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:94-106. [PMID: 33768133 PMCID: PMC7973238 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant advances in cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments, a one-time treatment for this life-shortening disease remains elusive. Stable complementation of the disease-causing mutation with a normal copy of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene fulfills that goal. Integrating lentiviral vectors are well suited for this purpose, but widespread airway transduction in humans is limited by achievable titers and delivery barriers. Since airway epithelial cells are interconnected through gap junctions, small numbers of cells expressing supraphysiologic levels of CFTR could support sufficient channel function to rescue CF phenotypes. Here, we investigated promoter choice and CFTR codon optimization (coCFTR) as strategies to regulate CFTR expression. We evaluated two promoters-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and elongation factor 1-α (EF1α)-that have been safely used in clinical trials. We also compared the wild-type human CFTR sequence to three alternative coCFTR sequences generated by different algorithms. With the use of the CFTR-mediated anion current in primary human CF airway epithelia to quantify channel expression and function, we determined that EF1α produced greater currents than PGK and identified a coCFTR sequence that conferred significantly increased functional CFTR expression. Optimized promoter and CFTR sequences advance lentiviral vectors toward CF gene therapy clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura I. Marquez Loza
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ashley L. Cooney
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Qian Dong
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Christoph O. Randak
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Stefano Rivella
- Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Patrick L. Sinn
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Paul B. McCray
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute and the Center for Gene Therapy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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11
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Role of Synonymous Mutations in the Evolution of TEM β-Lactamase Genes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.00018-21. [PMID: 33820762 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00018-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonsynonymous mutations are well documented in TEM β-lactamases. The resulting amino acid changes often alter the conferred phenotype from broad spectrum (2b) conferred by TEM-1 to extended spectrum (2be), inhibitor resistant (2br), or both extended spectrum and inhibitor resistant (2ber). The encoding bla TEM genes also deviate in numerous synonymous mutations, which are not well understood. bla TEM-3 (2be), bla TEM-33 (2br), and bla TEM-109 (2ber) were studied in comparison to bla TEM-1 bla TEM-33 was chosen for more detailed studies because it deviates from bla TEM-1 by a single nonsynonymous mutation and three additional synonymous mutations. Genes encoding the enzymes with only nonsynonymous or all (including synonymous) mutations plus all permutations between bla TEM-1 and bla TEM-33 were expressed in Escherichia coli cells. In disc diffusion assays, genes encoding TEM-3, TEM-33, and TEM-109 with all synonymous mutations resulted in higher resistance levels than genes without synonymous mutations. Disc diffusion assays with the 16 genes carrying all possible nucleotide change combinations between bla TEM-1 and bla TEM-33 indicated different susceptibilities for different variants. Nucleotide BLAST searches did not identify genes without synonymous mutations but did identify some without nonsynonymous mutations. Energies of possible secondary mRNA structures calculated with mfold are generally higher with synonymous mutations, suggesting that their role could be to destabilize the mRNA and facilitate its unfolding for efficient translation. In summary, our data indicate that transition from bla TEM-1 to other variant genes by simply acquiring the nonsynonymous mutations is not favored. Instead, synonymous mutations seem to support the transition to other variant genes with nonsynonymous mutations leading to different phenotypes.
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12
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The Effect of Synonymous Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms on an Atypical Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Presentation. Life (Basel) 2020; 11:life11010014. [PMID: 33375403 PMCID: PMC7824434 DOI: 10.3390/life11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (sSNPs), which change a nucleotide, but not the encoded amino acid, are perceived as neutral to protein function and thus, classified as benign. We report a patient who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at an advanced age and presented very mild CF symptoms. The sequencing of the whole cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene locus revealed that the patient lacks known CF-causing mutations. We found a homozygous sSNP (c.1584G>A) at the end of exon 11 in the CFTR gene. Using sensitive molecular methods, we report that the c.1584G>A sSNP causes cognate exon skipping and retention of a sequence from the downstream intron, both of which, however, occur at a relatively low frequency. In addition, we found two other sSNPs (c.2562T>G (p.Thr854=) and c.4389G>A (p.Gln1463=)), for which the patient is also homozygous. These two sSNPs stabilize the CFTR protein expression, compensating, at least in part, for the c.1584G>A-triggered inefficient splicing. Our data highlight the importance of considering sSNPs when assessing the effect(s) of complex CFTR alleles. sSNPs may epistatically modulate mRNA and protein expression levels and consequently influence disease phenotype and progression.
