Biology subjects

Zhang, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Zhang, R..

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Recurrent evolution of vertebrate transcription factors by transposase capture.

How genes with novel cellular functions evolve is a central biological question. Exon shuffling is one mechanism to assemble new protein architectures. Here we show that DNA transposons, which are mobile and pervasive in genomes, have provided a recurrent supply of exons and splice sites to assemble protein-coding genes in vertebrates via exon-shuffling. We find that transposase domains have been captured, primarily via alternative splicing, to form new fusion proteins at least 94 times independently over [~]350 million years of tetrapod evolution. Evolution favors fusion of transposase DNA-binding domains to host regulatory domains, especially the Kruppel-associated Box (KRAB), suggesting transposase capture frequently yields new transcriptional repressors. We show that four independently evolved KRAB-transposase fusion proteins repress gene expression in a sequence-specific fashion. Genetic knockout and rescue of the bat-specific KRABINER fusion gene in cells demonstrates that it binds its cognate transposons genome-wide and controls a vast network of genes and cis-regulatory elements. These results illustrate a powerful mechanism by which a transcription factor and its dispersed binding sites emerge at once from a transposon family. One Sentence SummaryHost-transposase fusion generates novel cellular genes, including deeply conserved and lineage specific transcription factors.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Potent antiviral effect of protoporphyrin IX and verteporfin on SARS-CoV-2 infection

The SARS-CoV-2 infection is spreading rapidly worldwide. Efficacious antiviral therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed. Here, we discovered that protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and verteporfin, two FDA-approved drugs, completely inhibited the cytopathic effect produced by SARS-CoV-2 infection at 1.25 M and 0.31 M respectively, and their EC50 values of reduction of viral RNA were at nanomolar concentrations. The selectivity indices of PpIX and verteporfin were 952.74 and 368.93, respectively, suggesting broad margin of safety. Importantly, PpIX and verteporfin prevented SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice adenovirally transduced with human ACE2. The compounds, sharing a porphyrin ring structure, were shown to bind viral receptor ACE2 and interfere with the interaction between ACE2 and the receptor-binding domain of viral S protein. Our study suggests that PpIX and verteporfin are potent antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 infection and sheds new light on developing novel chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy against SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Downy Mildew effector HaRxL21 interacts with the transcriptional repressor TOPLESS to promote pathogen susceptibility

Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) is an oomycete pathogen causing Arabidopsis downy mildew. Effector proteins secreted from the pathogen into the plant play key roles in promoting infection by suppressing plant immunity and manipulating the host to the pathogens advantage. One class of oomycete effectors share a conserved RxLR motif critical for their translocation into the host cell. Here we characterize the interaction between an RxLR effector, HaRxL21 (RxL21), and the Arabidopsis transcriptional co-repressor Topless (TPL). We establish that RxL21 and TPL interact via an EAR motif at the C-terminus of the effector, mimicking the host plant mechanism for recruiting TPL to sites of transcriptional repression. We show that this motif, and hence interaction with TPL, is necessary for the virulence function of the effector. Furthermore, we provide evidence that RxL21 uses the interaction with TPL, and its close relative TPL-related 1, to repress plant immunity and enhance host susceptibility to both biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Functional and Genetic Analysis of Viral Receptor ACE2 Orthologs Reveals Broad Potential Host Range of SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a major global health threat. Epidemiological studies suggest that bats are the natural zoonotic reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. However, the host range of SARS-CoV-2 and intermediate hosts that facilitate its transmission to humans remain unknown. The interaction of coronavirus with its host receptor is a key genetic determinant of host range and cross-species transmission. SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the receptor to enter host cells in a species-dependent manner. It has been shown that human, palm civet, pig and bat ACE2 can support virus entry, while the murine ortholog cannot. In this study, we characterized the ability of ACE2 from diverse species to support viral entry. We found that ACE2 is expressed in a wide range of species, with especially high conservation in mammals. By analyzing amino acid residues of ACE2 critical for virus entry, based on structure of SARS-CoV spike protein interaction with human, bat, palm civet, pig and ferret ACE2, we identified approximately eighty ACE2 proteins from mammals that could potentially mediate SARS-CoV-2 entry. We chose 48 representative ACE2 orthologs among eighty orthologs for functional analysis and it showed that 44 of these mammalian ACE2 orthologs, including those of domestic animals, pets, livestock, and animals commonly found in zoos and aquaria, could bind SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and support viral entry. In contrast, New World monkey ACE2 orthologs could not bind SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and support viral entry. We further identified the genetic determinant of New World monkey ACE2 that restricts viral entry using genetic and functional analyses. In summary, our study demonstrates that ACE2 from a remarkably broad range of species can facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry. These findings highlight a potentially broad host tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and suggest that SARS-CoV-2 might be distributed much more widely than previously recognized, underscoring the necessity to monitor susceptible hosts to prevent future outbreaks.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

