Biology subjects

Kato, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Kato, K..

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Identifying simultaneous inhibition of riboflavin metabolism and MEK as a novel therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a formidable challenge with a survival rate of approximately 10%, largely due to the lack of diagnostic and therapeutic options. To identify novel therapeutic targets for PDAC, we previously developed a Drosophila melanogaster model, the 4-hit fly, which mimics the alterations in KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4 genes observed in PDAC. Through whole-body genetic screening using the 4-hit model, we identified riboflavin (RF) metabolism as a novel potential therapeutic target for PDAC. Additionally, transcript levels of four out of five genes that are involved in RF metabolism were elevated in human PDAC compared to non-tumor tissues. Roseoflavin (RoF), an antimetabolite of RF, resulted in a variety range of metabolic changes, decreased mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, and suppressed proliferation in cultured PDAC cells. Furthermore, the combination of RoF with the MEK inhibitor drug trametinib significantly suppressed the growth of human PDAC xenografts compared to either treatment alone. These findings underscore that dual targeting of RF metabolism and MEK represents a novel therapeutic strategy for PDAC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Cholesterol sulfate prevents maternal-fetal conflict by locally modulating immune reactivity

Although placental mammals are at high risk of maternal-fetal immune conflict, it is unclear how the semi-allogeneic fetus avoids rejection. Cholesterol sulfate (CS) is a bioactive metabolite that inhibits leukocyte migration and activation. This study investigated the roles and cells associated with CS in pregnant mice and humans. CS was sequentially produced by maternal-derived endometrial cells and fetal-derived placental trophoblasts before and after placentation. When mated with allogeneic males, CS-deficient mice showed increased fetal resorption rates under induced placental inflammation. This phenotype disappeared when the activity of the CS-producing enzyme was restored in the placenta. Placental CS levels were reduced in patients with "villitis of unknown etiology." Thus, we uncovered the spatiotemporal control of CS production and its relevance to local immunosuppression during pregnancy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Structural and functional insights into Cdc45 recruitment by Sld7-Sld3 for CMG complex formation

DNA replication requires recruitment of Cdc45 and GINS into the MCM double hexamer by initiation factors to form an active helicase, the Cdc45-MCM-GINS (CMG) complex, at the replication origins. The initiation factor Sld3 is a central regulator of Cdc45 and GINS recruitment, working with Sld7 together. However, the mechanism through which Sld3 regulates CMG complex formation remains unclear. Here, we present the structure of the Sld3 Cdc45-binding domain in complex with Cdc45 (Sld3CBD-Cdc45), showing detailed interactions and conformational changes required for binding to each other. The mutant analysis indicated that the binding between Sld3CBD and Cdc45 could be broken easily. We also revealed that Sld3CBD, GINS, and MCM bind to different sites on Cdc45 in the Sld3CBD-CMG model, indicating that after recruitment of Cdc45, Sld7-Sld3 could remain in Cdc45-MCM until CMG formation. The consistency between the particle size of Sld7-Sld3-Cdc45 and the distance between Sld3CBDs in the Cdc45-MCM dimer indicated the binding manner of the Cdc45-Sld3-[Sld7]2-Sld3-Cdc45 off/on MCM double hexamer. A DNA-binding assay of Sld3 and its complexes with single-stranded ARS1 fragments revealed a relationship between the dissociation of Sld7-Sld3 from CMG and the unwound single-stranded DNA. These findings help to further our understanding of the molecular basis of the regulation of CMG complex formation by Sld3.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Conserved loop of a phase modifier endows protein condensates with fluidity

Dipeptide repeats (DPRs) that are gene products from abnormal hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72 trigger amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through unknown mechanism. This study highlights, importin Karyopherin{beta}2 (Kap{beta}2), which is responsible for nuclear transport and phase modification of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), as a major DPR target. We demonstrate DPR accumulation in the nucleus via Kap{beta}2-mediated transport, which results in dose-dependent toxicity observed in nematode and yeast models. In vitro interaction studies exploiting chemical probe arrays and biophysical measurements reveal multivalent DPR binding to Kap{beta}2, including at the conserved acidic loop. Refractive index and fluorescence imaging coupled with biochemical assays unveiled that binding of excess DPRs to the acidic loop turns a phase modifier Kap{beta}2 into phase disrupter, resulting more condensed and viscous RBP condensates. Our findings provides molecular insight into C9orf72-ALS related to age and repeat expansion.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

Polyphyletic domestication and inter-lineage hybridization magnified genetic diversity of cultivated melon, Cucumis melo L.

