Biology subjects

Raghu, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Raghu, S..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

PARP16 protects against cardiac hypertrophic response by ADP-ribosylation-dependent inhibition of NFAT transcription factor

Mono-ADP-ribosylation is a post-translational modification that regulates diverse cellular processes. PARP16 is an endoplasmic reticulum-associated mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase implicated in stress-response signalling; however, its role in cardiac remodelling and dysfunction has not been fully defined. Our results suggest that PARP16 expression was reduced in human heart failure samples. Deletion of PARP16 in several mice models promoted ventricular dilatation, fibrosis, fetal gene reactivation, and systolic dysfunction, whereas cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of PARP16 attenuated isoproterenol-induced remodelling in mice. Transcriptomic profiling and functional studies identified NFAT signalling as a major downstream pathway activated following PARP16 deficiency. Specifically, loss of PARP16 increased nuclear accumulation, promoter occupancy, and transcriptional activity of NFAT1. Mechanistically, PARP16 interacted with NFAT1 and suppressed NFAT-dependent transcription through a catalytic activity-dependent mechanism. Proteomic, structural, and functional analyses identified E398 and T533 residues of NFAT1 associated with PARP16-mediated regulation. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of NFAT improved cardiac function and remodelling in PARP16-deficient mice. These findings indicate that PARP16 acts as a negative regulator of NFAT signalling and contributes to protection against adverse cardiac remodelling.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

SIRT2 attenuates stress-induced skeletal muscle atrophy by inhibiting glucocorticoid receptor signaling

Skeletal muscle atrophy occurs in several diseases and is associated with chronic stress. Studies indicate that glucocorticoid receptor signalling is the major signalling pathway that mediates stress-induced muscle degeneration. Although the glucocorticoid signalling pathway is relatively well characterized, there is a need to identify modulators of this pathway that may be useful for drug targeting to ameliorate muscle atrophy. SIRT2 is a mammalian Sirtuin isoform known to mediate the longevity benefits of calorie restriction and exercise. Currently, the role of SIRT2 in regulating stress-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is unclear. Our study found that SIRT2 is a critical regulator of muscle homeostasis and is required to protect against stress-induced muscle atrophy. Interestingly, SIRT2 levels are reduced during glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy in mice. SIRT2 depletion exacerbates glucocorticoid-induced reduction in myotube diameter and atrophy gene expression. In contrast, SIRT2 overexpression ameliorates myotube atrophy in primary myotubes. Our findings indicate that SIRT2 knockout mice are susceptible to glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy, while muscle-specific SIRT2-transgenic mice exhibit improved muscle function and are protected from glucocorticoid-induced atrophy. Mechanistically, SIRT2 binds to the glucocorticoid receptor to negatively regulate its activity, possibly via deacetylation of critical residues in its DNA-binding domain. Our findings suggest that SIRT2 activation may protect against glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating muscle atrophy.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2025

Sirtuin 2 controls global protein synthesis by regulating Rheb-GTPase

Upregulated global protein synthesis is associated with the development and progression of several diseases and disorders. Strategies like calorie restriction and pharmacological inhibition of protein synthesis, have exhibited health-promoting effects. However, the complex molecular events that regulate global protein synthesis are not completely understood. Here, we report that SIRT2, a histone deacylase, negatively regulates global protein synthesis by inhibiting the mTORC1 pathway via deacetylating Rheb and promoting Rheb degradation. Our in vitro results suggest that SIRT2 deficiency increases protein synthesis, whereas SIRT2 overexpression suppresses protein synthesis. SIRT2-deficient mice exhibit age-associated and neurohormone-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we report increased global protein synthesis in the hearts of young SIRT2-deficient mice, which may contribute to the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Conversely, cardiac-specific overexpression of SIRT2 reduces global protein synthesis in mice hearts. Mechanistically, SIRT2 binds to and deacetylates Rheb at K151 residue to enhance ubiquitin-proteosome-mediated degradation of Rheb. Depletion of Rheb rescues the increased protein synthesis in SIRT2-inhibited conditions. Our findings suggest that SIRT2 activation can be a potential therapeutic for treating diseases associated with increased protein synthesis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

SIRT2 protects against Japanese encephalitis virus infection in mice

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic RNA virus that causes Japanese encephalitis (JE) and poses a major threat to public health in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Current strategies rely on prophylactic methods to prevent disease, as no effective antiviral therapy exists. Here, we report that SIRT2, an NAD+-dependent deacetylase enzyme, mediates antiviral activity against JEV infection in mice. Interestingly, our study reveals that SIRT2 is downregulated in JEV infection, SIRT2 genetic deficiency/small molecule inhibition increases viral yield in neuronal cells and mice brains thereby reducing the survival rate in the infected mice, whereas SIRT2 gene therapy to the JEV-infected mice by Adeno-associated virus vector reduced the JEV load in mice brains and improved the survival rate. SIRT2 deficiency activates inflammatory cytokines and chemokines response in the JEV-infected mice brains through activating NF-{kappa}B transcription factor. Mechanistically, SIRT2 deacetylates NF-{kappa}B to reduce the transcriptional factor activity of NF-{kappa}B that down-regulates the Beclin-1-mediated autophagy, which is needed for the JEV replication. Overall, the present findings establish SIRT2 as a potential regulator of JEV infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Using karyotyping and achene morphology to accurately identify Sonchus oleraceus (Asteraceae) in the context of its biological control

In weed biocontrol, accurate identification of the target weed is essential to select effective and host-specific biocontrol agents. This study focuses on the biocontrol of an invasive weed species in Australia, native from Europe, the common sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae). During field surveys, the distinction between S. oleraceus and a morphologically related species (S. asper L.) was difficult because of specimens bearing intermediate morphological features. These observations raised questions about the reliability the morphological characters used for distinguishing between these species and the identity of the intermediate phenotypes. First, cytological analyses coupled with morphological comparisons were carried out on specimens collected in Europe and Australia. Results showed that specimens morphologically described as S. oleraceus and S. asper possessed, in accordance with literature 32 and 18 chromosomes, respectively. Specimens with intermediate morphotypes had 32 chromosomes, showing that they belong to S. oleraceus species. The variability of characters used for diagnosis is discussed and for a particular feature, achene ornamentation, an inquiry among 30 people was carried out to determine how this character might be relevant for distinguishing the two species herein considered. The successful identification rate was 92.2% (SE {+/-} 0.77) showing the practical interest of this feature for diagnosis.

plant biology↗