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Wu, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Wu, R..

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

EnzymeCAGE: A Geometric Foundation Model for Enzyme Retrieval with Evolutionary Insights

Enzyme catalysis is fundamental to life, driving the chemical transformations that sustain biological processes and support industrial applications. However, unraveling the intertwined relationships between enzymes and their catalytic reactions remains a significant challenge. Here, we present EnzymeCAGE, a catalytic-specific geometric foundation model trained on approximately 1 million structure-informed enzyme-reaction pairs, spanning over 2,000 species and encompassing an extensive diversity of genomic and metabolic information. EnzymeCAGE features a geometry-aware multi-modal architecture coupled with an evolutionary information integration module, enabling it to effectively model the nuanced relationships between enzyme structure, catalytic function, and reaction specificity. EnzymeCAGE supports both experimental and predicted enzyme structures and is applicable across diverse enzyme families, accommodating a broad range of metabolites and reaction types. Extensive evaluations demonstrate EnzymeCAGEs state-of-the-art performance in enzyme function prediction, reaction de-orphaning, catalytic site identification, and biosynthetic pathway reconstruction. These results highlight its potential as a transformative foundation model for understanding enzyme catalysis and accelerating the discovery of novel biocatalysts.

synthetic biology↗

PlateletBase: A Comprehensive Knowledgebase for Platelet Research and Disease Insights

Platelets are vital in many pathophysiological processes, yet there is a lack of a comprehensive resource dedicated specifically to platelet research. To fill this gap, we have developed PlateletBase, a knowledge base aimed at enhancing the understanding and study of platelets and related diseases. Our team retrieved information from various public databases, specifically extracting and analyzing RNA-seq data from 3,711 samples across 41 different conditions available on NCBI. PlateletBase offers six analytical and visualization tools, enabling users to perform gene similarity analysis, pair correlation, multi-correlation, expression ranking, clinical information association, and gene annotation for platelets. The current version of PlateletBase includes 10,278 genomic entries, 31,758 transcriptomic entries, 4,869 proteomic entries, 2,614 omics knowledge entries, 1,833 drugs, 97 platelet resources, 438 diseases/traits, and six analysis modules. Each entry has been carefully curated and supported by experimental evidence. Additionally, PlateletBase features a user-friendly interface designed for efficient querying, manipulation, browsing, visualization, and analysis of detailed platelet protein and gene information. Case study results, such as those from gray platelet syndrome and angina pectoris, demonstrate that this tool can aid in identifying diagnostic biomarkers and exploring disease mechanisms, significantly advancing research in platelet functionality and its applications. PlateletBase is accessible at http://plateletbase.clinlabomics.org.cn/.

bioinformatics↗

Fungal spore seasons advanced across the US over two decades of climate change

Phenological shifts due to climate change have been extensively studied in plants and animals. Yet, the responses of fungal spores--crucial organisms that play important roles in ecosystems and act as airborne allergens--remain understudied. This knowledge gap in global change biology hinders our understanding of its ecological and public health implications. To bridge this gap, we acquired a long-term (2003 [~] 2022), large-scale (the continental US) dataset of airborne fungal spores collected by the US National Allergy Bureau. We first pre-processed the spore data by gap-filling and smoothing. Afterward, we extracted ten metrics describing the phenology (e.g., start and end of season) and intensity (e.g., peak concentration and integral) of fungal spore seasons. These metrics were derived using two complementary but not mutually exclusive approaches--ecological and public health approaches, defined as percentiles of total spore concentration and allergenic thresholds of spore concentration, respectively. Using linear mixed effects models, we quantified annual temporal shifts in these metrics across the continental US. We revealed a significant advancement in the onset of the spore seasons defined in both ecological (11 days, 95% confidence interval: 0.4 [~] 23 days) and public health (22 days, 6 [~] 38 days) approaches over two decades. Nevertheless, the total spore concentration in an annual cycle and in a spore allergy season tended to decrease over time. The earlier start of the spore season was significantly correlated with climatic variables, such as warmer temperatures and altered precipitations. Overall, our findings suggest possible climate-driven advanced fungal spore seasons, highlighting the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation in public health decision-making.

