Biology subjects

Bisbal, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Bisbal, M..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Calcineurin B-mediated Ca2+ sensing translates stress signal intensity into the assembly of phase-separated condensates at PERK complexes.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), which initially promotes adaptive responses but remains the only active UPR branch during prolonged stress, mediating both early cytoprotective and chronic pro-apoptotic signaling. Recently, we identified translocon-generated Ca2+ microdomains that promote PERK phosphorylation during early UPR, revealing a mechanism by which local Ca2+ signals regulate UPR activation. However, the molecular mechanism linking these Ca2+ microdomains to PERK activation remains elusive. Previously, we showed that calcineurin (CN), a Ca2+ -dependent heterodimer composed of catalytic (CNA) and regulatory (CNB) subunits, exerts a non-canonical pro-survival function by promoting PERK autophosphorylation. Here, using super-resolution microscopy, CRISPR-Cas9 editing, in silico analyses, and optogenetic droplet assays, we identify CNB as a local Ca2+ sensor that couples translocon-generated Ca2+ signals to liquid condensate assembly, thereby promoting adaptive PERK phosphorylation. These findings establish CNB-mediated condensate assembly as a mechanism that translates local Ca2+ signals into spatially organized early adaptive PERK signaling.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Nanoscale organization of betaII-spectrin within segments of the membrane-associated periodic skeleton in mouse sciatic nerve axons

The actin/spectrin membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS) is a ubiquitous cytoskeletal structure essential for axonal integrity and function. Primarily studied in cultured neurons, the MPS has been extensively modeled as actin rings spaced by spectrin tetramers, the latter assumed to be regularly and densely distributed across the axonal perimeter. However, its nanoscale organization within native tissue environments remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the three-dimensional organization of {beta}II-spectrin in the mouse sciatic nerve using 3D-dSTORM and STED super-resolution microscopy on thin transversal cryosections. By implementing a custom quantitative analysis pipeline, we resolved the sub-diffraction architecture of the MPS across myelinated axons of diverse diameters. We confirm that {beta}II-spectrin is localized to the inner face of the axonal plasma membrane and maintains a longitudinal periodicity of approximately 170 nm, consistent with previous observations. Crucially, 3D-dSTORM revealed that {beta}II-spectrin along the axonal perimeter is organized in discrete nanoscale clusters with a median effective radius of 25 nm, compatible with the size of an individual spectrin tetramer visualized by indirect immunolabeling. The number of these clusters scales linearly with the axonal perimeter, maintaining a constant membrane occupancy of [~]20% across varying axon diameters. Moreover, these clusters exhibit a non-random spatial distribution with a characteristic center-to-center nearest-neighbor distance of [~]200 nm. These findings challenge simplified models of the MPS based on cultured systems and demonstrate that the MPS in peripheral nerves is composed of discrete structural units. This modular, dispersed organization may provide the structural flexibility required to withstand the mechanical demands of the peripheral nervous system while maintaining a stable periodic scaffold.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

GM1-oligosaccharide rescues rotenone-impaired neuronal polarization through RhoA/ROCK modulation and mitochondrial protection

Neuronal polarization is a fundamental process in the formation of functional neural circuits, relying on the precise coordination between cytoskeletal regulatory signals and mechanisms that sustain cellular integrity. Disruption of these processes compromises neuronal differentiation and survival, and various neurotoxic compounds, including certain pesticides, have been associated with such dysfunctions. In this context, identifying molecules that counteract these detrimental effects is of significant therapeutic interest. Neuronal polarization is essential for the establishment of functional neural circuits and relies on coordinated regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics, RhoA/ROCK signaling, and mitochondrial function. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective and neurorestorative potential of the ganglioside GM1 and its oligosaccharide derivative, osGM1, in primary hippocampal pyramidal neurons exposed to the mitochondrial neurotoxin rotenone. Rotenone induced a marked arrest of neuronal development, impaired axonal elongation, and disrupted mitochondrial organization and membrane potential. Both GM1 and osGM1 promoted recovery of neuronal polarity and axonal growth, exerting protective and restorative effects even under continuous toxin exposure, with osGM1 showing superior efficacy. Notably, osGM1 also reversed axonal growth deficits caused by pathological actin stabilization. Mechanistically, osGM1 normalized rotenone-induced hyperactivation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway without altering basal signaling and partially restored mitochondrial network integrity and function. Collectively, these findings identify osGM1 as a multi-target modulator of cytoskeletal and mitochondrial dysfunction and support its translational potential as a therapeutic strategy to counteract neurotoxin-induced neuronal damage.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

BetaII-Spectrin Gaps and Patches Emerge from the Patterned Assembly of the Actin/Spectrin Membrane Skeleton in Human Motor Neuron Axons

The actin/spectrin membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS) is a cytoskeletal structure that supports axonal integrity and function. Lower spinal motor neurons (MNs) are characterized by exceptionally long axons and are particularly susceptible to degeneration in a wide range of hereditary neuromuscular disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Using confocal and super-resolution imaging, we characterized the spatial distribution {beta}II-spectrin and the assembly pattern of the MPS in human MN axons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We discovered a striking gap-and-patch pattern in the medial axon, where sharply demarcated {beta}II-spectrin gaps alternate with patches containing a well-organized MPS. The pattern is acutely induced by the kinase inhibitor staurosporine and pharmacological inhibition of actin polymerization prevents patch formation, indicating a requirement for actin nucleation in MPS assembly. Our data supports a model in which spectrin incorporation into nascent MPS patches depletes neighboring regions, producing long-range gaps-and-patches patterns.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Dual spatio-temporal regulation of axon growth and microtubule dynamics by RhoA signaling pathways

RhoA plays a crucial role in neuronal polarization, where its action restraining axon outgrowth has been thoroughly studied. We now report that RhoA has not only inhibitory but also a stimulatory effect on axon development depending on when and where exerts its action and the downstream effectors involved. In cultured hippocampal neurons, FRET imaging revealed that RhoA activity selectively localizes in growth cones of undifferentiated neurites, while in developing axons it displays a biphasic pattern, being low in nascent axons and high in elongating ones. RhoA-Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling prevents axon initiation but has no effect on elongation, while formin inhibition reduces axon extension without significantly altering initial outgrowth. Besides, RhoA-mDia promotes axon elongation by stimulating growth cone microtubule stability and assembly, as opposed to RhoA-ROCK that restrains growth cone microtubule assembly and protrusion. Finally, we show that similar mechanisms might operate during axonal regeneration, with RhoA-ROCK slowing axon regrowth after axotomy and RhoA-mDia favoring extension of regenerated axons.

neuroscience↗