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Watanabe A, Miyake K, Yamada Y, Sunamura EI, Yotani T, Kagami K, Kasai S, Tamai M, Harama D, Akahane K, Goi K, Sakaguchi K, Goto H, Kitahara S, Inukai T. Utility of ASNS gene methylation evaluated with the HPLC method as a pharmacogenomic biomarker to predict asparaginase sensitivity in BCP-ALL. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2268814. [PMID: 37839090 PMCID: PMC10578186 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2268814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Asparaginase is an important agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), but it is occasionally associated with severe adverse events. Thus, for safer and more efficacious therapy, a clinical biomarker predicting asparaginase sensitivity is highly anticipated. Asparaginase depletes serum asparagine by deaminating asparagine into aspartic acid, and ALL cells are thought to be sensitive to asparaginase due to reduced asparagine synthetase (ASNS) activity. We have recently shown that allele-specific methylation of the ASNS gene is highly involved in asparaginase sensitivity in B-precursor ALL (BCP-ALL) by using next-generation sequence (NGS) analysis of bisulphite PCR products of the genomic DNA. Here, we sought to confirm the utility of methylation status of the ASNS gene evaluated with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of bisulphite PCR products for future clinical applications. In the global methylation status of 23 CpG sites at the boundary region of promoter and exon 1 of the ASNS gene, a strong positive correlation was confirmed between the mean percent methylation evaluated with the HPLC method and that with the NGS method in 79 BCP-ALL cell lines (R2 = 0.85, p = 1.3 × 10-33) and in 63 BCP-ALL clinical samples (R2 = 0.84, p = 5.0 × 10-26). Moreover, methylation status of the ASNS gene evaluated with the HPLC method was significantly associated with in vitro asparaginase sensitivities as well as gene and protein expression levels of ASNS. These observations indicated that the ASNS gene methylation status evaluated with the HPLC method is a reliable biomarker for predicting the asparaginase sensitivity of BCP-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kunio Miyake
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yuriko Yamada
- Tsukuba Research Institute, Research and Development, Sekisui Medical Co, Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ei-Ichiro Sunamura
- Tsukuba Research Institute, Research and Development, Sekisui Medical Co, Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takuya Yotani
- Instrument System Development Center, Research and Development, Sekisui Medical Co, Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Keiko Kagami
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Shin Kasai
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Minori Tamai
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Harama
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Koshi Akahane
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kumiko Goi
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kimiyoshi Sakaguchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Goto
- Hematology/Oncology, Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Kitahara
- R&D Management Department, Research and Development, Sekisui Medical Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Inukai
- Department of Pediatrics Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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2
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Jiao Y, Peng X, Wang Y, Hao Z, Chen L, Wu M, Zhang Y, Li J, Li W, Zhan X. Malignant ascites supernatant enhances the proliferation of gastric cancer cells partially via the upregulation of asparagine synthetase. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:418. [PMID: 37664666 PMCID: PMC10472050 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant ascites (MA) is a common manifestation of advanced gastric cancer (GC) with peritoneal metastasis (PM), which usually indicates a poor prognosis. The present study aimed to explore the effects of MA, a unique microenvironment of PM, on the proliferation of cancer cells and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that GC cells treated with MA exhibited enhanced proliferation. RNA sequencing indicated that asparagine synthetase (ASNS) was one of the differentially expressed genes in GC cells following incubation with MAs. Furthermore, the present study suggested that MA induced an upregulation of ASNS expression and the stimulatory effect of MA on cancer cell proliferation was alleviated upon ASNS downregulation. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a pivotal transcription factor regulating ASNS, was upregulated when cells were treated with MA supernatant. After ATF4 knockdown, the proliferation of MA-treated GC cells and the expression of ASNS decreased. In addition, the decline in the proliferation of the ATF4-downregulated AGS GC cell line was rescued by ASNS upregulation. The findings indicated that MA could promote the proliferation of GC cells via activation of the ATF4-ASNS axis. Hence, it may be a potential target for treating GC with PM and MA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Jiao
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobo Peng
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Zhibin Hao
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Meihong Wu
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Wenlin Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xianbao Zhan
- Department of Oncology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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3
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Tazuke A, Kinoshita T, Asayama M. Expression of candidate marker genes of sugar starvation is upregulated in growth-suppressed parthenocarpic cucumber fruit. Novel gene markers for sugar starvation in growth-suppressed cucumber fruit. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1241267. [PMID: 37662177 PMCID: PMC10471979 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1241267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
To examine the physiological change in the growth suppression and abortion of parthenocarpic cucumber fruit, the expression of candidate marker genes of sugar starvation in relation to growth activity was examined. Fruits that failed to start exponential growth seemed to eventually abort. Hexose concentration of fruits was low in growth-suppressed fruit and increased in normally growing fruit consistent with the vacuolization. The correlation matrix indicated that the transcript levels of the genes, except CsaV3_6G046050 and CsaV3_5G032930, had a highly significant negative correlation with the relative growth rate in fruit length and had highly significant mutual positive correlations, suggesting that the asparagine synthetase gene, Cucumis sativus putative CCCH-type zinc finger protein CsSEF1, C. sativus BTB/POZ domain-containing protein At1g63850-like, CsaV3_3G000800, CsaV3_3G041280, and CsaV3_7G032930 are good markers of sugar starvation in cucumber fruit. The expression of candidate marker genes together with the hexose analysis strongly suggests that severe sugar starvation is occurring in growth-suppressed fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Tazuke
- College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ibaraki, Japan
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Appiah B, Fullio CL, Ossola C, Bertani I, Restelli E, Cheffer A, Polenghi M, Haffner C, Garcia-Miralles M, Zeis P, Treppner M, Bovio P, Schlichtholz L, Mas-Sanchez A, Zografidou L, Winter J, Binder H, Grün D, Kalebic N, Taverna E, Vogel T. DOT1L activity affects neural stem cell division mode and reduces differentiation and ASNS expression. EMBO Rep 2023:e56233. [PMID: 37382163 PMCID: PMC10398646 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical neurogenesis depends on the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of apical progenitors (APs). Here, we study the epigenetic control of AP's division mode by focusing on the enzymatic activity of the histone methyltransferase DOT1L. Combining lineage tracing with single-cell RNA sequencing of clonally related cells, we show at the cellular level that DOT1L inhibition increases neurogenesis driven by a shift of APs from asymmetric self-renewing to symmetric neurogenic consumptive divisions. At the molecular level, DOT1L activity prevents AP differentiation by promoting transcription of metabolic genes. Mechanistically, DOT1L inhibition reduces activity of an EZH2/PRC2 pathway, converging on increased expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), a microcephaly associated gene. Overexpression of ASNS in APs phenocopies DOT1L inhibition, and also increases neuronal differentiation of APs. Our data suggest that DOT1L activity/PRC2 crosstalk controls AP lineage progression by regulating asparagine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bismark Appiah
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Camila L Fullio
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Arquimedes Cheffer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Haffner
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marta Garcia-Miralles
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrice Zeis
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMPRS-MCB), Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Treppner
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Data Analysis and Modeling, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Bovio
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Laura Schlichtholz
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Aina Mas-Sanchez
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lea Zografidou
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jennifer Winter
- Institute for Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- German Resilience Centre, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Harald Binder
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Data Analysis and Modeling, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominic Grün
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Tanja Vogel
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in NeuroModulation (NeuroModul Basics), Medical Faculty, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Raffan S, Oddy J, Mead A, Barker G, Curtis T, Usher S, Burt C, Halford NG. Field assessment of genome-edited, low asparagine wheat: Europe's first CRISPR wheat field trial. Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1097-1099. [PMID: 36759345 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gary Barker
- Functional Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Zhou R, Liang T, Li T, Huang J, Chen C. Possible mechanism of metabolic and drug resistance with L-asparaginase therapy in childhood leukaemia. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1070069. [PMID: 36816964 PMCID: PMC9929349 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1070069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
L-asparaginase, which hydrolyzes asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia, is frequently used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children. When combined with other chemotherapy drugs, the event-free survival rate is 90%. Due to immunogenicity and drug resistance, however, not all patients benefit from it, restricting the use of L-asparaginase therapy in other haematological cancers. To solve the problem of immunogenicity, several L-ASNase variants have emerged, such as Erwinia-ASNase and PEG-ASNase. However, even when Erwinia-ASNase is used as a substitute for E. coli-ASNase or PEG-ASNase, allergic reactions occur in 3%-33% of patients. All of these factors contributed to the development of novel L-ASNases. Additionally, L-ASNase resistance mechanisms, such as the methylation status of ASNS promoters and activation of autophagy, have further emphasized the importance of personalized treatment for paediatric haematological neoplasms. In this review, we discussed the metabolic effects of L-ASNase, mechanisms of drug resistance, applications in non-ALL leukaemia, and the development of novel L-ASNase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chun Chen
- *Correspondence: Junbin Huang, ; Chun Chen,
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Ly DNP, Iqbal S, Fosu-Nyarko J, Milroy S, Jones MGK. Multiplex CRISPR-Cas9 Gene-Editing Can Deliver Potato Cultivars with Reduced Browning and Acrylamide. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:plants12020379. [PMID: 36679094 PMCID: PMC9864857 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Storing potato tubers at cold temperatures, either for transport or continuity of supply, is associated with the conversion of sucrose to reducing sugars. When cold-stored cut tubers are processed at high temperatures, with endogenous asparagine, acrylamide is formed. Acrylamide is classified as a carcinogen. Potato processors prefer cultivars which accumulate fewer reducing sugars and thus less acrylamide on processing, and suitable processing cultivars may not be available. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the genes encoding vacuolar invertase (VInv) and asparagine synthetase 1 (AS1) of cultivars Atlantic and Desiree to reduce the accumulation of reducing sugars and the production of asparagine after cold storage. Three of the four guide RNAs employed induced mutation frequencies of 17-98%, which resulted in deletions, insertions and substitutions at the targeted gene sites. Eight of ten edited events had mutations in at least one allele of both genes; for two, only the VInv was edited. No wild-type allele was detected in both genes of events DSpco7, DSpFN4 and DSpco12, suggesting full allelic mutations. Tubers of two Atlantic and two Desiree events had reduced fructose and glucose concentrations after cold storage. Crisps from these and four other Desiree events were lighter in colour and included those with 85% less acrylamide. These results demonstrate that multiplex CRISPR-Cas9 technology can generate improved potato cultivars for healthier processed potato products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diem Nguyen Phuoc Ly
- Crop Biotechnology Research Group, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Sadia Iqbal
- Crop Biotechnology Research Group, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Correspondence: (S.I.); (J.F.-N.); (M.G.K.J.)
| | - John Fosu-Nyarko
- Crop Biotechnology Research Group, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Correspondence: (S.I.); (J.F.-N.); (M.G.K.J.)
| | - Stephen Milroy
- Crop Biotechnology Research Group, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Potato Research Western Australia, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Michael G. K. Jones
- Crop Biotechnology Research Group, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Potato Research Western Australia, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
- Correspondence: (S.I.); (J.F.-N.); (M.G.K.J.)
