scholarly journals Mechanistic analysis of the SERK3 elongated allele defines a role for BIR ectodomains in brassinosteroid signaling

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Hohmann ◽  
Joël Nicolet ◽  
Andrea Moretti ◽  
Ludwig A. Hothorn ◽  
Michael Hothorn

AbstractThe leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (LRR-RK) BRI1 requires a shape-complementary SERK co-receptor for brassinosteroid sensing and receptor activation. Interface mutations that weaken the interaction between receptor and co-receptor in vitro reduce brassinosteroid signaling responses. The SERK3 elongated (elg) allele maps to the complex interface and shows enhanced brassinosteroid signaling, but surprisingly no tighter binding to the BRI1 ectodomain in vitro. Here, we report that rather than promoting the interaction with BRI1, the elg mutation disrupts the ability of the co-receptor to interact with the ectodomains of BIR receptor pseudokinases, negative regulators of LRR-RK signaling. A conserved lateral surface patch in BIR LRR domains is required for targeting SERK co-receptors and the elg allele maps to the core of the complex interface in a 1.25 Å BIR3 - SERK1 structure. Collectively, our structural, quantitative biochemical and genetic analyses suggest that brassinosteroid signaling complex formation is negatively regulated by BIR receptor ectodomains.

Author(s):  
Ulrich Hohmann ◽  
Priya Ramakrishna ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Laura Lorenzo-Orts ◽  
Joel Nicolet ◽  
...  

AbstractReceptor kinases with extracellular leucine-rich repeat domains (LRR-RKs) form the largest group of membrane signaling proteins in plants. LRR-RKs can sense small molecule, peptide or protein ligands, and may be activated by ligand-induced interaction with a shape complementary SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK) co-receptor kinase. We have previously shown that SERKs can also form constitutive, ligand-independent complexes with the LRR ectodomains of BAK1-interacting receptor-like kinase 3 (BIR3) receptor pseudokinases, negative regulators of LRR-RK signaling. Here we report that receptor chimaera in which the extracellular LRR domain of BIR3 is fused to the cytoplasmic kinase domains of the SERK-dependent LRR-RKs BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1, HAESA and ERECTA form tight complexes with endogenous SERK co-receptors in the absence of ligand stimulus. Expression of these chimaera under the control of the endogenous promoter of the respective LRR-RK leads to strong gain-of-function brassinosteroid, floral abscission and stomatal patterning phenotypes, respectively. Importantly, a BIR3-GSO1/SGN3 chimera can partially complement sgn3 Casparian strip formation phenotypes, suggesting that GSO1/SGN3 receptor activation is also mediated by SERK proteins. Collectively, our protein engineering approach may be used to elucidate the physiological functions of orphan LRR-RKs and to identify their receptor activation mechanism in single transgenic lines.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luíza Dantas-Pereira ◽  
Edézio F. Cunha-Junior ◽  
Valter V. Andrade-Neto ◽  
John F. Bower ◽  
Guilherme A. M. Jardim ◽  
...  

: Chagas disease, Sleeping sickness and Leishmaniasis, caused by trypanosomatids Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp., respectively, are considered neglected tropical diseases, and they especially affect impoverished populations in the developing world. The available chemotherapies are very limited and a search for alternatives is still necessary. In folk medicine, natural naphthoquinones have been employed for the treatment of a great variety of illnesses, including parasitic infections. This review is focused on the anti-trypanosomatid activity and mechanistic analysis of naphthoquinones and derivatives. Among all the series of derivatives tested in vitro, naphthoquinone-derived 1,2,3-triazoles were very active on T. cruzi infective forms in blood bank conditions, as well as in amastigotes of Leishmania spp. naphthoquinones containing a CF3 on a phenyl amine ring inhibited T. brucei proliferation in the nanomolar range, and naphthopterocarpanquinones stood out for their activity on a range of Leishmania species. Some of these compounds showed a promising selectivity index (SI) (30 to 1900), supporting further analysis in animal models. Indeed, high toxicity to the host and inactivation by blood components are crucial obstacles to be overcome to use naphthoquinones and/or their derivatives for chemotherapy. Multidisciplinary initiatives embracing medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology need to be encouraged to allow the optimization of these compounds. Large scale automated tests are pivotal for the efficiency of the screening step, and subsequent evaluation of both the mechanism of action in vitro and pharmacokinetics in vivo are essential for the development of a novel, specific and safe derivative, minimizing adverse effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio P. A. Ferreira ◽  
Alessandra Casamento ◽  
Sara Carrillo Roas ◽  
Els F. Halff ◽  
James Panambalana ◽  
...  

