Biology subjects

Robinson, R. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Robinson, R. C..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Redeployment of Archaeal ESCRT Systems Reveals Conserved Mechanisms Underlying Eukaryotic Complexity

Eukaryotic ESCRT complexes remodel membranes at the plasma membrane and internal compartments, yet how these systems evolved from prokaryotic precursors functioning at the cellular membrane remains unresolved. Here, we show that ESCRT-II, ESCRT-III, VPS4, and ubiquitin from Candidatus Prometheoarchaeum syntrophicum (MK-D1), an Asgard archaeon closely related to eukaryotes, are recruited to canonical ESCRT sites in human cells, including centrosomes, midbodies, nuclear envelopes, endosomes despite the absence of these structures from MK-D1 morphology. In addition to MK-D1 ESCRT II recruitment at these regions, MK-D1 ESCRT-III and VPS4 form ring assemblies at midbodies and target reforming nuclear envelope regions. Futhermore, expression of MK-D1 ESCRT modules enhances efficiency of viral budding in human cells. These findings provide direct experimental evidence that archaeal ESCRT modules integrate into diverse eukaryotic structures, supporting a model in which ancestral membrane-remodeling systems were redeployed during eukaryogenesis to organize novel internal architectures.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Bacterial genome encoded ParMs

ParMs generally exist on low copy number plasmids where they contribute to plasmid segregation and stable inheritance. We carried out bioinformatics analysis, which indicated that ParM genes are not only confined to plasmids but are also occasionally found on genomes. Here we report the discovery and characterization of two chromosome encoded ParMs (cParMs) from the genomes of Desulfitobacterium hafniense (Dh-cParM1) and Clostridium botulinum (Cb-cParM). Both cParMs form filaments, exhibit nucleotide hydrolysis, and possess characteristic ParM subunit structures. Dh-cParM1 forms single and tightly coupled double filaments and is highly conserved on the chromosomes of five of six Desulfitobacterium species. Interestingly, these bacteria have not been reported to harbour plasmids. Cb-cParM possesses unique properties. Its filaments were stable after nucleotide hydrolysis and Pi release, and its ParR, (Cb-cParR) did not affect the initial stage of Cb-cParM polymerization but displayed properties of a depolymerization factor for mature filaments. These results indicate functional, polymerizing ParMs can be encoded on genomes, suggesting that ParM roles may extend to other functions beyond plasmid segregation.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Chromosome-scale genome assembly and gene annotation of the hydrothermal vent annelid Alvinella pompejana yield insight into animal evolution in extreme environments

The types of genomic change needed for environmental adaptation are of great interest. Annelid worms are a large phylum found in a rich diversity of habitats, giving opportunities to explore this issue. We report the chromosome level genome sequence of the Pompeii worm, the annelid Alvinella pompejana, an inhabitant of an extreme deep-sea hydrothermal vent environment. We find strong but heterogeneously distributed genetic divergence between populations taken from either side of the equator. Using transcript data, we produced a set of gene models and analysed the predicted protein set in the light of past hypotheses about the thermotolerance of Alvinella, and compared it to other recently sequenced annelid vent worms. We do not find evidence of a more extreme genome wide amino acid composition than other species, neither do we find evidence for rapid genome evolution in the form of disrupted synteny. We discount the hypothesis of loss of amino acid biosynthesis genes associated with obligate symbioses reported in siboglinid annelids. We do find evidence of a parallel increase in the number of globin encoding genes and loss of light sensitive opsins and cryptochromes. Alvinella encodes several respiratory enzymes unusual for bilaterian animals, suggesting an ability to better tolerate hypoxic environments.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

The role of location propagation for translocon complex relocation during eukaryogenesis

In all domains of life, the translationally-active ribosome-translocon complex inserts nascent transmembrane proteins into, and processes and transports signal peptide-containing proteins across, membranes1,2. Eukaryotic translocons are anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum, while the prokaryotic complexes reside in cell membranes. DNA sequence analyses indicate that the eukaryotic Sec61/OST/TRAP translocon is inherited from an Asgard archaea ancestor3,4. However, the mechanism for translocon migration from a peripheral membrane to an internal cellular compartment (the proto-endoplasmic reticulum) during eukaryogenesis is unknown. Here we show that Asgard and eukaryotic ribosome-translocon complexes are intercompatible. We find that fluorescently-tagged Asgard translocon proteins from Candidatus Prometheoarchaeum syntrophicum strain MK-D15, a Lokiarchaeon confirmed to contain no internal cellular membranes, are targeted to the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum on ectopic expression. Our data demonstrate that the location of existing ribosome-translocon complexes, at the protein level, determines the future placement of yet to be translated translocon subunits. This principle predicts that during eukaryogenesis, under positive selection pressure, the relocation of a few translocon complexes to the proto-endoplasmic reticulum will have propagated the new translocon location, leading to their loss from the cell membrane.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2022

An actin-like filament from Clostridium botulinum exhibits a novel mechanism of filament dynamics