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8
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Deng P, Jing W, Cao C, Sun M, Chi W, Zhao S, Dai J, Shi X, Wu Q, Zhang B, Jin Z, Guo C, Tian Q, Shen L, Yu J, Jiang L, Wang C, Chin JH, Yuan J, Zhang Q, Zhang W. Transcriptional repressor RST1 controls salt tolerance and grain yield in rice by regulating gene expression of asparagine synthetase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2210338119. [PMID: 36472959 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210338119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Salt stress impairs nutrient metabolism in plant cells, leading to growth and yield penalties. However, the mechanism by which plants alter their nutrient metabolism processes in response to salt stress remains elusive. In this study, we identified and characterized the rice (Oryza sativa) rice salt tolerant 1 (rst1) mutant, which displayed improved salt tolerance and grain yield. Map-based cloning revealed that the gene RST1 encoded an auxin response factor (OsARF18). Molecular analyses showed that RST1 directly repressed the expression of the gene encoding asparagine synthetase 1 (OsAS1). Loss of RST1 function increased the expression of OsAS1 and improved nitrogen (N) utilization by promoting asparagine production and avoiding excess ammonium (NH4+) accumulation. RST1 was undergoing directional selection during domestication. The superior haplotype RST1Hap III decreased its transcriptional repression activity and contributed to salt tolerance and grain weight. Together, our findings unravel a synergistic regulator of growth and salt tolerance associated with N metabolism and provide a new strategy for the development of tolerant cultivars.
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Fan FS. Consumption of meat containing ractopamine might enhance tumor growth through induction of asparagine synthetase. Eur J Cancer Prev 2022; 31:82-84. [PMID: 33369951 PMCID: PMC8638813 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There is currently no evidence of the carcinogenic effect of the β-adrenergic agonist ractopamine added in finishing swine and cattle feed for promoting leanness. Nonetheless, it has the capability of stimulating expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) through activating transcription factor 5, and many other genes involved in the stress reaction in the skeletal muscle of pigs according to published scientific articles. Because overexpression of ASNS has been detected as a key player in amino acid response and unfolded protein response during the development of not a few malignant diseases, especially those with KRAS mutations, and found to be closely related to tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that intake of ractopamine residue in meat might bring negative effects to cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank S. Fan
- Department of Medicine, Section of Haematology and Oncology, Ministry of Health and Welfare Taitung Hospital, Taitung County, Taiwan
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10
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Zhuang Q, Xue Y, Yao Z, Zhu S, Liang C, Liao H, Tian J. Phosphate starvation responsive GmSPX5 mediates nodule growth through interaction with GmNF-YC4 in soybean (Glycine max). Plant J 2021; 108:1422-1438. [PMID: 34587329 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) deficiency adversely affects nodule development as reflected by reduced nodule fresh weight in legume plants. Though mechanisms underlying nodule adaptation to P deficiency have been studied extensively, it remains largely unknown which regulator mediates nodule adaptation to P deficiency. In this study, GUS staining and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis reveal that the SPX member GmSPX5 is preferentially expressed in soybean (Glycine max) nodules. Overexpression of GmSPX5 enhanced soybean nodule development particularly under phosphate (Pi) sufficient conditions. However, the Pi concentration was not affected in soybean tissues (i.e., leaves, roots, and nodules) of GmSPX5 overexpression or suppression lines, which distinguished it from other well-known SPX members functioning in control of Pi homeostasis in plants. Furthermore, GmSPX5 was observed to interact with the transcription factor GmNF-YC4 in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of either GmSPX5 or GmNF-YC4 significantly upregulated the expression levels of five asparagine synthetase-related genes (i.e., GmASL2-6) in soybean nodules. Meanwhile, yeast one-hybrid and luciferase activity assays strongly suggested that interactions of GmSPX5 and GmNF-YC4 activate GmASL6 expression through enhancing GmNF-YC4 binding of the GmASL6 promoter. These results not only demonstrate the GmSPX5-GmNF-YC4-GmASL6 regulatory pathway mediating soybean nodule development, but also considerably improve our understanding of SPX functions in legume crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingli Zhuang
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
| | - Yingbin Xue
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
- Department of Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, P.R. China
| | - Zhufang Yao
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
| | - Shengnan Zhu
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
| | - Cuiyue Liang
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
| | - Hong Liao
- Root Biology Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350000, P.R. China
| | - Jiang Tian
- Root Biology Center, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
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11
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Okuda K, Umemura A, Kataoka S, Yano K, Takahashi A, Okishio S, Taketani H, Seko Y, Nishikawa T, Yamaguchi K, Moriguchi M, Nakagawa H, Liu Y, Mitsumoto Y, Kanbara Y, Shima T, Okanoue T, Itoh Y. Enhanced Antitumor Effect in Liver Cancer by Amino Acid Depletion-Induced Oxidative Stress. Front Oncol 2021; 11:758549. [PMID: 34796113 PMCID: PMC8593418 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.758549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. HCC cells consume large amounts of glutamine to survive, but can adapt to glutamine depletion in the presence of an exogenous asparagine. L-asparaginase (ASNase) converts glutamine and asparagine to glutamate and aspartate, respectively, and has been used to treat leukemia. Here we examined the effects of ASNase treatment on HCC cells and explored the potential impact of combining ASNase with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lenvatinib (Len) for HCC treatment. Cell viability and death of HCC cell lines treated with either Len or ASNase alone or with Len and ASNase combined were determined. We assessed mRNA and protein expression levels of glutamine synthetase (GS) and asparagine synthetase (ASNS) by real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. The antitumor effect of the combination therapy relative to Len or ASNase monotherapy was also evaluated in a xenograft tumor mouse model. ASNase treatment inhibited growth of SNU387 and SNU398 HCC cells, which have low GS and high ASNS expression levels, respectively, but did not clearly inhibit growth of the other cell lines. Len plus ASNase combination therapy synergistically inhibited proliferation and induced oxidative stress leading to cell death of some HCC cells lines. However, cell death of Huh7 cells, which express ASCT2, an important glutamine transporter for cancer cells, was not affected by the combination treatment. In a xenograft model, Len combined with ASNase significantly attenuated tumor development relative to mice treated with Len or ASNase alone. ASNase-mediated targeting of two amino acids, glutamine and asparagine, which are indispensable for HCC survival, induces oxidative stress and can be a novel cancer treatment option that exerts a synergistic effect when used in combination with Len.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichiro Okuda
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Umemura
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seita Kataoka
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kota Yano
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Aya Takahashi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinya Okishio
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Taketani
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuya Seko
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taichiro Nishikawa
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanji Yamaguchi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Michihisa Moriguchi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Liu
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Mitsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kanbara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshihide Shima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Takeshi Okanoue
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshito Itoh
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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12
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Shen Y, Li M, Xiong Y, Gui S, Bai J, Zhang Y, Li C. Proteomics Analysis Identified ASNS as a Novel Biomarker for Predicting Recurrence of Skull Base Chordoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:698497. [PMID: 34540668 PMCID: PMC8440958 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.698497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The prognostic factors of skull base chordoma associated with outcomes of patients after surgery remain inadequately identified. This study was designed to identify a novel prognostic factor for patients with skull base chordoma. Method Using a proteomic technique, the tumor biomarkers that were upregulated in the rapid-recurrence group of chordoma were screened and then narrowed down by bioinformatic analysis. Finally one potential biomarker was chosen for validation by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray (TMA). A total of 187 patients included in TMA were randomly divided into two cohorts, the training cohort included 93 patients and the validation cohort included 94 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the patients’ survival. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to identify prognostic factors predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS). CCK-8 assay, clonal formation assay and transwell assay were used to test the effect of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) on the proliferation, migration and invasion in chordoma cell lines. Results Among 146 upregulated proteins, ASNS was chosen as a potential prognostic biomarker after bioinformatics analysis. The H-scores of ASNS ranged from 106.27 to 239.58 in TMA. High expression of ASNS was correlated with shorter RFS in both the training cohort (p = 0.0093) and validation cohort (p < 0.001). Knockdown of ASNS by small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the growth, colony formation, migration and invasion of chordoma cells in vitro. Conclusion This study indicates that high expression of ASNS is correlated with poor prognosis of patients with skull base chordoma. ASNS may be a useful prognostic factor for patients with skull base chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutao Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujia Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Songbai Gui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiwei Bai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yazhuo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Center of Brain Tumor, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chuzhong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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13
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Matsumoto H, Kawashima N, Yamamoto T, Nakama M, Otsuka H, Ago Y, Sasai H, Kubota K, Ozeki M, Kawamoto N, Esaka Y, Ohnishi H. In vitro functional analysis of four variants of human asparagine synthetase. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:1226-1234. [PMID: 34080208 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The loss-of-function variants of the human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene cause asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD). Diagnosis of ASNSD requires genetic tests because a specific biochemical diagnostic for ASNSD is not available. There are a few reports describing the functional evaluation of ASNS variants. Therefore, in vitro methods are needed to evaluate the detected variants in patients. In this report, five types of human ASNS proteins (wild-type and our reported four variants: p.Leu145Ser, p.Leu247Trp, p.Val489Asp, and p.Trp541Cysfs*5) were expressed in silkworm using a baculoviral expression system. An enzymatic activity assay of ASNS was performed, and the concentration of asparagine by ninhydrin and High Performance Liquid Chromatography methods using the purified recombinant proteins was measured. We established ASNS deficient HEK293 cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 method and evaluated the growth of cells without asparagine after transduction of ASNS variants with a lentiviral expression system. The four ASNS variants displayed significantly low enzymatic activity. The ASNS deficient HEK293 cells transduced with wild-type ASNS grew without asparagine, whereas cells transduced with the variants did not grow or showed significantly slower growth than cells transduced with wild-type ASNS. Herein, we established a method for evaluating the enzymatic activity of the recombinant human ASNS variants. The results of the cell-based assay corroborated the results of the enzymatic activity. These methods should enable the evaluation of the pathogenicity of ASNS variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Matsumoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Nana Kawashima
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Mina Nakama
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroki Otsuka
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Ago
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hideo Sasai
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kubota
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Michio Ozeki
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Norio Kawamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Esaka
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ohnishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
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14