A flexible repertoire of transcription factor binding sites and diversity threshold determines enhancer activity in embryonic stem cells

Transcriptional enhancers are critical for development, phenotype evolution and often mutated in disease contexts; however, even in well-studied cell types, the sequence code conferring enhancer activity remains unknown. We found genomic regions with conserved binding of multiple transcription factors in mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) contain on average 12.6 conserved transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). These TFBS are a diverse repertoire of 70 different sequences representing the binding sites of both known and novel ESC regulators. Remarkably, using a diverse set of TFBS from this repertoire was sufficient to construct short synthetic enhancers with activity comparable to native enhancers. Site directed mutagenesis of conserved TFBS in endogenous enhancers or TFBS deletion from synthetic sequences revealed a requirement for more than ten different TFBS. Furthermore, specific TFBS, including the OCT4:SOX2 co-motif, are dispensable, despite co-binding the OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG master regulators of pluripotency. These findings reveal a TFBS diversity threshold overrides the need for optimized regulatory grammar and individual TFBS that bind specific master regulators.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of the monovalent cation-proton antiporter superfamily, and their function analysis in maize salt tolerance.

Na+, K+ and pH homeostasis are important for plant life and they are controlled by the monovalent cation proton antiporter (CPA) superfamily. The roles of ZmCPAs in salt tolerance are not fully elucidated. In this study, we identified 35 ZmCPAs comprising 13 Na+/H+ exchangers (ZmNHXs), 16 cation/H+ exchanger (ZmCHXs), and 6 K+ efflux antiporters (ZmKEAs). All ZmCPAs have transmembrane domains and maize protoplasts transient expression showed that ZmNHX5 and ZmCHX17 localized to cell membrane system. ZmCHXs were specifically highly expressed in anthers, while ZmNHXs and ZmKEAs showed high expression in various tissues. ZmNHX5 and ZmKEA2 were up-regulated in maize seedlings under both NaCl and KCl stresses. Yeast complementation experiments revealed the roles of ZmNHX5, ZmKEA2 in NaCl tolerance. Analyses of the maize mutants further validated the salt tolerance functions of ZmNHX5 and ZmKEA2. Our study highlights comprehensive information of ZmCPAs and provides new gene targets for salt tolerance maize breeding.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Hybrid origin of Populus tomentosa Carr. identified through genome sequencing and phylogenomic analysis

Populus tomentosa is widely distributed and cultivated in the Northern and Central China, where it is of great economic and ecological importance. However, the origin of P. tomentosa remains controversial. Here, we used a PacBio+Hi-C+Illumina strategy to sequence and assemble its 740.2 Mb (2n) genome. The assembly accounts for greater than 92.1% of the 800-megabase genome, comprises 38 chromosomes, and contains 59,124 annotated protein-coding genes. Phylogenomic analyses elucidated dynamic genome evolution events among its closely related white poplars, and revealed that tomentosa is comprised of two subgenomes, which we deomonstrate is likely to have resulted from hybridization between Populus adenopoda as the female, and Populus alba var. pyramidalis as the male, around 3.93 Mya. We also detected structural variations and allele-indels across genome. Our study presents a high quality and well assembled genome, unveils the origin of the widely distributed and planted P. tomentosa, and provides a powerful resource for comparative plant biology, breeding, and biotechnology.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Fully human single-domain antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly, highlighting the urgent need for an efficient approach to rapidly develop therapeutics and prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2. We describe here the development of a phage-displayed single-domain antibody library by grafting naive CDRs into framework regions of an identified human germline IGHV allele. This enabled the isolation of high-affinity single-domain antibodies of fully human origin. The panning using SARS-CoV-2 RBD and S1 as antigens resulted in the identification of antibodies targeting five types of neutralizing or non-neutralizing epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 RBD. These fully human single-domain antibodies bound specifically to SARS-CoV-2 RBD with subnanomolar to low nanomolar affinities. Some of them were found to potently neutralize pseudotyped and live virus, and therefore may represent promising candidates for prophylaxis and therapy of COVID-19. This study also reports unique immunogenic profile of SARS-CoV-2 RBD compared to that of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, which may have important implications for the development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Swine Promyelocytic Leukemia Isoform II Inhibits Pseudorabies Virus Infection by Suppressing Viral Gene Transcription in PML-NBs

