The rockefeller university

Infection by malaria parasites triggers dynamic immune responses leading to diverse symptoms and pathologies; however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these reactions are largely unknown. We performed Trans-species Expression Quantitative Trait Locus analysis to identify a large number of host genes that respond to malaria parasite infections. Here we functionally characterize one of the host genes called receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4) in responses to malaria parasite and virus infections. RTP4 is induced by type I IFN (IFN-I) and binds to the TANK-binding kinase (TBK1) complex where it negatively regulates TBK1 signaling by interfering with expression and phosphorylation of both TBK1 and IFN regulatory factor 3. Rtp4(-/-) mice were generated and infected with malaria parasite Plasmodiun berghei ANKA. Significantly higher levels of IFN-I response in microglia, lower parasitemia, fewer neurologic symptoms, and better survival rateswere observed in Rtp4(-/-) than in wild-type mice. Similarly, RTP4 deficiency significantly reduced West Nile virus titers in the brain, but not in the heart and the spleen, of infected mice, suggesting a specific role for RTP4 in brain infection and pathology. This study reveals functions of RTP4 in IFN-I response and a potential target for therapy in diseases with neuropathology.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neuropeptide primarily transcribed in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), with vast projections to many areas throughout the central nervous system that play an important role in motivated behaviors and drug use. Anatomical, pharmacological and genetic studies implicate MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused substances, acting by influencing several systems including the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, glutamatergic as well as GABAergic signaling and being modulated by inflammatory neuroimmune pathways. Further support for the role of MCH in controlling behavior related to drug use will be discussed as it relates to cerebral ventricular volume transmission and intracellular molecules including cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide, dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 kDa. The primary goal of this review is to introduce and summarize current literature surrounding the role of MCH in mediating the intake and reinforcement of commonly abused drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, nicotine and opiates.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for transplantation-eligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRD) is the most common triplet regimen for newly diagnosed MM in the United States. Carfilzomib with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRD) has shown promising efficacy and may supplant VRD. We compared stem cell yields and autograft minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity after VRD and KRD induction. Deeper responses (ie, very good partial response or better) were more common with KRD. Precollection bone marrow (BM) cellularity, interval from the end of induction therapy to start of stem cell collection, and method of stem cell mobilization were similar for the 2 cohorts. Days to complete collection was greater with KRD (2.2 days, versus 1.81 days with VRD), which more often required >= 3 days of apheresis. Precollection viable CD34(+) cell content was greater with VRD, as was collection yield (11.11 x 10(6), versus 9.19 x 10(6) with KRD). Collection failure (defined as <2 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg) was more frequent with KRD (5.4% versus .7% with VRD). The difference in stem cell yield between VRD and KRD is associated with the degree of lenalidomide exposure. Age >= 70 years predicted poorer collection for both cohorts. Stem cell autograft purity/MRD-negativity was higher with KRD (81.4%, versus 57.1% with VRD). For both cohorts, MRD-negativity was attained in a larger fraction of autografts than in precollection BM. For patients proceeding to ASCT, the time to neutrophil/platelet engraftment was comparable in the 2 study arms. In summary, our data demonstrate that KRD induces deeper clinical responses and greater autograft purity than VRD without compromising stem cell yield or post-transplantation engraftment kinetics. (C) 2020 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Bacterial natural products have inspired the development of numerous antibiotics in use today. As resistance to existing antibiotics has become more prevalent, new antibiotic lead structures and activities are desperately needed. An increasing number of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters, to which no known molecules can be assigned, are found in genome and metagenome sequencing data. Here we access structural information encoded in this underexploited resource using a synthetic-bioinformatic natural product (syn-BNP) approach, which relies on bioinformatic algorithms followed by chemical synthesis to predict and then produce small molecules inspired by biosynthetic gene clusters. In total, 157 syn-BNP cyclic peptides inspired by 96 nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene clusters were synthesized and screened for antibacterial activity. This yielded nine antibiotics with activities against ESKAPE pathogens as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Not only are antibiotic-resistant pathogens susceptible to many of these syn-BNP antibiotics, but they were also unable to develop resistance to these antibiotics in laboratory experiments. Characterized modes of action for these antibiotics include cell lysis, membrane depolarization, inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis, and ClpP protease dysregulation. Increasingly refined syn-BNP-based explorations of biosynthetic gene clusters should allow for more rapid identification of evolutionarily inspired bioactive small molecules, in particular antibiotics with diverse mechanism of actions that could help confront the imminent crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Emergence of resistance is a major factor limiting the efficacy of molecularly targeted anticancer drugs. Understanding the specific mutations, or other genetic or cellular changes, that confer drug resistance can help in the development of therapeutic strategies with improved efficacies. Here, we outline recent progress in understanding chemotype-specific mechanisms of resistance and present chemical strategies, such as designing drugs with distinct binding modes or using proteolysis targeting chimeras, to overcome resistance. We also discuss how targeting multiple binding sites with bifunctional inhibitors or identifying collateral sensitivity profiles can be exploited to limit the emergence of resistance. Finally, we highlight how incorporating analyses of resistance early in drug development can help with the design and evaluation of therapeutics that can have long-term benefits for patients.