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Raffan S, Sparks C, Huttly A, Hyde L, Martignago D, Mead A, Hanley SJ, Wilkinson PA, Barker G, Edwards KJ, Curtis TY, Usher S, Kosik O, Halford NG. Wheat with greatly reduced accumulation of free asparagine in the grain, produced by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of asparagine synthetase gene TaASN2. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1602-1613. [PMID: 33638281 PMCID: PMC8384593 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Free asparagine is the precursor for acrylamide, which forms during the baking, toasting and high-temperature processing of foods made from wheat. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9 was used to knock out the asparagine synthetase gene, TaASN2, of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Cadenza. A 4-gRNA polycistronic gene was introduced into wheat embryos by particle bombardment and plants were regenerated. T1 plants derived from 11 of 14 T0 plants were shown to carry edits. Most edits were deletions (up to 173 base pairs), but there were also some single base pair insertions and substitutions. Editing continued beyond the T1 generation. Free asparagine concentrations in the grain of plants carrying edits in all six TaASN2 alleles (both alleles in each genome) were substantially reduced compared with wildtype, with one plant showing a more than 90 % reduction in the T2 seeds. A plant containing edits only in the A genome alleles showed a smaller reduction in free asparagine concentration in the grain, but the concentration was still lower than in wildtype. Free asparagine concentration in the edited plants was also reduced as a proportion of the free amino acid pool. Free asparagine concentration in the T3 seeds remained substantially lower in the edited lines than wildtype, although it was higher than in the T2 seeds, possibly due to stress. In contrast, the concentrations of free glutamine, glutamate and aspartate were all higher in the edited lines than wildtype. Low asparagine seeds showed poor germination but this could be overcome by exogenous application of asparagine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Raffan
- Department of Plant SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | | | - Alison Huttly
- Department of Plant SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Lucy Hyde
- Department of Plant SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
- Present address:
School of Biological SciencesLife Sciences BuildingUniversity of Bristol24 Tyndall AvenueBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Damiano Martignago
- Department of Plant SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
- Present address:
Department of BiosciencesUniversity of MilanVia Celoria 26Milano20133Italy
| | - Andrew Mead
- Department of Computational and Analytical SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Steven J. Hanley
- Department of Computational and Analytical SciencesRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Paul A. Wilkinson
- Functional GenomicsSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Gary Barker
- Functional GenomicsSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Keith J. Edwards
- Functional GenomicsSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Tanya Y. Curtis
- Curtis Analytics LimitedRothamsted Research CampusHarpendenUK
| | - Sarah Usher
- Curtis Analytics LimitedRothamsted Research CampusHarpendenUK
| | - Ondrej Kosik
- Curtis Analytics LimitedRothamsted Research CampusHarpendenUK
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15
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Zhang S, Feng HC, Liu JL. ASNS disruption shortens CTPS cytoophidia in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. G3 (Bethesda) 2021; 11:6080684. [PMID: 33561249 PMCID: PMC8022725 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and CTP synthase (CTPS) are two metabolic enzymes that catalyze the biosynthesis of asparagine and CTP, respectively. Both CTPS and ASNS have been identified to form cytoophidia in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Glutamine is a common substrate for both these enzymes, and they play an important role in glutamine homeostasis. Here, we find that the ASNS cytoophidia are shorter than the CTPS cytoophidia, and that disruption of ASNS shortens the length of CTPS cytoophidia. However, the deletion of CTPS has no effect on the formation and length of ASNS cytoophidia, or on the ASNS protein level. We also find that Asn1 overexpression induces the formation of a multi-dot structure in diauxic phase which suggests that the increased protein level may trigger cytoophidia formation. Collectively, our results reveal a connection between ASNS cytoophidia and CTPS cytoophidia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Han-Chao Feng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ji-Long Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
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16
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Jiang J, Batra S, Zhang J. Asparagine: A Metabolite to Be Targeted in Cancers. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11060402. [PMID: 34205460 PMCID: PMC8234323 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11060402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amino acids play central roles in cancer progression beyond their function as building blocks for protein synthesis. Thus, targeting amino acid acquisition and utilization has been proved to be therapeutically beneficial in various pre-clinical models. In this regard, depletion of circulating asparagine, a nonessential amino acid, by L-asparaginase has been used in treating pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for decades. Of interest, unlike most solid tumor cells, ALL cells lack the ability to synthesize their own asparagine de novo effectively. However, only until recently, growing evidence suggests that solid tumor cells strive to acquire adequate amounts of asparagine to support tumor progression. This process is subjected to the regulation at various levels, including oncogenic signal, tumor-niche interaction, intratumor heterogeneity and dietary accessibility. We will review the literature on L-asparaginase-based therapy as well as recent understanding of asparagine metabolism in solid tumor progression, with the hope of shedding light into a broader cancer therapeutic strategy by perturbing its acquisition and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jiang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Sandeep Batra
- Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health; Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ji Zhang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Indiana University; Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (J.Z.)
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17
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Ammam F, Patin D, Coullon H, Blanot D, Lambert T, Mengin-Lecreulx D, Candela T. AsnB is responsible for peptidoglycan precursor amidation in Clostridium difficile in the presence of vancomycin. Microbiology (Reading) 2021; 166:567-578. [PMID: 32375990 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile 630 possesses a cryptic but functional gene cluster vanG Cd homologous to the vanG operon of Enterococcus faecalis. Expression of vanG Cd in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin is accompanied by peptidoglycan amidation on the meso-DAP residue. In this paper, we report the presence of two potential asparagine synthetase genes named asnB and asnB2 in the C. difficile genome whose products were potentially involved in this peptidoglycan structure modification. We found that asnB expression was only induced when C. difficile was grown in the presence of vancomycin, yet independently from the vanG Cd resistance and regulation operons. In addition, peptidoglycan precursors were not amidated when asnB was inactivated. No change in vancomycin MIC was observed in the asnB mutant strain. In contrast, overexpression of asnB resulted in the amidation of most of the C. difficile peptidoglycan precursors and in a weak increase of vancomycin susceptibility. AsnB activity was confirmed in E. coli. In contrast, the expression of the second asparagine synthetase, AsnB2, was not induced in the presence of vancomycin. In summary, our results demonstrate that AsnB is responsible for peptidoglycan amidation of C. difficile in the presence of vancomycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariza Ammam
- Present address: Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford,OX1 3PJ, UK.,Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Delphine Patin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Héloise Coullon
- Present address: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Didier Blanot
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Thierry Lambert
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Dominique Mengin-Lecreulx
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Thomas Candela
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy en Josas, France
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18
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Ilkhani K, Delgir S, Safi A, Seif F, Samei A, Bastami M, Alivand MR. Clinical and In Silico Outcomes of the Expression of miR-130a-5p and miR-615-3p in Tumor Compared with Non-Tumor Adjacent Tissues of Patients with BC. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:927-935. [PMID: 32972352 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200924105352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women with a high mortality rate. The blockade of asparagine-related pathways may be an effective measure to control the progression and reduction of BC metastasis potential. Recently, it has been shown that various miRNAs, as part of small non-coding RNAs, have a great role in cancer development, especially asparagine-related pathways, to modulate the invasiveness. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the expression of miR-130a-5p and miR-615-3p in tumoral and nontumoral adjacent tissues of patients with BC. METHODS There is a chance that asparagine metabolism is influenced by miR-130a-5p and miR-615-3p as confirmed by bioinformatics analysis. Hence, real-time PCR was conducted on eighty BC tumoral and non-tumoral adjacent tissues to evaluate the expression level of the two miRNAs. To predict the potential biological process and molecular pathways of miR-130a-5p, an in silico analysis was performed. RESULTS This study indicated that miR-130a was downregulated in tumoral tissues compared to non-tumoral adjacent tissues (P-value= 0.01443 and fold change= -2.5137), while miR-615-3p did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, the subgroup studies did not reveal any significant correlation between the expression of these two miRNAs and subfactors. Furthermore, in silico studies unraveled several biological processes related to amino-acid metabolism, as well as pathways related to tumor development such as Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) and JAK-STAT pathways among miR-130a-5p target genes. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that miRNA-130a-5p is downregulated in BC tissues and may play a tumor suppressor role in patients with BC. Therefore, it may be suggested as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khandan Ilkhani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soheila Delgir
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Asma Safi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Seif
- Department of Immunology & Allergy, Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Samei
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Milad Bastami
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Alivand
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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19
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Surasiang T, Noree C. Effects of A6E Mutation on Protein Expression and Supramolecular Assembly of Yeast Asparagine Synthetase. Biology (Basel) 2021; 10:biology10040294. [PMID: 33916846 PMCID: PMC8065433 DOI: 10.3390/biology10040294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Certain mutations causing extremely low abundance of asparagine synthetase (the enzyme responsible for producing asparagine, one of the amino acids required for normal growth and development) have been identified in humans with neurological problems and small head and brain size. Currently, yeast is becoming more popular in modeling many human diseases. In this study, we incorporate a mutation, associated with human asparagine synthetase deficiency, into the yeast asparagine synthetase gene to demonstrate that this mutation can also show similar effects as those observed in humans, leading to very low abundance of yeast asparagine synthetase and slower yeast growth rate. This suggests that our yeast system can be alternatively used to initially screen for any drugs that can help rescue the protein levels of asparagine synthetase before applying them to further studies in mammals and humans. Furthermore, this mutation might specifically be introduced into the asparagine synthetase gene of the target cancer cells in order to suppress the overproduction of asparagine synthetase within these abnormal cells, therefore inhibiting the growth of cancer, which might be helpful for patients with blood cancer to prevent them developing any resistance to the conventional asparaginase treatment. Abstract Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASD) has been found to be caused by certain mutations in the gene encoding human asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Among reported mutations, A6E mutation showed the greatest reduction in ASNS abundance. However, the effect of A6E mutation has not yet been tested with yeast asparagine synthetase (Asn1/2p). Here, we constructed a yeast strain by deleting ASN2 from its genome, introducing the A6E mutation codon to ASN1, along with GFP downstream of ASN1. Our mutant yeast construct showed a noticeable decrease of Asn1p(A6E)-GFP levels as compared to the control yeast expressing Asn1p(WT)-GFP. At the stationary phase, the A6E mutation also markedly lowered the assembly frequency of the enzyme. In contrast to Asn1p(WT)-GFP, Asn1p(A6E)-GFP was insensitive to changes in the intracellular energy levels upon treatment with sodium azide during the log phase or fresh glucose at the stationary phase. Our study has confirmed that the effect of A6E mutation on protein expression levels of asparagine synthetase is common in both unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes, suggesting that yeast could be a model of ASD. Furthermore, A6E mutation could be introduced to the ASNS gene of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients to inhibit the upregulation of ASNS by cancer cells, reducing the risk of developing resistance to the asparaginase treatment.