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Eun Kang J, Ciampi A, Hijri M. SeSaMe PS Function: Functional Analysis of the Whole Metagenome Sequencing Data of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 18:613-623. [PMID: 33346085 PMCID: PMC8377382 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we introduce a novel bioinformatics program, Spore-associated Symbiotic Microbes Position-specific Function (SeSaMe PS Function), for position-specific functional analysis of short sequences derived from metagenome sequencing data of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The unique advantage of the program lies in databases created based on genus-specific sequence properties derived from protein secondary structure, namely amino acid usages, codon usages, and codon contexts of 3-codon DNA 9-mers. SeSaMe PS Function searches a query sequence against reference sequence database, identifies 3-codon DNA 9-mers with structural roles, and creates a comparative dataset containing the codon usage biases of the 3-codon DNA 9-mers from 54 bacterial and fungal genera. The program applies correlation principal component analysis in conjunction with K-means clustering method to the comparative dataset. 3-codon DNA 9-mers clustered as a sole member or with only a few members are often structurally and functionally distinctive sites that provide useful insights into important molecular interactions. The program provides a versatile means for studying functions of short sequences from metagenome sequencing and has a wide spectrum of applications. SeSaMe PS Function is freely accessible at www.fungalsesame.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Eun Kang
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, QC H1X 2B2, Canada.
| | - Antonio Ciampi
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada
| | - Mohamed Hijri
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, QC H1X 2B2, Canada.
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Gebert M, Jaśkiewicz M, Moszyńska A, Collawn JF, Bartoszewski R. The Effects of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cancer RNAi Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113119. [PMID: 33113880 PMCID: PMC7694039 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite the recent progress in RNAi delivery of siRNA-based therapeutics for cancer therapy, the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the general population could dramatically reduce the effectiveness of RNAi therapy. Their ubiquitous presence can also lead to unpredictable and adverse side effects. Because both SNPs and somatic mosaicisms have also been implicated in a number of human diseases including cancer, however, these specific changes offer the ability to selectively and efficiently target cancer cells. Here, we discuss how SNPs influence the development and success of novel anticancer RNAi therapies. Abstract Tremendous progress in RNAi delivery methods and design has allowed for the effective development of siRNA-based therapeutics that are currently under clinical investigation for various cancer treatments. This approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer therapy by providing the ability to specifically downregulate or upregulate the mRNA of any protein of interest. This exquisite specificity, unfortunately, also has a downside. Genetic variations in the human population are common because of the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs lead to synonymous and non-synonymous changes and they occur once in every 300 base pairs in both coding and non-coding regions in the human genome. Much less common are the somatic mosaicism variations associated with genetically distinct populations of cells within an individual that is derived from postzygotic mutations. These heterogeneities in the population can affect the RNAi’s efficacy or more problematically, which can lead to unpredictable and sometimes adverse side effects. From a more positive viewpoint, both SNPs and somatic mosaicisms have also been implicated in human diseases, including cancer, and these specific changes could offer the ability to effectively and, more importantly, selectively target the cancer cells. In this review, we discuss how SNPs in the human population can influence the development and success of novel anticancer RNAi therapies and the importance of why SNPs should be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Gebert
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.G.); (M.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Maciej Jaśkiewicz
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.G.); (M.J.); (A.M.)
| | - Adrianna Moszyńska
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.G.); (M.J.); (A.M.)