A total of 212 melon accessions with diverse geographical origins were classified into large and small seed-types by length of seed at the boundary of 9 mm, and into five populations based on polymorphisms in the nuclear genome. They were further divided into three maternal lineages, Ia, Ib, and Ic, by polymorphisms in the chloroplast genome. By combining these three classifications, the Europe/US subsp. melo and the East Asian subsp. agrestis were characterized as [large seed, Ib, PopA1 or A2] and [small seed, Ia, PopB1 or B2], respectively, indicating nearly perfect divergence in both nuclear and cytoplasm genomes. In contrast, in South and Southeast Asia, in addition to the Europe/US and East Asian types, recombinant types were also frequently found, indicating unclear genetic differentiation in South and Southeast Asia. Such an intermixed structure of genetic variation supported the Indian origin of Ia and Ib types of melon. Seed length was intermediate, between the large and small seed-types, and chloroplast type was a mixture of Ia and Ib in Momordica, suggesting its origin from the recombinant type. In Africa, three lineages of melon were distributed allopatrically and showed distinct divergence. Subsp. agrestis of the Ic type proved to be endemic to Africa, indicating its African origin.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Key role of P230 in the hinge region on the IgG architecture and function

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a molecule that plays an important role in biological defense; IgG molecules have been applied as drugs due to their high specificity for antigens and their ability to activate immunity via effector molecules on immune cells. On the other hand, the flexibility of the hinge region makes it difficult to apply conventional structural biology approaches due to its dynamic conformational changes, and the mechanism of action of the molecule as a whole has not been elucidated. Here, we introduced a deletion amino acid mutation in the hinge region to elucidate the role of the hinge region and its effect on the structure and function of the IgG molecule. Deletion of Pro230 resulted in the formation of a half-molecular in which the interaction between heavy chains was lost. We elucidated the mechanism of half-IgG formation by structural analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and by disulfide quantification using peptide mapping using LC-MS/MS. For this purpose, a new NMR stable isotope labeling method was introduced. Finally, cell assay revealed that the IgG half-molecules have specific Fc{gamma}RI-mediated activity. This report provides new insights into the higher-order structure formation of IgG molecules and is expected to contribute to the elucidation of the molecular basis of the Fc{gamma} receptor-mediated activation mechanism of the immune system.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2024

Genetic characterization of cucumber genetic resources in the NARO Genebank indicates their multiple dispersal trajectories to the East

The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated and consumed worldwide. Despite its popularity, the manner in which cucumbers were dispersed from their origin in South Asia to the rest of the world, particularly to the east, remains a mystery due to the lack of written records. In this study, we performed genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) on 723 worldwide cucumber accessions, mainly deposited in the Japanese National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) Genebank, to characterize their genetic diversity, relationships, and population structure. Analyses based on over 60,000 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified by GBS revealed clear genetic differentiation between Southeast and East Asian populations, suggesting that they reached their respective region independently, not progressively. A deeper investigation of the East Asian population identified two subpopulations with different fruit characteristics, supporting the traditional classification of East Asian cucumbers into two types thought to have been introduced by independent routes. Finally, we developed a core collection of 100 accessions representing at least 93.2% of the genetic diversity present in the entire collection. The genetic relationships and population structure, their associations with geographic distribution and phenotypic traits, and the core collection presented in this study are valuable resources for elucidating the dispersal history and promoting the efficient use and management of genetic resources for research and breeding in cucumber. Key messageGenotyping-by-sequencing of 723 worldwide cucumber genetic resources revealed that cucumbers were dispersed eastward via at least three distinct routes, one to Southeast Asia and two from different directions to East Asia.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Structural basis for molecular assembly of fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins in a diatom photosystem I supercomplex

Photosynthetic organisms exhibit remarkable diversity in their light-harvesting complexes (LHCs). LHCs are associated with photosystem I (PSI), forming a PSI-LHCI supercomplex. The number of LHCI subunits, along with their protein sequences and pigment compositions, has been found to differ greatly among the PSI-LHCI structures. However, the mechanisms by which LHCIs recognize their specific binding sites within the PSI core remain unclear. In this study, we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of a PSI supercomplex incorporating fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins (FCPs), designated as PSI-FCPI, isolated from the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana CCMP1335. Structural analysis of PSI-FCPI revealed five FCPI subunits associated with a PSI monomer; these subunits were identified as RedCAP, Lhcr3, Lhcq10, Lhcf10, and Lhcq8. Through structural and sequence analyses, we identified specific protein-protein interactions at the interfaces between FCPI and PSI subunits, as well as among FCPI subunits themselves. Comparative structural analyses of PSI-FCPI supercomplexes, combined with phylogenetic analysis of FCPs from T. pseudonana and the diatom Chaetoceros gracilis, underscore the evolutionary conservation of protein motifs crucial for the selective binding of individual FCPI subunits. These findings provide significant insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly and selective binding of FCPIs in diatoms.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Chromosome-level assembly of Cucumis sativus cv. 'Tokiwa' as a reference genome of Japanese cucumber