Mdn1 is an essential mechanoenzyme that uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to physically reshape and remodel, and thus mature, the 605 subunit of the ribosome. This massive (>500 kDa) protein has an N-terminal AAA (ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities) ring, which, like dynein, has six ATPase sites. The AAA ring is followed by large (>2,000 aa) linking domains that include an similar to 500-aa disordered (D/E-rich) region, and a C-terminal substratebinding MIDAS domain. Recent models suggest that intramolecular docking of the MIDAS domain onto the AAA ring is required for Mdn1 to transmit force to its ribosomal substrates, but it is not currently understood what role the linking domains play, or why tethering the MIDAS domain to the AAA ring is required for protein function. Here, we use chemical probes, single-particle electron microscopy, and native mass spectrometry to study the AAA and MIDAS domains separately or in combination. We find that Mdn1 lacking the D/E-rich and MIDAS domains retains ATP and chemical probe binding activities. Free MIDAS domain can bind to the AAA ring of this construct in a stereo-specific bimolecular interaction, and, interestingly, this binding reduces ATPase activity. Whereas intramolecular MIDAS docking appears to require a treatment with a chemical inhibitor or preribosome binding, bimolecular MIDAS docking does not. Hence, tethering the MIDAS domain to the AAA ring serves to prevent, rather than promote, MIDAS docking in the absence of inducing signals.

KOP-r agonist U50,488H produces strong aversion and anxiety/depression-like behaviors that enhance alcohol intake and promote alcohol seeking and relapse-like drinking in rodents. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway in mouse striatum is highly involved in excessive alcohol intake and seeking, and in the U50,488H-induced conditioned place aversion. Therefore, we hypothesized that KOP-r activation increases alcohol consumption through the mTORC1 activation. This study focuses on: (1) how chronic excessive alcohol drinking (4-day drinking-in-the-dark paradigm followed by 3-week chronic intermittent access drinking paradigm [two-bottle choice, 24-h access every other day]) affected nuclear transcript levels of the mTORC1 pathway genes in mouse nucleus accumbens shell (NAcs), using transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing analysis; and (2) whether selective mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin could alter excessive alcohol drinking and prevent U50,488H-promoted alcohol intake. Thirteen nuclear transcripts of mTORC1 pathway genes showed significant up-regulation in the NAcs, with two genes down-regulated, after excessive alcohol drinking, suggesting the mTORC1 pathway was profoundly disrupted. Single administration of rapamycin decreased alcohol drinking in a dose-dependent manner. U50,488H increased alcohol drinking, and pretreatment with rapamycin, at a dose lower than effective doses, blocked the U50,488H-promoted alcohol intake in a dose-dependent manner, indicating a mTORC1-mediated mechanism. Our results provide supportive and direct evidence relevant to the transcriptional profiling of the critical mTORC1 genes in mouse NAc shell: with functional and pharmacological effects of rapamycin, altered nuclear transcripts in the mTORC1 signaling pathway after excessive alcohol drinking may contribute to increased alcohol intake triggered by KOP-r activation.

Central exclusive and semiexclusive production of pi(+)pi(-) pairs is measured with the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at center-of-mass energies of 5.02 and 13 TeV. The theoretical description of these non-perturbative processes, which have not yet been measured in detail at the LHC, poses a significant challenge to models. The two pions are measured and identified in the CMS silicon tracker based on specific energy loss, whereas the absence of other particles is ensured by calorimeter information. The total and differential cross sections of exclusive and semiexclusive central pi(+)pi(-) production are measured as functions of invariant mass, transverse momentum, and rapidity of the pi(+)pi(-) system in the fiducial region defined as transverse momentum p(T)(p) > 0.2GeV and pseudorapidity vertical bar eta(p)vertical bar < 2.4. The production cross sections for the four resonant channels f(0)(500), rho(0) (770), f(0)(980), and f(2)(1270) are extracted using a simple model. These results represent the first measurement of this process at the LHC collision energies of 5.02 and 13 TeV.