Biology subjects

Wehrens, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Wehrens, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Side-by-side systematic characterization of novel FPs in budding yeast

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have become indispensable for biological research. Since the discovery of the first FP, Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (avGFP), new fluorescent proteins are continuously being developed. To achieve optimal experimental results, selecting an FP based on specific characteristics--such as brightness, photostability, photochromicity, monomericity, pH robustness, and fluorescence lifetime--is essential. However, a thorough side-by-side comparison of these characteristics is missing for the latest generation of FPs. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization in yeast of the most recently developed FPs, including FPs that were codon-optimized for yeast. We believe this provides an excellent compendium for choosing the most suitable FP for research purposes.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Phosphoproteomics Maps Calcineurin-NFAT-DSCR1.4 Signaling as Druggable Axis in Gαq-R183Q-Driven Capillary Malformations

Vascular malformations are congenital lesions caused by somatic and germline mutations that disrupt developmental signaling pathways. Capillary malformations (CMs) typically present as port-wine stains in the skin and can also affect ocular and cerebral tissues in Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS), leading to aesthetic, ophthalmic, and neurological complications. CMs are caused by a somatic mutation in the GNAQ gene in endothelial cells, leading to a p.R183Q substitution in the Gq protein. The underlying mechanisms of Gq-R183Q-driven CMs formation remain unclear. To address this, we generated CRISPR/Cas9-engineered human dermal microvascular endothelial cells lacking endogenous Gq, whilst expressing the Gq-R183Q mutant instead. The Gq-R183Q mutation strongly impaired endothelial cell migration and angiogenic sprouting capacity compared to wild-type controls. Next, using SILAC-based quantitative proteomics, we investigated the Gq-R183Q-induced changes in the endothelial phosphoproteome. These analyses revealed prominent activation of the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway in Gq-R183Q-expressing endothelial cells, leading to dephosphorylation of NFAT1 and NFAT2 and the selective expression of their transcriptional target DSCR1.4. Immunofluorescence of patient-derived skin biopsies confirmed deregulation of NFAT1/2 and the expression of DSRC1 in endothelial cells, validating their potential importance in CMs. We further demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of calcineurin with tacrolimus (FK506) could partially restore NFAT signaling in Gq-R183Q endothelial cells. Intriguingly, the genetic depletion of the NFAT target DSCR1 in Gq-R183Q cells fully restored calcineurin/NFAT signaling to normal levels, enabling proper endothelial migration and sprouting. In summary, we uncovered a calcineurin-NFAT-DSCR1.4 signal transduction axis that is driven by Gq-R183Q and established its importance for endothelial angiogenic properties. These findings highlight the calcineurin/NFAT signaling axis as a promising therapeutic target to restore endothelial function in CMs.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

The interplay between metabolic stochasticity and regulation in single E. coli cells

Metabolism is inherently stochastic at the cellular level. Whether cells actively regulate processes in response to these random internal variations is a fundamental problem that remains unaddressed, yet critical to understanding biological homeostasis. Here, we show that in E. coli cells, expression of the main catabolic enzymes is continuously adjusted in response to metabolic fluctuations under constant external conditions. This noise feedback is performed by the cAMP-CRP system, which controls transcription of the catabolic enzymes by modulating concentrations of the second messenger cAMP upon changes in metabolite abundance. Using time-lapse microscopy, genetic constructs that selectively disable cAMP-CRP noise feedback, and mathematical modelling, we show how fluctuations circulate through this hybrid metabolic-genetic network at sub cell-cycle timescales. This circulation of stochastic fluctuations is explained by four distinct noise propagation modes, one of which describes the continuous cAMP-CRP regulation. The model successfully predicts how noise circulation is impacted by C-sector under and over-expression. The results raise the question whether the cAMP-CRP system, as well as other metabolic regulation mechanisms, have evolved to manage internal metabolic fluctuations in addition to external growth conditions. We conjecture that second messengers may broadly function to control metabolic stochasticity and achieve cellular homeostasis.

systems biology↗