| | - James F. Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Rafał Bartoszewski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.G.); (M.J.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Bartoszewski R, Dabrowski M, Jakiela B, Matalon S, Harrod KS, Sanak M, Collawn JF. SARS-CoV-2 may regulate cellular responses through depletion of specific host miRNAs. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 319:L444-L455. [PMID: 32755307 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00252.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cold viruses have generally been considered fairly innocuous until the appearance of the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019, which caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. Two previous viruses foreshadowed that a coronavirus could potentially have devastating consequences in 2002 [severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV)] and in 2012 [Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)]. The question that arises is why these viruses are so different from the relatively harmless cold viruses. On the basis of an analysis of the current literature and using bioinformatic approaches, we examined the potential human miRNA interactions with the SARS-CoV-2's genome and compared the miRNA target sites in seven coronavirus genomes that include SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and four nonpathogenic coronaviruses. Here, we discuss the possibility that pathogenic human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, could modulate host miRNA levels by acting as miRNA sponges to facilitate viral replication and/or to avoid immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Michal Dabrowski
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bogdan Jakiela
- Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Sadis Matalon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Kevin S Harrod
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Marek Sanak
- Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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Penn WD, Harrington HR, Schlebach JP, Mukhopadhyay S. Regulators of Viral Frameshifting: More Than RNA Influences Translation Events. Annu Rev Virol 2020; 7:219-238. [PMID: 32600156 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-012120-101548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) is a conserved translational recoding mechanism found in all branches of life and viruses. In bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes PRF is used to downregulate protein production by inducing a premature termination of translation, which triggers messenger RNA (mRNA) decay. In viruses, PRF is used to drive the production of a new protein while downregulating the production of another protein, thus maintaining a stoichiometry optimal for productive infection. Traditionally, PRF motifs have been defined by the characteristics of two cis elements: a slippery heptanucleotide sequence followed by an RNA pseudoknot or stem-loop within the mRNA. Recently, additional cis and new trans elements have been identified that regulate PRF in both host and viral translation. These additional factors suggest PRF is an evolutionarily conserved process whose function and regulation we are just beginning to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley D Penn
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Haley R Harrington
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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IRE1 Endoribonuclease Activity Modulates Hypoxic HIF-1α Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060895. [PMID: 32545307 PMCID: PMC7355874 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While the role of hypoxia and the induction of the hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) and the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in the cancer microenvironment are well characterized, their roles and relationship in normal human endothelium are less clear. Here, we examined the effects of IRE1 on HIF-1α protein levels during hypoxia in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results demonstrated that HIF-1α levels peaked at 6 h of hypoxia along with two of their target genes, GLUT1 and VEGFA, whereas at up to 12 h of hypoxia the mRNA levels of markers of the UPR, IRE1, XBP1s, BiP, and CHOP, did not increase, suggesting that the UPR was not activated. Interestingly, the siRNA knockdown of IRE1 or inhibition of IRE1 endonuclease activity with 4µ8C during hypoxia significantly reduced HIF-1α protein without affecting HIF1A mRNA expression. The inhibition of the endonuclease activity with 4µ8C in two other primary endothelial cells during hypoxia, human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells and human aortic endothelial cells showed the same reduction in the HIF-1α protein. Surprisingly, the siRNA knockdown of XBP1s during hypoxia did not decrease the HIF1α protein levels, indicating that the IRE1-mediated effect on stabilizing the HIF1α protein levels was XBP1s-independent. The studies presented here, therefore, provide evidence that IRE1 activity during hypoxia increases the protein levels of HIF1α in an XBP1s-independent manner.
