Biology subjects

Muench, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Muench, M..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A Human Neuronal Cell Model of Endogenous TDP-43 A315T Reveals Altered Protein Dynamics and Disease-Relevant Cellular Dysfunction

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregation is the defining pathological hallmark of nearly all cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), yet physiologically relevant human models that faithfully recapitulate disease-associated TDP-43 proteinopathy and dysfunction remain limited. To cover this gap, we generated a novel human-based model of cortical neurons carrying the endogenous ALS-linked TDP-43 A315T mutation together with an in-frame Dendra2 fluorescent reporter, enabling temporal and spatial monitoring of the protein. Neurons expressing TDP-43 A315T exhibited progressive neurite degeneration, altered neuronal activity, and impaired mitochondrial respiration, recapitulating several ALS-associated phenotypes. Our model also displays autophagy-dependent accumulation of cytoplasmic aggregates of mutant TDP-43 without overt loss of nuclear function, maintaining normal processing of canonical cryptic exon targets. In contrast, experimental induction of TDP-43 nuclear exclusion readily triggered cryptic exon incorporation, demonstrating that the model faithfully reproduces loss-of-function phenotypes under stress conditions. In line with perturbed protein solubility, mutant TDP-43 neurons show increased stress granule (SG) formation at baseline and under oxidative stress condition. Finally, treatment with the RNA chaperone Clip34 significantly reduced TDP-43 aggregation under both basal and oxidative stress conditions as well as its localization to SGs. Taken together, these findings establish a physiologically relevant human model that separates early TDP-43 toxic gain-of-function from basal loss-of-function while providing a robust platform for investigating TDP-43 biology and accelerating therapeutic discovery in ALS.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Mutations Causative of CPEO Differentially Engage Innate Immunity Sensors

Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) is a primary mitochondrial disorder (PMD) caused by mutations in nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance proteins. CPEO is characterized by mtDNA depletion and deletions, and patients primarily present with ocular and muscular features (isolated CPEO). However, additional encephalomyopathy, neurological complications, and Parkinsonism can drive a more severe disease form, CPEO-plus. The evolution from isolated CPEO to CPEO-plus remains poorly understood. Inflammatory and innate immune processes are emerging as strong disease modifiers and may underlie this heterogeneity. Instability of mitochondrial DNA is a major driver of organellar stress and release of mitochondrial contents into the cytosol. Mutations in several genes involved in mtDNA replication and maintenance have been implicated in triggering the escape of mitochondrial nucleic acids from the mitochondrial matrix. Once exposed to cytosolic innate immune sensors, mtDNA and mitochondrial double-stranded RNA (mt-dsRNA) act as potent immunogens, with more than 10 innate immune sensors capable of recognizing them. Therefore, mtDNA and mt-dsRNA release are likely pathological mechanisms in CPEO, yet the list of CPEO-related genes that can trigger inflammatory processes is far from complete. Here, we use patient-derived fibroblasts from individuals with CPEO carrying mutations in RNASEH1 and Twinkle, and provide - for the first time - evidence that their mutations drive innate immune activation through the release of different mitochondrial nucleic acids. RNASEH1 mutations lead to the accumulation and subsequent release of mt-dsRNA, while mtDNA remains protected. On the other hand, mutations in Twinkle cause the release of mtDNA without triggering mt-dsRNA production, or leakage. Supporting this notion, the POLRMT inhibitor IMT-1, and the STING inhibitor H-151, reduced interferon stimulated genes expression downstream of RNASEH1 and Twinkle mutations, respectively. Further, when we analyzed a unique compound patient line carrying mutations in both genes simultaneously, we detect both species of nucleic acids in its cytosol, indicating that both pathways can be engaged simultaneously in the same cell. Lastly, we show that cytosolic sensing triggers paracrine signaling to activate bystander microglia - the resident macrophages of the retina and brain - with potential implications to the neurological progression of CPEO. Overall, our findings reveal a new role for RNASEH1 and Twinkle in driving aberrant innate immunity and paracrine inflammation in CPEO. Our data support a model in which innate immunity is a universal feature of mutations causing mtDNA instability; yet different mutations engage distinct sensing pathways, and in complex scenarios multiple pathways can be triggered at the same time. Given the clinical heterogeneity observed in patients with PMDs, our findings that different signaling pathways are triggered in patient-specific manners might have direct implications for precision medicine approaches aimed at targeting specific innate immunity.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Role of Chloroplast Lipid-Remodelling Protein 23 During Cold Acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Cold acclimation is a crucial physiological process that enables plants to adapt to low temperatures. A key aspect of this adaptation is lipid remodeling, which preserves membrane fluidity and integrity under cold stress. Proteins of the chloroplast envelope membranes are increasingly recognized for their role in acclimation to changing environmental conditions. While lipid synthesis occurs at the inner envelope membrane, little is known about specific proteins involved in lipid remodeling during cold acclimation. In this study, we investigate the role of Chloroplast Lipid Remodeling Protein 23 (CLRP23) as a component of the inner chloroplast envelope membrane. Subcellular fractionation combined with protease protection assays provided evidence for its orientation toward the intermembrane space. To explore its function, we analyzed the physiological performance and lipid composition in CLRP23-deficient mutant plants. Under cold stress, we observed significant impairments in photosynthesis and exaggerations in galactolipid response, suggesting CLRP23 is involved in lipid remodeling. Lipid overlay assays, supported by in silico docking analyses, demonstrate that CLRP23 can directly interact with chloroplast lipids, including galactolipids. Complementary transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal broader effects on cold-responsive pathways, supporting the view that CLRP23 contributes to the integration of membrane and metabolic responses during acclimation. These findings expand our understanding of protein-mediated processes during cold acclimation.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Capturing and Recreating Diverse Antibody Repertoires as Multivalent Recombinant Polyclonal Antibody Drugs

