Kyeong Hwan Moon, and Jin Woo Kim
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 257-263 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.0091Abstract : Vertebrate organ development is accompanied by demarcation of tissue compartments, which grow coordinately with their neighbors. Hence, perturbing the coordinative growth of neighboring tissue compartments frequently results in organ malformation. The growth of tissue compartments is regulated by multiple intercellular and intracellular signaling pathways, including the Hippo signaling pathway that limits the growth of various organs. In the optic neuroepithelial continuum, which is partitioned into the retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and ciliary margin (CM) during eye development, the Hippo signaling activity operates differentially, as it does in many tissues. In this review, we summarize recent studies that have explored the relationship between the Hippo signaling pathway and growth of optic neuroepithelial compartments. We will focus particularly on the roles of a tumor suppressor, neurofibromin 2 (NF2), whose expression is not only dependent on compartment-specific transcription factors, but is also subject to regulation by a Hippo-Yap feedback signaling circuit.
Jung-Ae Kim
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 264-270 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.0076Abstract : Cells cope with diverse intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli in order to make adaptations for survival. The epigenetic landscape plays a crucial role in cellular adaptation, as it integrates the information generated from stimuli. Signaling pathways induced by stimuli communicate with chromatin to change the epigenetic landscape through regulation of epigenetic modifiers. Metabolic dynamics altered by these stimuli also affect the activity of epigenetic modifiers. Here, I review the current understanding of epigenetic regulation via signaling and metabolic pathways. In addition, I will discuss possible ways to achieve specificity of epigenetic modifications through the cooperation of stimuli-induced signal transduction and metabolic reprogramming.
Bo Feng, Qian Zhang, Jianfang Wang, Hong Dong, Xiang Mu, Ge Hu, and Tao Zhang
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 271-281 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2091Abstract : IFIT1 (also known as ISG56) is a member of the interferon-inducible protein with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) family. IFITs are strongly induced by type I interferon (IFN), double-stranded RNA and virus infection. Here, we investigated IFIT1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in human bronchus epithelial cells (BEAS-2Bs) induced by the H9N2 virus and inactivated viral particle at different time points. We also investigated the effect of H9N2 virus and viral particle infection on IFN-α/β production, and assessed whether hemagglutinin or neuraminidase protein induced IFIT1 expression. Results showed that both H9N2 virus infection and viral particle inoculation induced the expression of IFIT1 at mRNA and protein levels in the two cell lines. Hemagglutinin or neuraminidase protein binding alone is not sufficient to induce IFIT1 expression. Surprisingly, the expression patterns of IFIT1 in response to H9N2 virus and viral particles in the two cell lines were opposite, and production kinetics of IFN-α/β also differed. An additional finding was that induction of IFIT1 in response to H9N2 virus infection or viral particle inoculation was more sensitive in HUVECs than in BEAS-2Bs. Our data offers new insight into the innate immune response of endothelial cells to H9N2 virus infection.
Kyoung-Hee Lee, Chang-Hoon Lee, Jisu Woo, Jiyeong Jeong, An-Hee Jang, and Chul-Gyu Yoo
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 282-289 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2123Abstract : Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine mainly derived from T helper 17 cells and is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke (CS) has been considered as a primary risk factor of COPD. However, the interaction between CS and IL-17A and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been clarified. In the current study, we investigated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on IL-17A-induced IL-8 production in human bronchial epithelial cells, and sought to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. IL-8 production was significantly enhanced following treatment with both IL-17A and CSE, while treatment with either IL-17A or CSE alone caused only a slight increase in IL-8 production. CSE increased the transcription of
Joo-Hung Park, Jeong-Min Lee, Eun-Jin Lee, Won-Bhin Hwang, and Da-Jeong Kim
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 290-300 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2167Abstract : Using an
Yongdae Jang, Garam Choi, Seokho Hong, Inseong Jo, Jinsook Ahn, Sang Ho Choi, and Nam-Chul Ha
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 301-310 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2190Abstract : LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) contain an N-terminal DNA binding domain (DBD) and a C-terminal regulatory domain (RD). Typically, LTTRs function as homotetramers. VV2_1132 was identified in
Han Yong Lee, and Gyeong Mee Yoon
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 311-319 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2224Abstract : The gaseous hormone ethylene influences many aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to a variety of stresses. The biosynthesis of ethylene is tightly regulated by various internal and external stimuli, and the primary target of the regulation is the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (ACS), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of ethylene biosynthesis. We have previously demonstrated that the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis is a common feature of most of the phytohormones in etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings via the modulation of the protein stability of ACS. Here, we show that various phytohormones also regulate ethylene biosynthesis from etiolated rice seedlings in a similar manner to those in Arabidopsis. Cytokinin, brassinosteroids, and gibberellic acid increase ethylene biosynthesis without changing the transcript levels of neither
Nensi Shrestha, Hridaya Shrestha, Taeyong Ryu, Hangun Kim, Shishli Simkhada, Young-Chang Cho, So-Yeon Park, Sayeon Cho, Kwang-Youl Lee, Jae-Hyuk Lee, and Kwonseop Kim
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 320-330 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2292Abstract : δ-Catenin, a member of the p120-catenin subfamily of armadillo proteins, reportedly increases during the late stage of prostate cancer. Our previous study demonstrates that δ-catenin increases the stability of EGFR in prostate cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanism behind δ-catenin-mediated enhanced stability of EGFR was not explored. In this study, we hypothesized that δ-catenin enhances the protein stability of EGFR by inhibiting its lysosomal degradation that is mediated by c-casitas b-lineage lymphoma (c-Cbl), a RING domain E3 ligase. c-Cbl monoubiquitinates EGFR and thus facilitates its internalization, followed by lysosomal degradation. We observed that δ-catenin plays a key role in EGFR stability and downstream signaling. δ-Catenin competes with c-Cbl for EGFR binding, which results in a reduction of binding between c-Cbl and EGFR and thus decreases the ubiquitination of EGFR. This in turn increases the expression of membrane bound EGFR and enhances EGFR/Erk1/2 signaling. Our findings add a new perspective on the role of δ-catenin in enhancing EGFR/Erk1/2 signaling-mediated prostate cancer.
Kyungjin Min, Hye-Jin Yoon, Atsushi Matsuura, Yong Hwan Kim, and Hyung Ho Lee
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 331-341 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2313Abstract : L-pipecolic acid is a non-protein amino acid commonly found in plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is a well-known precursor to numerous microbial secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals, including anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, and several antibiotics. Lysine cyclodeaminase (LCD) catalyzes β-deamination of L-lysine into L-pipecolic acid using β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. Expression of a human homolog of LCD, μ-crystallin, is elevated in prostate cancer patients. To understand the structural features and catalytic mechanisms of LCD, we determined the crystal structures of
Richa Pasriga, Lae-Hyeon Cho, Jinmi Yoon, and Gynheung An
Mol. Cells 2018; 41(4): 342-350 https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2018.2320Abstract : Flowering time is determined by florigens. These genes include,