Research Interests |
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Protein N-glycosylation and Golgi remodeling are essential in vertebrates.The cell membrane is a protective bilayer embedded with glycoproteins that mediate interactions interaction with the environment, such as cell-cell signaling and nutrient uptake. In the secretory pathway, newly synthesized proteins are co-translational modified by N-glycosylation at Asn-X-Ser/Thr (X≠Pro) sites [NXS/T] sites, and ancient modification that promotes folding and proteostasis in the ER. Glycoproteins transit from the ER to the Golgi in metazoans where the N-glycans are trimmed by glycosidases and modified by branching N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases (MGAT-1,-2,-3,-4, and -5). |
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Computational model of N-glycan branching and opposing signaling pathways.
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Genetic code asymmetry supports diversity through experimentation with posttranslational modifications.The topology of the genetic code clusters synonymous codons, and amino acids with similar chemical properties, which minimizes the deleterious effects of mutations and translation error. The evolutionary |
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Essential amino acid exchangers are regulated by glycosylated adaptors (28).
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Gene purging and the evolution of Neoave metabolism and longevity (29).Maintenance of the proteasome requires oxidative phosphorylation (ATP) and mitigation of oxidative damage, in an increasingly dysfunctional relationship with aging. SLC3A2 plays a role on both sides of this dichotomy as an adaptor to SLC7A5, a transporter of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA: Leu, Ile, Val), and to SLC7A11, a cystine importer supplying cysteine to the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Intriguingly, Neoaves have purged CDKN1A (P21) and CDKN2A (P16) as well as two associated kinases CDK2 and CDK4 that play a role in metabolism, cell cycle and senescence. Further analysis of Neoave genomes may reveal higher-dimensional synthetic gene interactions beyond what can be achieved with inbred strains of mice and dogs. The evolution of birds may be viewed as a gain-of-function, gene drop-out experiment driven by adaptation to a volant lifestyle, which has resulted in a remarkable radiation of species occupying ecosystems worldwide and many with extended longevity. Further molecular analysis of Neoaves and Bats may reveal novel rewiring with applications for human health and longevity (29). |
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Hexosamine biosynthesis pathway in C. elegans development, stress and aging.Dr. Wendy Johnston in our lab has shown that C. elegans require a large increase in UDP-GlcNAc very early in development for the synthesis of eggshell chitin, a GlcNAcβ1-4 polymer. Chitin forms a protective barrier that blocks entry by supernumerary sperm during fertilization. Synthesis of chitin depends on glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase 2 (GNA-2), a hexosamine pathway enzyme which is rate limiting for UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis in the C. elegans early zygote (30-32). Gna-2 null mutants are maternal effect embryonic lethal. Rapid and asymmetric extrusion of eggshell chitin is required for movement of the sperm pronucleus to the cortex, as well as reorganization of the cytoskeleton and anterior-posterior polarization. Chitin is also crucial for high fidelity meiosis, polar body extrusion, and turnover of oocyte proteins during the cellular switch to a zygotic phenotype. A screen for gna-2 suppressors yielded mutants of sup-46 encoding an RNA-binding protein (C25A1.4) that localizes to stress granules and increases the gna-1 expression (33). Stress granules occur by phase transition at critical concentrations of interacting RNA and proteins (image below). Dr. Joe Culotti has identified genetic and environmental factors that act through protein glycosylation to navigate gonad distal tip cell (DTC) migration during embryogenesis (34). Working with Joe, we find that mutation of glycosyltransferases encoding branching in the N-glycosylation pathway, and elongation in the chondroitin pathway display defects in phase 2 (ventral to dorsal) migration of the DTC, with penetrance that is temperature sensitive. N-glycosylation and chondroitin mutations displayed additive penetrance (>90%), suggesting compensation and redundancy of these pathways in phase 2 DTC guidance. Both N-glycans and chondroitin have beta-galactoside sequences with affinity for Galectins (in preparation, 2024). Dr. Charles Warren, a talented postdoctoral fellow, initiated the C. elegans work in my lab. He was first to clone gly-2, which encoded worm MGAT5 activity and showed gly-2 can rescue an Mgat5 deficiency in mammalian cells (35,36). Working with Aldis Krizus, he also mapped the expression patterns six nonessential C. elegans core 2/I N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase homologues (37,38). Charles became assistant Professor at University of New Hampshire in 2003. He designed a study of congenital disorder of glycosylation in C. elegans; a genome-wide RNAi screen to identify N-glycosylation-dependent loci (39). Tragically, Charles died in a paragliding accident in 2005. |
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Polo-like kinase-4Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) is a serine/threonine kinase first cloned in our Lab as named SAK, a homolog of polo kinase (PLK) and subsequently named PLK4 (40-42). Plk4 is required for centrosome duplication and fidelity of chromosome segregation at mitosis. Plk4 haploinsufficiency promotes mitotic instability and carcinogenesis (43,44). Work on Plk4 continues, led by Dr. Carol Swallow at LTRI. PLK4 is found at high levels in some aggressive cancers of the colorectum, pancreas and breast (45). Plk4 also regulates cancer cell migration and invasion (44,46,47). Plk4 inhibitors are being developed by Phara, and clinical trials in cancer patients are showing promise. |
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REFERENCES
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