Faculty Bibliography

Lumen extension in intracellular tubes can occur when vesicles fuse with an invading apical membrane. Within the Caenorhabditis elegans excretory cell, which forms an intracellular tube, the exocyst vesicle-tethering complex is enriched at the lumenal membrane and is required for its outgrowth, suggesting that exocyst-targeted vesicles extend the lumen. Here, we identify a pathway that promotes intracellular tube extension by enriching the exocyst at the lumenal membrane. We show that PAR-6 and PKC-3/aPKC concentrate at the lumenal membrane and promote lumen extension. Using acute protein depletion, we find that PAR-6 is required for exocyst membrane recruitment, whereas PAR-3, which can recruit the exocyst in mammals, appears dispensable for exocyst localization and lumen extension. Finally, we show that CDC-42 and RhoGEF EXC-5/FGD regulate lumen extension by recruiting PAR-6 and PKC-3 to the lumenal membrane. Our findings reveal a pathway that connects CDC-42, PAR proteins, and the exocyst to extend intracellular tubes.

OBJECTIVE:in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of mice with inhibitors of miR-33 increased expression of these miR-33 target genes in brown and subcutaneous white adipose tissue, upregulating expression of UCP1, and rendering mice resistant to cold challenge. CONCLUSIONS:Collectively, our findings demonstrate that miR-33 targets key genes involved in BAT activation and white adipose beiging and expand our understanding of how miR-33 coordinately regulates pathways involved in metabolic homeostasis.

Military veterans who experience blast-related traumatic brain injuries often suffer from chronic cognitive and neurobehavioral syndromes. Reports of abnormal tau processing following blast injury have raised concerns that some cases may have a neurodegenerative basis. Rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast exhibit chronic neurobehavioral traits and accumulate tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (Thr181). Using data previously reported in separate studies we tested the hypothesis that region-specific patterns of Thr181 phosphorylation correlate with behavioral measures also previously determined and reported in the same animals. Elevated p-tau Thr181 in anterior neocortical regions and right hippocampus correlated with anxiety as well as fear learning and novel object localization. There were no correlations with levels in amygdala or posterior neocortical regions. Particularly striking were asymmetrical effects on the right and left hippocampus. No systematic variation in head orientation toward the blast wave seems to explain the laterality. Levels did not correlate with behavioral measures of hyperarousal. Results were specific to Thr181 in that no correlations were observed for three other phospho-acceptor sites (threonine 231, serine 396, and serine 404). No consistent correlations were linked with total tau. These correlations are significant in suggesting that p-tau accumulation in anterior neocortical regions and the hippocampus may lead to disinhibited amygdala function without p-tau elevation in the amygdala itself. They also suggest an association linking blast injury with tauopathy, which has implications for understanding the relationship of chronic blast-related neurobehavioral syndromes in humans to neurodegenerative diseases.

Citrate is best known as an intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle of the cell. In addition to this essential role in energy metabolism, the tricarboxylate anion also acts as both a precursor and a regulator of fatty acid synthesis^1-3. Thus, the rate of fatty acid synthesis correlates directly with the cytosolic concentration of citrate^4,5. Liver cells import citrate through the sodium-dependent citrate transporter NaCT (encoded by SLC13A5) and, as a consequence, this protein is a potential target for anti-obesity drugs. Here, to understand the structural basis of its inhibition mechanism, we determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of human NaCT in complexes with citrate or a small-molecule inhibitor. These structures reveal how the inhibitor-which binds to the same site as citrate-arrests the transport cycle of NaCT. The NaCT-inhibitor structure also explains why the compound selectively inhibits NaCT over two homologous human dicarboxylate transporters, and suggests ways to further improve the affinity and selectivity. Finally, the NaCT structures provide a framework for understanding how various mutations abolish the transport activity of NaCT in the brain and thereby cause epilepsy associated with mutations in SLC13A5 in newborns (which is known as SLC13A5-epilepsy)^6-8.

