ABSTRACT: Does the RiPP compound bind Cu2+, Cu+, or Fe2+? Assessing to see whether this Novel RiPP compound binds or not since it possesses the properties of methanobactin
Project description:Does the RiPP compound bind Cu2+, Cu+, or Fe2+? Assessing to see whether this Novel RiPP compound binds or not since it possesses the properties of methanobactin
Project description:MTF1 is a highly conserved metal-binding transcription factor in eukaryotes. MTF1 binds to DNA sequence motifs, termed metal response elements (MREs) to induce the expression of genes involved in metal and oxidative stress homeostasis. MTF1 is responsive to both metal excess and deprivation, and can also protect cells from oxidative and hypoxic stresses. Disruption of metal homeostasis leads to the development of several pathological states. Despite its roles in these processes , MTF1 has been shown to be required for developmental processes such as embryonic liver formation. In this study, we used multiple strategies to understand the mechanism by which MTF1 functions in skeletal muscle differentiation and to determine the role cellular copper (Cu) status plays in this process. We provide the functional relationships between MTF1, Cu, myogenic gene promoters, and MyoD, an specific component of the myogenic transcriptional machinery in differentiating primary myoblasts derived from mouse satellite cells. We found that MTF1 is induced and translocated to the nucleus upon initiation of myogenesis. Consistent with previous studies from our laboratory , addition of non-toxic concentrations of Cu promote myogenesis and enhanced MTF1 expression. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated depletion of MTF1 demonstrated that MTF1 is essential for proper development of skeletal muscle, as partial Mtf1 knockdown leads to apoptosis to differentiating myoblasts. MTF1 was also found to bind Cu at a carboxy-terminal tetra-cysteine cluster, which may contribute to the mobilization of Cu to the nucleus during myogenesis. ChIP-seq and ChIP-qPCR analyses showed that MTF1 binds at the promoter regions of myogenic genes as part of a complex with MyoD, the master transcriptional regulator of the myogenic lineage. These results have the potential to initiate a new area of research in MTF1 function and in the regulation of myogenesis. Furthermore, these studies set the basis to understand the role of Cu at the transcriptional level, affects growth and development and will contribute to the largely unexplored are of muscular phenotypes observed in human pathologies associated to Cu misbalance, such as Menkes’ and Wilson’s diseases.
Project description:To determine toxicant specific effects of Ordnance Related Compound (ORC) exposure we performed microarray hybridizations with RNA isolated from Daphnia magna following different ORC exposures at the 1/10 LC50. The gene expression profiles revealed toxicant specific gene expression profiles allowed for the identification of specific biomarkers of exposure. Keywords: ecotoxicogenomic exposure study We exposed Daphnia magna the 1/10 LC50 of different Ordnance Related Compounds (Cu, Zn, Pb, WO4, RDX, TNT, 2-ADNT, 2-ADNT, TNB, DNB, 2,4-DNT, and 2,6-DNT) for 24 hours. For each exposure condition, we performed 3 exposures and 2 technical replicates (as dye swap) for each exposure (6 microarrays total, except TNT and Cu). All exposures were compared to a unexposed laboratory control (MHRW media).
Project description:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic mucosal inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is associated with extracellular acidification of mucosal tissue. Several extracellular pH-sensing receptors, including G protein-coupled receptor 4 (GPR4), play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses and GPR4 deficiency has been shown to be protective in IBD animal models. To confirm the therapeutic potential of GPR4 antagonism in IBD, we tested Compound 13, a selective GPR4 antagonist, in the IL10-/- mouse model of colitis. Despite reasonable bioavailability, Compound 13 treatment did not improve colitis in this model and there were no signs of target engagement. Interestingly, Compound 13 behaved as an “orthosteric” antagonist, i.e., its potency was pH-dependent and mostly inactive at pH levels lower than 6.8 with preferential binding to the inactive conformation of GPR4. Mutagenesis studies confirmed Compound 13 likely binds to the conserved orthosteric binding site in G protein-coupled receptors, where a histidine sits in GPR4 likely preventing Compound 13 binding when protonated in acidic conditions. While the exact mucosal pH in the human disease and relevant IBD mice models is unknown, it is well established that the degree of acidosis is positively correlated with the degree of inflammation, suggesting Compound 13 is not an ideal tool to study the role of GPR4 in moderate-to-severe inflammatory conditions.
Project description:Limited data are available on the impacts of copper (Cu)-pH-interaction-responsive genes in roots. Citrus sinensis seedlings were treated with 300 (Cu-toxicity) or 0.5 uM (control) CuCl2 x pH 3.0 or 4.8 for 17 weeks. Thereafter, we investigated the impacts of Cu-pH interactions on transcriptomics in roots.
Project description:G-quadruplexes (G4) are considered new drug targets for human diseases such as cancer. More than 10,000 G4s have been discovered in human chromatin, posing challenges for assessing the selectivity of a G4-interactive ligand. 3,6-bis(1-Methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC) is the first fluorescent small molecule for G4 detection in vivo. Our previous structural study shows that BMVC binds to the MYC promoter G4 (MycG4) with high specificity. Here, we utilize high-throughput, large-scale custom DNA G4 microarrays to analyze the G4-binding selectivity of BMVC. BMVC preferentially binds to the parallel MycG4 and selectively recognizes flanking sequences of parallel G4s, especially the 3′-flanking thymine. Importantly, the microarray results are confirmed by orthogonal NMR and fluorescence binding analyses. Our study demonstrates the potential of custom G4 microarrays as a platform to broadly and unbiasedly assess the binding selectivity of G4-interactive ligands, and to help understand the properties that govern molecular recognition.