ecology↗

Water use efficiency of Cupressus gigantea is higher in mountain slope habitats compared to riverside habitats

Cupressus gigantea is an endemic species of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, China, and is designated as a national key protected wild plant. It is only distributed in the narrow area along Yarlung Zangbo River from Jiacha County to Danniang village Milin City in various habitats such as the waterline along the Yarlung Zangbo River, terraces, and mountain slopes. In this study, we utilized stable isotope technology ({delta}D, {delta}18O, and {delta}13C), combined with the IsoSource model, to quantitatively determined the sources of water absorption and the water use efficiency of C. gigantea in various habitats, including riverside area, terraces and mountain slopes. The results showed that the content of soil total nitrogen, soil nitrate nitrogen, soil ammonium nitrogen, and soil organic carbon are significantly higher on mountain slope than in the other two habitats, while the total carbon content, water content, and total nitrogen content of C. gigantea leaves are significantly lower on mountain slope than in the other two habitats (P<0.05). The water use efficiency (WUE) of C. gigantea in the mountain slope habitats is 107.8 mol mol-1, which is significantly higher than that of other habitats (P<0.05), with the WUE of C. gigantea in the riverside habitat being the lowest at 35.7 mol mol-1. C. gigantea distributed on the mountain slope and terrace uses soil water as the main water source. During the normal rainy season, the proportion of soil water utilization is the highest, accounting for more than 60%; in the dry season, the utilization of river water and groundwater increases, while soil water utilization decreases. C. gigantea distributed along the riverside mainly absorbs water from the Yarlung Zangbo River, about 63%. In August when the rainfall increases in the rainy season, the use of soil moisture increases, and in the dry season, river water becomes the main water source. This indicates that with the alternation of rainy and dry seasons, the water absorption sources and strategies of C.gigantea adjusted accordingly. The research results provide an important scientific basis for the protection and management measures of the C. gigantea population.

ecology↗

Biofabrication of Small Vascular Graft with Acellular Human Amniotic Membrane: A Proof-of-Concept Study in Pig

Synthetic vascular grafts, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), are commonly used for large vessel surgeries [internal diameter (ID) [&ge;] 10 mm] but present significant challenges in medium to small vessels (ID < 10 mm) due to increased risks of thrombosis, stenosis, and infection. In this study, we developed a small-diameter vascular graft using decellularized human amniotic membrane (DAM graft) (ID = 6 mm) and transplanted it into porcine carotid arteries, comparing it with ePTFE grafts to assess inflammation, biocompatibility, patency, and overall function. One-week post-implantation, ultrasound imaging confirmed blood patency in both graft types. However, after one-month, gross examination revealed pronounced neointimal hyperplasia in ePTFE grafts, while DAM grafts maintained open lumens without signs of stenosis or thrombosis. Histological analysis showed extensive fibrous tissue formation in ePTFE grafts, resulting in luminal narrowing, whereas DAM grafts displayed sustained lumen patency and vascular integration. Immunofluorescence confirmed reduced inflammation and improved tissue organization in DAM grafts, characterized by lower macrophage infiltration and better cellular architecture. These findings suggest that DAM grafts offer superior biocompatibility and significantly lower risks of neointimal hyperplasia, making them a promising alternative for small-diameter vascular surgeries compared to ePTFE grafts.

bioengineering↗

G3BP1 Maintains Vascular Endothelial Barrier Integrity by Negatively Regulating the MYD88-ARNO-ARF6 Signaling Pathway