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Bartoszewska S, Collawn JF. Unfolded protein response (UPR) integrated signaling networks determine cell fate during hypoxia. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2020; 25:18. [PMID: 32190062 PMCID: PMC7071609 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-020-00212-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During hypoxic conditions, cells undergo critical adaptive responses that include the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible proteins (HIFs) and the induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). While their induced signaling pathways have many distinct targets, there are some important connections as well. Despite the extensive studies on both of these signaling pathways, the exact mechanisms involved that determine survival versus apoptosis remain largely unexplained and therefore beyond therapeutic control. Here we discuss the complex relationship between the HIF and UPR signaling pathways and the importance of understanding how these pathways differ between normal and cancer cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - James F. Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
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19
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Cotranslational folding allows misfolding-prone proteins to circumvent deep kinetic traps. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:1485-1495. [PMID: 31911473 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913207117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many large proteins suffer from slow or inefficient folding in vitro. It has long been known that this problem can be alleviated in vivo if proteins start folding cotranslationally. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this improvement have not been well established. To address this question, we use an all-atom simulation-based algorithm to compute the folding properties of various large protein domains as a function of nascent chain length. We find that for certain proteins, there exists a narrow window of lengths that confers both thermodynamic stability and fast folding kinetics. Beyond these lengths, folding is drastically slowed by nonnative interactions involving C-terminal residues. Thus, cotranslational folding is predicted to be beneficial because it allows proteins to take advantage of this optimal window of lengths and thus avoid kinetic traps. Interestingly, many of these proteins' sequences contain conserved rare codons that may slow down synthesis at this optimal window, suggesting that synthesis rates may be evolutionarily tuned to optimize folding. Using kinetic modeling, we show that under certain conditions, such a slowdown indeed improves cotranslational folding efficiency by giving these nascent chains more time to fold. In contrast, other proteins are predicted not to benefit from cotranslational folding due to a lack of significant nonnative interactions, and indeed these proteins' sequences lack conserved C-terminal rare codons. Together, these results shed light on the factors that promote proper protein folding in the cell and how biomolecular self-assembly may be optimized evolutionarily.
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20
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Towards next generation therapies for cystic fibrosis: Folding, function and pharmacology of CFTR. J Cyst Fibros 2020; 19 Suppl 1:S25-S32. [PMID: 31902693 PMCID: PMC7052731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) has been transformed by orally-bioavailable small molecule modulators of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which restore function to CF mutants. However, CFTR modulators are not available to all people with CF and better modulators are required to prevent disease progression. Here, we review selectively recent advances in CFTR folding, function and pharmacology. We highlight ensemble and single-molecule studies of CFTR folding, which provide new insight into CFTR assembly, its perturbation by CF mutations and rescue by CFTR modulators. We discuss species-dependent differences in the action of the F508del-CFTR mutation on CFTR expression, stability and function, which might influence pharmacological studies of CFTR modulators in CF animal models. Finally, we illuminate the identification of combinations of two CFTR potentiators (termed co-potentiators), which restore therapeutically-relevant levels of CFTR activity to rare CF mutations. Thus, mechanistic studies of CFTR folding, function and pharmacology inform the development of highly effective CFTR modulators.
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Bartoszewski R, Sikorski AF. Editorial focus: understanding off-target effects as the key to successful RNAi therapy. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2019; 24:69. [PMID: 31867046 PMCID: PMC6902517 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-019-0196-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With the first RNA interference (RNAi) drug (ONPATTRO (patisiran)) on the market, we witness the RNAi therapy field reaching a critical turning point, when further improvements in drug candidate design and delivery pipelines should enable fast delivery of novel life changing treatments to patients. Nevertheless, ignoring parallel development of RNAi dedicated in vitro pharmacological profiling aiming to identify undesirable off-target activity may slow down or halt progress in the RNAi field. Since academic research is currently fueling the RNAi development pipeline with new therapeutic options, the objective of this article is to briefly summarize the basics of RNAi therapy, as well as to discuss how to translate basic research into better understanding of related drug candidate safety profiles early in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Aleksander F. Sikorski
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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22
