Biology subjects

Tang, S. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Tang, S. J..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Intron 13 retention expands the ADAR1 isoform repertoire to rewire PKR signaling and promote tumorigenesis

For decades, the biology of ADAR1 has been framed around two major isoforms: the nuclear-enriched p110 and the predominantly cytoplasmic p150. Here, we reveal an unexpected repertoire expansion of ADAR1 isoforms that is driven by intron retention. Specifically, intron 13 (I13) can be retained in ADAR1 transcripts, conferred by an evolutionarily conserved weaker 5SS. In addition, we found that the I13 retention (I13R) is negatively autoregulated by ADAR1 through antagonizing the binding of hnRNPA1 to I13 in an editing-independent manner. Despite being sensitive to nonsense-mediated decay, I13R generates two previously uncharacterized truncated isoforms - p90 and p130, that both lack the C-terminal portion of the deaminase domain. Intriguingly, ADAR1p90 - a derivative of the canonical nuclear-enriched p110 isoform - is predominantly cytoplasmic, that effectively represses PKR and eIF2 activation through the sequestration of immunogenic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrates. Furthermore, in a colorectal cancer (CRC) cohort, p90 levels are increased in most tumors relative to matched normal tissues that positively correlates with hnRNPA1 expression. Functionally, xenografts expressing ADAR1p90 grow significantly faster and larger than those expressing ADAR1p110, indicating enhanced tumorigenic potential. These findings revise the canonical view of ADAR1 isoforms, demonstrating that intron retention can generate alternative isoforms with augmented functions that tumors readily exploit. One Sentence SummaryThe conserved retention of I13 in ADAR1 transcripts gives rise to previously uncharacterized C-terminal truncated cytoplasmic ADAR1 isoforms, p90 and p130, which, although devoid of catalytic activity, sequester immunogenic dsRNA substrates, thereby preventing PKR binding and downstream activation of eIF2.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Mitochondrial dsRNA: A Hidden Source of Immunogenic RNA in ADAR1 Deficiency

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers immune responses during viral infections, but self-derived dsRNA can activate similar pathways. To prevent this, the body relies on mechanisms like ADAR1, an RNA-editing enzyme essential for immune regulation. Dysfunction of ADAR1 is linked to various diseases, yet the nature and role of dsRNAs accumulating in its absence remain unclear. Here, we identify mitochondrial dsRNA (mt-dsRNA), transcribed from the mitochondrial genome, as a major contributor to the endogenous dsRNA pool in ADAR1-deficient human and murine cells. We propose a "Draw-and-Release" model, where ADAR1 loss increases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), causing mt-dsRNA accumulation in the mitochondrial matrix ("Draw" phase) and its immune-activating release into the cytosol upon mitochondrial protein dysfunction ("Release" phase). This study highlights the importance of mitochondrial integrity in mitigating ADAR1-related pathologies.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Insulin resistance alters cortical inhibitory neurons and microglia to exacerbate Alzheimer knock-in mouse phenotypes

Metabolic dysfunction contributes to the risk and progression of Alzheimer"s disease (AD) through insulin signaling, but the cellular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the effects of streptozotocin-induced insulin deficiency or a high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diet-induced insulin resistance on cognitive function in knock-in AD mouse models expressing human mutant APP and wild-type tau. Both metabolic perturbations caused hyperglycemia, but only the HFHS diet resulted in weight gain and greater learning and memory deficits. The HFHS diet exacerbation occurred without changes in amyloid-{beta} or phospho-tau accumulation and with only subtle alterations in microglial morphology. The basis for functional deficits was explored with single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis. Prominent gene expression changes in glial cells and cerebral cortex Layer 2 inhibitory neurons correlated with the enhanced behavioral deficits. In HFHS-fed AD mice, we observed a shared metabolic impairment in neurodegeneration (MinD) state across multiple glial cell types. Additionally, the HFHS diet, with or without AD pathology, induced selective upregulation of the transcription factor Meis2 in cortical Layer 2 inhibitory neurons, in association with pathways involved in cell excitability. Overall, these findings suggest that HFHS-driven metabolic stress affects brain function and behavior through specific cellular programs distinct from amyloid or tau pathology, and identifies new targets that link diet-induced metabolic stress to cognitive decline in AD.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

mGluR4-Npdc1 complex mediates α-synuclein fibril-induced neurodegeneration

Fibrils of misfolded -synuclein (-syn) accumulate in Parkinsons disease and other synucleinopathies, spreading between cells to template further misfolding and drive neurodegeneration. -syn fibril entry into healthy neurons is recognized as a key step in the disease process but remains ill-defined mechanistically. Here, we comprehensively assessed the membrane proteome for binding of -syn fibrils. Expression cloning identified mGluR4 and Npdc1 as plasma membrane proteins expressed by substantia nigra neurons capable of supporting high affinity -syn fibril binding. Moreover, mGluR4 and Npdc1 cellular signaling functions were titrated by the presence of extracellular fibrillary -syn. While striatal -syn fibril injection led to nigral dopamine neuron loss in wild type mice, deletion of either Grm4 or Npdc1 provided protection of dopamine neurons. We observed mGluR4 and Npdc1 to form a complex that regulates mGluR4 signaling. Cultured neurons lacking both Grm4 and Npdc1 fail to bind -syn fibrils, to accumulate phosphorylated -syn and to lose synapses. Transheterozygous Grm4, Npdc1 mice showed protection from nigral neuron loss after striatal -syn injection, demonstrating genetic interaction between the two binding proteins. On a transgenic -syn A53T background, double Grm4, Npdc1 heterozygosity robustly increased mouse survival, motor function and spinal motoneuron number. Thus, a cell surface mGluR4-Npdc1 complex participates in -syn neurodegeneration.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Widespread interaction between ADAR1 and transcriptional byproducts

BackgroundADAR1, an adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing enzyme, has an emerging role in cancer immunotherapy. ADAR1 presumably works by suppressing cellular innate immunity response to endogenously generated double-stranded RNAs through RNA editing. However, RNA species that are directly regulated by ADAR1 mediated RNA editing processes remain poorly defined. ResultsIn this study, we used a novel bioinformatics approach to track ADAR1-RNA interactions. By integrating DNA-seq, RNA-seq, and ADAR1 RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (fRIP-seq) data of K562 cell line, we provided the first in-situ landscape profiling of ADAR1 RNA binding and editing activities. With long RNA fragments captured by ADAR1 immunoprecipitation, we were able to identify exon junctions and genomic boundaries used by ADAR1-associated RNAs and thus we could possibly trace pre-RNA processing steps that had been acting on them. Our methodology allowed us to acquire the knowledge of transcriptome-wide scenario of ADAR1 activities. Intriguingly, we found that ADAR1 had a tendency to interact with transcriptional byproducts originated from obscure regions such as introns and intergenic regions. ConclusionsOur observation might shed light on the dual role of ADAR1 proteins not only in diversifying the transcriptome, but also in reigning RNA debris from obscure regions. Moreover, as the functional potential of seemly transcriptional byproducts is just beginning to emerge, this study would bridge ADAR1 with other fields of RNA biology.

genomics↗