Endothelial permeability is essential for vascular function. This process is regulated by intercellular junctions, including adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions (TJs), which form the endothelial barrier and dynamically connect adjacent cells. However, the mechanisms that control endothelial permeability are not fully understood. We investigated the role of the RNA-binding protein G3BP1 in regulating endothelial permeability. We examined the effects of Loss of g3bp1 in conditional knockout mice and primary human HUVEC cells. We analyzed endothelial barrier integrity and permeability, focusing on AJ and TJ expression, under both normal and LPS-induced inflammatory conditions. Loss of g3bp1 in vascular endothelial cells decreased AJ and TJ expression, compromised barrier integrity, and increased permeability. These effects were exacerbated under LPS-induced inflammatory conditions. Loss of g3bp1 also increased the expression of MYD88, ARNO, and ARF6, and enhanced ARF6 activity. Mechanistically, G3BP1 bound to and stabilized MYD88 mRNA, negatively regulating the MYD88-ARNO-ARF6 signaling pathway. Inhibiting this pathway by reducing MYD88 or ARF6 expression, or inhibiting ARNO activity, restored AJ/TJ expression and barrier function in G3BP1-deficient models. Our findings identify G3BP1 as a novel regulator of vascular endothelial permeability. G3BP1 acts by negatively regulating the MYD88-ARNO-ARF6 signaling pathway. Targeting G3BP1 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases associated with endothelial barrier dysfunction.

physiology↗

Experience instructs the refinement of feature-selectivity in the mouse primary visual thalamus

Neurons exhibit selectivity for specific features: a property essential for extracting and encoding relevant information in the environment. This feature-selectivity is thought to be modifiable by experience at the level of the cortex. Here, we demonstrate that selective exposure to a feature during development can instruct the population representation for that feature in the primary visual thalamus. This thalamic plasticity is not simply inherited from the cortex because it is still observed when recordings were performed in the absence of cortical feedback. Moreover, plasticity is blocked in mutant mice that exhibit deficits in retinogeniculate refinement, indicating that alterations in feature-selectivity are a direct result of changes in feedforward connectivity. These experience-dependent changes persist into older ages--highlighting the importance of this developmental period in shaping population coding in the thalamus. Our results show that salient environmental features are hard-wired into thalamic circuits during a discrete developmental window.

neuroscience↗

Multi-omic Landscape of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Reveals Endothelial Communication Networks

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis is orchestrated by cell-cell communication that drives progression along a clinical continuum (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived nanoparticles representing a new paradigm in cellular communication. Little is known about their biological cargo, cellular origin/destination, and functional roles in human atherosclerotic plaque. Methods: EVs were enriched via size exclusion chromatography from human carotid endarterectomy samples dissected into paired plaque and marginal zones (symptomatic n=16, asymptomatic n=13). EV cargos were assessed via whole transcriptome miRNA sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. EV multi-omics were integrated with bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets to predict EV cellular origin and ligand-receptor interactions, and multi-modal biological network integration of EV-cargo was completed. EV functional impact was assessed with endothelial angiogenesis assays. Results: Carotid plaques contained more EVs than adjacent marginal zones, with differential enrichment for EV-miRNAs and EV-proteins in key atherogenic pathways. EV cellular origin analysis suggested that tissue EV signatures originated from endothelial cells (EC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), and immune cells. Integrated tissue vesiculomics and scRNA-seq indicated complex EV-vascular cell communication that changed with disease progression and plaque vulnerability (i.e., symptomatic disease). Plaques from symptomatic patients, but not asymptomatic patients, were characterized by increased involvement of endothelial pathways and more complex ligand-receptor interactions, relative to their marginal zones. Plaque-EVs were predicted to mediate communication with ECs. Pathway enrichment analysis delineated an endothelial signature with roles in angiogenesis and neovascularization - well-known indices of plaque instability. This was validated functionally, wherein human carotid symptomatic plaque EVs induced sprouting angiogenesis in comparison to their matched marginal zones. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that EVs may drive dynamic changes in plaques through EV- vascular cell communication and effector functions that typify vulnerability to rupture, precipitating symptomatic disease. The discovery of endothelial-directed angiogenic processes mediated by EVs creates new therapeutic avenues for atherosclerosis.