Cucumber is one of the most important vegetables in the Japanese market. To facilitate genomics-based breeding, there is a demand for reference genome of Japanese cucumber. However, although cucumber genome is relatively small, its assembly is a challenging issue because of tandem repeats comprising [~]30% ([~]100 Mbp) of the genome. To overcome, we deployed the Oxford nanopore sequencing that produces long reads with N50 length of >30 kbp. With this technology we achieved a chromosome-level assembly of cv Tokiwa, a founder line of Japanese cucumber represented with the elongated fruit shape and high-crisp texture. Compared to the existing cucumber genomes, the Tokiwa genome is 20% longer and annotated with 10% more genes. The assembly with nanopore long reads also resolved tandem repeats spanning >100 kbp, demonstrating its strength in overcoming repetitive sequences.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Erythropoietin production in embryonic neural cells is controlled by hypoxia-inducible factors and histone deacetylases in an undifferentiated state

During mammalian development, production sites of the erythroid growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) shift from the neural tissues to the liver in embryos and to the adult kidneys. Embryonic neural EPO-producing (NEP) cells, a subpopulation of neuroepithelial and neural crest cells, express the Epo gene between embryonic day (E) 8.5 and E11.5 to promote primitive erythropoiesis in mice. While Epo gene expression in the liver and kidney is induced under hypoxic conditions through hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) 2, the Epo gene regulatory mechanisms in NEP cells remain to be elucidated. This study confirms the presence of cells coexpressing the genes encoding EPO and HIF2 in E9.5 neural tubes, where the hypoxic microenvironment activates HIF1. In human neural progenitors and mouse embryonic neural tissues, a HIF-activating compound upregulated EPO expression, and this induction was blocked by inhibiting HIFs. Additionally, a cell line of NEP cell derivatives that no longer expressed the Epo gene demonstrated that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) reactivate EPO production while rejuvenating the cells. HDACIs also induced EPO gene expression in SK-N-BE(2)c human neuroblastoma cells and mouse primary neural crest cells. Thus, EPO production is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms and hypoxia signaling in an immature state of hypoxic NEP cells.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Programmable RNA writing with trans-splicing

RNA editing offers the opportunity to introduce either stable or transient modifications to nucleic acid sequence without permanent off-target effects, but installation of arbitrary edits into the transcriptome is currently infeasible. Here, we describe Programmable RNA Editing & Cleavage for Insertion, Substitution, and Erasure (PRECISE), a versatile RNA editing method for writing RNA of arbitrary length and sequence into existing pre-mRNAs via 5' or 3' trans-splicing. In trans-splicing, an exogenous template is introduced to compete with the endogenous pre-mRNA, allowing for replacement of upstream or downstream exon sequence. Using Cas7-11 cleavage of pre-mRNAs to bias towards editing outcomes, we boost the efficiency of RNA trans-splicing by 10-100 fold, achieving editing rates between 5-50% and 85% on endogenous and reporter transcripts, respectively, while maintaining high-fidelity. We demonstrate PRECISE editing across 11 distinct endogenous transcripts of widely varying expression levels, showcasing more than 50 types of edits, including all 12 possible transversions and transitions, insertions ranging from 1 to 1,863 nucleotides, and deletions. We show high efficiency replacement of exon 4 of MECP2, addressing most mutations that drive the Rett Syndrome; editing of SHANK3 transcripts, a gene involved in Autism; and replacement of exon 1 of HTT, removing the hallmark repeat expansions of Huntington's disease. Whole transcriptome sequencing reveals the high precision of PRECISE editing and lack of off-target trans-splicing activity. Furthermore, we combine payload engineering and ribozymes for protein-free, high-efficiency trans-splicing, with demonstrated efficiency in editing HTT exon 1 via AAV delivery. We show that the high activity of PRECISE editing enables editing in non-dividing neurons and patient-derived Huntingtons disease fibroblasts. PRECISE editing markedly broadens the scope of genetic editing, is straightforward to deliver over existing gene editing tools like prime editing, lacks permanent off-targets, and can enable any type of genetic edit large or small, including edits not otherwise possible with existing RNA base editors, widening the spectrum of addressable diseases.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Mechanism and regulation of cargo entry into the Commander recycling pathway