Here, we report the discovery of a ParM protein from Clostridium botulinum (CBgs-ParM), which forms a double-stranded polar filament. CBgs-ParM shares many similarities in its basic filament architecture with actin, however, Pi release after nucleotide hydrolysis induces a large lateral strand shift of ~2.5 nm. We identified the ParR (CBgs-ParR) that acts as a nucleation factor in the initial stage of polymerization, similar to ParR from Escherichia coli plasmid R1. CBgs-ParR also functions as a depolymerization factor, probably by recognizing the structural change in the CBgs-ParM filament after Pi release. Comparison with CBH-ParM, another ParM from Clostridum botulinum, showed that subunit-subunit interacting regions largely differ, preventing co-polymerization, implying a selection pressure in evolution to prevent interference between different ParMRC systems.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Structure and dynamics of Odinarchaeota tubulin and the implications for eukaryotic microtubule evolution

Tubulins are critical for the internal organization of eukaryotic cells, and understanding their emergence is an important question in eukaryogenesis. Asgard archaea are the closest known prokaryotic relatives to eukaryotes. Here, we elucidated the apo and nucleotide-bound X-ray structures of an Asgard tubulin from hydrothermal-living Odinarchaeota (OdinTubulin). The GTP-bound structure resembles a microtubule protofilament, with GTP bound between subunits, coordinating the "+" end subunit through a network of water molecules and unexpectedly by two cations. A water molecule is located suitable for GTP hydrolysis. Time course crystallography and electron microscopy revealed conformational changes on GTP hydrolysis. OdinTubulin forms tubules at high temperatures, with short curved protofilaments coiling around the tubule circumference, more similar to FtsZ, rather than running parallel to its length, as in microtubules. Thus, OdinTubulin represents an evolution intermediate between prokaryotic FtsZ and eukaryotic microtubule-forming tubulins.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Specialization of actin isoforms derived from the loss of key interactions with regulatory factors

A paradox of eukaryotic cells is that while some species assemble a complex actin cytoskeleton from a single ortholog, other species utilize a greater diversity of actin isoforms. The physiological consequences of using different actin isoforms, and the molecular mechanisms by which highly conserved actin isoforms are segregated into distinct networks, are poorly known. Here, we sought to understand how a simple biological system, composed of a unique actin and a limited set of actin-binding proteins, reacts to a switch to heterologous actin expression. Using yeast as a model system and biomimetic assays, we show that such perturbation causes drastic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Our results indicate that defective interaction of a heterologous actin for important regulators of actin assembly limits certain actin assembly pathways while reinforcing others. Expression of two heterologous actin variants, each specialized in assembling a different network, rescues cytoskeletal organization and confers resistance to external perturbation. Hence, while species using a unique actin have homeostatic actin networks, actin assembly pathways in species using several actin isoforms may act more independently.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

In-vivo crystals reveal protein interactions

Crystallisation of recombinant proteins has been fundamental to our understanding of protein function, dysfunction, and molecular recognition. However, this information has often been gleaned under non-physiological extremes of protein, salt, and H+ concentrations. Here, we describe the development of the robust iBox-PAK4cat system that spontaneously crystallises in several mammalian cell types. The developments described here allow the quantitation of in-vivo protein-protein interactions using a novel GFP-linked reporter system. Here, we have combined this assay with in-vitro X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics studies characterise the molecular determinants of the interaction between NHERF1 PDZ2 and CFTR, a protein complex pertinent to the genetic disease cystic fibrosis. These studies have revealed the crystal structure of the extended PDZ domain of NHERF1, and indicated, contrary to previous reports, that residue selection at -1 and -3 PDZ-binding motif positions influence the affinity and specificity of the interaction. The results presented here demonstrate that the iBox-PAK4cat assay could easily be utilised to screen other protein-protein interactions.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Complex eukaryotic-like actin regulation systems from Asgard archaea

Asgard archaea genomes contain potential eukaryotic-like genes that provide intriguing insight for the evolution of eukaryotes. The actin polymerization/depolymerization cycle is critical for providing force and structure for a variety of processes in eukaryotes, including membrane remodelling. Here, we identify actin filament severing, capping, annealing and bundling, and monomer sequestration activities by gelsolin proteins from Thorarchaeota (Thor), which complete a eukaryote-like actin depolymerization cycle. Thor gelsolins are comprised of one or two copies of the prototypical gelsolin domain and appear to be a record of an initial pre-eukaryotic gene duplication event, since eukaryotic gelsolins are generally comprised of three to six domains. X-ray crystal structure determination of these proteins in complex with mammalian actin revealed similar interactions to the first domain of human gelsolin. Asgard two-domain, but not one-domain, gelsolins contain calcium-binding sites, which is manifested in calcium-controlled activities. Expression of two-domain gelsolins in mammalian cells led to enhanced actin filament disassembly on ionomycin-triggered calcium release. This functional demonstration, at the cellular level, provides evidence for calcium-regulated actin cytoskeleton in Asgard archaea, and indicates that the calcium-regulated actin cytoskeleton predates eukaryotes. In eukaryotes, dynamic bundled filaments are responsible for shaping filopodia and microvilli. By correlation, the formation of the protrusions observed from Lokiarchaeota cell bodies may involve gelsolin-regulated actin structures.

evolutionary biology↗