Biology subjects

Mazumdar, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Mazumdar, S..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Dual Role of Cx43 in Enhancing CDK4/6 Inhibitor Response and Promoting the Elimination of Therapy-Induced Senescent Tumor Cells

Breast cancer has become the most prevalent malignancy worldwide. A key clinical advance has been the introduction of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i), that in combination with endocrine therapy has been a major advance for the treatment of luminal (ER/HER2-) breast cancer. CDK4/6i induce cell cycle arrest in G1 and cellular senescence improving clinical outputs. However, limited efficacy and therapeutic resistance remain major challenges due to incomplete effects or the failure to eliminate the accumulated tumor senescent cells. Here, we identify connexin 43 (Cx43), a membrane channel protein involved in cell-to-cell communication, identified as a novel target in luminal breast cancer that potentiates the effects of CDK4/6 inhibitors. We found that Cx43 not only reduces tumor cell proliferation by enhancing senescence but also reshapes the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) profile. We also demonstrate that, in combination with CDK4/6i, Cx43 reinforces G1 arrest via transcriptional downregulation of E2F targets including CDK4 and CDK6, and through interaction with p21/p27, deepens the senescent state. Importantly, the Cx43-associated senescent phenotype sensitizes tumor cells accumulated under CDK4/6i treatment to the senolytic agent Navitoclax. Our results demonstrate that upregulation of Cx43 in breast cancer reduces proliferation and enhances the clearance of therapy-induced senescent cells. The triple-drug strategy comprising CDK4/6i, Cx43 delivery, and a senolytic drug such as Navitoclax holds great promise for overcoming CDK4/6i resistance and improving clinical outcomes in ER/HER2- breast cancer and may also be applicable to other cancer types that respond to CDK4/6i or other pro-senescence antitumoral drugs.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Organ identity shapes autophagy dynamics and selectivity in plants

Plants, with their unique evolutionary trajectory and complex physiological adaptations, have developed organ-specific mechanisms to cope with various environmental stresses. Autophagy, an essential catabolic process, plays an important role in maintaining plant growth, immunity, and overall fitness. In this study, we reveal the spatio-temporal dynamics of autophagic responses in Arabidopsis thaliana roots and shoots under different stress conditions, including AZD8055 treatment and carbon and nitrogen depletion. Our findings demonstrate that roots exhibit stronger autophagic activity than shoots under all three conditions, highlighting the unique adaptations of these two organs. Furthermore, we dissect the selectivity of autophagy in targeting organelles, revealing immediate, delayed, and no uptake categories. Additionally, we observe organelles coexisting within autophagic bodies, shedding light on the complexity of cargo selection. This study enhances our understanding of plant specific autophagy dynamics, emphasizing its role in sustaining the source-sink functions and offering insights into plant adaptation to diverse stressors.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Exogenous mitochondrial transfer increases energy expenditure and attenuates adiposity gains in mice with diet-induced obesity

Obesity is associated with chronic multi-system bioenergetic stress that may be improved by increasing the number of healthy mitochondria available across organ systems. However, treatments capable of increasing mitochondrial content are generally limited to endurance exercise training paradigms, which are not always sustainable long-term, let alone feasible for many patients with obesity. Recent studies have shown that local transfer of exogenous mitochondria from healthy donor tissues can improve bioenergetic outcomes and alleviate the effects of tissue injury in recipients with organ specific disease. Thus, the aim of this project was to determine the feasibility of systemic mitochondrial transfer for improving energy balance regulation in the setting of diet-induced obesity. We found that transplantation of mitochondria from lean mice into mice with diet-induced obesity attenuated adiposity gains by increasing energy expenditure and promoting the mobilization and oxidation of lipids. Additionally, mice that received exogenous mitochondria demonstrated improved glucose uptake, greater insulin responsiveness, and complete reversal of hepatic steatosis. These changes were, in part, driven by adaptations occurring in white adipose tissue. Together, these findings are proof-of-principle that mitochondrial transplantation is an effective therapeutic strategy for limiting the deleterious metabolic effects of diet-induced obesity in mice.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Damage activates EVG1 to suppress vascular differentiation during regeneration in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants possess remarkable regenerative abilities to form de novo vasculature after damage and in response to pathogens that invade and withdraw nutrients. To look for common factors that affect vascular formation upon stress, we searched for Arabidopsis thaliana genes differentially expressed during Agrobacterium infection, nematode infection and plant grafting. One such gene was cell-wall associated and highly induced by all three stresses. Mutations in it enhanced ectopic xylem formation in Vascular cell Induction culture System Using Arabidopsis Leaves (VISUAL) and enhanced graft formation and was thus named ENHANCER OF VISUAL AND GRAFTING 1 (EVG1). Mutated evg1 inhibited cambium development and callus formation yet promoted tissue attachment, syncytium size, phloem reconnection and xylem formation. evg1 affected abscisic acid and cell wall responses and was itself down regulated by ABA. We found mutations in a receptor-like gene, RLP44, had the same regeneration phenotype as EVG1 mutations including enhancing VISUAL and grafting. evg1 and rlp44 mutants affected the expression of many genes in common including those important for successful regeneration and vascular formation. We propose that EVG1 integrates information from cutting, wounding or parasitism stresses and functions with RLP44 to suppress vascular differentiation during regeneration.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The regeneration factors ERF114 and ERF115 act as transducers of mechanical cues to developmental pathways

