Biology subjects

Peterson, K. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Peterson, K. E..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Bivalent Inhibitor Development for a Dynamic Epigenetic Tandem Reader Protein Using a Combinatorial Histone Code

Epigenetic readers are a class of proteins that recognize specific chemical modifications on histones to differentially regulate gene expression. Aberrant expression of readers can drive the progression of many diseases and cancers, making this protein class viable therapeutic targets. Understanding the landscape of histone modifications recognized by reader domains, and the structural mechanisms that drive these molecular recognition events, is crucial for guiding the design of pharmaceutically relevant chemical probes. BPTF contains a plant homeodomain (PHD) finger and tandem bromodomain (BRD). Here, we expand upon previous studies that found the BPTF BRD can engage acetyllysine modifications on the N-terminus of histone H3. We uncover H3K4me3K14ac as the specific modifications recognized by the PHD BRD cassette, which is confirmed by crystallography. Using orthogonal methods, our work explores how these modifications can be read cooperatively, including in cis. We report the first experimental evidence proposing a ligand-induced conformational change between the two reader domains of BPTF, supporting previous computational approaches that have predicted a macromolecular rearrangement. We leverage these structural insights to rationally design a peptide-small molecule conjugate MJ-1 that inhibits both domains of BPTF and overcomes ligandability challenges associated with PHD-finger-containing proteins. The results presented here elucidate the molecular basis of the bivalent recognition of multiply modified histone H3 by BPTF and provide structural insight for developing compounds targeting the PHD finger of BPTF for therapeutic applications.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Proteasome mutations associated with CANDLE syndrome cause altered neuronal development by dysregulating polyamine synthesis

Genetic mutations affecting proteasome function can result in multi-organ diseases, such as Chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperature (CANDLE) syndrome. Neurological symptoms associated with CANDLE suggest that proteasomal mutations may impact neuronal development and/or function. We generated cerebral organoids (COs) from CANDLE patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which exhibited impaired neuronal development when compared to COs from healthy control iPSCs. Impaired neuronal maturation in CANDLE COs was correlated with increased polyamines, which were also elevated in CANDLE patient CSF. The proteasome-regulated Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate limiting enzyme for polyamines, was elevated in CANDLE neurons. Inhibition of ODC reversed polyamine overproduction and repaired neuronal maturation in CANDLE COs, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for intervention. These findings demonstrate that dysfunction of the proteasome affects neuronal development through overproduction of polyamines via dysregulation of ODC and offer insight into potential therapeutic strategies for CNS-related proteasomal dysfunction.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

N4-Hydroxycytidine/Molnupiravir Inhibits RNA-Virus Induced Encephalitis by Producing Mutated Viruses with Reduced Fitness

A diverse group of RNA viruses including Rabies, Polio, La Crosse, West Nile, Zika, Nipah, Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses have the ability to gain access to and replicate in the central nervous system (CNS), causing severe neurological disease. Current treatment for these patients is generally limited to supportive care. To address the need for a generalizable antiviral, we utilized a strategy of mutagenesis to limit virus replication. We evaluated ribavirin (RBV), favipiravir (FAV) and N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) against La Crosse virus (LACV) which is the primary cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis cases in North America. NHC was more potent than RBV or FAV in neuronal cells. Oral administration of molnupiravir (MOV), the 5-isobutyryl prodrug of NHC, decreased neurological disease development by 32% following intraperitoneal (IP) infection of LACV. MOV also reduced disease by 23% when virus was administered intranasally (IN). NHC and MOV produced less fit viruses by incorporating predominantly G-to-A or C-to-U mutations. Furthermore, NHC also inhibited two other orthobunyaviruses, Jamestown Canyon virus and Cache Valley virus. Collectively, these studies indicate that NHC/MOV has therapeutic potential to inhibit virus replication and subsequent neurological disease caused by this neurotropic RNA virus.

microbiology↗