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Raffan S, Halford NG. Cereal asparagine synthetase genes. Ann Appl Biol 2021; 178:6-22. [PMID: 33518769 PMCID: PMC7818274 DOI: 10.1111/aab.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase catalyses the transfer of an amino group from glutamine to aspartate to form glutamate and asparagine. The accumulation of free (nonprotein) asparagine in crops has implications for food safety because free asparagine is the precursor for acrylamide, a carcinogenic contaminant that forms during high-temperature cooking and processing. Here we review publicly available genome data for asparagine synthetase genes from species of the Pooideae subfamily, including bread wheat and related wheat species (Triticum and Aegilops spp.), barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rye (Secale cereale) of the Triticeae tribe. Also from the Pooideae subfamily: brachypodium (Brachypodium dIstachyon) of the Brachypodiae tribe. More diverse species are also included, comprising sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays) of the Panicoideae subfamily and rice (Oryza sativa) of the Ehrhartoideae subfamily. The asparagine synthetase gene families of the Triticeae species each comprise five genes per genome, with the genes assigned to four groups: 1, 2, 3 (subdivided into 3.1 and 3.2) and 4. Each species has a single gene per genome in each group, except that some bread wheat varieties (genomes AABBDD) and emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides; genomes AABB) lack a group 2 gene in the B genome. This raises questions about the ancestry of cultivated pasta wheat and the B genome donor of bread wheat, suggesting that the hybridisation event that gave rise to hexaploid bread wheat occurred more than once. In phylogenetic analyses, genes from the other species cluster with the Triticeae genes, but brachypodium, sorghum and maize lack a group 2 gene, while rice has only two genes, one group 3 and one group 4. This means that TaASN2, the most highly expressed asparagine synthetase gene in wheat grain, has no equivalent in maize, rice, sorghum or brachypodium. An evolutionary pathway is proposed in which a series of gene duplications gave rise to the five genes found in modern Triticeae species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Raffan
- Plant Sciences DepartmentRothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
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21
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Chiu M, Toscani D, Marchica V, Taurino G, Costa F, Bianchi MG, Andreoli R, Franceschi V, Storti P, Burroughs-Garcia J, Eufemiese RA, Dalla Palma B, Campanini N, Martella E, Mancini C, Shan J, Kilberg MS, D'Amico G, Dander E, Agnelli L, Pruneri G, Donofrio G, Bussolati O, Giuliani N. Myeloma Cells Deplete Bone Marrow Glutamine and Inhibit Osteoblast Differentiation Limiting Asparagine Availability. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3267. [PMID: 33167336 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Osteolytic bone lesions represent an important clinical feature of multiple myeloma (MM). MM cells metabolize very high amounts of glutamine (Gln) and significantly lower Gln in the bone marrow. In this contribution we demonstrate that MM-dependent Gln depletion impairs the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells into osteoblasts, the cells that form new bone tissue. We also found that osteoblast differentiation is associated with increased expression of glutaminase, the main enzyme that metabolizes Gln, SNAT2, a transporter able to accumulate Gln into the cells, and asparagine synthetase, the enzyme that uses Gln to obtain asparagine (Asn). Asn rescued osteoblast differentiation of Gln-starved mesenchymal stromal cells. These results demonstrate that MM cells impair osteoblast differentiation, hindering mesenchymal Asn synthesis through Gln depletion. Besides providing a metabolic mechanism underlying osteolytic lesions in MM, these results suggest that Asn supplementation may prevent bone disease in MM patients. Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) cells consume huge amounts of glutamine and, as a consequence, the amino acid concentration is lower-than-normal in the bone marrow (BM) of MM patients. Here we show that MM-dependent glutamine depletion induces glutamine synthetase in stromal cells, as demonstrated in BM biopsies of MM patients, and reproduced in vitro by co-culturing human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with MM cells. Moreover, glutamine depletion hinders osteoblast differentiation of MSCs, which is also severely blunted by the spent, low-glutamine medium of MM cells, and rescued by glutamine restitution. Glutaminase and the concentrative glutamine transporter SNAT2 are induced during osteoblastogenesis in vivo and in vitro, and both needed for MSCs differentiation, pointing to enhanced the requirement for the amino acid. Osteoblastogenesis also triggers the induction of glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase (ASNS), and, among non-essential amino acids, asparagine rescues differentiation of glutamine-starved MSCs, by restoring the transcriptional profiles of differentiating MSCs altered by glutamine starvation. Thus, reduced asparagine availability provides a mechanistic link between MM-dependent Gln depletion in BM and impairment of osteoblast differentiation. Inhibition of Gln metabolism in MM cells and supplementation of asparagine to stromal cells may, therefore, constitute novel approaches to prevent osteolytic lesions in MM.
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22
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Ren Q, Zhou Y, Zhou X. Combined Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Masson Pine ( Pinus massoniana Lamb.) Seedling Root in Response to Nitrate and Ammonium Supplementations. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7548. [PMID: 33066140 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. Plant species respond to N fluctuations and N sources, i.e., ammonium or nitrate, differently. Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) is one of the pioneer plants in the southern forests of China. It shows better growth when grown in medium containing ammonium as compared to nitrate. In this study, we had grown masson pine seedlings in medium containing ammonium, nitrate, and a mixture of both, and performed comparative transcriptome and proteome analyses to observe the differential signatures. Our transcriptome and proteome resulted in the identification of 1593 and 71 differentially expressed genes and proteins, respectively. Overall, the masson pine roots had better performance when fed with a mixture of ammonium and nitrate. The transcriptomic and proteomics results combined with the root morphological responses suggest that when ammonium is supplied as a sole N-source to masson pine seedlings, the expression of ammonium transporters and other non-specific NH4+-channels increased, resulting in higher NH4+ concentrations. This stimulates lateral roots branching as evidenced from increased number of root tips. We discussed the root performance in association with ethylene responsive transcription factors, WRKYs, and MADS-box transcription factors. The differential analysis data suggest that the adaptability of roots to ammonium is possibly through the promotion of TCA cycle, owing to the higher expression of malate synthase and malate dehydrogenase. Masson pine seedlings managed the increased NH4+ influx by rerouting N resources to asparagine production. Additionally, flavonoid biosynthesis and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways were differentially regulated in response to increased ammonium influx. Finally, changes in the glutathione s-transferase genes suggested the role of glutathione cycle in scavenging the possible stress induced by excess NH4+. These results demonstrate that masson pine shows increased growth when grown under ammonium by increased N assimilation. Furthermore, it can tolerate high NH4+ content by involving asparagine biosynthesis and glutathione cycle.
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Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is important for health and disease. Metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid metabolism, determine vasculature formation. These metabolic pathways have different roles in securing the production of energy and biomass and the maintenance of redox homeostasis in vascular migratory tip cells, proliferating stalk cells, and quiescent phalanx cells, respectively. Emerging evidence demonstrates that perturbation of EC metabolism results in EC dysfunction and vascular pathologies. Here, we summarize recent insights into EC metabolic pathways and their deregulation in vascular diseases. We further discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting EC metabolism in various pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuri Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; ,
| | - Anil Kumar
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; ,
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; , .,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven B-3000, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
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24
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Chiu M, Taurino G, Bianchi MG, Kilberg MS, Bussolati O. Asparagine Synthetase in Cancer: Beyond Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Oncol 2020; 9:1480. [PMID: 31998641 PMCID: PMC6962308 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine Synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes the synthesis of the non-essential amino acid asparagine (Asn) from aspartate (Asp) and glutamine (Gln). ASNS expression is highly regulated at the transcriptional level, being induced by both the Amino Acid Response (AAR) and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathways. Lack of ASNS protein expression is a hallmark of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) blasts, which, therefore, are auxotrophic for Asn. This peculiarity is the rationale for the use of bacterial L-Asparaginase (ASNase) for ALL therapy, the first example of anti-cancer treatment targeting a tumor-specific metabolic feature. Other hematological and solid cancers express low levels of ASNS and, therefore, should also be Asn auxotrophs and ASNase sensitive. Conversely, in the last few years, several reports indicate that in some cancer types ASNS is overexpressed, promoting cell proliferation, chemoresistance, and a metastatic behavior. However, enhanced ASNS activity may constitute a metabolic vulnerability in selected cancer models, suggesting a variable and tumor-specific role of the enzyme in cancer. Recent evidence indicates that, beyond its canonical role in protein synthesis, Asn may have additional regulatory functions. These observations prompt a re-appreciation of ASNS activity in the biology of normal and cancer tissues, with particular attention to the fueling of Asn exchange between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Chiu
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Taurino
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano G Bianchi
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ovidio Bussolati
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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25
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Fang K, Chu Y, Zhao Z, Li Q, Li H, Chen T, Xu M. Enhanced expression of asparagine synthetase under glucose-deprived conditions promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development. Int J Med Sci 2020; 17:510-516. [PMID: 32174781 PMCID: PMC7053306 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.39557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer cells survive and develop under nutrient deficient microenvironment caused by low blood supply. Although anaerobic metabolism could function through the enhanced uptake of glucose, other mechanisms of tolerance to glucose deficient conditions might be required. Materials and Methods: Expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) under normal glucose and glucose-deprived conditions was examined. Cancer cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays. In addition, the relationship between ASNS expression and cancer stages was also analyzed. Results: Expression of ASNS was enhanced under glucose deficient conditions. In vitro assays indicated that ASNS could promote the proliferation and migration abilities of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells under glucose deficient condition. In mechanism, 2 critical effectors during nutrient deprivation, NRF2 and ATF4, were upregulated and demonstrated to promote ASNS expression. Clinically, high level of ASNS was significantly associated with ESCC with advanced stages and metastasis. In vivo, ASNS could promote tumor growth and metastasis in mouse xenograft models. Conclusion: This study uncovered that glucose deprivation induces the overexpression of ASNS in ESCC cells, which in turn causes cancer cell tolerance to nutrient stress and promotes cancer development. The illustration of the mechanism sheds deep insight on how cell biology was regulated in response to the conditions of limited nutrient availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Fang
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Chu
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziying Zhao
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinfang Li
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongqi Li
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Meidong Xu
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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26
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Wrona E, Jakubowska J, Pawlik B, Pastorczak A, Madzio J, Lejman M, Sędek Ł, Kowalczyk J, Szczepański T, Młynarski W. Gene expression of ASNS, LGMN and CTSB is elevated in a subgroup of childhood BCP-ALL with PAX5 deletion. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:6926-6932. [PMID: 31807194 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.11046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to L-asparaginase (L-asp) is a major contributor to poor treatment outcomes of several subtypes of childhood B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Asparagine synthetase (ASNS), legumain (LGMN) and cathepsin B (CTSB) serve a key role in L-asp resistance. The association between genetic subtypes of BCP-ALL and the expression of ASNS, LGMN and CTSB may elucidate the mechanisms of treatment failure. Bone marrow samples of 52 children newly diagnosed with BCP-ALL were screened for major genetic abnormalities and ASNS, LGMN and CTSB gene expression levels. The cohort was further divided into groups corresponding to the key genetic aberrations occurring in BCP-ALL: Breakpoint cluster region and Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 fusion; hyperdiploidy, hypodiploidy, ETS variant 6 and runt-related transcription factor 1 fusion and other BCP-ALL with no primary genetic aberration identified. A subgroup analysis based on the differences in copy number variations demonstrated a significant increase of ASNS, LGMN and CTSB median expression in other BCP-ALL cases with paired box 5 (PAX5) deletion (P=0.0117; P=0.0036; P<0.0001, respectively) compared with those with wild-type PAX5. Patients with high ASNS expression exhibited longer relapse-free survival (RFS) compared with those with low ASNS levels (P=0.0315; HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86); the 5-year RFS for patients in the high ASNS expression group was 90.15% (95% CI, 87.90-92.40%). Despite the impact on ASNS, LGMN and CTSB expression, PAX5 deletion did not influence RFS in the other BCP-ALL group (P=0.6839). Therefore, the results of the present study revealed high levels of ASNS, LGMN and CTSB expression in the other BCP-ALL group with concomitant PAX5 deletion and no subsequent deterioration in 5-year RFS. High ASNS expression level, as a single factor, was strongly associated with an improved outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Wrona
- Department of Chemotherapy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
| | - Justyna Jakubowska
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Pawlik
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
| | - Agata Pastorczak
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
| | - Joanna Madzio
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
| | - Monika Lejman
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-093, Poland
| | - Łukasz Sędek
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - Jerzy Kowalczyk
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin 20-093, Poland
| | - Tomasz Szczepański
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Katowice 40-752, Poland
| | - Wojciech Młynarski
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 91-738, Poland
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27
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Jiang J, Srivastava S, Seim G, Pavlova NN, King B, Zou L, Zhang C, Zhong M, Feng H, Kapur R, Wek RC, Fan J, Zhang J. Promoter demethylation of the asparagine synthetase gene is required for ATF4-dependent adaptation to asparagine depletion. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18674-18684. [PMID: 31659118 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells adapt to nutrient-limited environments by inducing gene expression that ensures adequate nutrients to sustain metabolic demands. For example, during amino acid limitations, ATF4 in the amino acid response induces expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), which provides for asparagine biosynthesis. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells are sensitive to asparagine depletion, and administration of the asparagine depletion enzyme l-asparaginase is an important therapy option. ASNS expression can counterbalance l-asparaginase treatment by mitigating nutrient stress. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms regulating ASNS expression is important to define the adaptive processes underlying tumor progression and treatment. Here we show that DNA hypermethylation at the ASNS promoter prevents its transcriptional expression following asparagine depletion. Insufficient expression of ASNS leads to asparagine deficiency, which facilitates ATF4-independent induction of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), which triggers apoptosis. We conclude that chromatin accessibility is critical for ATF4 activity at the ASNS promoter, which can switch ALL cells from an ATF4-dependent adaptive response to ATF4-independent apoptosis during asparagine depletion. This work may also help explain why ALL cells are most sensitive to l-asparaginase treatment compared with other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jiang
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Sankalp Srivastava
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Gretchen Seim
- Morgridge Institute for Research and Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53715
| | - Natalya N Pavlova
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065
| | - Bryan King
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065
| | - Lihua Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Minghua Zhong
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Reuben Kapur
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Ronald C Wek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Jing Fan
- Morgridge Institute for Research and Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53715
| | - Ji Zhang
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202.
