CHCHD2 Thr61Ile mutation impairs F1F0-ATPase assembly in in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a significant pathological alte ration that occurs in Parkinson's disease(PD),and the Thr61lle(T61I)mutation in coiled-coil helix coiled-coil helix domain containing 2(CHCHD2),a crucial mitochondrial protein,has been reported to cause Parkinson's disease.FIFO-ATPase participates in the synthesis of cellular adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and plays a central role in mitochondrial energy metabolism.However,the specific roles of wild-type(WT)CHCHD2 and T611-mutant CHCHD2 in regulating F1FO-ATPase activity in Parkinson's disease,as well as whether CHCHD2 or CHCHD2 T61I affects mitochondrial function through regulating F1FO-ATPase activity,remain unclea r.Therefore,in this study,we expressed WT CHCHD2 and T61l-mutant CHCHD2 in an MPP^(+)-induced SH-SY5Y cell model of PD.We found that CHCHD2 protected mitochondria from developing MPP^(+)-induced dysfunction.Under normal conditions,ove rexpression of WT CHCHD2 promoted F1FO-ATPase assembly,while T61I-mutant CHCHD2 appeared to have lost the ability to regulate F1FO-ATPase assembly.In addition,mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation showed that there was an interaction between CHCHD2 and F1FO-ATPase.Three weeks after transfection with AAV-CHCHD2 T61I,we intraperitoneally injected 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine into mice to establish an animal model of chronic Parkinson's disease and found that exogenous expression of the mutant protein worsened the behavioral deficits and dopaminergic neurodegeneration seen in this model.These findings suggest that WT CHCHD2 can alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction in PD by maintaining F1F0-ATPase structure and function.

Free Energy of Binding of Coiled-Coil Complexes with Different Electrostatic Environments:The Influence of Force Field Polarisation and Capping

Coiled-coils are well known protein–protein interaction motifs,with the leucine zipper region of activator protein-1(AP-1)consisting of the c-Jun and c-Fos proteins being a typical example.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations using the MM/GBSA method have been used to predict the free energy of interaction of these proteins.The influence of force field polarisation and capping on the predicted free energy of binding of complexes with different electrostatic environments(net charge)were investigated.Although both force field polarisation and peptide capping are important for the prediction of the absolute free energy of binding,peptide capping has the largest influence on the predicted free energy of binding.Polarisable simulations appear better suited to determine structural properties of the complexes of these proteins while non-polarisable simulations seem to give better predictions of the associated free energies of binding.

The structure of TRAF7 coiled-coil trimer provides insight into its function in zebrafish embryonic development

TRAF7 serves as a crucial intracellular adaptor and E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in signal transduction pathways,contributing to immune responses,tumor progression,and embryonic development.Somatic mutations within the coiled-coil(CC)domain and WD40 repeat domain of TRAF7 could cause brain tumors,while germline pathogenic mutations contribute to severe developmental abnormalities.However,the precise molecular mechanism underlying TRAF7 involvement in embryonic development remains unclear.In this study,we employed zebrafish as an in vivo model system.TRAF7 knock down caused defects in zebrafish embryonic development.We determined the crystal structure of TRAF7 CC domain at 3.3Åresolution and found that the CC region trimerization was essential for TRAF7 functionality during zebrafish embryonic development.Additionally,disease-causing mutations in TRAF7 CC region could impair the trimer formation,consequently impacting early embryonic development of zebrafish.Therefore,our study sheds light on the molecular mechanism of TRAF7 CC trimer formation and its pivotal role in embryonic development.

The role of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in inhibiting axonal regeneration in the central nervous system

The Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase（Rho/ROCK） pathway is a major signaling pathway in the central nervous system, transducing inhibitory signals to block regeneration. After central nervous system damage, the main cause of impaired regeneration is the presence of factors that strongly inhibit regeneration in the surrounding microenvironment. These factors signal through the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway to inhibit regeneration. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway is crucial for advancing studies on regeneration and repair of the injured central nervous system.

Desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors induces vascular hypocontractility in response to norepinephrine in the mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and rats

