Project description:Although tumor growth requires the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), the relative contribution of Complex I (CI) and II (CII), the gatekeepers for initiating electron flow, remains unclear. Here, we report that loss of CII, but not CI, reduces melanoma tumor growth by increasing antigen presentation and T cell-mediated killing. This is driven by succinate-mediated transcriptional and epigenetic activation of major histocompatibility complex I-antigen processing and presentation (MHC-APP) genes that is independent of interferon signaling. Furthermore, knock-out of MCJ, to promote electron entry preferentially via CI, provides proof-of-concept of ETC rewiring to achieve anti-tumor responses without side effects associated with an overall reduction in mitochondrial respiration in non-cancer cells. Our results hold therapeutic potential for tumors that have reduced MHC-APP expression, a common mechanism of cancer immunoevasion.
Project description:A new model for electron flow during anaerobic digestion: direct interspecies electron transfer to Methanosaeta for the reduction of carbon dioxide to methane
Project description:The Geobacter species evolved respiratory versatility to utilize a wide range of terminal electron acceptors. To explore this adaptive mechanism, Fe(III) citrate, hydrous ferric oxide, and fumarate were selected as electron acceptors, and the methylome and metabolome of Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA grown on each electron acceptor were investigated via third-generation, single-molecule real-time DNA sequencing.Results showed that the patterns of 4-methylcytosine (m4C) and 6-methyladenine (m6A) modification were all varied in different electron acceptor cultures. Moreover, genes (e.g., GSU0466 and GSU1467) with low expression levels generally had high methylation levels. These findings suggest that m4C and m6A modifications play a role in the adaption of G. sulfurreducens to diverse electron acceptors, and DNA methylation may be involved in the adaption mainly via gene expression regulation.
Project description:Current spatial transcriptomics methods identify cell types and states in a spatial context but lack morphological information. Electron microscopy, in contrast, provides structural details at nanometer resolution without decoding the diverse cellular states and identity. STEM address this limitation by correlating multiplexed error-robust FISH with electron microscopy from adjacent tissue sections. Using STEM to characterize demyelinated lesions in mice, we were able to bridge spatially resolved transcriptional data with morphological information on cell identities. This approach allowed us to link the morphology of foamy microglia and interferon-response microglia with their transcriptional signatures.
Project description:Microbially-mediated uranium bioremediation has been demonstrated in uranium contaminated aquifers when acetate was artificially supplied and growth of the natural population of Geobacteraceae was stimulated. In order to mimic the environmental response to acetate, steady-state cells of G. sulfureducens were cultured in chemostats under conditions of either 1) acetate as the sole electron donor and limiting factor and fumarate as the sole electron acceptor or 2) acetate was supplied in excess with fumarate as sole electron acceptor and limiting factor. In silico fluxome modeling and transcriptome analysis were used as tools for investigating the cell response to the acetate availability. For global gene expression profiling, a DNA microarray of the complete G. sulfurreducens genome was used. Statistically significant results were obtained from two-color, dye swap hybridizations produced from a total of three biological replicates. Eight technical replicates were tested from two of the biological replicates and six technical replicates were tested from the third biological replicate. Major findings from this study are given as follows. The in silico model successfully predicted a higher TCA-cycle flux (ca. 2-fold) under acetate-excess conditions, suggesting that catabolism of acetate is favored with respect to anabolism, and thus more electrons are available for metal reduction. Transcriptome analyses offered a comprehensive picture of the regulation points subjected to the acetate availability. Under acetate-excess conditions, acetate transporters in the G. sulfurreducens genome were down-regulated. In addition the oxidation-related acetyl-CoA transferase was up-regulated approximately three-fold and the assimilatory-related acetate kinase was down-regulated approximately two-fold, respectively, indicating that the transcriptional regulation of acetate activation may be the key point for coping with the excess of acetate and increasing the TCA flux. The level of transcription for 10 c-type cytochromes was significantly increased in cells cultured with an excess of acetate. OmcS, an outer-membrane cytochrome which actively participates in electron transfer to Fe(III)-oxides and graphite electrodes from fuel cells, showed one of the highest fold increases in transcription. The integration of in silico modeling and genome-wide analysis shows for first time how G. sulffureducens adapts its metabolic flux and transcriptional network for optimizing the use of acetate as an electron donor for exocellular respiration instead of for use as a carbon source for biomass production. Keywords: Geobacter, gene expression, acetate limitation, fumarate limitation