Promyelocytic leukaemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) possess an important intrinsic antiviral activity against -herpesvirus infection. PML is the structural backbone of NBs, comprising different isoforms. However, the contribution of each isoform to -herpesvirus restriction is not well understood. Here, we report the role of PML-NBs and swine PML (sPML) isoforms in pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection in its natural host swine cells. We found that sPML-NBs exhibit an anti-PRV activity in the context of increasing the expression level of endogenous sPML. Of four sPML isoforms cloned and examined, only isoform sPML-II/IIa, not sPML-I and IVa, expressed in a sPML knockout cells inhibits PRV infection. Both the unique 7b region of sPML-II and sumoylation-dependent normal formation of PML-NBs are required. 7b possesses a transcriptional repression activity and suppresses viral gene transcription during PRV infection with the cysteine residue 589 and 599 being critically involved. We conclude that sPML-NBs inhibit PRV infection by repressing viral gene transcription through the 7b region of sPML-II. IMPORTANCEPML-NBs are nuclear sites that mediate the antiviral restriction of -herpesvirus gene expression and replication. However, the contrition of each PML isoform to this activity of PML-NBs is not well characterized. Using PRV and its natural host swine cells as a system, we have discovered that the unique C-terminus of sPML isoform II is required for PML-NBs to inhibit PRV infection by directly engaging in repression of viral gene transcription. Our study not only confirms in swine cells that PML-NBs have an anti-viral function, but also presents a mechanism to suggest that PML-NBs inhibit viral infection in an isoform specific manner.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Recapitulation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Cholangiocyte Damage with Human Liver Organoids

The newly emerged pandemic coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has posed a significant public health threat worldwide. However, the mode of virus transmission and tissue tropism is not well established yet. Recent findings of substantial liver damage in patients and ACE2+ cholangiocytes in healthy liver tissues prompted us to hypothesize that human liver ductal organoids could serve as a model to determine the susceptibility and mechanisms underlining the liver damage upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. By single-cell RNA sequencing, we found that long-term liver ductal organoid culture preserved the human specific ACE2+ population of cholangiocytes. Moreover, human liver ductal organoids were permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection and support robust replication. Notably, virus infection impaired the barrier and bile acid transporting functions of cholangiocytes through dysregulation of genes involved in tight junction formation and bile acid transportation, which could explain the bile acid accumulation and consequent liver damage in patients. These results indicate that control of liver damage caused directly by viral infection should be valued in treating COVID-19 patients. Our findings also provide an application of human organoids in investigating the tropism and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, which would facilitate novel drug discovery.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

SPIN reveals genome-wide landscape of nuclear compartmentalization

Chromosomes segregate differentially relative to distinct subnuclear structures, but this genome-wide compartmentalization, pivotal for modulating genome function, remains poorly understood. New genomic mapping methods can reveal chromosome positioning relative to specific nuclear structures. However, computational methods that integrate their results to identify overall intranuclear chromo-some positioning have not yet been developed. We report SPIN, a new method to identify genome-wide nuclear spatial localization patterns. As a proof-of-principle, we use SPIN to integrate nuclear compartment mapping (TSA-seq and DamID) and chromatin interaction data (Hi-C) from K562 cells to identify 10 spatial compartmentalization states genome-wide relative to nuclear speckles, lamina, and nucleoli. These SPIN states show novel patterns of genome spatial organization and their relation to genome function (transcription and replication timing). Comparisons of SPIN states with Hi-C sub-compartments and lamina-associated domains (LADs) from multiple cell types suggest constitutive compartmentalization patterns. By integrating different readouts of higher-order genome organization, SPIN provides critical insights into nuclear spatial and functional compartmentalization.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2020

Nonsense mediated RNA decay factor UPF1 is critical for post-transcriptional and translational gene regulation in Arabidopsis

