Biology subjects

Sapetschnig, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Sapetschnig, A..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Compensatory tRNA Modification by DUS3L Confers Resistance to METTL1 Loss in Oesophageal Cancer

tRNA N-methylguanosine (mG46), installed by the METTL1/WDR4 methyltransferase, stabilizes the tRNA pool supporting high proliferative rates. Accordingly, many cancer cell lines are vulnerable to METTL1 loss, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target. We identify a subset of cell lines insensitive to METTL1 depletion and use oesophageal lines as a model to explore the mechanism. The METTL1-resistant adenocarcinoma line OE33 preserves tRNA balance upon mG46 deficiency by elevating dihydrouridylation at position 47 (D47). Depletion of DUS-L enzymes that catalyse D16/D17/D20/D47 on tRNAs sensitises OE33 to METTL1 loss. Concomitant loss of dihydrouridylation and mG46 destabilizes the canonical L-shaped tRNA structure, disrupts coaxial helix stacking and anticodon-loop presentation, and reduces cellular fitness. Notably, METTL1-sensitive cell lines lack this compensatory pathway due to the deleterious effects of increasing their intrinsically low DUS3L levels. These findings reveal a DUS-L-mediated buffering mechanism that supports tRNA homeostasis in METTL1-resistant cancers and highlight DUS3L abundance as a potential biomarker for predicting METTL1 sensitivity. Moreover, they suggest that combined targeting of DUS-L and METTL1 may provide a therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance in cancers, exemplified in cell lines such as OE33. HighlightsO_LIThe oesophagus cancer line OE33 shows no proliferative defect upon METTL1/WDR4 loss, despite complete lack of m7G46 on its tRNA. C_LIO_LIOE33 coordinates codon usage and abundance of cognate tRNAs in the absence of METTL1/WDR4; the METTL1/WDR4 sensitive line, OE21, fails to do so. C_LIO_LIDepleting dihydrouridine synthases (DUS-L) renders OE33 sensitive to METTL1/WDR4 loss. C_LIO_LIOE33 responds to lack of METTL1/WDR4 activity by upregulating DUS3L and its activity (D47) on tRNA; the sensitive line OE21 fails to do so. C_LIO_LIMETTL1-sensitive lines have intrinsically low DUS3L and cannot sustain higher levels. C_LIO_LIDUS3L reveals as a potential biomarker for METTL1 sensitivity. C_LI

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

The mouse pangenome reveals the structural complexity of the murine protein coding landscape

We present the first mouse pangenome consisting of 17 high-quality inbred mouse strain genomes with complete annotation. This collection includes 12 widely used classical laboratory strains and 5 wild-derived strains. We have fully resolved previously incomplete genomic regions, including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the defensin cluster, T-cell receptor, and Ly49 complexes. Hundreds of non-reference genes identified in previous publications not found in GRCm39, like Defa1, Raet1a, and Klra20 (Ly49T), were localised in the new reference genomes. We conducted the first genome-wide scan of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) within the coding regions of mice, identifying over 400 genes with VNTR polymorphisms up to more than 600 repeat copies and repeat units reaching 990 nucleotides. Our strain-specific annotations enhance RNA-Seq analyses, as demonstrated in PWK/PhJ, where we observed a 5.1% improvement in read mapping and expression level differences in 2.1% of coding genes compared to using GRCm39.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

RNA uridyl transferases TUT4/7 differentially regulate miRNA variants depending on the cancer cell-type

The human terminal uridyl transferases TUT4 and TUT7 (TUT4/7) catalyse additions of uridines at the 3' end of RNAs such as the precursors of the tumour suppressor miRNA let-7, upon recruitment by the oncoprotein LIN28A. Consequently, let-7 family miRNAs are downregulated. Disruption of this TUT4/7 activity inhibits tumorigenesis and hence targeting TUT4/7 can be a potential anti-cancer therapy. In this study, we investigate TUT4/7-mediated RNA regulation in two cancer cell lines by establishing catalytic knockout models. Upon TUT4/7 mutation, we observe a significant reduction in miRNA uridylation, which results in defects in cancer cell properties such as cell proliferation and migration. With the loss of TUT4/7-mediated miRNA uridylation, the uridylated miRNA variants are replaced by adenylated isomiRs. Changes in miRNA modification profiles are accompanied by deregulation of expression levels in specific cases. Unlike let-7s, most miRNAs do not depend on LIN28A for TUT4/7-mediated regulation. Additionally, we identify TUT4/7-regulated cell-type-specific miRNA clusters and deregulation in their corresponding mRNA targets. Expression levels of miR-200c-3p and miR-141-3p are regulated by TUT4/7 in a cancer cell type specific manner. Subsequently, BCL2 which is a well-established target of miR-200c is upregulated. Therefore, TUT4/7 loss triggers deregulation of miRNA-mRNA networks in a cell-type-specific manner. Understanding of the underlying biology of such cell-type-specific deregulation will be key when targeting TUT4/7 for cancer therapy. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=198 SRC="FIGDIR/small/451846v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (53K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a18bdcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e5534forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c08e76org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c90423_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Highlights TUT4/7 catalyse 3' uridylation of most miRNAs Loss of uridylated isomiRs leads to the gain of adenylated isomiRs TUT4/7-mediated miRNA deregulation and miRNA-mRNA interactions are specific to the cell line type Loss of TUT4/7-mediated RNA uridylation inhibits cancer cell function

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Direct interaction of PIWI and DEPS-1 is essential for piRNA function and condensate ultrastructure in Caenorhabditis elegans

Membraneless organelles are platforms for many aspects of RNA biology including small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) mediated gene silencing. How small ncRNAs utilise phase separated environments for their function is unclear. To address this question, we investigated how the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway engages with the membraneless organelle P granule in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proteomic analysis of the PIWI protein PRG-1 revealed an interaction with the constitutive P granule protein DEPS-1. Furthermore we identified a novel motif on DEPS-1, PBS, which interacts directly with the Piwi domain of PRG-1. This protein complex forms intertwining ultrastructures to build elongated condensates in vivo. These sub-organelle ultrastructures depend on the Piwi-interacting motif of DEPS-1 and mediate piRNA function. Additionally, we identify a novel interactor of DEPS-1, EDG-1, which is required for DEPS-1 condensates to form correctly. We show that DEPS-1 is not required for piRNA biogenesis but piRNA function: deps-1 mutants fail to produce the secondary endo-siRNAs required for the silencing of piRNA targets. Our study reveals how specific protein-protein interactions drive the spatial organisation and function of small RNA pathways within membraneless organelles.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

A team of heterochromatin factors collaborates with small RNA pathways to combat repetitive elements and germline stress

Repetitive sequences derived from transposons make up a large fraction of eukaryotic genomes and must be silenced to protect genome integrity. Repetitive elements are often found in heterochromatin; however, the roles and interactions of heterochromatin proteins in repeat regulation are poorly understood. Here we show that a diverse set of C. elegans heterochromatin proteins act together with the piRNA and nuclear RNAi pathways to silence repetitive elements and prevent genotoxic stress in the germ line. Mutants in genes encoding HPL-2/HP1, LIN-13, LIN-61, LET-418/Mi-2, and H3K9me2 histone methyltransferase MET-2/SETDB1 also show functionally redundant sterility, increased germline apoptosis, DNA repair defects, and interactions with small RNA pathways. Remarkably, fertility of heterochromatin mutants could be partially restored by inhibiting cep-1/p53, endogenous meiotic double strand breaks, or the expression of MIRAGE1 DNA transposons. Functional redundancy among these factors and pathways underlies the importance of safeguarding the genome through multiple means.

genomics↗