Biology subjects

Renslo, A. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Renslo, A. R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2017

Structure of the nucleotide exchange factor eIF2B reveals mechanism of memory-enhancing molecule

Regulation by the integrated stress response (ISR) converges on the phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2 in response to a variety of stresses. Phosphorylation converts eIF2 from substrate to competitive inhibitor of its dedicated guanine nucleotide exchange factor, eIF2B, inhibiting translation. ISRIB, a drug-like eIF2B activator, reverses the effects of eIF2 phosphorylation and, remarkably, in rodents enhances cognition and corrects cognitive deficits after brain injury. To determine its mechanism of action, we solved an atomic-resolution structure of ISRIB bound in a deep cleft within decameric human eIF2B by electron cryo-microscopy. Structural and biochemical analyses revealed that formation of fully active, decameric eIF2B holoenzyme depended on the assembly of two identical tetrameric subcomplexes, and that ISRIB promoted this step by cross-bridging a central symmetry interface. Regulation of eIF2B assembly emerges as a rheostat for eIF2B activity that tunes translation during the ISR and that can be further modulated by ISRIB.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2017

cAMP Signaling Regulates DNA Demethylation by Augmenting the Intracellular Labile Ferrous Iron Pool

It is widely accepted that cAMP regulates gene transcription principally by activating the protein kinase A (PKA)-targeted transcription factors. Here, we show that cAMP enhances the generation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in multiple cell types. 5hmC is converted from 5-methylcytosine (5mC) by Tet methylcytosine dioxygenases, for which Fe(II) is an essential cofactor. The promotion of 5hmC was mediated by a prompt increase of the intracellular labile Fe(II) pool (LIP). cAMP enhanced the acidification of endosomes for Fe(II) release to the LIP likely through RapGEF2. The effect of cAMP on Fe(II) and 5hmC was confirmed by adenylate cyclase activators, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and most notably by stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The transcriptomic changes caused by cAMP occurred in concert with 5hmC elevation in differentially transcribed genes. Collectively, these data show a previously unrecognized regulation of gene transcription by GPCR-cAMP signaling through augmentation of the intracellular labile Fe(II) pool and DNA demethylation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

A Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method For Screening Disulfide Tethering Fragments

We report the refinement of a high-throughput, liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based screening method for the identification of covalent small-molecule binders to proteins. Using a custom library of 1600 disulfide-capped fragments targeting surface cysteine residues, we optimize sample preparation, chromatography, and ionization conditions to maximize the reliability and flexibility of the approach. Data collection at a rate of 90 seconds per sample balances speed and reliability for sustained screening over multiple, diverse projects run over a 24-month period. The method is applicable to protein targets of various classes and a range of molecular masses. Data are processed in a custom pipeline that calculates a % bound value for each compound and detects false-positives by calculating significance of detected masses ( signal significance). An example pipeline has been made available through Biovias ScienceCloud Protocol Exchange. Data collection and analysis methods for the screening of covalent adducts of intact proteins are now fast enough to screen the largest covalent compound libraries in 1-2 days.

biophysics↗