Nonsense mediated RNA decay (NMD) is an evolutionary conserved RNA control mechanism that has also been implicated in the broader regulation of gene expression. Nevertheless, a role for NMD in genome regulation has not been fully assessed, partially because NMD inactivation is lethal in many organisms. Here, we performed in depth comparative analysis of Arabidopsis mutants lacking key proteins involved in different steps of NMD. We observed that UPF3, UPF1, and SMG7 have different impacts on NMD and the Arabidopsis transcriptome, with UPF1 having the biggest effect. Transcriptome assembly using stringent pipeline in UPF1-null plants revealed genome wide changes in alternative splicing, including switches in mRNA variants, suggesting a role for UPF1 in splicing. We further found that UPF1 inactivation leads to translational repression, manifested by a global shift in mRNAs from polysomes to monosomes and a downregulation of genes involved in translation and ribosome biogenesis. Despite this global change, NMD targets and low-expressed mRNAs with short half-lives were enriched in polysomes, indicating that UPF1 specifically suppresses the translation of aberrant RNAs. Particularly striking was an increase in the translation of TIR domain-containing, nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (TNL) immune receptors. The regulation of TNLs via UPF1/NMD-mediated mRNA stability and translational de-repression offers a dynamic mechanism for the rapid activation of TNLs in response to pathogen attack.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Suppression of Inflammation Delays Hair Cell Regeneration and Functional Recovery Following Lateral Line Damage in Zebrafish Larvae

BackgroundHuman cochlear hair cells cannot spontaneously regenerate after loss. In contrast, those in fish and amphibians have a remarkable ability to regenerate after damaged. Previous studies focus on signaling mechanisms of hair cell regeneration, such as Wnt and Notch signals but seldom on the fact that the beginning of regeneration is accompanied by a large number of inflammatory responses. The detailed role of this inflammation in hair cell regeneration is still unknown. In addition, there is no appropriate behavioral method to quantitatively evaluate the functional recovery of lateral line hair cells after regeneration. ResultsIn this study, we found that when inflammation was suppressed, the regeneration of lateral line hair cells and the recovery of the rheotaxis of the larvae were significantly delayed. Calcium imaging showed that the function of the neuromasts in the inflammation-inhibited group was weaker than that in the non-inflammation-inhibited group at the Early Stage of regeneration, and returned to normal at the Late Stage. Calcium imaging also revealed the cause of the mismatch between the function and quantity during regeneration. ConclusionsOur results, meanwhile, suggest that suppressing inflammation delays hair cell regeneration and functional recovery when hair cells are damaged. This study may provide a new knowledge for how to promote hair cell regeneration and functional recovery in adult mammals.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Expression quantitative trait methylation analysis reveals methylomic associations with gene expression in childhood asthma

Nasal airway epithelial methylation profiles have been associated with asthma, but the effects of such profiles on expression of distant cis-genes are largely unknown. We identified 16,867 significant methylation-gene expression pairs in nasal epithelium from Puerto Rican children and adolescents (with and without asthma) in an expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM) analysis of cis-genes located within 1 Mb of the methylation probes tested. Most eQTM methylation probes were distant from their target genes, and more likely located in enhancer regions of their target genes in lung tissue than control probes. The top 500 eQTM genes were enriched in pathways for immune processes and epithelial integrity, and also more likely to be differentially expressed in atopic asthma. Moreover, we identified 5,934 paths through which methylation probes could affect atopic asthma through gene expression. Our findings suggest that distant epigenetic regulation of gene expression in airway epithelium plays a role in atopic asthma.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Membrane-Bound O-Acyltransferase 7 (MBOAT7) is a Key Regulator of Glycolysis in Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma.

ObjectiveThe most common and deadliest urological cancer is clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC). ccRCC is characterized by striking reorganization of both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It was recently demonstrated that lipid remodeling enzyme Membrane-Bound O-Acyltransferase 7 (MBOAT7) that generates phosphatidylinositol (PI) is important for the ccRCC progression. However, whether MBOAT7-driven PI remodeling is associated with other metabolic alterations commonly found in ccRCC is poorly understood. MethodsMBOAT7 deficient ccRCC cell lines were generated by genome editing, and were characterized by a general reduction in glycolytic capactiy. Using targeted metabolomics approach in Caki-1 cells, we measured the glycolytic intermediates and the relative expression of key glycolytic enzymes. We also measured basal respiration and maximal respiration with MBOAT7 deficiency in the presence of glucose. Lastly, in vivo xenograft studies were performed with parental and MBOAT7 deficient cells. ResultsMBOAT7 deficiency was associated with a reduction in glycolytic gene expression and protein abundance. In parallel, we found that glycolytic intermediates similarly decreased which may contribute to a reduction in glycolysis. MBOAT7 deficiency reduces basal respiration and maximal respiration. Similarly, we see maximum glycolytic capacity also reduced with MBOAT7 loss of function. Finally, the in vivo xenograft demonstrated MBOAT7 knockout significantly increased overall survival and reduced glycolytic HK2 protein abundance in vivo. ConclusionsOur work highlights MBOAT7 as a key regulator of glycolysis in ccRCC. Our data provides additional evidence that suggests MBOAT7 as a novel target to regulate tumor growth in vivo.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Axonal mechanisms mediating GABA-A receptor inhibition of striatal dopamine release