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Hu D, Yang C, Lok CN, Xing F, Lee PY, Fung YME, Jiang H, Che CM. An Antitumor Bis(N-Heterocyclic Carbene)Platinum(II) Complex That Engages Asparagine Synthetase as an Anticancer Target. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:10914-10918. [PMID: 31165553 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201904131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
New anticancer platinum(II) compounds with distinctive modes of action are appealing alternatives to combat the drug resistance and improve the efficacy of clinically used platinum chemotherapy. Herein, we describe a rare example of an antitumor PtII complex targeting a tumor-associated protein, rather than DNA, under cellular conditions. Complex [(bis-NHC)Pt(bt)]PF6 (1 a; Hbt=1-(3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)ethanone) overcomes cisplatin resistance in cancer cells and displays significant tumor growth inhibition in mice with higher tolerable doses compared to cisplatin. The cellular Pt species shows little association with DNA, and localizes in the cytoplasm as revealed by nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry. An unbiased thermal proteome profiling experiment identified asparagine synthetase (ASNS) as a molecular target of 1 a. Accordingly, 1 a treatment reduced the cellular asparagine levels and inhibited cancer cell proliferation, which could be reversed by asparagine supplementation. A bis-NHC-ligated Pt species generated from the hydrolysis of 1 a forms adducts with thiols and appears to target an active-site cysteine of ASNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.,HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chun-Nam Lok
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fangrong Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pui-Yan Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yi Man Eva Fung
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Haibo Jiang
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Chi-Ming Che
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Aglaia-KEIIT Laboratory for Drug Discovery and Development and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Functional Materials and Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.,HKU Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, Shenzhen, China
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29
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Qu C, Hao B, Xu X, Wang Y, Yang C, Xu Z, Liu G. Functional Research on Three Presumed Asparagine Synthetase Family Members in Poplar. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E326. [PMID: 31035411 PMCID: PMC6562506 DOI: 10.3390/genes10050326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (AS), a key enzyme in plant nitrogen metabolism, plays an important role in plant nitrogen assimilation and distribution. Asparagine (Asn), the product of asparagine synthetase, is one of the main compounds responsible for organic nitrogen transport and storage in plants. In this study, we performed complementation experiments using an Asn-deficient Escherichia coli strain to demonstrate that three putative asparagine synthetase family members in poplar (Populussimonii× P.nigra) function in Asn synthesis. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the three members had high expression levels in different tissues of poplar and were regulated by exogenous nitrogen. PnAS1 and PnAS2 were also affected by diurnal rhythm. Long-term dark treatment resulted in a significant increase in PnAS1 and PnAS3 expression levels. Under long-term light conditions, however, PnAS2 expression decreased significantly in the intermediate region of leaves. Exogenous application of ammonium nitrogen, glutamine, and a glutamine synthetase inhibitor revealed that PnAS3 was more sensitive to exogenous glutamine, while PnAS1 and PnAS2 were more susceptible to exogenous ammonium nitrogen. Our results suggest that the various members of the PnAS gene family have distinct roles in different tissues and are regulated in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunpu Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Bingqing Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530000, China.
| | - Xiuyue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Yuchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Chengjun Yang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Zhiru Xu
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
| | - Guanjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (Northeast Forestry University), School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
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30
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Liu WJ, Wang H, Peng XW, Wang WD, Liu NW, Wang Y, Lu Y. Asparagine synthetase expression is associated with the sensitivity to asparaginase in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma in vivo and in vitro. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:6605-6615. [PMID: 30349294 PMCID: PMC6188207 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s155930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although asparagine synthetase (AsnS) is associated with drug resistance in leukemia, its function in extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) remains unclear. Methods The present study investigated the relationship between baseline AsnS mRNA levels and response to asparaginase in ENKTL cell lines. It also determined whether upregulating or downregulating the AsnS mRNA level induces or reverses asparaginase-resistant phenotype. Results Interestingly, considerable differences were observed in the sensitivity to asparaginase of the five ENKTL cell lines. The AsnS expression levels were positively correlated with the IC50 values. In addition, the asparaginase resistance was induced or reversed by upregulating or downregulating the AsnS mRNA level in vivo and in vitro. Functional analyses indicated that AsnS did not affect the proliferation and apoptosis of ENKTL cells in the absence of asparaginase. Conclusion Together, the data stress the importance of AsnS in the sensitivity to asparaginase in ENKTL and suggest a different therapeutic strategy for patients with a different level of AsnS expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jian Liu
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Hua Wang
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Xiong-Wen Peng
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Wei-da Wang
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Na-Wei Liu
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yang Wang
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yue Lu
- Laboratory of Hematology Oncologytate, Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China, .,Department of Hematologic Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, People's Republic of China,
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31
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Lin HH, Chung Y, Cheng CT, Ouyang C, Fu Y, Kuo CY, Chi KK, Sadeghi M, Chu P, Kung HJ, Li CF, Limesand KH, Ann DK. Autophagic reliance promotes metabolic reprogramming in oncogenic KRAS-driven tumorigenesis. Autophagy 2018; 14:1481-1498. [PMID: 29956571 PMCID: PMC6135591 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1450708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects in basal autophagy limit the nutrient supply from recycling of intracellular constituents. Despite our understanding of the prosurvival role of macroautophagy/autophagy, how nutrient deprivation, caused by compromised autophagy, affects oncogenic KRAS-driven tumor progression is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that conditional impairment of the autophagy gene Atg5 (atg5-KO) extends the survival of KRASG12V-driven tumor-bearing mice by 38%. atg5-KO tumors spread more slowly during late tumorigenesis, despite a faster onset. atg5-KO tumor cells displayed reduced mitochondrial function and increased mitochondrial fragmentation. Metabolite profiles indicated a deficiency in the nonessential amino acid asparagine despite a compensatory overexpression of ASNS (asparagine synthetase), key enzyme for de novo asparagine synthesis. Inhibition of either autophagy or ASNS reduced KRASG12V-driven tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was rescued by asparagine supplementation or knockdown of MFF (mitochondrial fission factor). Finally, these observations were reflected in human cancer-derived data, linking ASNS overexpression with poor clinical outcome in multiple cancers. Together, our data document a widespread yet specific asparagine homeostasis control by autophagy and ASNS, highlighting the previously unrecognized role of autophagy in suppressing the metabolic barriers of low asparagine and excessive mitochondrial fragmentation to permit malignant KRAS-driven tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Helen Lin
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | - Yiyin Chung
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | | | - Yong Fu
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | - Kevin K. Chi
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
| | | | | | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Chien-Feng Li
- Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | - David K. Ann
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA USA
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32
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Moison M, Marmagne A, Dinant S, Soulay F, Azzopardi M, Lothier J, Citerne S, Morin H, Legay N, Chardon F, Avice JC, Reisdorf-Cren M, Masclaux-Daubresse C. Three cytosolic glutamine synthetase isoforms localized in different-order veins act together for N remobilization and seed filling in Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 2018; 69:4379-4393. [PMID: 29873769 PMCID: PMC6093384 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS) is central for ammonium assimilation and consists of cytosolic (GS1) and chloroplastic (GS2) isoenzymes. During plant ageing, GS2 protein decreases due to chloroplast degradation, and GS1 activity increases to support glutamine biosynthesis and N remobilization from senescing leaves. The role of the different Arabidopsis GS1 isoforms in nitrogen remobilization was examined using 15N tracing experiments. Only the gln1;1-gln1;2-gln1;3 triple-mutation affecting the three GLN1;1, GLN1;2, and GLN1;3 genes significantly reduced N remobilization, total seed yield, individual seed weight, harvest index, and vegetative biomass. The triple-mutant accumulated a large amount of ammonium that could not be assimilated by GS1. Alternative ammonium assimilation through asparagine biosynthesis was increased and was related to higher ASN2 asparagine synthetase transcript levels. The GS2 transcript, protein, and activity levels were also increased to compensate for the lack of GS1-related glutamine biosynthesis. Localization of the different GLN1 genes showed that they were all expressed in the phloem companion cells but in veins of different order. Our results demonstrate that glutamine biosynthesis for N-remobilization occurs in veins of all orders (major and minor) in leaves, it is mainly catalysed by the three major GS1 isoforms (GLN1;1, GLN1;2, and GLN1;3), and it is alternatively supported by AS2 in the veins and GS2 in the mesophyll cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Moison
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Anne Marmagne
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Sylvie Dinant
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Fabienne Soulay
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Marianne Azzopardi
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Jérémy Lothier
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
- Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Université Paris Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Sylvie Citerne
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Halima Morin
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Nicolas Legay
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
- Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Université Paris Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Fabien Chardon
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Avice
- UCBN, INRA, UMR INRA-UBCN Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agronomie and Nutrition N.C.S., Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Michèle Reisdorf-Cren
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
- Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, Université Paris Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Céline Masclaux-Daubresse
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
- Correspondence:
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33
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Schleinitz D, Seidel A, Stassart R, Klammt J, Hirrlinger PG, Winkler U, Köhler S, Heiker JT, Schönauer R, Bialek J, Krohn K, Hoffmann K, Kovacs P, Hirrlinger J. Novel Mutations in the Asparagine Synthetase Gene ( ASNS) Associated With Microcephaly. Front Genet 2018; 9:245. [PMID: 30057589 PMCID: PMC6053511 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcephaly is a devastating condition defined by a small head and small brain compared to the age- and sex-matched population. Mutations in a number of different genes causative for microcephaly have been identified, e.g., MCPH1, WDR62, and ASPM. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS) were associated to microcephaly and so far 24 different mutations in ASNS causing microcephaly have been described. In a family with two affected girls, we identified novel compound heterozygous variants in ASNS (c.1165G > C, p.E389Q and c.601delA, p.M201Wfs∗28). The first mutation (E389Q) is a missense mutation resulting in the replacement of a glutamate residue evolutionary conserved from Escherichia coli to Homo sapiens by glutamine. Protein modeling based on the known crystal structure of ASNS of E. coli predicted a destabilization of the protein by E389Q. The second mutation (p.M201Wfs∗28) results in a premature stop codon after amino acid 227, thereby truncating more than half of the protein. The novel variants expand the growing list of microcephaly causing mutations in ASNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Schleinitz
- IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Seidel
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ruth Stassart
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Diagnostic, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Klammt
- Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Petra G Hirrlinger
- Medizinisch-Experimentelles Zentrum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winkler