Mitochondrial DNA double-strand breaks (mtDSBs) are toxic lesions that compromise the integrity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and alter mitochondrial function¹. Communication between mitochondria and the nucleus is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis; however, the nuclear response to mtDSBs remains unknown². Here, using mitochondrial-targeted transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs)^1,3,4, we show that mtDSBs activate a type-I interferon response that involves the phosphorylation of STAT1 and activation of interferon-stimulated genes. After the formation of breaks in the mtDNA, herniation⁵ mediated by BAX and BAK releases mitochondrial RNA into the cytoplasm and triggers a RIG-I-MAVS-dependent immune response. We further investigated the effect of mtDSBs on interferon signalling after treatment with ionizing radiation and found a reduction in the activation of interferon-stimulated genes when cells that lack mtDNA are exposed to gamma irradiation. We also show that mtDNA breaks synergize with nuclear DNA damage to mount a robust cellular immune response. Taken together, we conclude that cytoplasmic accumulation of mitochondrial RNA is an intrinsic immune surveillance mechanism for cells to cope with mtDSBs, including breaks produced by genotoxic agents.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic approved as a single- and two-dose regimen for adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible gram-positive organisms. We present nephrotoxicity rates for patients with ABSSSI who received dalbavancin in three pivotal clinical trials and compare the rates with vancomycin. METHODS:In a phase 3b clinical trial (DUR001-303), patients were randomized to dalbavancin single-dose (1500 mg intravenous [IV]) or two-dose regimen (1000 mg IV on day 1, 500 mg IV on day 8). In two phase 3 clinical trials (DISCOVER 1 and DISCOVER 2), patients were randomized to dalbavancin (two-dose regimen) or vancomycin 1 g (or 15 mg/kg) IV every 12 h for at least 3 days with an option to switch to orally administered linezolid 600 mg every 12 h for 10-14 days. Patients on dalbavancin with a creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min not on regular dialysis received a reduced dose of 1000 mg (single-dose arm) or 750 mg IV on day 1, 375 mg IV on day 8 (two-dose arm). Nephrotoxicity was defined as a 50% increase from baseline serum creatinine (SCr) or an absolute increase in SCr of 0.5 mg/dL at any time point. P values were obtained using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. RESULTS:In dalbavancin-treated patients, rates of nephrotoxicity were low. The safety population with available creatinine values included 1325/1347 patients on any regimen of dalbavancin, and 54/651 patients who received vancomycin intravenously for at least 10 days and were not switched to orally administered linezolid. Patients on any regimen of dalbavancin had a lower rate of nephrotoxicity compared with patients receiving vancomycin intravenously for at least 10 days (3.7% vs 9.3%, respectively; P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS:Nephrotoxicity rates were lower in patients on dalbavancin relative to vancomycin for at least 10 days. On the basis of this experience, dalbavancin may be less nephrotoxic than intravenously administered vancomycin.

Epidermal melanocytes are constantly exposed to environmental stressors such as ultraviolet light (UV) and chemotoxins. Several evolutionarily conversed survival mechanisms are deployed to ensure melanocyte recovery after damage including the unfolded protein response (UPR) and integrated stress response (ISR). The UPR/ISR promote restoration of homeostasis, by modulating transcription and translation as well as activating Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated antioxidant activity. If repair fails, the UPR/ISR either stimulate cell death, or adaptation that can lead to survival of damaged cells and promote disease. For example, the UPR/ISR may support melanomagenesis by allowing UV-damaged, mutated cells to survive and adapt to a hostile tumor microenvironment that subjects cells to hypoxia, nutrient deprivation and sub-optimal pH. The UPR and ISR can also promote transcriptional changes that support tumor growth and/or metastasis. Furthermore, these pathways may also underlie acquisition of chemoresistance and modulation of protein expression that alters the efficacy of immunotherapies. UPR activation has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and may promote increased expression of chemokines such as interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 that trigger an autoimmune response against melanocytes. We herein review the potential roles of the UPR/ISR in the etiology of melanoma and vitiligo.