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Yang H, Yamanaka M, Nagao S, Yasuhara K, Shibata N, Higuchi Y, Hirota S. Protein surface charge effect on 3D domain swapping in cells for c-type cytochromes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:140265. [PMID: 31437585 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.140265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Many c-type cytochromes (cyts) can form domain-swapped oligomers. The positively charged Hydrogenobacter thermophilus (HT) cytochrome (cyt) c552 forms domain-swapped oligomers during expression in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) expression system, but the factors influencing the oligomerization remain unrevealed. Here, we found that the dimer of the negatively charged Shewanella violacea (SV) cyt c5 exhibits a domain-swapped structure, in which the N-terminal helix is exchanged between protomers, similar to the structures of the HT cyt c552 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) cyt c551 domain-swapped dimers. Positively charged horse cyt c and HT cyt c552 domain swapped during expression in E. coli, whereas negatively charged PA cyt c551 and SV cyt c5 did not. Oligomers were formed during expression in E. coli for HT cyt c552 attached to either a co- or post-translational signal peptide for transportation through the cytoplasm membrane, but not for PA cyt c551 attached to either signal peptide. HT cyt c552 formed oligomers in E. coli in the presence and absence of rare codons. More oligomers were obtained from the in vitro folding of horse cyt c and HT cyt c552 by the addition of negatively charged liposomes during folding, whereas the amount of oligomers for the in vitro folding of PA cyt c551 and SV cyt c5 did not change significantly by the addition. These results indicate that the protein surface charge affects the oligomerization of c-type cyts in cells; positively charged c-type cyts assemble on a negatively charged membrane, inducing formation of domain-swapped oligomers during folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxu Yang
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Masaru Yamanaka
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nagao
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Kazuma Yasuhara
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Naoki Shibata
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, 3-2-1 Koto, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Higuchi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, 3-2-1 Koto, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
| | - Shun Hirota
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
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Abstract
Synonymous mutations have been viewed as silent mutations, since they only affect the DNA and mRNA, but not the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein. Nonetheless, recent studies suggest their significant impact on splicing, RNA stability, RNA folding, translation or co-translational protein folding. Hence, we compile 659194 synonymous mutations found in human cancer and characterize their properties. We provide the user-friendly, comprehensive resource for synonymous mutations in cancer, SynMICdb (http://SynMICdb.dkfz.de), which also contains orthogonal information about gene annotation, recurrence, mutation loads, cancer association, conservation, alternative events, impact on mRNA structure and a SynMICdb score. Notably, synonymous and missense mutations are depleted at the 5'-end of the coding sequence as well as at the ends of internal exons independent of mutational signatures. For patient-derived synonymous mutations in the oncogene KRAS, we indicate that single point mutations can have a relevant impact on expression as well as on mRNA secondary structure. Synonymous mutations do not alter amino acid sequence but may exert oncogenic effects in other ways. Here, the authors present a catalogue of synonymous mutations in cancer and characterise their properties.
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Functional characterization reveals that zebrafish CFTR prefers to occupy closed channel conformations. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209862. [PMID: 30596737 PMCID: PMC6312236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the culprit behind the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF), is a phosphorylation-activated, but ATP-gated anion channel. Studies of human CFTR over the past two decades have provided an in-depth understanding of how CFTR works as an ion channel despite its structural resemblance to ABC transporters. Recently-solved cryo-EM structures of unphosphorylated human and zebrafish CFTR (hCFTR and zCFTR), as well as phosphorylated ATP-bound zebrafish and human CFTR offer an unprecedented opportunity to understand CFTR's function at a molecular level. Interestingly, despite millions of years of phylogenetic distance between human and zebrafish, the structures of zCFTR and hCFTR exhibit remarkable similarities. In the current study, we characterized biophysical and pharmacological properties of zCFTR with the patch-clamp technique, and showed surprisingly very different functional properties between these two orthologs. First, while hCFTR has a single-channel conductance of 8.4 pS with a linear I-V curve, zCFTR shows an inwardly-rectified I-V relationship with a single-channel conductance of ~3.5 pS. Second, single-channel gating behaviors of phosphorylated zCFTR are very different from those of hCFTR, featuring a very low open probability Po (0.03 ± 0.02, vs. ~0.50 for hCFTR) with exceedingly long closed events and brief openings. In addition, unlike hCFTR where each open burst is clearly defined with rare short-lived flickery closures, the open bursts of zCFTR are not easily resolved. Third, although abolishing ATP hydrolysis by replacing the catalytic glutamate with glutamine (i.e., E1372Q) drastically prolongs the open bursts defined by the macroscopic relaxation analysis in zCFTR, the Po within a "locked-open" burst of E1372Q-zCFTR is only ~ 0.35 (vs. Po > 0.94 in E1371Q-hCFTR). Collectively, our data not only provide a reasonable explanation for the unexpected closed-state structure of phosphorylated E1372Q-zCFTR with a canonical ATP-bound dimer of the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), but also implicate significant structural and functional differences between these two evolutionarily distant orthologs.
