Search bioRxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.06.02.543427

Finetuning ERK activity enables most somatic cells to reprogram into pluripotency

Wu, Q.·Zhang, J.·Hu, X.·Mafra de Faria, B.·Scalf, S. M.·Karatepe, K.·Roy, A. L.·Guo, S.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Cell morphology is faithfully coupled to its identity but the coupling mechanism remains elusive. Using somatic cell reprogramming into pluripotency as a model system, we show that activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is tuned by cellular morphomechanic state to direct cell fate. Pluripotent cells and somatic cells reprogramming into pluripotency allocate large amounts of actin into their nucleus, which morphs cells to become taller than 10 m, a minimal height required for the pluripotent identity. Accumulated nuclear actin binds to TFII-I{Delta}, an atypical transcription factor that translocates into the nucleus upon signaling. TFII-I{Delta} also binds to and activates ERK. The binding of TFII-I{Delta} by nuclear actin reduces ERK activity, in coordination with changes in cell/colony height. The tight coupling between cell height and nuclear actin accumulation necessitates the degree of ERK tuning to be mild. Mild ERK inhibition by chemicals recapitulates the tuning by actin-TFII-I{Delta} and turns most cells in reprogramming cultures into pluripotency. Thus, we uncover a novel mechanism for how cell morphology couples to its identity via the actin-TFII-I{Delta}-ERK axis, identifying points of intervention in cell fate manipulation.

Explore related subjects

cell biologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Wu, Q., Zhang, J., Hu, X., Mafra de Faria, B., Scalf, S. M., Karatepe, K., Roy, A. L., Guo, S.. 2023-06-03. Finetuning ERK activity enables most somatic cells to reprogram into pluripotency. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.02.543427

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Functional characterization of Rho GTPase activating proteins SYDE1 and SYDE2

The human genome encodes more than 60 proteins containing Rho GTPase activating protein (RhoGAP) domains, many of which remain understudied with respect to their target specificity and biological roles. SYDE1 and SYDE2 are two such orphan RhoGAPs, for which there are few studies characterizing their biochemical and cellular functions and conflicting reports identifying their cognate GTPases. We previously identified SYDE1 and SYDE2 in a screen for substrates of the c-Jun N-terminal kinases. Here, we show that SYDE1 and SYDE2 are preferentially phosphorylated by JNK1 relative to other mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) at sites proximal to a kinase docking region. Purified SYDE1 and SYDE2 are shown to have significant catalytic GAP activity toward RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42. However, neither up- nor down-regulation of SYDE1/2 expression leads to detectable changes in bulk GTP loading of any of these GTPases. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that SYDE1 and SYDE2, in a partially GAP-dependent manner, increase cell spreading and number of focal adhesions, and promote more directionally persistent migration in HEK293 cells. Together, these findings establish SYDE1 and SYDE2 as robust JNK substrates with catalytic activity toward a set of Rho GTPases and reveal basic functions of SYDE1 and SYDE2 in regulating cell morphology, adhesion, and migration.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

The filopodial scaffold polyphosphate dictates cell adhesion-versus-invasion decisions

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an ancient polymer conserved across all life, serving cell type and location specific functions in every major compartment. Yet its role at the plasma membrane, where it accumulates to peak levels in many primary cells, is largely unknown. Here we identify polyP as a stabilizing component of filopodia, actin based membrane protrusions that govern cell adhesion, contact inhibition, and chemotaxis. Elevating cellular polyP increases filopodial stability and enhances cell adhesion, whereas reducing polyP accelerates filopodial disassembly and promotes cell migration. Mechanistically, we find that polyP acts as a structural filopodial scaffold, recruiting and organizing IRSp53, a membrane curvature inducing protein. We show that metastatic fibroblasts and breast cancer organoids carry markedly reduced and intracellularly reorganized polyP levels relative to their non transformed counterparts. Restoring endogenous polyP via lipid nanoparticle delivery suppresses their invasive phenotypes and reverses prometastatic gene expression signatures, implicating polyP as a primordial tumor suppressor.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

Mitochondrial transfer mediates metabolic communication between beta cells and islet macrophages

Pancreatic islet macrophages support islet homeostasis and adapt their metabolic program in response to environmental cues, including beta cell released factors. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer is a biological process that modulates cellular responses. To test whether beta cells, which are strongly secretory, transfer mitochondria to islet macrophages, we generated mice with beta cell-specific expression of mitochondrial GFP (PhAMfloxIns1Cre). We demonstrate that beta cells transfer mitochondria to islet macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Diabetogenic stressors did not alter the frequency of mitochondrial transfer and macrophages containing beta cell-derived GFP exhibit increased protein synthesis rates. RNA-seq identified upregulation of activity-regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc) in macrophages receiving beta cell-derived mitochondria, while disruption of actin cytoskeleton dynamics prevented mitochondrial transfer. Together, these findings identify mitochondrial transfer as a previously unrecognized mechanism of beta cell-macrophage communication that may contribute to islet homeostasis and immune regulation.

cell biology↗