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Functional characterization of homo- and heteromeric channel kinases TRPM6 and TRPM7.

TRPM6 and TRPM7 are two known channel kinases that play important roles in various physiological processes, including Mg2+ homeostasis. Mutations in TRPM6 cause hereditary hypomagnesemia and secondary hypocalcemia (HSH). However, whether TRPM6 encodes functional channels is controversial. Here we demonstrate several signature features of TRPM6 that distinguish TRPM6 from TRPM7 and TRPM6/7 channels. We show that heterologous expression of TRPM6 but not the mutant TRPM6(S141L) produces functional channels with divalent cation permeability profile and pH sensitivity distinctive from those of TRPM7 channels and TRPM6/7 complexes. TRPM6 exhibits unique unitary conductance that is 2- and 1.5-fold bigger than that of TRPM7 and TRPM6/7. Moreover, micromolar levels of 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) maximally increase TRPM6 but significantly inhibit TRPM7 channel activities; whereas millimolar concentrations of 2-APB potentiate TRPM6/7 and TRPM7 channel activities. Furthermore, Mg2+ and Ca2+ entry through TRPM6 is enhanced three- to fourfold by 2-APB. Collectively, these results indicate that TRPM6 forms functional homomeric channels as well as heteromeric TRPM6/7 complexes. The unique characteristics of these three channel types, TRPM6, TRPM7, and TRPM6/7, suggest that they may play different roles in vivo.

Animals↗

A novel PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P2 phosphatase with an inactivating variant in centronuclear myopathy.

In eukaryotic cells, phosphoinositides are lipid second messengers important for many cellular processes and have been found dysregulated in several human diseases. X-linked myotubular (centronuclear) myopathy is a severe congenital myopathy caused by mutations in a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) phosphatase called myotubularin, and mutations in dominant centronuclear myopathy (CNM) cases were identified in the dynamin 2 gene. The genes mutated in autosomal recessive cases of CNMs have not been found. We have identified a novel phosphoinositide phosphatase (hJUMPY) conserved through evolution, which dephosphorylates the same substrates as myotubularin, PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P(2), in vitro and ex vivo. We found, in sporadic cases of CNMs, two missense variants that affect the enzymatic function. One of these appeared de novo in a patient also carrying a de novo mutation in the dynamin 2 gene. The other missense (R336Q) found in another patient changes the catalytic arginine residue of the core phosphatase signature present in protein tyrosine/dual-specificity phosphatases and in phosphoinositide phosphatases and drastically reduces the enzymatic activity both in vitro and in transfected cells. The inheritance of the phenotype with regard to this variant is still unclear and could be either recessive with an undetected second allele or digenic. We propose that impairment of hJUMPY function is implicated in some cases of autosomal CNM and that hJUMPY cooperates with myotubularin to regulate the level of phosphoinositides in skeletal muscle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of inhaled interferon-β1a on SARS-CoV-2 diversity and evolution.

Interferon resistance has been implicated in SARS-CoV-2 escape from innate immunity, but exogenous interferon's impact on viral evolution and diversity is unknown. SNG001, an inhaled interferon-β1a treatment, was evaluated in the ACTIV-2/A5401 randomized controlled trial of therapeutics for COVID-19. We measured viral kinetics and performed whole-genome sequencing on longitudinal nasal swabs collected from ACTIV-2 participants who received either SNG001 or placebo to assess viral sequence diversity. No difference in nasal viral load decay was detected between study arms when stratifying by SARS-CoV-2 variant or by viral culture conversion. Compared to placebo participants, the SNG001-treated participants displayed significantly lower nonsynonymous amino acid average pairwise distance, indicating lower sequence diversity. Similarly, SNG001-treated individuals also developed numerically fewer nonsynonymous mutations during their infection in ORF1a, ORF1b, Spike, and Nucleocapsid. No specific emerging SARS-CoV-2 nonsynonymous amino acid changes indicating signatures of viral escape were enriched in those receiving SNG001. These in vivo data provide an intriguing signal that exogenous interferon-β1a may restrict SARS-CoV-2 viral diversity and add to growing evidence that interferon levels play a critical role in antiviral responses during COVID-19.IMPORTANCESARS-CoV-2 encodes several genes which can antagonize the interferon signaling cascade, preventing it from activating antiviral responses and thereby facilitating viral establishment and dissemination. It is unknown how the administration of exogenous interferon might affect viral evolution and immune escape. ACTIV-2/A5401 represents a unique opportunity to study the virologic effects of interferon treatment in a rigorous randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial setting. Our characterization of longitudinal nasal samples shows that interferon-treated individuals had lower viral diversity and no evidence of viral escape mutations.CLINICAL TRIALSThis study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04518410.