AbstractEndocytosis mediates the cellular uptake of micronutrients and cell surface proteins. Fast Endophilin-mediated endocytosis, FEME, is not constitutively active but triggered upon receptor activation. High levels of growth factors induce spontaneous FEME, which can be suppressed upon serum starvation. This suggested a role for protein kinases in this growth factor receptor-mediated regulation. Using chemical and genetic inhibition, we find that Cdk5 and GSK3β are negative regulators of FEME. They antagonize the binding of Endophilin to Dynamin-1 and to CRMP4, a Plexin A1 adaptor. This control is required for proper axon elongation, branching and growth cone formation in hippocampal neurons. The kinases also block the recruitment of Dynein onto FEME carriers by Bin1. As GSK3β binds to Endophilin, it imposes a local regulation of FEME. Thus, Cdk5 and GSK3β are key regulators of FEME, licensing cells for rapid uptake by the pathway only when their activity is low.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongmei Ma ◽  
Bei Liu ◽  
Lingqiao Ge ◽  
Yinyin Weng ◽  
Xiaohui Cao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume extensively planted throughout the world as a high nutritive value livestock forage. Flowering time is an important agronomic trait that contributes to the production of alfalfa hay and seeds. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of flowering time regulation in alfalfa are not well understood. Results In this study, an early-flowering alfalfa genotype 80 and a late-flowering alfalfa genotype 195 were characterized for the flowering phenotype. Our analysis revealed that the lower jasmonate (JA) content in new leaves and the downregulation of JA biosynthetic genes (i.e. lipoxygenase, the 12-oxophytodienoate reductase-like protein, and salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase) may play essential roles in the early-flowering phenotype of genotype 80. Further research indicated that genes encode pathogenesis-related proteins [e.g. leucine rich repeat (LRR) family proteins, receptor-like proteins, and toll-interleukin-like receptor (TIR)-nucleotide-binding site (NBS)-LRR class proteins] and members of the signaling receptor kinase family [LRR proteins, kinases domain of unknown function 26 (DUF26) and wheat leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase10 (LRK10)-like kinases] are related to early flowering in alfalfa. Additionally, those involved in secondary metabolism (2-oxoglutarate/Fe (II)-dependent dioxygenases and UDP-glycosyltransferase) and the proteasome degradation pathway [really interesting new gene (RING)/U-box superfamily proteins and F-box family proteins] are also related to early flowering in alfalfa. Conclusions Integrated phenotypical, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses demonstrate that hormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways, pathogenesis-related genes, signaling receptor kinase family genes, secondary metabolism genes, and proteasome degradation pathway genes are responsible for the early flowering phenotype in alfalfa. This will provide new insights into future studies of flowering time in alfalfa and inform genetic improvement strategies for optimizing this important trait.


Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Mélody Dutot ◽  
Elodie Olivier ◽  
Sophie Fouyet ◽  
Romain Magny ◽  
Karim Hammad ◽  
...  

Phlorotannins are polyphenols occurring exclusively in some species of brown algae, known for numerous biological activities, e.g., antioxidant, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, and antiallergic properties. Their effects on the response of human lung cells to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) has not been characterized. Our objective was to in vitro evaluate the effects of a phlorotannin-rich extract obtained from the brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus on B[a]P cytotoxic effects. The A549 cell line was incubated with B[a]P for 48 and 72 h in the presence or absence of the brown algae extract. Cytochrome P450 activity, activation of P2X7 receptor, F-actin disorganization, and loss of E-cadherin expression were assessed using microplate cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Relative to control, incubation with the brown algae extract was associated with lower B[a]P-induced CYP1 activity, lower P2X7 receptor activation, and lower reactive oxygen species production. The brown algae extract inhibited the alterations of F-actin arrangement and the downregulation of E-cadherin expression. We identified a phlorotannins-rich extract that could be deeper investigated as a cancer chemopreventive agent to block B[a]P-mediated carcinogenesis.


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