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Bartoszewski R, Sikorski AF. Editorial focus: entering into the non-coding RNA era. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2018; 23:45. [PMID: 30250489 PMCID: PMC6145373 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-018-0111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in high-throughput genotyping technologies have revealed the existence of several new classes of RNA that do not encode proteins but serve other cellular roles. To date, these non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to modulate both gene expression and genome remodeling, thus contributing to the control of both normal and disease-related cellular processes. The attraction of this research topic can be seen in the increasing number of submissions on ncRNAs to molecular biology journals, including Cellular Molecular Biology Letters (CMBL). As researchers attempt to deepen the understanding of the role of ncRNAs in cell biology, it is worth discussing the broader importance of this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Bartoszewski
- 1Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Aleksander F Sikorski
- 2Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
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Bartoszewska S, Kamysz W, Jakiela B, Sanak M, Króliczewski J, Bebok Z, Bartoszewski R, Collawn JF. miR-200b downregulates CFTR during hypoxia in human lung epithelial cells. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2017; 22:23. [PMID: 29167681 PMCID: PMC5688675 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-017-0054-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxic conditions induce the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that allow cells to adapt to the changing conditions and alter the expression of a number of genes including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a low abundance mRNA in airway epithelial cells even during normoxic conditions, but during hypoxia its mRNA expression decreases even further. Methods In the current studies, we examined the kinetics of hypoxia-induced changes in CFTR mRNA and protein levels in two human airway epithelial cell lines, Calu-3 and 16HBE14o-, and in normal primary bronchial epithelial cells. Our goal was to examine the posttranscriptional modifications that affected CFTR expression during hypoxia. We utilized in silico predictive protocols to establish potential miRNAs that could potentially regulate CFTR message stability and identified miR-200b as a candidate molecule. Results Analysis of each of the epithelial cell types during prolonged hypoxia revealed that CFTR expression decreased after 12 h during a time when miR-200b was continuously upregulated. Furthermore, manipulation of the miRNA levels during normoxia and hypoxia using miR-200b mimics and antagomirs decreased and increased CFTR mRNA levels, respectively, and thus established that miR-200b downregulates CFTR message levels during hypoxic conditions. Conclusion The data suggest that miR-200b may be a suitable target for modulating CFTR levels in vivo. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s11658-017-0054-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bartoszewska
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Wojciech Kamysz
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Bogdan Jakiela
- Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marek Sanak
- Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jarosław Króliczewski
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Zsuzsa Bebok
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdansk, Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdansk, Poland
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
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Bartoszewski R, Matalon S, Collawn JF. Ion channels of the lung and their role in disease pathogenesis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 313:L859-L872. [PMID: 29025712 PMCID: PMC5792182 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00285.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of normal epithelial ion and water transport in the lungs includes providing a thin layer of surface liquid that coats the conducting airways. This airway surface liquid is critical for normal lung function in a number of ways but, perhaps most importantly, is required for normal mucociliary clearance and bacterial removal. Preservation of the appropriate level of hydration, pH, and viscosity for the airway surface liquid requires the proper regulation and function of a battery of different types of ion channels and transporters. Here we discuss how alterations in ion channel/transporter function often lead to lung pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Bartoszewski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sadis Matalon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
- Pulmonary Injury and Repair Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; and
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - James F Collawn
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama;
- Pulmonary Injury and Repair Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; and
- Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Center, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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