Humans↗

Intratumoral B cell and interferon signatures in newly diagnosed glioblastoma are associated with longer survival in patients treated with SurVaxM.

Glioblastoma (GBM) has proved difficult to treat, and there is dire need for more effective therapies. In a single arm phase IIa trial (NCT02455557), treatment of newly diagnosed GBM patients with the peptide vaccine SurVaxM resulted in promising median progression-free and overall survival. To investigate molecular features that associate with GBM responsiveness to SurVaxM, retrospective whole exome and RNA sequencing was performed on patient tumors (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;34) collected prior to standard of care treatment plus SurVaxM. Differential gene expression and mutational profiles were characterized between patients with short-term (OS&#x2009;<&#x2009;18&#xa0;months) or long-term (OS&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;18&#xa0;months) overall survival. Greater expression of interferon, complement, and humoral immunity signatures were associated with long-term survival. Deconvolution of transcriptomes identified enrichment of intratumoral memory B cell populations in long-term survivors that were validated by CD20 staining in matched samples. A five-gene expression signature and a B cell specific signature predicted survival within the SurVaxM-treated cohort, however, these signatures were not associated with improved outcomes in a similarly treated population obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) that did not receive immunotherapeutic intervention. Although prospective validation is ongoing, the findings in this discovery cohort specify molecular features of GBM associated with better overall survival and potential responsiveness to immunotherapy with SurVaxM.

Humans↗

Accelerated decline of blood glucose after intravenous glucose injection in a patient with Cowden disease having a heterozygous germline mutation of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene.

The PTEN/MMAC1, a putative tumor suppressor, has been demonstrated to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3, 4, 5-triphosphate, a key molecule involved in the insulin signaling pathway. The PTEN may act, therefore, as a negative regulator of insulin signaling. The patient with Cowden disease, having a heterozygous PTEN/MMAC1 gene mutation, a C to T substitution of a single base at codon 130, was suspected to have decreased amount of PTEN protein with phosphatase signature motif. We thought that the patient might be more sensitive to insulin than normal subjects. As expected, administration of a bolus of glucose resulted in a more rapid clearance of blood glucose than was observed in 5 control subjects, indicating the presence of insulin hypersensitivity in the patient. The euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study provided additional evidence.

Adult↗

Mutation of Thr466 in SHP2 abolishes its phosphatase activity, but provides a new substrate-trapping mutant.

Most classical phosphotyrosyl phosphatases (PTPs), including the Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (SHP2) possess a Thr or a Ser residue immediately C-terminal to the invariant Arg in the active site consensus motif (H/V-C-X5-R-S/T), also known as the "signature motif". SHP2 has a Thr (Thr466) at this position, but its importance in catalysis has not been investigated. By employing site-directed mutagenesis, phosphatase assays and substrate-trapping studies, we demonstrate that Thr466 is critical for the catalytic activity of SHP2. Its mutation to Ala abolishes phosphatase activity, but provides a new substrate-trapping mutant. We further show that the nucleophilic Cys459 is not involved in substrate trapping by Thr466Ala-SHP2 (T/A-SHP2). Mutation of Thr466 does not cause significant structural changes in the active site as revealed by the trapping of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the physiological substrate of SHP2, and by orthovanadate competition experiments. Based on these results and previous other works, we propose that the role of Thr466 in the catalytic process of SHP2 could be stabilizing the sulfhydryl group of Cys459 in its reduced state, a state that enables nucleophilic attack on the phosphate moiety of the substrate. The T/A-SHP2 harbors a single mutation and specifically interacts with the EGFR. Since the nucleophilic Cys459 and the proton donor Asp425 are intact in the T/A-SAHP2, it offers an excellent starting material for solving the structure of SHP2 in complex with its physiological substrate.