Commander is a multiprotein complex that orchestrates endosomal recycling of diverse integral cargo proteins and in humans is required for normal skeletal, brain, kidney, and cardiovascular development. While the structure of this complex has recently been described, the central question of how cargo proteins are selected for entry into the Commander recycling pathway remains unclear. Here using recombinant protein reconstitution and in silico predictions we identify the evolutionary conserved mechanism through which the unstructured carboxy-terminal tail of the integral protein adaptor sorting nexin-17 (SNX17) directly binds to the Retriever sub-complex of Commander. SNX17 adopts an autoinhibited conformation where its carboxy-terminal tail occupies the cargo binding groove. Competitive cargo binding overcomes this autoinhibition, promoting SNX17 endosomal residency and the release of the carboxy tail for Retriever association. Using molecular cell biology and high-resolution microscopy, we establish the central importance of SNX17-Retriever association in the handover of integrin and lipoprotein receptor cargoes into pre-existing endosomal retrieval sub-domains for entry into the recycling pathway. In describing the principal mechanism of cargo entry into the Commander recycling pathway we provide key insight into the function and regulation of this evolutionary conserved sorting complex.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Highly efficient transgenic mouse production using piggyBac and its application to rapid phenotyping at the founder generation

Pronuclear microinjection is the most popular method for producing transgenic (Tg) animals. Because the production efficiency is typically less than 20%, phenotypic characterization of Tg animals is generally performed on the next generation (F1) onwards. However, apart from in rodents, in many animal species with long generation times, it is desirable to perform phenotyping in the founder (F0) generation. In this study, we attempted to optimize a method of Tg mouse production to achieve higher Tg production efficiency using piggyBac transposon systems and established optimal conditions under which almost all individuals in the F0 generation were Tg. We also succeeded in generating bacterial artificial chromosome Tg mice with efficiency of approximately 70%. By combining this method with genome editing technology, we established a new strategy to perform phenotyping of mice with tissue-specific knockout using the F0 generation. Taking the obtained findings together, by using this method, experimental research using Tg animals can be carried out more efficiently.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Leaf- and diverged shoot meristem programs shape the stem in rice

The stem is the shoot axis in seed plants and has been a primary target in breeding to regulate crop height. However, early processes of stem development remain elusive. Here we show that regulators for shoot meristems and leaves determine the node-internode pattern in rice. Mutants of KNOX1 genes OSH15 and OSH1, known to maintain shoot meristem indeterminacy1,2, showed dwarfism due to enlarged nodes and diminished internodes. These genes confine node differentiation by repressing leaf developmental regulator YABBY genes in internodal vasculatures. YABBY expression, which normally extends from leaves to nodes along vasculatures, promotes nodal vascular differentiation and limits stem elongation. It expands in knox1 mutants, and the loss of YABBY genes reverts their dwarfism. OSH15 also represses node-specific KNOX1 subclade genes OSH6 and OSH71 to allow internode elongation. Importantly, both YABBY and node-specific KNOX1 genes are required for pulvinus formation at the leaf base, further elaborating the nodal structure for gravitropism. Thus, intersections between leaf and sub-functionalized shoot meristem programs shape nodes and internodes along the stem. Phylogenetic analysis showed that KNOX1 sub-functionalization likely occurred in the progenitor of gymnosperms and angiosperms. Given that seed plants acquired their leaves independently from other vascular plant lineages3,4, the emergence of the node-internode pattern and KNOX1-YABBY regulatory module may be linked to seed plant leaf evolution.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Structure of PSI-LHCI from Cyanidium caldarium provides evolutionary insights into conservation and diversity of red-lineage LHCs

Light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) are diversified among photosynthetic organisms, and their structural variety in photosystem I-LHC (PSI-LHCI) supercomplexes has been shown. However, structural and evolutionary correlations of red-lineage LHCs are unknown. Here we determined a 1.92-[A] resolution cryo-electron microscopic structure of a PSI-LHCI supercomplex isolated from the red alga Cyanidium caldarium RK-1 (NIES-2137) which is an important taxon in the Cyanidiophyceae, and subsequently investigated these correlations through structural comparisons and phylogenetic analysis. The PSI-LHCI structure shows five LHCI subunits together with a PSI-monomer core. The five LHCIs are composed of two Lhcr1s, two Lhcr2s, and one Lhcr3. Phylogenetic analysis of LHCs bound to PSI in red-lineage algae showed clear orthology of LHCs between C. caldarium and Cyanidioschyzon merolae, whereas no orthologous relationships were found between C. caldarium Lhcr1-3 and LHCs in other red-lineage PSI-LHCI structures. These findings provide evolutionary insights into conservation and diversity of red-lineage LHCs associated with PSI.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