BACKGROUND: The increased β-arrestin-2 and its combination with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) lead to GPCRs desensitization. The latter may be responsible for decreased contractile reactivity in the mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and rats. The present study is to investigate the machinery changes of α-adrenergic receptors and G proteins and their roles in the contractility of mesenteric arteries of cirrhotic patients and animal models. METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis B and cirrhotic rats induced by CCl 4 were studied. Mesenteric artery contractility in response to norepinephrine was determined by a vessel perfusion system. The contractile effect of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK-2) inhibitor on the mesenteric artery was evaluated. The protein expression of the α 1 adrenergic receptor, G proteins, β-arrestin-2, GRK-2 as well as the activity of Rho associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase-1 (ROCK-1) were measured by Western blot. In addition, the interaction of α 1 adrenergic receptor with β-arrestin-2 was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: The portal vein pressure of cirrhotic patients and rats was significantly higher than that of controls. The doseresponse curve to norepinephrine in mesenteric arteriole was shifted to the right, and EC 50 was significantly increased in cirrhotic patients and rats. There were no significant differences in the expressions of the α 1 adrenergic receptor and G proteins in the cirrhotic group compared with the controls. However, the protein expressions of GRK-2 and β-arrestin-2 were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients and rats compared with those of the controls. The interaction of the α 1 adrenergic receptor and β-arrestin-2 was significantly aggravated. This interaction was significantly reversed by GRK-2 inhibitor. Both the protein expression and activity of ROCK-1 were significantly decreased in the mesenteric artery in patients with cirrhosis compared with those of the controls, and this phenomenon was not shown in the cirrhotic rats. Norepinephrine significantly increased the activity of ROCK-1 in normal rats but not in cirrhotic ones. Norepinephrine significantly increased ROCK-1 activity in cirrhotic rats when GRK-2 inhibitor was used. CONCLUSIONS: β-arrestin-2 expression and its interaction with GPCRs are significantly upregulated in the mesenteric arteries in patients and rats with cirrhosis. These upregulations result in GPCR desensitization, G-protein dysfunction and ROCK inhibition. These may explain the decreased contractility of the mesenteric artery in response to vasoconstrictors.

CIN85 associates with endosomal membrane and binds phosphatidic acid

CIN85 （Cbl-interacting protein of 85 kDa） is an important molecule involved in receptor tyrosine kinase endocytosis. Here we report that through its positively charged C-terminus, CIN85 associates with a fusogenic lipid - phosphatidic acid. Its coiled-coil domain plays an important role in mediating this protein-lipid interaction. Deletion of the coiled-coil domain results in loss of membrane association, and reduced interaction with c-cbl, finally causing the blockage of epidermal growth factor receptor downregulation. In addition, a significant portion of CIN85 is located on the endosomal compartment and is related to endocytic cargo sorting, characterized by CIN85＇s localization on the ＂E class＂ compartment and EGF degradation blockage in CIN85 knockdown cells. Taken together, our results suggest that CIN85 may function as a scaffold molecule in both the internalization and endocytic cargo sorting processes through its association with the endosomal membrane.

Diversity, structure and function of the coiled-coil domains of plant NLR immune receptors

Plant nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat receptors(NLRs) perceive pathogen avirulence effectors and activate defense responses.Nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat receptors are classified into coiled-coil(CC)-containing and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor(TIR)-containing NLRs. Recent advances suggest that NLR CC domains often function in signaling activation, especially for induction of cell death. In this review, we outline our current understanding of NLR CC domains, including their diversity/classification and structure, their roles in cell death induction, disease resistance, and interaction with other proteins. Furthermore, we provide possible directions for future work.

Opitz综合征潜在基因MID2编码的Coiled-coil结构域功能研究

目的 Opitz综合征(OS)是一种影响中线上结构器官发育的严重遗传病。一部分X连锁的OS病人被证实是由MID1基因突变所致的,其同源物MID2被推断为OS的另一致病基因或修饰基因。MID1和MID2均编码RBCC家族蛋白质,两者分子功能的发挥均需要有正确的亚细胞定位和形成蛋白复合体的能力,而其实现则依赖于Coiled-coil(CC)结构域。本文为了研究MID2CC结构域的功能,检测了其形成同源或异源二聚体的能力,这有助于阐明MID2在OS病理发生中扮演的角色。方法利用酵母双杂交系统检测MID2CC结构域形成二聚体的能力及特点。结果 MID2CC结构域能与自身或完整的MID1、MID2蛋白质形成二聚体。结沦本文首次证实了MID2CC结构域是单独的、明确起二聚化作用的结构域,为确定MID2是OS的相关基因提供了依据。

CENP-K and CENP-H may form coiled-coils in the kinetochores

Kinetochores are large proteinaceous structure on the surface of chromosomes’ primary constriction during mitosis. They link chromosomes to spindle microtubules and also regulate the spindle assem- bly checkpoint, which is crucial for correct chromosome segregation in all eukaryotes. The better known core networks of kinetochores include the KMN network (K, KNL1; M, Mis12 complex; N, Ndc80 complex)and CCAN (constitutive centromere-associated network). However, the detailed molecular mechanism of the kinetochore protein network remains unclear. This study demonstrates that CENP-H and CENP-K form quite stable subcomplex by TAP (tandem affinity purification) with HEK 293 cells which express TAP-CENP-K, with the ratio of purified CENP-H and CENP-K being close to 1︰1 even with high salt. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that CENP-H and CENP-K are enriched with coiled-coil regions. This implies that CENP-H and CENP-K form heterodimeric coiled-coils. Furthermore, the func- tional regions which form the complex are respectively located on their N- and C-terminals, but the association between the C-terminals is more complex. It is possible that this is the first identified het- erodimeric coiled-coils within the inner kinetochore, which is directly involved in the attachment be- tween kinetochores and the spindle microtubules.