Plasma-derived polyclonal antibodies are polyvalent drugs used for many important clinical indications that require modulation of multiple drug targets simultaneously, including emerging infectious disease and transplantation. However, plasma-derived drugs suffer many problems, including low potency, impurities, constraints on supply, and batch-to-batch variation. In this study, we demonstrated proofs-of-concept for a technology that uses microfluidics and molecular genomics to capture diverse mammalian antibody repertoires as multivalent recombinant drugs. These "recombinant hyperimmune" drugs comprised thousands to tens of thousands of antibodies and were derived from convalescent human donors, or vaccinated human donors or immunized mice. Here we used our technology to build a highly potent recombinant hyperimmune for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) in less than three months. We also validated a recombinant hyperimmune for Zika virus disease that abrogates antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) through Fc engineering. For patients with primary immune deficiency (PID), we built high potency polyvalent recombinant hyperimmunes against pathogens that commonly cause serious lung infections. Finally, to address the limitations of rabbit-derived anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), we generated a recombinant human version and demonstrated in vivo function against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Recombinant hyperimmunes are a novel class of drugs that could be used to target a wide variety of other clinical applications, including cancer and autoimmunity.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Recovery of Consciousness and Cognition after General Anesthesia in Humans

Understanding how consciousness and cognitive function return after a major perturbation is important clinically and neurobiologically. To address this question, we conducted a three-center study of 30 healthy humans receiving general anesthesia at clinically relevant doses for three hours. We administered a pre- and post-anesthetic battery of neurocognitive tests, recorded continuous electroencephalography to assess cortical dynamics, and monitored sleep-wake activity before and following anesthetic exposure. We hypothesized that cognitive reconstitution would be a process that evolved over time in the following sequence: attention, complex scanning and tracking, working memory, and executive function. Contrary to our hypothesis, executive function returned first and electroencephalographic analyses revealed that frontal cortical dynamics recovered faster than posterior cortical dynamics. Furthermore, actigraphy indicated normal sleep-wake patterns in the post-anesthetic period. These recovery patterns of higher cognitive function and arousal states suggest that the healthy human brain is resilient to the effects of deep general anesthesia.

neuroscience↗