Biology subjects

Cwiek, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Cwiek, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Coordinated alterations in SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, mRNA splicing and mRNA methylation as hallmarks of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC)

Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a rare, poorly understood malignancy. Here, using spatial transcriptomics, we show that disturbances in epigenetic regulation including chromatin remodeling, epitranscriptomic control by m6A RNA methylation, and RNA splicing may contribute to SACC. We demonstrated that machineries responsible for these processes-SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex (CRC), NineTeen Complex (NTC), and m6A RNA methylation complex interact directly. Immunohistochemistry on 48 SACC tumor samples indicated altered abundance of METTL3, METTL14, WTAP (m6A RNA methylation) and PRP19, CDC5L, PLRG1 (NTC-splicing) proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated direct regulation of genes encoding subunits of SWI/SNF, NTC and RNA methylation complexes, and some EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal) marker genes by BRM (BRAHMA). Transcriptomic re-analysis revealed broad alterations in transcript usage, and splicing events in SACC. Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence that coordinated disruption of chromatin remodeling, RNA methylation, and splicing contributes to SACC development and progression, highlighting new avenues for therapeutic exploration.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2021

A Non-Canonical Function of Arabidopsis ERECTA Proteins in Gibberellin Signaling

The Arabidopsis ERECTA family (ERf) of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs), comprising ERECTA (ER), ERECTA-LIKE 1 (ERL1) and ERECTA-LIKE 2 (ERL2), control epidermal patterning, inflorescence architecture, stomata development, and hormonal signaling. Here we show that the er/erl1/erl2 triple mutant exhibits impaired gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and perception alongside broad transcriptional changes. ERf proteins interact in the nucleus, via kinase domains, with the SWI3B subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex (CRCs). The er/erl1/erl2 triple mutant exhibits reduced SWI3B protein level and affected nucleosomal chromatin structure. The ER kinase phosphorylates SWI3B in vitro, and the inactivation of all ERf proteins leads to the decreased phosphorylation of SWI3B protein in vivo. Correlation between DELLA overaccumulation and SWI3B proteasomal degradation together with the physical interaction of SWI3B with DELLA proteins explain the lack of RGA accumulation in the GA- and SWI3B-deficient erf mutant plants. Co-localization of ER and SWI3B on GID1 (GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF 1) DELLA target gene promoter regions and abolished SWI3B binding to GID1 promoters in er/erl1/erl2 plants supports the conclusion that ERf-SWI/SNF CRC interaction is important for transcriptional control of GA receptors. Thus, the involvement of ERf proteins in transcriptional control of gene expression, and observed similar features for human HER2 (Epidermal Growth Family Receptor-member), indicate an exciting target for further studies of evolutionarily conserved non-canonical functions of eukaryotic membrane receptors. ONE SENTENCE SUMMARYERECTA leucine-rich receptor-like kinase and SWI3B subunit of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex cooperate in direct transcriptional control of GID1 genes in Arabidopsis.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Delivery of oligonucleotides to bone marrow to modulate ferrochelatase splicing in a mouse model of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare genetic disease in which patients experience acute phototoxic reactions after sunlight exposure. It is caused by a deficiency in ferrochelatase (FECH) in the heme biosynthesis pathway. Most patients exhibit a loss-of-function mutation in trans to an allele bearing a SNP that favours aberrant splicing of transcripts. One viable strategy for EPP is to deploy splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) to increase FECH synthesis, whereby an increase of a few percent would provide therapeutic benefit. However, successful application of SSOs in bone marrow cells is not described. Here, we show that SSOs comprising methoxyethyl-chemistry increase FECH levels in cells. We conjugated one SSO to three prototypical targeting groups and administered them to a mouse model of EPP in order to study their biodistribution, their metabolic stability and their FECH splice-switching ability. The SSOs exhibited distinct distribution profiles, with increased accumulation in liver, kidney, bone marrow and lung. However, they also underwent substantial metabolism, mainly at their linker groups. An SSO bearing a cholesteryl group increased levels of correctly spliced FECH transcript by 80% in the bone marrow. The results provide a promising approach to treat EPP and other disorders originating from splicing dysregulation in the bone marrow.

molecular biology↗