cell biology↗

CRASH2p: Closed-loop Two Photon Imaging in Freely Moving Animals

Direct measurement of neural activity in freely moving animals is essential for understanding how the brain controls and represents behaviors. Genetically encoded calcium indicators report neural activity as changes in fluorescence intensity, but brain motion confounds quantitative measurement of fluorescence. Translation, rotation, and deformation of the brain and the movements of intervening scattering or auto-fluorescent tissue all alter the amount of fluorescent light captured by a microscope. Compared to single-photon approaches, two photon microscopy is less sensitive to scattering and off-target fluorescence, but more sensitive to motion, and two photon imaging has always required anchoring the microscope to the brain. We developed a closed-loop resonant axial-scanning high-speed two photon (CRASH2p) microscope for real-time 3D motion correction in unrestrained animals, without implantation of reference markers. We complemented CRASH2p with a novel scanning strategy and a multi-stage registration pipeline. We performed volumetric ratiometrically corrected functional imaging in the CNS of freely moving Drosophila larvae and discovered previously unknown neural correlates of behavior.

neuroscience↗

Construction of a breast cancer predictive nomogram based on diverse cell death methods and reveal tumor microenvironment characterization

ObjectiveTo develop a robust predictive model and nomogram for breast cancer (BC) linked to genes associated with diverse cell death methods. MethodsThe prognostic model was constructed using the LASSO Cox method. Model performance was assessed using K-M analysis, ROC curves, and independent prognostic analysis. Subsequently, we constructed a nomogram and analyzed differences in tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivity between different subgroups. The enrichment of differentially expressed genes between different subgroups was assessed. Additionally, we overexpressed CD24 in BC cell lines to assess its impact on cellular proliferation using CCK8 assays, migration through scratch and transwell assays, and apoptosis via flow cytometry. ResultsA prognostic model comprising twelve genes (CREB3L1, SFRP1, SHARPIN, AIFM1, IL-18, CD24, EDA2R, CRIP1, XBP1, BCL2A1, NKX3-1, and NME5) was constructed. BC patients were categorized into different subgroups, with the low-risk subgroup demonstrating superior survival. Additionally, we constructed a nomogram. The nomogram was validated as a reliable independent predictor of outcome. The enrichment analyses imply a connection between patient risk and immune response. The low-risk subgroup had a higher TME score. Patients in the high-risk group had improved responses to lapatinib, BI-2536, OSI-027, and SB505124, while those in the low-risk subgroup showed improved sensitivity to axitinib, epirubicin, fulvestrant, and olaparib. Furthermore, CD24 overexpression was found to promote proliferation and migration, while inhibiting apoptosis. ConclusionThese findings contribute to the individualization of treatment and aid in uncovering the tumor microenvironment characterization for BC patients.

cancer biology↗

Deciphering the Transcription Factor Landscape in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer Progression: A Novel Approach to Understand NE Transdifferentiation

Background and ObjectiveProstate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in men, with neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) representing a particularly resistant subtype. The role of transcription factors (TFs) in the progression from prostatic adenocarcinoma (PRAD) to NEPC is poorly understood. This study aims to identify and analyze lineage-specific TF profiles in PRAD and NEPC and illustrate their dynamic shifts during NE transdifferentiation. MethodsA novel algorithmic approach was developed to evaluate the weighted expression of TFs within patient samples, enabling a nuanced understanding of TF landscapes in PCa progression and TF dynamic shifts during NE transdifferentiation. Resultsunveiled TF profiles for PRAD and NEPC, identifying 126 shared TFs, 46 adenocarcinoma-TFs, and 56 NEPC-TFs. Enrichment analysis across multiple clinical cohorts confirmed the lineage specificity and clinical relevance of these lineage-TFs signatures. Functional analysis revealed that lineage-TFs are implicated in pathways critical to cell development, differentiation, and lineage determination. Novel lineage-TF candidates were identified, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, our longitudinal study on NE transdifferentiation highlighted dynamic TF expression shifts and delineated a three-phase hypothesis for the process comprised of de-differentiation, dormancy, and re-differentiation. and proposing novel insights into the mechanisms of PCa progression. ConclusionThe lineage-specific TF profiles in PRAD and NEPC reveal a dynamic shift in the TF landscape during PCa progression, highlighting three distinct phases of NE transdifferentiation.

