Biomolecules: Enhancing the Conformational Stability of the cl-Par-4 Tumor Suppressor via Site-Directed Mutagenesis (Libich Lab)

May 17, 2023

Samjhana Pandey Krishna K. Raut Andrea M. Clark  Antoine Baudin  Lamya Djemri  David S. Libich  Komala Ponniah Steven M. Pascal Abstract Intrinsically disordered proteins play important roles in cell signaling, and dysregulation of these proteins is associated with several diseases. Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4), an approximately 40-kilodalton proapoptotic tumor suppressor, is a predominantly intrinsically disordered [...]

Cells: The RNA Demethylase ALKBH5 Maintains Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis by Regulating UPR, Autophagy, and Mitochondrial Function (Chen, Sung, & Rao Labs)

May 17, 2023

Panneerdoss Subbarayalu Pooja Yadav Santosh Timilsina Daisy Medina Kunal Baxi Robert Hromas Ratna K. Vadlamudi Yidong Chen Patrick Sung Manjeet K. Rao Abstract Eukaryotic cells maintain cellular fitness by employing well-coordinated and evolutionarily conserved processes that negotiate stress induced by internal or external environments. These processes include the unfolded protein response, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation [...]

Thrombosis Research: A cohort study on blood coagulation in childhood cancer survivors (Aune)

May 5, 2023

                  Andrew D. Meyer a, Tyler B. Hughes a, Anjana R. Rishmawi a, Patty Heard a, Shafqat Shah b, Gregory J. Aune b c Highlights Anticoagulants decrease thrombotic events in adults receiving cancer therapy. Survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk of a thromboembolic stroke. Elevated coagulation protein levels are sensitive biomarkers of thrombosis risk. Our study identified that childhood survivors have chronically elevated [...]

Angelina Vaseva, PhD to Receive Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program New Investigator Award

April 25, 2023

Abstract Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) -associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is the leading cause of death in patients with NF1 syndrome. It is a highly aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma with very limited therapy options due to resistance to conventional therapies as well as a metastatic propensity. There is an urgent need for novel and more [...]

PLOS GENETICS: Hepatic ribosomal protein S6 (Rps6) insufficiency results in failed bile duct development and loss of hepatocyte viability; a ribosomopathy-like phenotype that is partially p53-dependent (Chen)

April 6, 2023

Sarah A. Comerford, Elizabeth A. Hinnant, Yidong Chen, Robert E. Hammer Sarah A. Comerford, Elizabeth A. Hinnant, Yidong Chen, Robert E. Hammer Abstract Defective ribosome biogenesis (RiBi) underlies a group of clinically diverse human diseases collectively known as ribosomopathies, core manifestations of which include cytopenias and developmental abnormalities that are believed to stem primarily from [...]

Neuro-Oncology: Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (KDM1A/LSD1) inhibition attenuates DNA double strand break repair and augments efficacy of temozolomide in glioblastoma (Chen, Lai, Zheng Labs)

March 23, 2023

Salvador Alejo, Bridgitte E Palacios, Prabhakar Pitta Venkata, Yi He, Wenjing Li, Jessica D Johnson, Chen Yihong, Sridharan Jayamohan, Uday P Pratap, Kyra Clarke, Yi Zou, Yingli Lv, Korri Weldon, Suryavathi Viswanadhapalli, Zhao Lai, Zhenqing Ye, Yidong Chen, Andrea R Gilbert, Takayoshi Suzuki, Rajeshwar R Tekmal, Weixing Zhao, Siyuan Zheng, Ratna K Vadlamudi, Andrew J Brenner, Gangadhara R Sareddy Abstract Background Efficient DNA repair in response to standard chemo and radiation therapies often contributes to GBM therapy resistance. [...]

Biopolymers: Biochemical and biophysical characterization of the nucleic acid binding properties of the RNA/DNA binding protein EWS

March 21, 2023

Emily E. Selig,  Roohi Bhura,  Matthew R. White,  Shivani Akula,  Renee D. Hoffman,  Carmel N. Tovar,  Xiaoping Xu,  Rachell E. Booth,  David S. Libich Abstract EWS is a member of the FET family of RNA/DNA binding proteins that regulate crucial phases of nucleic acid metabolism. EWS comprises an N-terminal low-complexity domain (LCD) and a C-terminal RNA-binding domain (RBD). The RBD is further divided [...]

Cell Reports: Nitric Oxide Suppression by Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 Drives Retinoblastoma (Shiio & Houghton Labs)

March 17, 2023

Panneerselvam Jayabal 1, Fuchun Zhou 1, Xiuye Ma 1, Kathryn M. Bondra 1, Barron Blackman 1, Susan T. Weintraub 2 3, Yidong Chen 1 3 4, Patricia Chévez-Barrios 5, Peter J. Houghton 1 3 6, Brenda Gallie 7, Yuzuru Shiio 1 2 3 8 Highlights The autocrine signaling mediated by SFRP2 drives retinoblastoma SFRP2 signaling suppresses NO production and maintains retinoblastoma growth CXADR serves as the receptor for SFRP2 Targeting SFRP2 results in NO production and suppression of retinoblastoma growth Summary Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the infant retina primarily driven by the loss of [...]

Cancer Research: Sequential Targeting of Retinoblastoma and DNA Synthesis Pathways Is a Therapeutic Strategy for Sarcomas That Can Be Monitored in Real Time (Houghton)

March 15, 2023

Tuyen Duong;Thanh Nguyen; Yan Wang;  Tuyen N. Bui; Rossana Lazcano;  Davis R. Ingram;  Min Yi; Varshini Vakulabharanam; Linjie Luo; Marc A. Pina; Cansu Karakas ; Mi Li; Nicole M. Kettner; Neeta Somaiah; Peter J. Hougton; Osama Mawlawi; Alexander J. Lazar; Kelly K. Hunt; Khandan Keyomarsi Abstract Treatment strategies with a strong scientific rationale based on specific [...]

Neuro-Oncology: Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (KDM1A/LSD1) inhibition attenuates DNA double strand break repair and augments efficacy of temozolomide in glioblastoma (Chen Lab)

March 13, 2023

Salvador Alejo, Bridgitte E Palacios, Prabhakar Pitta Venkata, Yi He, Wenjing Li, Jessica D Johnson, Chen Yihong, Sridharan Jayamohan, Uday P Pratap, Kyra Abstract Background Efficient DNA repair in response to standard chemo and radiation therapies often contributes to GBM therapy resistance. Understanding the mechanisms of therapy resistance and identifying the drugs that enhance the [...]