甘蔗杆状病毒P2蛋白核酸结合活性分析及关键结构域鉴定

甘蔗杆状病毒(sugarcane bacilliform virus,SCBV)是广泛分布于世界甘蔗种植区的严重危害甘蔗种植的植物病毒之一。研究SCBV编码的病毒蛋白功能对于了解该病毒致病机制及抗病育种具有重要意义。本实验室前期从云南勐海的一株Badila甘蔗中分离获得了SCBV的全长基因组序列,并开展了其开放阅读框2(open reading frame 2, ORF2)编码的未知蛋白P2的功能研究。通过原核表达SCBV P2蛋白并经体外核酸亲和结合试验分析,发现SCBV编码的P2蛋白能以序列非特异性方式与同源或异源核酸亲和结合。进一步对P2蛋白中预测的coiled-coil like domain及C-端保守的脯氨酸、赖氨酸富集区域进行缺失及点突变分析,以及凝胶阻滞试验发现,随着C-端逐步截短,P2突变体蛋白与核酸结合的活性也逐渐减弱,其C-端保守的含脯氨酸、赖氨酸的21个氨基酸(amino acids,aa)对P2蛋白与核酸结合是必需的。同时,在P2蛋白与核酸的相互作用中,coiled-coil like domain被证明是不可或缺的。进一步酵母双杂交实验证明P2蛋白能与自身互作,且P2 C-端保守的21个氨基酸及coiled-coil like domain的缺失或替换直接影响了P2蛋白的自身互作。综上所述,本研究发现SCBV编码的P2蛋白是一个序列非特异性的核酸结合蛋白,且coiled-coil like domain和C-端保守的富含脯氨酸、赖氨酸区域通过影响其自身互作而影响其核酸结合活性。研究结果为进一步深入研究P2蛋白功能奠定了基础。

The Stripe Rust Resistance Gene Yr10 Encodes an Evolutionary-Conserved and Unique CC-NBS-LRR Sequence in Wheat

The first seedling or all-stage resistance （R） R gene against stripe rust isolated from Moro wheat （Triticum aes- tivum L.） using a map-based cloning approach was identified as Yr10. Clone 4B of this gene encodes a highly evolutionary- conserved and unique CC-NBS-LRR sequence. Clone 4E, a homolog of Yr10, but lacking transcription start site （TSS） and putative TATA-box and CAAT-box, is likely a non-expressed pseudogene. Clones 4B and 4E are 84% identical and divergent in the intron and the LRR domain. Gene silencing and transgenesis were used in conjunction with inoculation with differen- tially avirulent and virulent stripe rust strains to demonstrate Yr10 functionality. The Yr10 CC-NBS-LRR sequence is unique among known CC-NBS-LRR R genes in wheat but highly conserved homologs （E = 0.0） were identified in Aegilops tauschii and other monocots including Hordeum vulgare and Brachypodium distachyon. Related sequences were also identified in genomic databases of maize, rice, and in sorghum. This is the first report of a CC-NBS-LRR resistance gene in plants with limited homologies in its native host, but with numerous homologous R genes in related monocots that are either host or non-hosts for stripe rust. These results represent a unique example of gene evolution and dispersion across species.

NLR immune receptor RB is differentially targeted by two homologous but functionally distinct effector proteins

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat(NLR)receptors mediate immune responses by directly or indirectly sensing pathogen-derived effectors.Despite significant advances in the understanding of NLR-mediated immunity,the mechanisms by which pathogens evolve to suppress NLR activation triggered by cognate effectors and gain virulence remain largely unknown.The agronomically important immune receptor RB recognizes the ubiquitous and highly conserved IPI-O RXLR family members(e.g.,IPI-O1)from Phytophthora infestans,and this process is suppressed by the rarely present and homologous effector IPIO4.Here,we report that self-association of RB via the coiled-coil(CC)domain is required for RB activation and is differentially affected by avirulence and virulence effectors.IPI-O1 moderately reduces the self-association of RB CC,potentially leading to changes in the conformation and equilibrium of RB,whereas IPIO4 dramatically impairs CC self-association to prevent RB activation.We also found that IPI-O1 associates with itself,whereas IPI-O4 does not.Notably,IPI-O4 interacts with IPI-O1 and disrupts its self-association,therefore probably blocking its avirulence function.Furthermore,IPI-O4 enhances the interaction between RB CC and IPI-O1,possibly sequestering RB and IPI-O1 and subsequently blocking their interactions with signaling components.Taken together,these findings considerably extend our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which emerging virulent pathogens suppress the NLR-mediated recognition of cognate effectors.