Biology subjects

Lembo, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Lembo, F..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Imbalance of Neuregulin1-ErbB2/3 signaling underlies altered myelin homeostasis in models of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4H

Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most common inherited neurological disorders, affecting either axons from the motor and/or sensory neurons or Schwann cells (SC) of the peripheral nervous system, and caused by more than 100 genes. We previously identified mutations in FGD4, as responsible for CMT4H, an autosomal recessive demyelinating form of CMT. FGD4 encodes FRABIN a GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), particularly for the small GTPase cdc42. Remarkably, nerves from patients with CMT4H display excessive redundant myelin called outfoldings that arise from focal hypermyelination, suggesting that FRABIN could play a role in the control of PNS myelination. To gain insights into the role of FGD4/FRABIN in SC myelination, we generated a knock-out mouse model, with conditional ablation of fgd4 in SC. We showed that the specific deletion of FRABIN in SCs leads to aberrant myelination in vitro, in dorsal root ganglion (DRG)/SCs cocultures as well in vivo, in distal sciatic nerves. We observed that those myelination defects are related to an upregulation of some interactors of the NRG1 type III/ErbB2/3 signaling pathway, which is known to ensure a proper level of myelination in the PNS. Based on a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified SNX3 as a new partner of FRABIN, which is involved in the regulation of endocytic trafficking. Interestingly, we showed that loss of FRABIN impairs endocytic trafficking which may contribute to the defective NRG1 type III/ErbB2/3 signaling and myelination. Finally, we showed that the reestablishment of proper levels of the NRG1 type III/ErbB2/3 pathway using Niacin treatment reduces myelin outfoldings in nerves of CMT4H mice. Overall, our work reveals a new role of FRABIN in the regulation of NRG1 type III/ErbB2/3 NRG1signaling and myelination and opens future therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of NRG1 type III/ErbB2/3 NRG1to reduce CMT4H pathology and more generally others demyelinating CMT.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Interactome and structural basis for targeting the human T-cell leukemia virus Tax oncoprotein

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Although ATL is a well-characterized T-cell neoplasm, linked to intermittent expression of the viral Tax-1 protein, there is currently no strategy to target Tax-1 functions using small molecules. Here, we report a comprehensive interaction map between Tax-1 and human PDZ domain-containing proteins (hPDZome). We show that Tax-1 interacts with more than one-third of hPDZome components, including proteins involved in cell cycle, cell-cell junctions, cytoskeleton organization, and membrane complex assembly. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we have determined the structural basis of the interaction between the C-terminal PDZ binding motif (PBM) of Tax-1, and the PDZ domains of syntenin-1, an evolutionary conserved hub that controls exosome trafficking. Finally, we have used confocal imaging, molecular modelling, NMR and mammalian cell-based assays to demonstrate that the Tax-1/syntenin-1 interaction is amenable to small-molecule inhibition. Altogether, our study highlights the biological significance of Tax-PDZ interactome and its interplay with exosome formation. It shows a direct link between extracellular vesicles and HTLV-1 transmission, providing a novel framework for the design of targeted therapies for HTLV-1-induced diseases.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2021

The unique Brucella effectors NyxA and NyxB target SENP3 to modulate the subcellular localisation of nucleolar proteins

The cell nucleus is a primary target for intracellular bacterial pathogens to counteract immune responses and hijack host signalling pathways to cause disease. The mechanisms controlling nuclear protein localisation in the context of stress responses induced upon bacterial infection are still poorly understood. Here we show that the Brucella abortus effectors NyxA and NyxB interfere with the host sentrin specific protease 3 (SENP3), which is essential for intracellular replication. Translocated Nyx effectors directly interact with SENP3 via a defined acidic patch identified from the crystal structure of NyxB, preventing its nucleolar localisation at the late stages of the infection. By sequestering SENP3, the Nyx effectors induce the cytoplasmic accumulation of the nucleolar AAA-ATPase NVL, the large subunit ribosomal protein L5 (RPL5) and the ribophagy receptor NUFIP1 in Nyx-enriched structures in the vicinity of replicating bacteria. This shuttling of ribosomal biogenesis-associated nucleolar proteins is negatively regulated by SENP3 and dependent on the autophagy-initiation protein Beclin1, indicative of a ribophagy-derived process induced during Brucella infection. Our results highlight a new nucleomodulatory function by two unique Brucella effectors, and reveal that SENP3 is a critical regulator of the subcellular localisation of multiple nucleolar proteins during Brucella infection, promoting intracellular replication.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

The human PDZome 2.0: characterization of a new resource to test for PDZ interactions by Yeast Two-Hybrid

PSD95-disc large-zonula occludens (PDZ) domains are globular modules of 80-90 amino acids that co-evolved with multicellularity. They commonly bind to carboxy-terminal sequences of a plethora of membrane-associated proteins and influence their trafficking and signaling. We previously built a PDZ resource (PDZome) allowing to unveil human PDZ interactions by Yeast two-hybrid. Yet, this resource is partial according to the current knowledge on the human PDZ proteome. Here we built the PDZome 2.0 library for Yeast two-hybrid, based in a PDZ library manually curated from online resources. The PDZome2.0 contains 305 individual clones (266 PDZ domains in isolation and 39 tandems), for which all boundaries have been designed based on available PDZ structures. Using as bait the E6 oncoprotein from HPV16, a known promiscuous PDZ interactor, we show that PDZome 2.0 outperforms the previous resource.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Brucella effector hijacks endoplasmic reticulum quality control machinery to prevent premature egress

Perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions can have critical consequences for cellular homeostasis. An elaborate surveillance system known as ER quality control (ERQC) ensures that only correctly assembled proteins reach their destination. Persistence of misfolded or improperly matured proteins upregulates the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with stress, activates ER associated degradation (ERAD) for delivery to proteasomes for degradation. We have identified a Brucella abortus type IV secretion system effector called BspL that targets Herp, a key component of ERQC and is able to augment ERAD. Modulation of ERQC by BspL results in tight control of the kinetics of autophagic Brucella-containing vacuole formation, preventing premature bacterial egress from infected cells. This study highlights how bacterial pathogens may hijack ERAD components for fine regulation of their intracellular trafficking.

microbiology↗