IPO11 regulates the nuclear import of BZW1/2 and is necessary for AML cells and stem cells

BZW1 is a prognostic and immunological biomarker in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the digestive system and is called the "king of cancer" because it has been labeled with high malignancy, rapid progression, poor survival, and poor prognosis. Previously, it was reported that the basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 1 (BZW1) is involved in the progression of many tumors. However, its research in digestive system tumors such as pancreatic cancer is rarely studied. To explore potential biomarkers related to survival and prognosis of pancreatic cancer and provide a new targeted therapy for it. We first analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of BZW1 in pancreatic cancer. We then explored the correlation of BZW1 with survival prognosis and immune infiltration in pancreatic cancer patients. Finally, we explored BZW1-related gene enrichment analysis, including protein-protein interaction networks, gene ontology functional enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. The mRNA and protein expression of the BZW1 gene in pancreatic cancer tissues were higher than those in adjacent normal tissues, and pancreatic cancer patients with high BZW1 expression had a poor prognosis. In addition, the expression of BZW1 was positively or negatively correlated with different immune cells of pancreatic cancer, such as CD4 + T lymphocytes, CD8 + T lymphocytes, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, etc. Correlation enrichment analysis showed that we obtained 50 available experimentally determined BZW1-binding proteins and 100 targeted genes related to BZW1, and the intersection genes were eukaryotic translation termination factor 1 and Guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha inhibiting activity polypeptide 3. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between BZW1 and eukaryotic translation termination factor 1 and Guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha inhibiting activity polypeptide 3 genes in pancreatic cancer. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed BZW1 was mainly related to biological processes such as "mRNA processing," "RNA splicing," "regulation of translational initiation," and "activation of innate immune response." The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis further indicated that BZW1 may be involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis through the "spliceosome" and "ribosome." The BZW1 gene may be a potential immunotherapy target and a promising prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer.

Interactome Analysis Identifies the Role of BZW2 in Promoting Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contact and Mitochondrial Metabolism

Understanding the molecular functions of less-studied proteins is an important task of life science research. Despite reports of basic leucine zipper and W2 domain-containing protein 2 (BZW2) promoting cancer progression first emerging in 2017, little is known about its molecular function. Using a quantitative proteomic approach to identify its interacting proteins, we found that BZW2 interacts with both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial proteins. We thus hypothesized that BZW2 localizes to and promotes the formation of ER-mitochondria contact sites and that such localization would promote calcium transport from ER to the mitochondria and promote ATP production. Indeed, we found that BZW2 localized to ER-mitochondria contact sites and that BZW2 knockdown decreased ER-mitochondria contact, mitochondrial calcium levels, and ATP production. These findings provide key insights into molecular functions of BZW2, the potential role of BZW2 in cancer progression, and highlight the utility of interactome data in understanding the function of less-studied proteins.

CRISPR-based precision medicine for hematologic disorders: Advancements, challenges, and prospects

The development of programmable nucleases to introduce defined alterations in genomic sequences has been a powerful tool for precision medicine. While several nucleases such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), transcriptor activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), and meganucleases have been explored, the advent of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has revolutionized the field of genome engineering. In addition to disease modeling, the CRISPR/Cas9 technology has contributed to safer and more effective treatment strategies for hematologic diseases and personalized T-cell-based therapies. Here we discuss the applications of the CRISPR technology in the treatment of hematologic diseases, their efficacy, and ongoing clinical trials. We examine the obstacles to their successful use and the approaches investigated to overcome these challenges. Finally, we provide our perspectives to improve this genome editing tool for targeted therapies.

TEAD4 is a master regulator of high-risk nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The molecular basis underlying nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Recent progress in transcriptional regulatory network analysis helps identify the master regulator (MR) proteins that transcriptionally define malignant tumor phenotypes. Here, we investigated transcription factor-target interactions and identified TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) as an MR of high-risk NPC. Precisely, TEAD4 promoted NPC migration, invasion and cisplatin resistance, depending on its autopalmitoylation. Mechanistically, YTHDF2 (YTH domain family 2) recognized WTAP (Wilms tumor 1-associating protein)-mediated TEAD4 m⁶A methylation to facilitate its stability and led to aberrant up-regulation of TEAD4. Up-regulated TEAD4 further drove NPC progression by transcriptionally activating BZW2 (basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 2) to induce the oncogenic AKT pathway. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of TEAD4 was independent of its canonical coactivators YAP/TAZ. Clinically, TEAD4 serves as an independent predictor of unfavorable prognosis and cisplatin response in NPC. Our data revealed the crucial role of TEAD4 in driving tumor malignancy, thus, may provide therapeutic vulnerability in NPC.

Expression, oncological and immunological characterizations of BZW1/2 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background: Despite the progress in early diagnosis and treatment, prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is still poor. Basic leucine zipper and W2 domain-containing protein 1 (BZW1) and protein 2 (BZW2) are attached to the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) superfamily. Recently, BZW1 was identified as an important role in glycolysis of PAAD. However, the comprehensive reports about BZW1/2 in PAAD are not sufficient.

Methods: RNA-seq data in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were retrospectively analyzed. We explored the expression of BZW1/2 in PAAD tissues and the associations between BZW1/2 and prognosis. In addition, the potential roles of BZW1/2 in tumor microenvironment (TME) of PAAD were analyzed. Finally, clinicopathological data of 49 patients with PAAD in our institution were collected. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of BZW1/2 in PAAD samples.

Results: BZW1 and BZW2 were upregulated in PAAD tissues compared to normal tissues (p < 0.05). The expression of BZW1/2 were not significantly correlated with gender, grade and stage of PAAD (p > 0.05). High expression of BZW2 was an independent predictor for poor prognosis of PAAD (HR 1.834, 95%CI 1.303–2.581, p = 0.001). And a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) of PAAD was established with a C-index of 0.685. BZW1 and BZW2 expression were positively associated with T cell mediated immune response to tumor cell and Th2 cells in xCell database. Tumor Immune Single-Cell Hub (TISCH) analyses indicated that BZW1 and BZW2 were mainly expressed in B cells and malignant cells. External cohort furtherly validated that high expression of BZW1 and BZW2 were predictors for poor prognosis of PAAD.

Conclusion: We found that BZW1 and BZW2 are highly expressed in malignant cells and B cells in the TME of PAAD. BZW2 is an independent predictor for OS of PAAD. BZW1 and BZW2 expression are positively associated with T cell mediated immune response to tumor cell and Th2 cells in PAAD.