Biology subjects

Reid, W.

Publications and source records attributed to Reid, W..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

SARS-CoV-2 triggers Golgi fragmentation via downregulation of GRASP55 to facilitate viral trafficking

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, an enveloped RNA virus. Despite extensive investigation, the molecular mechanisms for its assembly and secretion remain largely elusive. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces global alterations of the host endomembrane system, including dramatic Golgi fragmentation. SARS-CoV-2 virions are enriched in the fragmented Golgi. Disrupting Golgi function with small molecules strongly inhibits viral infection. Significantly, SARS-CoV-2 infection down-regulates GRASP55 but up-regulates TGN46 protein levels. Surprisingly, GRASP55 expression reduces both viral secretion and spike number on each virion, while GRASP55 depletion displays opposite effects. In contrast, TGN46 depletion only inhibits viral secretion without affecting spike incorporation into virions. TGN46 depletion and GRASP55 expression additively inhibit viral secretion, indicating that they act at different stages. Taken together, we show that SARS-CoV-2 alters Golgi structure and function to control viral assembly and secretion, highlighting the Golgi as a potential therapeutic target for blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Golgi structural defect impairs glycosaminoglycan synthesis, sulfation, and secretion

Synthesis of glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) occurs in the lumen of the Golgi but the relationship between Golgi structural integrity and glycosaminoglycan synthesis is not clear. In this study, we disrupted the Golgi structure by knocking out GRASP55 and GRASP65 and determined its effect on the synthesis, sulfation, and secretion of HS and CS. We found that GRASP depletion increased HS synthesis while decreasing CS synthesis in cells, altered HS and CS sulfation, and reduced both HS and CS secretion. Using proteomics, RNA-seq and biochemical approaches, we identified EXTL3, a key enzyme in the HS synthesis pathway, whose level is upregulated in GRASP knockout cells; while GalNacT1, an essential CS synthesis enzyme, is robustly reduced. In addition, we found that GRASP depletion decreased HS sulfation via the reduction of PAPSS2, a bifunctional enzyme in HS sulfation. Our study provides the first evidence that Golgi structural defect may significantly alter the synthesis and secretion of glycosaminoglycans.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

GRASP55 regulates mutant huntingtin unconventional secretion and aggregation

Recent studies demonstrated that the Golgi stacking proteins, GRASPs, especially GRASP55, regulate Golgi-independent unconventional secretion, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we used mutant huntingtin (Htt-Q74) as a model system to address this question. Our results demonstrate that Htt secretion is GRASP55- and autophagy-dependent, and is enhanced under stress conditions such as starvation and ER stress. Mechanistically, GRASP55 facilitates Htt secretion by tethering autophagosomes to lysosomes to promote autophagosome maturation and by stabilizing p23/TMED10, a channel for translocation of cytoplasmic proteins into the ERGIC lumen. Moreover, GRASP55 level is upregulated by various stresses to facilitate unconventional secretion, while inhibition of Htt-Q74 secretion by GRASP55 knockout enhances Htt aggregation and toxicity. Lastly, comprehensive secretomic analysis identified novel cargoes secreted by the same unconventional pathway, such as TAGLN, PAICS and PRDX1. This study provides important information on the role of GRASP55 in unconventional protein secretion and Huntingtons disease progression.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Knockout of Anopheles stephensi immune gene LRIM1 by CRISPR-Cas9 reveals its unexpected role in reproduction and vector competence

PfSPZ Vaccine against malaria is composed of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites (SPZ) manufactured using aseptically reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Immune response genes of Anopheles mosquitoes such as Leucin-Rich protein (LRIM1), inhibit Plasmodium SPZ development (sporogony) in mosquitoes by supporting melanization and phagocytosis of ookinetes. With the aim of increasing PfSPZ infection intensities, we generated an A. stephensi LRIM1 knockout line , {Delta}aslrim1 , by embryonic genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9. {Delta}aslrim1 mosquitoes had a significantly increased midgut bacterial load and an altered microbiome composition, including elimination of commensal acetic acid bacteria. The alterations in the microbiome caused increased mosquito mortality and unexpectedly, significantly reduced sporogony. The survival rate of {Delta}aslrim1 and their ability to support PfSPZ development, were partially restored by antibiotic treatment of the mosquitoes, and fully restored to baseline when {Delta}aslrim1 mosquitoes were produced aseptically. Deletion of LRIM1 also affected reproductive capacity: oviposition, fecundity and male fertility were significantly compromised. Attenuation in fecundity was not associated with the altered microbiome. This work demonstrates that LRIM1s regulation of the microbiome has a major impact on vector competence and longevity of A. stephensi. Additionally, LRIM1 deletion identified an unexpected role for this gene in fecundity and reduction of sperm transfer by males.

microbiology↗