Axons of midbrain dopaminergic neurons innervate the striatum where they contribute to movement and reinforcement learning. Past work has shown that striatal GABA tonically inhibits dopamine release, but whether GABA-A receptors directly modulate transmission or act indirectly through circuit elements is unresolved. Here, we use whole-cell and perforated-patch recordings to test for GABA-A receptors on the main dopaminergic neuron axons and branching processes within striatum. Application of GABA depolarized axons, but also decreased the amplitude of axonal spikes, limited propagation and reduced striatal dopamine release. The mechanism of inhibition involved sodium channel inactivation and shunting. Lastly, we show that the positive allosteric modulator diazepam enhanced GABA-A currents on dopaminergic neuron axons and directly inhibited release, but also likely acts by reducing excitatory drive from cholinergic interneurons. Thus, we reveal the mechanisms of GABA-A receptor modulation of dopamine release and provide new insight into the actions of benzodiazepines within the striatum.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Probing multi-way chromatin interaction with hypergraph representation learning

Advances in high-throughput mapping of 3D genome organization have enabled genome-wide characterization of chromatin interactions. However, proximity ligation based mapping approaches for pairwise chromatin interaction such as Hi-C cannot capture multi-way interactions, which are informative to delineate higher-order genome organization and gene regulation mechanisms at single-nucleus resolution. The very recent development of ligation-free chromatin interaction mapping methods such as SPRITE and ChIA-Drop has offered new opportunities to uncover simultaneous interactions involving multiple genomic loci within the same nuclei. Unfortunately, methods for analyzing multi-way chromatin interaction data are significantly underexplored. Here we develop a new computational method, called MATCHA, based on hypergraph representation learning where multi-way chromatin interactions are represented as hyperedges. Applications to SPRITE and ChIA-Drop data suggest that MATCHA is effective to denoise the data and make de novo predictions of multi-way chromatin interactions, reducing the potential false positives and false negatives from the original data. We also show that MATCHA is able to distinguish between multi-way interaction in a single nucleus and combination of pairwise interactions in a cell population. In addition, the embeddings from MATCHA reflect 3D genome spatial localization and function. MATCHA provides a promising framework to significantly improve the analysis of multi-way chromatin interaction data and has the potential to offer unique insights into higher-order chromosome organization and function.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2020

Alterations of human lung and gut microbiome in non-small cell lung carcinomas and distant metastasis

BackgroundNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although dysbiosis of lung and gut microbiota have been associated with NSCLC, their relative contributions are unclear; in addition, their roles in distant metastasis (DM) are still illusive. ResultsWe surveyed the fecal and sputum (as a proxy for lung) microbiota in healthy controls and NSCLC patients of various stages, and found significant perturbations of gut- and sputum-microbiota in patients with NSCLC and DM. Machine-learning models combining both microbiota (mixed models) performed better than either dataset in patient stratification, with the highest area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.842. Sputum-microbiota contributed more than the gut in the mixed models; in addition, sputum-only models performed similarly to the mixed models in most cases. Several microbial-biomarkers were shared by both microbiota, indicating their similar roles at distinct body sites. Microbial-biomarkers of distinct disease stages were mostly shared, suggesting biomarkers for distant metastasis could be acquired early. Furthermore, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a species previously associated with wound infections, was significantly more abundant in brain metastasis, indicating distinct types of DMs could have different microbial-biomarkers. ConclusionOur results indicate that alterations of sputum-microbiota have stronger relationships with NSCLC and distant metastasis than the gut, and strongly support the feasibility of metagenome-based non-invasive disease diagnosis and risk evaluation.

microbiology↗