UGGT1/2-mediated reglucosylation of N-glycan competes with ER-associated degradation of unstable and misfolded glycoproteins

How the fate (folding versus degradation) of glycoproteins is determined in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an intriguing question. Monoglucosylated glycoproteins are recognized by lectin chaperones to facilitate their folding, whereas glycoproteins exposing well-trimmed mannoses are subjected to glycoprotein ER-associated degradation (gpERAD); we have elucidated how mannoses are sequentially trimmed by EDEM family members (George et al., 2020, 2021 eLife). Although reglucosylation by UGGT was previously reported to have no effect on substrate degradation, here we directly tested this notion using cells with genetically disrupted UGGT1/2. Strikingly, the results showed that UGGT1 delayed the degradation of misfolded substrates and unstable glycoproteins including ATF6. An experiment with a point mutant of UGGT1 indicated that the glucosylation activity of UGGT1 was required for the inhibition of early glycoprotein degradation. These and overexpression-based competition experiments suggested that the fate of glycoproteins is determined by a tug-of-war between structure formation by UGGT1 and degradation by EDEMs. We further demonstrated the physiological importance of UGGT1, since ATF6 cannot function properly without UGGT1. Thus, our work strongly suggests that UGGT1 is a central factor in ER protein quality control via regulation of both glycoprotein folding and degradation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Evolution of wheat blast resistance gene Rmg8 accompanied by differentiation of variants recognizing the powdery mildew fungus

Wheat blast, a devastating disease having spread recently from South America to Asia and Africa, is caused by Pyricularia oryzae pathotype Triticum which emerged in 1985. Rmg8 and Rmg7, genes for resistance to wheat blast found in common wheat and tetraploid wheat, respectively, recognize the same avirulence gene, AVR-Rmg8. Here, we show an evolutionary process in which resistance gene(s), which had obtained an ability to recognize AVR-Rmg8 before the differentiation of Triticum and Aegilops, has expanded its target pathogens. Molecular cloning revealed that Rmg7 was one of alleles of Pm4 (Pm4a), a gene for resistance to wheat powdery mildew on 2AL, whereas Rmg8 was its homoeolog on 2BL ineffective against wheat powdery mildew. Rmg8 variants with the ability to recognize AVR-Rmg8 were distributed not only in Triticum spp. but also in Aegilops speltoides, Ae. umbellulata, and Ae. comosa. This result suggests that the origin of resistance gene(s) recognizing AVR-Rmg8 dates back to the time before differentiation of A, B, S, U, and M genomes, that is, [~]5 million years before the emergence of its current target, the wheat blast fungus. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that, in the evolutionary process thereafter, some of their variants gained the ability to recognize the wheat powdery mildew fungus and evolved into genes for resistance to wheat powdery mildew.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Regional random mutagenesis driven by multiple sgRNAs and diverse on-target genome editing events to identify functionally important elements in non-coding regions

Functional regions that regulate biological phenomena are interspersed throughout eukaryotic genomes. The most definitive approach for identifying such regions is to confirm the phenotype of cells or organisms in which specific regions have been mutated or removed from the genome. This approach is invaluable for the functional analysis of genes with a defined functional element, the protein-coding sequence. In contrast, no functional analysis platforms have been established for the study of cis-elements or microRNA cluster regions consisting of multiple microRNAs with functional overlap. Whole-genome mutagenesis approaches, such as via N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and gene trapping, have greatly contributed to elucidating the function of coding genes. These methods almost never induce deletions of genomic regions or multiple mutations within a narrow region. In other words, cis-elements and microRNA clusters cannot be effectively targeted in such a manner. Herein, we established a novel region-specific random mutagenesis method named CRISPR-& Transposase-based RegionaL Mutagenesis (CTRL-Mutagenesis). We demonstrated that CTRL-mutagenesis randomly induces diverse mutations within target regions in murine embryonic stem cells. Comparative analysis of mutants harbouring subtly different mutations within the same region would facilitate the further study of cis-element and microRNA clusters. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=154 SRC="FIGDIR/small/557308v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (30K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@f70563org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@182dc6borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@550e32org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@16f7dd_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

genetics↗