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Biomedical subjects

Hui Du

Publications and source records attributed to Hui Du.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

STT3A is essential for Wnt signaling and represents a target for cancers driven by RNF43 deficiency.

Abnormalities in the Wnt pathway are major drivers of cancer. RNF43 loss-of-function mutations are frequently detected in aggressive cancers lacking targeted therapies, underscoring the need to uncover key regulators and targets of this pathway. Using a double death trap (DDT) Wnt reporter and genome-wide CRISPR screen, we identified STT3A as an essential regulator of Wnt signaling. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of STT3A suppressed aberrant Wnt activity caused by RNF43/ZNRF3 loss. Importantly, suppression of STT3A blocked the growth of RNF43-deficient cancer cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and spontaneous tumors. Mechanistically, STT3A regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling via LRP6, but not LRP5. Glycosylation of LRP6 by STT3A is required for Wnt ligand binding. Notably, STT3A depletion displayed milder effects on bone homeostasis, as supported by phenotypes in STT3A-deficient patients. Together, this study established STT3A as a critical Wnt regulator through LRP6 glycosylation and a therapeutic target for RNF43-deficient cancers.

Humans

A GDSL lipase confers resistance to piercing-sucking insects in tobacco by strengthening leaf cuticle.

Piercing-sucking insects, such as whiteflies and aphids, cause massive economic losses in major crops around the world. During feeding, the stylets of piercing-sucking insects navigate cuticles, cell walls, epidermal cells, and mesophyll cells; thus, these barriers are vital for the resistance of plants to insects. However, the relationship between insect stylet probing behavior and the composition and structure of these barriers remains unclear. Here, we identified a tobacco Cuticle Related Factor (NtCRF), which was induced significantly by whitefly infestation. Bioassays showed that NtCRF positively regulated plant resistance against whiteflies and green peach aphids. Silencing of NtCRF did not affect plant jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) defenses but shortened the stylet probing time of phloem-feeders. Further studies confirmed that silencing of NtCRF resulted in significant structure destruction of the leaf cuticle and led to increased epidermal permeability. Overexpression of NtCRF in Arabidopsis also significantly enhanced the plant's resistance against whiteflies and green peach aphids. Our findings expand understanding of plant-insect interactions and provide a strategy for genetic improvement of crop resistance against piercing-sucking insects.

Animals