cancer biology↗

Vesicle-mediated mitochondrial clearance underlies an actionable metabolic vulnerability in triple-negative breast cancer

Selective autophagy of mitochondria is known to promote survival and progression of cancer cells in various malignancies including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we aimed to identify the essential metabolic adaptations that support mitochondrial quality control with the goal to uncover actionable metabolic vulnerabilities with therapeutic potential. Using an integrated approach of proteomics and untargeted and stable-isotope resolved metabolomics, coupled with functional experimental analyses, we define an alternative mechanism to mitophagy enabled by an onco-metabolic program of heightened extracellular sphingomyelin salvaging in TNBC that facilitates extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated intracellular clearance of mitochondrial damage. Targeting of the cancer cell sphingolipid onco-metabolic pathway via repurposing of eliglustat, a selective small molecule inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase (UGCG), resulted in ceramide-induced lethal mitophagy and attenuated tumor growth and prolonged overall survival at clinically achievable doses in an orthotopic syngeneic mouse model of TNBC. Our study defines a mechanism of aberrant sphingolipid metabolism that underlies an actionable metabolic vulnerability for anti-cancer treatment.

cancer biology↗

Feature-independent Encoding of Visual Salience inthe Mouse Superior Colliculus

Detecting conspicuous stimuli in a visual scene is crucial for animal survival, yet it remains debated how the brain encodes visual saliency. Here we investigate how visual saliency is represented in the superficial superior colliculus (sSC) of awake mice using two-photon calcium imaging. We report on a preference-independent saliency map in the sSC. Specifically, salient stimuli evoke stronger responses in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons compared to uniform stimuli, with similar encoding patterns observed in both neuron types. The largest response occurs when a salient stimulus is positioned at the receptive field center, with contextual effects extending [~]40{degrees} away from the center. The response amplitude correlates well with the saliency strength of stimuli and is not influenced by the orientation or motion direction preferences of neurons. However, saliency encoding does depend on specific visual features. Furthermore, neurons involved in saliency encoding exhibit weak orientation or direction selectivity, suggesting a complementary relationship between the saliency map and the feature map.

neuroscience↗

Environmental and Historical Determinants of African Horse Sickness: Insights from Predictive Modeling

This study marks a pioneering effort in analyzing the global epidemiological patterns of African Horse Sickness (AHS) across different regions. By employing predictive modeling with a comprehensive set of environmental variables, we uncovered overarching global patterns in AHS dynamics, a first in this field. Our analysis revealed significant regional differences influenced by specific climatic conditions, highlighting the diseases complexity. The study also identifies new high-risk areas for AHS, underscoring the necessity for regionally tailored disease management strategies. Despite some limitations, such as the exclusion of wild equine data, this research offers critical insights for global AHS intervention and prevention, setting a path for future research incorporating broader datasets and socio-economic factors. Author SummaryAHS presents a significant challenge to the global equine industry, impacting both health and economic aspects. Our study highlights the profound effect of climate change, particularly the frequency of extreme climatic events including temperature and humidity variations, on the transmission dynamics of diseases like AHS. In our research, we focused on overcoming the challenges associated with identifying key environmental factors and determining the appropriate geographic scale for a comprehensive global understanding of AHS. Our aim was to bridge existing knowledge gaps and elucidate the fundamental principles governing AHS transmission. This study establishes a solid foundation for understanding the intricate dynamics of AHS and offers practical pathways for conservation efforts. It emphasizes the urgent need for environmentally conscious strategies to protect horse populations and the industries dependent on them. By highlighting the relationship between environmental factors, vector presence, and AHS transmission, our research underscores the importance of a holistic approach to disease mitigation. In conclusion, the findings of our study not only contribute to the scientific understanding of AHS but also serve as a guide for policymakers and practitioners in developing effective strategies for disease management and prevention, tailored to the specific environmental conditions and challenges faced in different regions around the world.

