Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

Biology subjects

De Rosa, A.

Publications and source records attributed to De Rosa, A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Decoding the Structural and Functional Impact of the Leukaemia-Associated A338V Mutation in GPR183

G protein-coupled receptors rely on dynamic conformational changes to coordinate G protein activation and recruitment of regulatory transducers such as G protein-coupled receptor kinases and {beta}-arrestins. The chemotactic receptor GPR183 has been implicated in a context-dependent role in hematological malignancies. Here, we investigated the impact of A338V mutation located within the C-terminal tail of GPR183. This mutation is associated with acute myeloid leukaemia. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based assays in HEK293A cells, we assessed receptor-proximal signaling events. The A338V variant displayed preserved agonist potency and comparable agonist-induced Gi activation relative to wild type, although constitutive activity towards Gi was modestly reduced. In contrast, recruitment of GRK2 and {beta}-arrestin2 was consistently impaired across multiple assay configurations. These differences were not attributable to altered receptor abundance, as the C-tail untagged mutant exhibited increased plasma membrane expression despite reduced regulatory transducer engagement. While intramolecular conformational biosensor measurements revealed subtle differences in global receptor conformation between WT and A338V, extensive molecular dynamics simulations supported the altered conformational sampling of the C-terminal tail in the A338V variant. Together, these data support a model in which the A338V substitution selectively alters C-terminal structural dynamics, impairing GRK2 and {beta}-arrestin2 recruitment while preserving G protein activation.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

Root Remodeling Mechanisms and Salt Tolerance Trade-Offs: The Roles of HKT1, TMAC2, and TIP2;2 in Arabidopsis

Plant responses to salt stress involve complex processes integrating short- and long-term adaptations, including changes in ion transport, systemic signaling, root architecture, and biomass distribution. A key adaptive mechanism involves the regulation of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ion transport via Class 1 HKT1 transporters, which reduce Na+ accumulation in shoots, thereby enhancing salinity tolerance but at the expense of lateral root development. In this study, we identified differential roles of TMAC2 in modulating ABA accumulation and lateral root development under salt stress in two distinct Arabidopsis genotypes, Col-0 and C24. Overexpression of TMAC2 in the Col-0 background increased ABA accumulation, resulting in reduced lateral root development, suggesting a positive feedback loop involving HKT1, TMAC2, and ABA signaling. In contrast, TMAC2 overexpression in C24 reduced ABA accumulation in lines overexpressing HKT1, indicating genotype-specific differences in the TMAC2-HKT1 interaction. Additionally, we observed that the co-expression of TMAC2 and HKT1 in Col-0 induced ABI4 and ABI5 transcription factors, which are known to mediate salt sensitivity. These findings reveal a regulatory network where TMAC2 and HKT1 modulate salt stress responses through genotype-dependent feedback mechanisms. Our results highlight the complexity of root remodeling under salt stress and the crucial role of genetic background in shaping these adaptive responses.

plant biology↗

Permeability profiling of all 13 Arabidopsis PIP aquaporins using a high throughput yeast approach

Plant aquaporins have many more functions than just transporting water. Within the diversity of plant aquaporins are isoforms capable of transporting signaling molecules, nutrients, metalloids and gases. It is established that aquaporin substrate discrimination depends on combinations of factors such as solute size, pore size and polarity, and post-translational protein modifications. But our understanding of the relationships between variation in aquaporin structures and the implications for permeability is limited. High-throughput yeast-based assays were developed to assess diverse substrate permeabilities to water, H2O2, boric acid, urea and Na+. All 13 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) from Arabidopsis (AtPIPs) were permeable to both water and H2O2, although their effectiveness varied, and none were permeable to urea. AtPIP2 isoforms were more permeable to water than AtPIP1s, while AtPIP1s were more efficient at transporting H2O2 with AtPIP1;3 and AtPIP1;4 being the most permeable. Among the AtPIP2s, AtPIP2;2 and AtPIP2;7 were also permeable to boric acid and Na+. Linking AtPIP substrate profiles with phylogenetics and gene expression data enabled us to align substrate preferences with known biological roles of AtPIPs and importantly guide towards unidentified roles hidden by functional redundancy at key developmental stages and within tissue types. This analysis positions us to more strategically test in planta physiological roles of AtPIPs in order to unravel their complex contributions to the transport of important substrates, and secondly, to resolve links between aquaporin protein structure, substrate discrimination, and transport efficiency. One sentence summaryYeast based high throughput assays were developed to assess the permeability of each Arabidopsis PIP aquaporin isoform to water, H2O2, boric acid, urea and sodium.

plant biology↗

Exploring functional diversity of Nicotiana tabacum Aquaporins

Aquaporins (AQPs) are multifunctional membrane proteins which have greatly diversified in number and function in the plant Kingdom. In plants, AQPs have evolved to comprise a dynamic solute transport network occurring in all tissues and facilitating transport of water and vital solutes across various cellular membranes. Plant AQPs are involved in a multitude of plant physiological processes, however a better understanding is required of AQP structure-function relationships, multifunctionality and cell membrane localisation in order to begin to describe putative functional roles for the numerous plant AQP gene isoforms. Using an integrated approach, we characterised nine diverse Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) aquaporins, spanning the 3 largest AQP subfamilies (PIP, TIP, and NIP) and with varied gene expression profiles. High-throughput yeast-based functional screens identified novel candidates for water, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), boric acid (BA) and urea transport across the 3 AQP subfamilies. Using GFP translational fusions, AQPs observed in planta were localised to the plasma membrane, tonoplast and endoplasmic reticulum. AlphaFold protein models illustrated differences in pore shape and size across subfamilies. Our analysis supports the importance of functional data for deciphering unknown AQP structure-function relationships and uncovering novel candidates for in planta solute transport.

plant biology↗