Biology subjects

Lacas-Gervais, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Lacas-Gervais, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

MAFB drives differentiation by permitting WT1 binding to podocyte 1 specific promoters

Podocytes are highly specialized cells, but their chromatin status and the precise molecular events leading to their differentiation remain poorly defined. Here we used ChIP-Seq analysis for H3K4me3, H3K4me1 and H3K27me3 to establish the histone methylation map in adult mouse podocytes. Our data demonstrate open chromatin across podocyte specific genes and reveals that genes expressed in the mesoderm lineage become actively repressed upon podocyte differentiation. To better understand the transcriptional control of podocyte differentiation, we studied the role of transcription factor MAFB. ChIP-Seq experiments and functional analysis in conditional knockout mice identified a set of direct MAFB targets including Nphs1, Nphs2, Vegfa and Tcf21. Loss of MafB led to the deposition of extracellular matrix, progressive foot process effacement, and kidney disease. ChIP experiments in knockout animals revealed that during development MAFB is essential for H3K4me3 methylation and the recruitment of WT1 to the promoters of the podocyte specific genes Nphs1 and Nphs2. Taken together our data reveal the crucial function of MAFB by permitting chromatin accessibility at podocyte-specific genes during development and maintaining terminal differentiation in adults.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Multiomics study of CHCHD10S59L-related disease reveals energy metabolism downregulation: OXPHOS and beta-oxidation deficiencies associated with lipids alterations

Mutations in the coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 10 (CHCHD10) gene have been associated with a large clinical spectrum including myopathy, cardiomyopathy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Herein, we analyzed the metabolic changes induced by the p.S59L CHCHD10 mutation to identify new therapeutic opportunities. Using metabolomic, lipidomic and proteomic analysis we observed a strong alteration of metabolism in plasma and heart of Chchd10S59L/+ mice compared to their wild type littermates at pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages. In plasma, levels of phospholipids were decreased while those of carnitine derivatives and most of amino acids were increased. The cardiac tissue from Chchd10S59L/+ mice showed a decreased Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and {beta}-oxidation proteins levels as well as tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) intermediates and carnitine pathway metabolism. In parallel, lipidomics analysis reveals a drastic change in the lipidome, including triglycerides, cardiolipin and phospholipids. Consistent with this energetic deficiency in cardiac tissue, we show that L-acetylcarnitine supplementation improves the mitochondrial network length in IPS-derived cardiomyocytes from a patient carrying the CHCHD10S59L/+ mutation. These data indicate that a bioenergetic intermediate such as L-acetylcarnitine may restore mitochondrial function in CHCHD10-related disease, due to the reduction in energy deficit that could be compensated by carnitine metabolic pathways.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

VAP-A intrinsically disordered regions enable versatile tethering at membrane contact sites

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) between organelles are heterogeneous in shape, composition and dynamics. Despite this diversity, VAP proteins act as receptors for multiple FFAT motif-containing proteins and drive the formation of most MCSs involving the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although the VAP-FFAT interaction is well characterized, no model explains how VAP adapts to its partners in various MCSs. We report here that VAP-A localization to different MCSs depends on its intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). We show that VAP-A interaction with PTPIP51 and VPS13A at ER-mitochondria MCS conditions mitochondria fusion by promoting lipid transfer and cardiolipin buildup. VAP-A also enables lipid exchange at ER-Golgi MCS by interacting with OSBP and CERT. However, removing IDRs from VAP-A restricts its distribution and function to ER- mitochondria MCS, at the expense of ER-Golgi MCS. Our data suggest that IDRs of VAP-A do not modulate its preference towards specific partners, but adjust its geometry to the constraints linked to different MCS organization and lifetime. Thus, VAP-A conformational flexibility mediated by its IDRs ensures membrane tethering plasticity and efficiency.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

SLP2/prohibitins aggregates and instability of the PHB complex are key elements in CHCHD10S59L-related disease

CHCHD10 is an ALS/FTD gene, also involved in a large clinical spectrum, that encodes a protein whose precise function within mitochondria is unclear. Here we show that CHCHD10 interacts with the Stomatin-Like Protein 2 (SLP2) to control the stability of the Prohibitin (PHB) complex in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In affected tissues, SLP2 forms aggregates with prohibitins and the instability of the PHB complex results in activation of OMA1 and accelerated OPA1 proteolysis leading to mitochondrial fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial cristae and apoptosis. Abnormal cristae morphogenesis depends on both the PHB complex destabilization leading to MICOS complex instability, via disruption of OPA1/Mitofilin interaction, and the activation of PINK1-mediated pathways. We also show that the increase of mitophagy found in both heart and hippocampus of Chchd10S59L/+ mito-QC mice is PINK1/Parkin-dependent. Thus, SLP2/PHBs aggregates and destabilization of the PHB complex with PINK1 activation are critical in the sequence of events leading to CHCHD10S59L-related disease.

pathology↗