ecology↗

Characterization, structure and inhibition of the human succinyl-CoA:glutarate-CoA transferase, a genetic modifier of glutaric aciduria type 1

Glutaric Aciduria Type 1 (GA1) is a serious inborn error of metabolism with no pharmacological treatments. A novel strategy to treat this disease is to divert the toxic biochemical intermediates to less toxic or non-toxic metabolites. Here, we report a novel target, SUGCT, which we hypothesize suppresses the GA1 metabolic phenotype through decreasing glutaryl-CoA. We report the structure of SUGCT, the first eukaryotic structure of a type III CoA transferase, develop a high-throughput enzyme assay and a cell-based assay, and identify valsartan and losartan carboxylic acid as inhibitors of the enzyme validating the screening approach. These results may form the basis for future development of new pharmacological intervention to treat GA1.

biochemistry↗

Parallel Molecular Data Storage by Printing Epigenetic Bits on DNA

DNA storage has shown potential to transcend current silicon-based data storage technologies in storage density, lifetime and energy consumption. However, writing large-scale data directly into DNA sequences by de novo synthesis remains uneconomical in time and cost. Inspired by the natural genomic modifications, in this work, we report an alternative, parallel strategy that enables the writing of arbitrary data on DNA using premade nucleic acids. With epigenetic modifications as information bits, our system employed DNA self-assembly guided enzymatic methylation to perform movable-type printing on universal DNA templates. By programming with a finite set of 700 DNA movable types and 5 templates, we achieved the synthesis-free writing of [~]270000 bits on an automated platform with 350 bits written per reaction. The data encoded in complex epigenetic patterns were retrieved high-throughput by nanopore sequencing, and algorithms were developed to finely resolve 240 modification patterns per sequencing reaction. Our framework presents a new modality of DNA-based data storage that is parallel, programmable, stable and scalable. Such a modality opens up avenues towards practical data storage and dual-mode data functions in biomolecular systems.

biochemistry↗

Linking root-associated fungal and bacterial functions to root economics

Tree roots form symbioses with soil microbes to acquire nutrients, but the relationships between root nutrient acquisition strategies and microbial community composition remain poorly understood. Here, we measured root traits and root-associated fungal and bacterial guilds in 336 trees of 52 species from a subtropical forest. We found a fungal gradient from ectomycorrhizal to saprotrophic dominance, which corresponded with a shift from organic to mineral nutrient economics. This fungal gradient was aligned with the increase of root nitrogen concentration, suggesting a linkage from simple root trait to fungal-mediated carbon-nutrient cycling. We also found that the functional composition of fungal and bacterial communities was closely correlated with host root-zone pH, which often varied among coexisting trees. Root-zone pH was independent of the common root traits, underpinning a potential new gradient in the root trait space. Our findings integrate microbial functions into the root economics framework, thereby advancing the understanding of diversity of nutrient acquisition strategies across forest trees.

ecology↗

Chaperone-mediated autophagy is an overlooked pathway for mutant α1 antitrypsin Z degradation

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a specific form of autophagy that selectively targets proteins containing a KFERQ-like motif and relies on the chaperone protein HSC70 for substrate recognition. In 1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a disease characterized by the hepatic build-up of 1-Antitrypsin Z mutant (ATZ), CMAs role had been unclear. This work demonstrates the critical role that CMA plays in preventing ATZ accumulation; suppressing CMA worsens ATZ accumulation, whilst activating it through chemical stimulation or LAMP2A overexpression promotes ATZ breakdown. Specifically, ATZs 121QELLR125 motif is critical for HSC70 recognition and LAMP2As charged C-terminal cytoplasmic tail is vital for substrate binding, facilitating CMA-mediated degradation of ATZ. This selective activation of CMA operates independently from other autophagy pathways and alleviate ATZ aggregates caused cellular stress. These findings highlight CMAs critical function in cellular protein quality control of ATZ and place it as a novel target for AATD treatment approaches.

cell biology↗