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Köhler
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - John T Heiker
- IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ria Schönauer
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joanna Bialek
- Institute of Human Genetics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Knut Krohn
- Core Unit DNA Technologien, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katrin Hoffmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Peter Kovacs
- IFB AdiposityDiseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Hirrlinger
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neurogenetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
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34
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Curtis TY, Bo V, Tucker A, Halford NG. Construction of a network describing asparagine metabolism in plants and its application to the identification of genes affecting asparagine metabolism in wheat under drought and nutritional stress. Food Energy Secur 2018; 7:e00126. [PMID: 29938110 PMCID: PMC5993343 DOI: 10.1002/fes3.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A detailed network describing asparagine metabolism in plants was constructed using published data from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), pea (Pisum sativum), soybean (Glycine max), lupin (Lupus albus), and other species, including animals. Asparagine synthesis and degradation is a major part of amino acid and nitrogen metabolism in plants. The complexity of its metabolism, including limiting and regulatory factors, was represented in a logical sequence in a pathway diagram built using yED graph editor software. The network was used with a Unique Network Identification Pipeline in the analysis of data from 18 publicly available transcriptomic data studies. This identified links between genes involved in asparagine metabolism in wheat roots under drought stress, wheat leaves under drought stress, and wheat leaves under conditions of sulfur and nitrogen deficiency. The network represents a powerful aid for interpreting the interactions not only between the genes in the pathway but also among enzymes, metabolites and smaller molecules. It provides a concise, clear understanding of the complexity of asparagine metabolism that could aid the interpretation of data relating to wider amino acid metabolism and other metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Y Curtis
- Plant Sciences Department Rothamsted Research Harpenden Hertfordshire UK
| | - Valeria Bo
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences Brunel University London Uxbridge Middlesex UK.,Present address: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute University of Cambridge Li Ka Shing Centre Robinson Way Cambridge UK
| | - Allan Tucker
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences Brunel University London Uxbridge Middlesex UK
| | - Nigel G Halford
- Plant Sciences Department Rothamsted Research Harpenden Hertfordshire UK
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35
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Abhyankar A, Lamendola-Essel M, Brennan K, Giordano JL, Esteves C, Felice V, Wapner R, Jobanputra V. Clinical whole exome sequencing from dried blood spot identifies novel genetic defect underlying asparagine synthetase deficiency. Clin Case Rep 2017; 6:200-205. [PMID: 29375865 PMCID: PMC5771929 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.1284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We add two novel variants to the existing mutation spectrum of ASNS gene. Loss of ASNS function should be suspected in newborns presenting with congenital microcephaly, intellectual disability, progressive cerebral atrophy, and intractable seizures. Acquisition and sequencing of stored newborn blood spot can be a valuable option when no biological samples are available from a deceased child.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kelly Brennan
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Columbia University Medical Center New York city New York
| | - Jessica L Giordano
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Columbia University Medical Center New York city New York
| | - Cecilia Esteves
- Molecular Diagnostics New York Genome Center New York city New York
| | - Vanessa Felice
- Molecular Diagnostics New York Genome Center New York city New York
| | - Ronald Wapner
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Columbia University Medical Center New York city New York
| | - Vaidehi Jobanputra
- Molecular Diagnostics New York Genome Center New York city New York.,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology Columbia University Medical Center New York city New York
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36
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Wang X, Zhang X, Chu ESH, Chen X, Kang W, Wu F, To KF, Wong VWS, Chan HLY, Chan MTV, Sung JJY, Wu WKK, Yu J. Defective lysosomal clearance of autophagosomes and its clinical implications in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. FASEB J 2017; 32:37-51. [PMID: 28842428 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601393r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Autophagic impairment is implicated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the molecular mechanism is unclear. We found that autophagic flux was significantly inhibited in 3 murine models of NAFLD. Interestingly, the number of acidic organelles and the level of mature cathepsin D were reduced, suggesting defective lysosome acidification. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) was induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to the generation of asparagine, which inhibited lysosome acidification. Both steatotic- and asparagine-treated hepatocytes showed reduced lysosomal acidity and retention of lysosomal calcium. Knockdown of ASNS in steatotic hepatocytes restored autophagic flux. As a potential biomarker, increased serum p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) level was an independent risk factor for patients with steatosis and lobular inflammation. Impaired autophagy in NAFLD is elicited by defective lysosome acidification, which is caused by ASNS-induced asparagine synthesis under endoplasmic reticulum stress and subsequent retention of lysosomal calcium. p62/SQSTM1 could be used as a noninvasive biomarker in the diagnosis of NAFLD patients.-Wang, X., Zhang, X., Chu, E. S. H., Chen, X., Kang, W., Wu, F., To, K.-F., Wong, V. W. S., Chan, H. L. Y., Chan, M. T. V., Sung, J. J. Y., Wu, W. K. K., Yu, J. Defective lysosomal clearance of autophagosomes and its clinical implications in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Wang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eagle S H Chu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent W S Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Henry L Y Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Matthew T V Chan
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and
| | - Joseph J Y Sung
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - William K K Wu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; .,Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
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37
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Gaufichon L, Marmagne A, Belcram K, Yoneyama T, Sakakibara Y, Hase T, Grandjean O, Clément G, Citerne S, Boutet-Mercey S, Masclaux-Daubresse C, Chardon F, Soulay F, Xu X, Trassaert M, Shakiebaei M, Najihi A, Suzuki A. ASN1-encoded asparagine synthetase in floral organs contributes to nitrogen filling in Arabidopsis seeds. Plant J 2017; 91:371-393. [PMID: 28390103 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite a general view that asparagine synthetase generates asparagine as an amino acid for long-distance transport of nitrogen to sink organs, its role in nitrogen metabolic pathways in floral organs during seed nitrogen filling has remained undefined. We demonstrate that the onset of pollination in Arabidopsis induces selected genes for asparagine metabolism, namely ASN1 (At3g47340), GLN2 (At5g35630), GLU1 (At5g04140), AapAT2 (At5g19950), ASPGA1 (At5g08100) and ASPGB1 (At3g16150), particularly at the ovule stage (stage 0), accompanied by enhanced asparagine synthetase protein, asparagine and total amino acids. Immunolocalization confined asparagine synthetase to the vascular cells of the silique cell wall and septum, but also to the outer and inner seed integuments, demonstrating the post-phloem transport of asparagine in these cells to developing embryos. In the asn1 mutant, aberrant embryo cell divisions in upper suspensor cell layers from globular to heart stages assign a role for nitrogen in differentiating embryos within the ovary. Induction of asparagine metabolic genes by light/dark and nitrate supports fine shifts of nitrogen metabolic pathways. In transgenic Arabidopsis expressing promoterCaMV35S ::ASN1 fusion, marked metabolomics changes at stage 0, including a several-fold increase in free asparagine, are correlated to enhanced seed nitrogen. However, specific promoterNapin2S ::ASN1 expression during seed formation and a six-fold increase in asparagine toward the desiccation stage result in wild-type seed nitrogen, underlining that delayed accumulation of asparagine impairs the timing of its use by releasing amide and amino nitrogen. Transcript and metabolite profiles in floral organs match the carbon and nitrogen partitioning to generate energy via the tricarboxylic acid cycle, GABA shunt and phosphorylated serine synthetic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Gaufichon
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Anne Marmagne
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Katia Belcram
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, Observatoire du Végétal - Cytologie Imagerie, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Tadakatsu Yoneyama
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi l-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yukiko Sakakibara
- Institute for Protein Research, Division of Protein Chemistry, Laboratory of Regulation of Biological Reactions, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Hase
- Institute for Protein Research, Division of Protein Chemistry, Laboratory of Regulation of Biological Reactions, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Olivier Grandjean
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, Observatoire du Végétal - Cytologie Imagerie, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Gilles Clément
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, Observatoire du Végétal - Chimie Métabolisme, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Sylvie Citerne
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, Observatoire du Végétal - Chimie Métabolisme, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Stéphanie Boutet-Mercey
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, Observatoire du Végétal - Chimie Métabolisme, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | | | - Fabien Chardon
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Fabienne Soulay
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Xiaole Xu
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Marion Trassaert
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Maryam Shakiebaei
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Amina Najihi
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
| | - Akira Suzuki
- INRA, IJPB, UMR1318, ERL CNRS 3559, Saclay Plant Sciences, RD10, Versailles, F-78026, France
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Annunziata MG, Ciarmiello LF, Woodrow P, Maximova E, Fuggi A, Carillo P. Durum Wheat Roots Adapt to Salinity Remodeling the Cellular Content of Nitrogen Metabolites and Sucrose. Front Plant Sci 2017; 7:2035. [PMID: 28119716 PMCID: PMC5220018 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.02035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plants are currently experiencing increasing salinity problems due to irrigation with brackish water. Moreover, in fields, roots can grow in soils which show spatial variation in water content and salt concentration, also because of the type of irrigation. Salinity impairs crop growth and productivity by inhibiting many physiological and metabolic processes, in particular nitrate uptake, translocation, and assimilation. Salinity determines an increase of sap osmolality from about 305 mOsmol kg-1 in control roots to about 530 mOsmol kg-1 in roots under salinity. Root cells adapt to salinity by sequestering sodium in the vacuole, as a cheap osmoticum, and showing a rearrangement of few nitrogen-containing metabolites and sucrose in the cytosol, both for osmotic adjustment and oxidative stress protection, thus providing plant viability even at low nitrate levels. Mainly glycine betaine and sucrose at low nitrate concentration, and glycine betaine, asparagine and proline at high nitrate levels can be assumed responsible for the osmotic adjustment of the cytosol, the assimilation of the excess of ammonium and the scavenging of ROS under salinity. High nitrate plants with half of the root system under salinity accumulate proline and glutamine in both control and salt stressed split roots, revealing that osmotic adjustment is not a regional effect in plants. The expression level and enzymatic activities of asparagine synthetase and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase, as well as other enzymatic activities of nitrogen and carbon metabolism, are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Annunziata
- Department of Metabolic Networks, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam, Germany
| | - Loredana F. Ciarmiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Caserta, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Woodrow
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Caserta, Italy
| | - Eugenia Maximova
- Department of Metabolic Networks, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdam, Germany
| | - Amodio Fuggi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Caserta, Italy
| | - Petronia Carillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Caserta, Italy