Plants show an unparalleled regenerative capacity, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack and harsh weather conditions. This potential not only replenishes tissues and restores damaged organs, but can also give rise to whole plant bodies, highlighting the intertwined nature of development and regeneration. It suggests that regeneration and developmental processes respond to the same upstream signals, but how a cell knows which of the two processes to engage is currently unknown. Here, we demonstrate that next to being regulators of regeneration, ETHYENE RESPONSE FACTOR 114 (ERF114) and ERF115 govern developmental growth in the absence of wounding or injury. Increased ERF114 and ERF115 activity is correlated with enhanced xylem maturation and lateral root formation, whereas their knockout results in a decrease in lateral roots and xylem connectivity following grafting. Moreover, we provide evidence that mechanical cues contribute to ERF114 and ERF115 expression in correlation with BZR1 mediated brassinosteroid signaling under both regenerative and developmental conditions. Antagonistically, negative regulation of cell wall extensibility via cell wall-associated mechanosensory FERONIA signaling suppresses their expression under both conditions. Our data suggest a molecular framework in which mechanical perturbations too great to be compensated by adaptive cell wall remodeling results in strong ERF114 and ERF115 expression, switching their role from developmental to regenerative regulators. One-Sentence SummaryMechanical cues drive ERF114/ERF115 expression during lateral root development as well as regeneration.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Bipartite influence of abscisic acid on xylem differentiation trajectories is dependent on distinct VND transcription factors in Arabidopsis

Plants display a remarkable ability to adjust their growth and development to changes in environmental conditions, such as reduction in water availability. This high degree of plasticity is apparent not only as altered root and shoot growth rates, but also as changes to tissue patterning and cell morphology [1,2]. We have previously shown that Arabidopsis thaliana root xylem displays plastic developmental responses to limited water availability, mediated by non-cell autonomous action of abscisic acid, ABA [2]. Here, we show through analyses of ABA response reporters and tissue specific suppression of ABA signalling that xylem cells act as primary signalling centres for mediation of changes to both xylem cell fate and differentiation rate revealing a cell autonomous control of xylem development by ABA. Transcriptomic changes in response to ABA showed that members of the VASCULAR RELATED NAC DOMAIN (VND) transcription factor family are rapidly activated. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed that the two aspects of xylem developmental changes, cell fate and differentiation rate, are dependent on distinct members of this transcription factor family. Thus, this study provides insights into how different aspects of developmental plasticity can be interlinked, yet genetically independent of each other. Moreover, similarities in phenotypic and molecular responses to ABA in diverse species indicate an evolutionary conservation of the ABA-xylem development regulatory network among eudicots. Hence, this study gives molecular insights on how environmental stress promotes anatomical plasticity to key plant traits with potential relevance for water use optimization and adaptation to drought conditions.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

In-vivo evaluation of the anti-diarrheal effect of Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis and Lactococcus piscium isolated from yogurt.

Lactobacillus and Lactococcus species found in the yogurt of different sources are most widely assayed and used all over the world as a probiotic agent. This study aimed to isolate and identify novel probiotic agents with therapeutic value against diarrhea. Initially, the probiotic properties of the isolated lactic acid bacteria from the yogurt samples of the Chittagong division, Bangladesh, were evaluated. All probiotic candidates inhibited the growth of selected pathogens, including Escheriachia coli, Serratia sp. Salmonella paratyphi, Streptococcus Group-B, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophillus influenzae, Bacillus subtillis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis were found most useful in inhibiting all the selected pathogens. When the probiotics were applied against castor oil-induced diarrhea in the rat model, Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis and Lactococcus piscium were found significantly effective relative to the controls indicating their potentiality as an alternative therapeutic against diarrhea. HighlightsO_LILactococcus lactis subspecies lactis and Lactococcus piscium has shown potentiality to be a therapeutic agent against castor-oil induced diarrhea in an animal model. C_LIO_LILactococcus lactis subspecies lactis and Lactococcus piscium inhibited the growth of specified pathogens. C_LI

microbiology↗