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Xu H, Curtis TY, Powers SJ, Raffan S, Gao R, Huang J, Heiner M, Gilbert DR, Halford NG. Genomic, Biochemical, and Modeling Analyses of Asparagine Synthetases from Wheat. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:2237. [PMID: 29379512 PMCID: PMC5775275 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase activity in cereals has become an important issue with the discovery that free asparagine concentration determines the potential for formation of acrylamide, a probably carcinogenic processing contaminant, in baked cereal products. Asparagine synthetase catalyses the ATP-dependent transfer of the amino group of glutamine to a molecule of aspartate to generate glutamate and asparagine. Here, asparagine synthetase-encoding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were amplified from wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Spark cDNA. The encoded proteins were assigned the names TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3 on the basis of comparisons with other wheat and cereal asparagine synthetases. Although very similar to each other they differed slightly in size, with molecular masses of 65.49, 65.06, and 66.24 kDa, respectively. Chromosomal positions and scaffold references were established for TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3, and a fourth, more recently identified gene, TaASN4. TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN4 were all found to be single copy genes, located on chromosomes 5, 3, and 4, respectively, of each genome (A, B, and D), although variety Chinese Spring lacked a TaASN2 gene in the B genome. Two copies of TaASN3 were found on chromosome 1 of each genome, and these were given the names TaASN3.1 and TaASN3.2. The TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3 PCR products were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli (TaASN4 was not investigated in this part of the study). Western blot analysis identified two monoclonal antibodies that recognized the three proteins, but did not distinguish between them, despite being raised to epitopes SKKPRMIEVAAP and GGSNKPGVMNTV in the variable C-terminal regions of the proteins. The heterologously expressed TaASN1 and TaASN2 proteins were found to be active asparagine synthetases, producing asparagine and glutamate from glutamine and aspartate. The asparagine synthetase reaction was modeled using SNOOPY® software and information from the BRENDA database to generate differential equations to describe the reaction stages, based on mass action kinetics. Experimental data from the reactions catalyzed by TaASN1 and TaASN2 were entered into the model using Copasi, enabling values to be determined for kinetic parameters. Both the reaction data and the modeling showed that the enzymes continued to produce glutamate even when the synthesis of asparagine had ceased due to a lack of aspartate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Tanya Y. Curtis
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Powers
- Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Raffan
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Runhong Gao
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Nigel G. Halford, Jianhua Huang,
| | - Monika Heiner
- Department of Computer Science, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
| | - David R. Gilbert
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel G. Halford
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Nigel G. Halford, Jianhua Huang,
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Postles J, Curtis TY, Powers SJ, Elmore JS, Mottram DS, Halford NG. Changes in Free Amino Acid Concentration in Rye Grain in Response to Nitrogen and Sulfur Availability, and Expression Analysis of Genes Involved in Asparagine Metabolism. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7:917. [PMID: 27446147 PMCID: PMC4916186 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Free asparagine plays a central role in nitrogen storage and transport in many plant species due to its relatively high ratio of nitrogen to carbon. However, it is also a precursor for acrylamide, a Class 2a carcinogen that forms during high-temperature processing and cooking. The concentration of free asparagine was shown to increase by approximately 70% in rye grain in response to severe sulfur deficiency (F-test, p = 0.004), while the concentration of both free asparagine and free glutamine increased (by almost threefold and approximately 62%, respectively) in response to nitrogen application (F-test, p < 0.001 for free asparagine; p = 0.004 for free glutamine). There were also effects of nutrient supply on other free amino acids: The concentration of free proline, for example, showed a significant (F-test, p = 0.019) effect of nitrogen interacting with sulfur, with the highest concentration occurring when the plants were deprived of both nitrogen and sulfur. Polymerase chain reaction products for several genes involved in asparagine metabolism and its regulation were amplified from rye grain cDNA. These genes were asparagine synthetase-1 (ScASN1), glutamine synthetase-1 (ScGS1), potassium-dependent asparaginase (ScASP), aspartate kinase (ScASK), and general control non-derepressible-2 (ScGCN2). The expression of these genes and of a previously described sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase-1 gene (ScSnRK1) was analyzed in flag leaf and developing grain in response to nitrogen and sulfur supply, revealing a significant (F-test, p < 0.05) effect of nitrogen supply on ScGS1 expression in the grain at 21 days post-anthesis. There was also evidence of an effect of sulfur deficiency on ScASN1 gene expression. However, although this effect was large (almost 10-fold) it was only marginally statistically significant (F-test, 0.05 < p < 0.10). The study reinforced the conclusion that nutrient availability can have a profound impact on the concentrations of different free amino acids, something that is often overlooked by plant physiologists but which has important implications for flavor, color, and aroma development during cooking and processing, as well as the production of undesirable contaminants such as acrylamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Postles
- Plant Biology and Crop Science Department, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilSwindon, UK
| | - Tanya Y. Curtis
- Plant Biology and Crop Science Department, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
| | - Stephen J. Powers
- Computational and Systems Biology Department, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
| | - J. S. Elmore
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of ReadingReading, UK
| | - Donald S. Mottram
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of ReadingReading, UK
| | - Nigel G. Halford
- Plant Biology and Crop Science Department, Rothamsted ResearchHarpenden, UK
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41
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Wu SJ, Li YF, Wang YJ. [Expression of asparagine synthetase in relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2016; 37:465-469. [PMID: 28446397 PMCID: PMC6744099 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-4254.2017.04.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To detect the expression level of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) in patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma and explore its clinical significance. METHODS Ten patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma admitted in our department from January, 2013 to January, 2016 were analyzed. The diagnoses were confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical examination following failed chemotherapies in all cases. Branched DNA-liquidchip technique (bDNA-LCT) was used for detecting ASNS mRNA expression in paraffin-embedded tissue sections in the 10 cases of relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma and in 5 cases of chronic rhinitis. The correlations were analyzed between ASNS expression and the clinicopathological features and outcomes of the patients with failed chemotherapy regimens containing asparaginasum. RESULTS Six out of the 10 patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma died due to diseaseprogression. The expression level of ASNS was significantly higher in the lymphoma tissues than in tissue specimens of chronic rhinitis (P<0.05). The expression level of ASNS was associated with the International Prognostic Index (P=0.023) in patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, and Kaplan-Meier curve showed that a high ASNS expression was correlated with a reduced overall survival and progression-free survival of the patients. CONCLUSION Asparaginasum-based chemotherapy regimens are recommended for treatment of relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma with low ASNS expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Jie Wu
- Department of Hematology, Southern Medical University, Zhujiang Hospital, Guangzhou 510282, China. E-mail:
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42
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Mendes NS, Silva PM, Silva-Rocha R, Martinez-Rossi NM, Rossi A. Pre-mRNA splicing is modulated by antifungal drugs in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. FEBS Open Bio 2016; 6:358-68. [PMID: 27239448 PMCID: PMC4821360 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For this study, we sought to identify pre‐mRNA processing events modulated by changes in extracellular pH, inorganic phosphate, and antifungal drugs. We examined genes with at least four putative introns whose transcriptional level responded to these effectors. We showed that the intron retention levels of genes encoding asparagine synthetase 2, C6‐zinc finger regulator (fluffy), and a farnesyltransferase respond to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, and other effectors. In general, the assayed antifungals promoted the disruption of the structural domains of these proteins probably leading to their inactivation, which emphasize the complexity of the metabolic modulation exerted by antifungal signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niege S Mendes
- Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | - Patricia M Silva
- Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | - Nilce M Martinez-Rossi
- Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
| | - Antonio Rossi
- Department of Genetics Ribeirão Preto Medical School University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil
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43
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Hettmer S, Schinzel AC, Tchessalova D, Schneider M, Parker CL, Bronson RT, Richards NG, Hahn WC, Wagers AJ. Functional genomic screening reveals asparagine dependence as a metabolic vulnerability in sarcoma. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26499495 PMCID: PMC4695385 DOI: 10.7554/elife.09436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Current therapies for sarcomas are often inadequate. This study sought to identify actionable gene targets by selective targeting of the molecular networks that support sarcoma cell proliferation. Silencing of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), an amidotransferase that converts aspartate into asparagine, produced the strongest inhibitory effect on sarcoma growth in a functional genomic screen of mouse sarcomas generated by oncogenic Kras and disruption of Cdkn2a. ASNS silencing in mouse and human sarcoma cell lines reduced the percentage of S phase cells and impeded new polypeptide synthesis. These effects of ASNS silencing were reversed by exogenous supplementation with asparagine. Also, asparagine depletion via the ASNS inhibitor amino sulfoximine 5 (AS5) or asparaginase inhibited mouse and human sarcoma growth in vitro, and genetic silencing of ASNS in mouse sarcoma cells combined with depletion of plasma asparagine inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Asparagine reliance of sarcoma cells may represent a metabolic vulnerability with potential anti-sarcoma therapeutic value. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09436.001 Sarcoma is a type of cancer that forms in the connective tissues of the body, such as bone, cartilage, muscle and fat. Usually, treatment involves surgical removal of the tumor and/or radiation to kill the tumor cells. However, if sarcomas spread to other parts of the body, the treatment options are limited. Genetic studies have revealed several genetic changes that contribute to the formation of sarcomas. Many sarcomas have a mutation in a gene that encodes a protein called Ras. In 2011, researchers found that injecting Ras mutant muscle cells into the muscles of mice could lead to the formation of sarcomas. Next, the researchers compared gene expression in the mouse sarcoma cells with gene expression in normal mouse muscle cells and found that certain genes appeared to be more highly expressed in the sarcoma cells. These genes were also hyperactive in human sarcoma cells and may promote the growth of sarcomas carrying mutant forms of Ras. Now, Hettmer et al. – including some of the same researchers involved in the earlier work – show that targeting one of these hyperactive genes can slow sarcoma growth. The experiments made use of a technique called ribonucleic acid interference (or RNAi for short) to specifically switch off the expression of the hyperactive genes and then observed how this affected sarcoma growth. Hettmer et al. found that blocking the expression of one particular gene, which encodes an enzyme called asparagine synthetase, slowed down the growth of the sarcoma the most. Asparagine synthetase makes the amino acid asparagine, which is needed to make proteins in cells. Further experiments showed that reducing the amount of asparagine in human and mouse sarcoma cells slowed down the growth of these cells. A drug that lowers the amount of asparagine in cells is already used to treat some blood cancers. Hettmer et al.’s findings suggest that drugs that alter the availability of asparagine in the body might also be useful to treat sarcomas with mutant forms of Ras. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09436.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Hettmer
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Charité, University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Anna C Schinzel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, United States
| | - Daria Tchessalova
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Michaela Schneider
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christina L Parker
- Summer Honors Undergraduate Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, United States
| | - Roderick T Bronson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University Veterinary School, North Grafton, United States
| | - Nigel Gj Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States
| | - William C Hahn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, United States
| | - Amy J Wagers
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.,Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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Li H, Zhou F, Du W, Dou J, Xu Y, Gao W, Chen G, Zuo X, Sun L, Zhang X, Yang S. Knockdown of asparagine synthetase by RNAi suppresses cell growth in human melanoma cells and epidermoid carcinoma cells. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2015; 63:328-33. [PMID: 25858017 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, causes more than 40,000 deaths each year worldwide. And epidermoid carcinoma is another major form of skin cancer, which could be studied together with melanoma in several aspects. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the glutamine- and ATP-dependent conversion of aspartic acid to asparagine, and its expression is associated with the chemotherapy resistance and prognosis in several human cancers. The present study aims to explore the potential role of ASNS in melanoma cells A375 and human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431. We applied a lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) system to study its function in cell growth of both cells. The results revealed that inhibition of ASNS expression by RNAi significantly suppressed the growth of melanoma cells and epidermoid carcinoma cells, and induced a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in melanoma cells. Knockdown of ASNS in A375 cells remarkably downregulated the expression levels of CDK4, CDK6, and Cyclin D1, and upregulated the expression of p21. Therefore, our study provides evidence that ASNS may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Fusheng Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhui Du
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinfa Dou
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanwan Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbo Zuo
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangdan Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
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Baruch M, Hertzog BB, Ravins M, Youting CC, Hanski E. Group A streptococcus and host metabolism: virulence influences and potential treatments. Future Microbiol 2015; 9:713-6. [PMID: 25046517 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Baruch
- Dept. of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, The Institute for Medical Research - Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
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Seifi HS, De Vleesschauwer D, Aziz A, Höfte M. Modulating plant primary amino acid metabolism as a necrotrophic virulence strategy: the immune-regulatory role of asparagine synthetase in Botrytis cinerea-tomato interaction. Plant Signal Behav 2014; 9:e27995. [PMID: 24521937 PMCID: PMC4091234 DOI: 10.4161/psb.27995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The fungal plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of the "gray mold" disease on a broad range of hosts. As an archetypal necrotroph, B. cinerea has evolved multiple virulence strategies for inducing cell death in its host. Moreover, progress of B. cinerea colonization is commonly associated with induction of senescence in the host tissue, even in non-invaded regions. In a recent study, we showed that abscisic acid deficiency in the sitiens tomato mutant culminates in an anti-senescence defense mechanism which effectively contributes to resistance against B. cinerea infection. Conversely, in susceptible wild-type tomato a strong induction of senescence could be observed following B. cinerea infection. Building upon this earlier work, we here discuss the immune-regulatory role of a key senescence-associated protein, asparagine synthetase. We found that infection of wild-type tomato leads to a strong transcriptional upregulation of asparagine synthetase, followed by a severe depletion of asparagine titers. In contrast, resistant sitiens plants displayed a strong induction of asparagine throughout the course of infection. We hypothesize that rapid activation of asparagine synthetase in susceptible tomato may play a dual role in promoting Botrytis cinerea pathogenesis by providing a rich source of N for the pathogen, on the one hand, and facilitating pathogen-induced host senescence, on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Soren Seifi
- Laboratory of Phytopathology; Department of Crop Protection; Faculty of Bioscience Engineering; Ghent University; Ghent, Belgium
- Correspondence to: Hamed Soren Seifi,
| | - David De Vleesschauwer
- Laboratory of Phytopathology; Department of Crop Protection; Faculty of Bioscience Engineering; Ghent University; Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aziz Aziz
- Laboratory of SDRP—URVVC EA 4707; University of Reims; Campus Moulin de la Housse; Cedex 2, France
| | - Monica Höfte
- Laboratory of Phytopathology; Department of Crop Protection; Faculty of Bioscience Engineering; Ghent University; Ghent, Belgium
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Canales J, Rueda-López M, Craven-Bartle B, Avila C, Cánovas FM. Novel insights into regulation of asparagine synthetase in conifers. Front Plant Sci 2012; 3:100. [PMID: 22654888 PMCID: PMC3359511 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2012.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine, a key amino acid for nitrogen storage and transport in plants, is synthesized via the ATP-dependent reaction catalyzed by the enzyme asparagine synthetase (AS; EC 6.3.5.4). In this work, we present the molecular analysis of two full-length cDNAs that encode asparagine synthetase in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.), PpAS1, and PpAS2. Phylogenetic analyses of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that both genes are class II AS, suggesting an ancient origin of these genes in plants. A comparative study of PpAS1 and PpAS2 gene expression profiles showed that PpAS1 gene is highly regulated by developmental and environmental factors, while PpAS2 is expressed constitutively. To determine the molecular mechanisms underpinning the differential expression of PpAS1, the promoter region of the gene was isolated and putative binding sites for MYB transcription factors were identified. Gel mobility shift assays showed that a MYB protein from Pinus taeda (PtMYB1) was able to interact with the promoter region of PpAS1. Furthermore, transient expression analyses in pine cells revealed a negative effect of PtMYB1 on PpAS1 expression. The potential role of MYB factors in the transcriptional regulation of PpAS1 in vascular cells is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Canales
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Marina Rueda-López
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Blanca Craven-Bartle
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Concepción Avila
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Francisco M. Cánovas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
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48
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Pandurangan S, Pajak A, Molnar SJ, Cober ER, Dhaubhadel S, Hernández-Sebastià C, Kaiser WM, Nelson RL, Huber SC, Marsolais F. Relationship between asparagine metabolism and protein concentration in soybean seed. J Exp Bot 2012; 63:3173-84. [PMID: 22357599 PMCID: PMC3350928 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ers039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Revised: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between asparagine metabolism and protein concentration was investigated in soybean seed. Phenotyping of a population of recombinant inbred lines adapted to Illinois confirmed a positive correlation between free asparagine levels in developing seeds and protein concentration at maturity. Analysis of a second population of recombinant inbred lines adapted to Ontario associated the elevated free asparagine trait with two of four quantitative trait loci determining population variation for protein concentration, including a major one on chromosome 20 (linkage group I) which has been reported in multiple populations. In the seed coat, levels of asparagine synthetase were high at 50 mg and progressively declined until 150 mg seed weight, suggesting that nitrogenous assimilates are pre-conditioned at early developmental stages to enable a high concentration of asparagine in the embryo. The levels of asparaginase B1 showed an opposite pattern, being low at 50 mg and progressively increased until 150 mg, coinciding with an active phase of storage reserve accumulation. In a pair of genetically related cultivars, ∼2-fold higher levels of asparaginase B1 protein and activity in seed coat, were associated with high protein concentration, reflecting enhanced flux of nitrogen. Transcript expression analyses attributed this difference to a specific asparaginase gene, ASPGB1a. These results contribute to our understanding of the processes determining protein concentration in soybean seed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhakar Pandurangan
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Genomics and Biotechnology, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Agnieszka Pajak
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Genomics and Biotechnology, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Stephen J. Molnar
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses and Sustainable Production Systems, Eastern Cereal and Oilseeds Research Centre, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Elroy R. Cober
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bioproducts and Bioprocesses and Sustainable Production Systems, Eastern Cereal and Oilseeds Research Centre, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Sangeeta Dhaubhadel
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Genomics and Biotechnology, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Cinta Hernández-Sebastià
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Genomics and Biotechnology, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Werner M. Kaiser
- Department of Botany I, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute for Biosciences, University of Würzburg, D-97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Randall L. Nelson
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Soybean/Maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research Unit, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Steven C. Huber
- US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Photosynthesis Research Unit, and Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, 197 ERML, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Frédéric Marsolais
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Genomics and Biotechnology, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada
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49
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Meyer ME, Gutierrez JA, Raushel FM, Richards NGJ. A conserved glutamate controls the commitment to acyl-adenylate formation in asparagine synthetase. Biochemistry 2010; 49:9391-401. [PMID: 20853825 PMCID: PMC2975022 DOI: 10.1021/bi1010688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Inhibitor docking studies have implicated a conserved glutamate residue (Glu-348) as a general base in the synthetase active site of the enzyme asparagine synthetase B from Escherichia coli (AS-B). We now report steady-state kinetic, isotope transfer, and positional isotope exchange experiments for a series of site-directed AS-B mutants in which Glu-348 is substituted by conservative amino acid replacements. We find that formation of the β-aspartyl-AMP intermediate, and therefore the eventual production of asparagine, is dependent on the presence of a carboxylate side chain at this position in the synthetase active site. In addition, Glu-348 may also play a role in mediating the conformational changes needed to (i) coordinate, albeit weakly, the glutaminase and synthetase activities of the enzyme and (ii) establish the structural integrity of the intramolecular tunnel along which ammonia is translocated. The importance of Glu-348 in mediating acyl-adenylate formation contrasts with the functional role of the cognate residues in β-lactam synthetase (BLS) and carbapenem synthetase (CPS) (Tyr-348 and Tyr-345, respectively), which both likely evolved from asparagine synthetase. Given the similarity of the chemistry catalyzed by AS-B, BLS, and CPS, our work highlights the difficulty of predicting the functional outcome of single site mutations on enzymes that catalyze almost identical chemical transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Meyer
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 117200, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Jemy A. Gutierrez
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 117200, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Frank M. Raushel
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 30012, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Nigel G. J. Richards
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 117200, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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50
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Wienkoop S, Larrainzar E, Glinski M, González EM, Arrese-Igor C, Weckwerth W. Absolute quantification of Medicago truncatula sucrose synthase isoforms and N-metabolism enzymes in symbiotic root nodules and the detection of novel nodule phosphoproteins by mass spectrometry. J Exp Bot 2008; 59:3307-15. [PMID: 18772307 PMCID: PMC2529246 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ern182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2008] [Revised: 06/17/2008] [Accepted: 06/18/2008] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) has become increasingly important for tissue specific protein quantification at the isoform level, as well as for the analysis of protein post-translational regulation mechanisms and turnover rates. Thanks to the development of high accuracy mass spectrometers, peptide sequencing without prior knowledge of the amino acid sequence--de novo sequencing--can be performed. In this work, absolute quantification of a set of key enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism in Medicago truncatula 'Jemalong A17' root nodules is presented. Among them, sucrose synthase (SuSy; EC 2.4.1.13), one of the central enzymes in sucrose cleavage in root nodules, has been further characterized and the relative phosphorylation state of the three most abundant isoforms has been quantified. De novo sequencing provided sequence information of a so far unidentified peptide, most probably belonging to SuSy2, the second most abundant isoform in M. truncatula root nodules. TiO(2)-phosphopeptide enrichment led to the identification of not only a phosphorylation site at Ser11 in SuSy1, but also of several novel phosphorylation sites present in other root nodule proteins such as alkaline invertase (AI; EC 3.2.1.26) and an RNA-binding protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Wienkoop
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, c/o MPI-MP, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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