Alanine↗

Posttranslational activation, site-directed mutation and phylogenetic analyses of the lysine biosynthesis enzymes alpha-aminoadipate reductase Lys1p (AAR) and the phosphopantetheinyl transferase Lys7p (PPTase) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Alpha-aminoadipate reductase (AAR), the signature enzyme for lysine biosynthesis in fungi, catalyses the conversion of alpha-aminoadipate to alpha-aminoadipate-semiadehyde in the presence of ATP and NADPH. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, the LYS2-encoded AAR is posttranslationally activated by CoA and the LYS5-encoded PPTase. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is evolutionarily highly diverged from S. cerevisiae and C. albicans. We report here several unusual activation characteristics of Sz. pombe Lys1p and Lys7p, isofunctional to Lys2p (AAR) and Lys5p (PPTase), respectively. Unlike the Lys2p from S. cerevisiae and C. albicans, the Sz. pombe Lys1p was active when expressed in E. coli and exhibited significant AAR activity without the addition of CoA or the Sz. pombe Lys7p intron free PPTase. Somewhat higher AAR activity was obtained with the addition of CoA and the Sz. pombe Lys7p PPTase. Substitution of G910A, S913T or S913A in the Sz. pombe Lys1p activation domain (IGGHSI) resulted in no AAR activity. Similarly, substitutions of several amino acid residues in the Sz. pombe Lys7p PPTase domain (G79A, R80K and P81A in Core 1; F93W, D94E, F95W and N96D in Core 1a; G124A, V125I and D126E in Core 2; K172R, E173D and K177R in Core 3) also resulted in no activation of Lys1p and no AAR activity. The Sz. pombe Lys1p amino acid sequence showed a high degree of similarity to other fungal Lys2p proteins; however, the Lys7p amino acid sequence showed much less similarity to other bacterial, fungal and animal PPTases representing several phylogenetic groups.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Human adaptive evolution at Myostatin (GDF8), a regulator of muscle growth.

Myostatin (GDF8) is a negative regulator of muscle growth in mammals, and loss-of-function mutations are associated with increased skeletal-muscle mass in mice, cattle, and humans. Here, we show that positive natural selection has acted on human nucleotide variation at GDF8, since the observed ratio of nonsynonymous:synonymous changes among humans is significantly greater than expected under the neutral model and is strikingly different from patterns observed across mammalian orders. Furthermore, extended haplotypes around GDF8 suggest that two amino acid variants have been subject to recent positive selection. Both mutations are rare among non-Africans yet are at frequencies of up to 31% in sub-Saharan Africans. These signatures of selection at the molecular level suggest that human variation at GDF8 is associated with functional differences.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Infrequent alteration in the p53R2 gene in human transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: Functional defects in DNA repair have been shown to be associated with genomic instability followed by cancer. Recently, p53R2 [p53-inducible ribonucleotide reductase (RR) small subunit 2 homologous] was identified as a novel RR gene which is directly regulated by p53 protein in the G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle supplying nucleotides to repair damaged DNA. METHODS: We performed genetic analyses of p53R2 to determine whether p53R2 alterations play significant roles in urothelial tumorigenesis. Genomic DNA from 108 primary transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs; 81 of the urinary bladder and 27 of the renal pelvis or ureter) was analyzed for mutation in the p53R2 gene by direct sequencing. We focused on three domains of the p53R2 gene: one RR small subunit signature involving codons 120-146 (region 1) and two putative nuclear localization signal sequences, involving codons 149-155 (region 2) and codons 163-169 (region 3). In addition, a p53-binding site of 20 nucleotides in intron 1 of p53R2 was also analyzed. RESULTS: One renal pelvic TCC (0.9%: 1/108) had a single-base substitution in p53R2 with a G to T transversion resulting in the amino acid substitution Glu136 --> Asp. This base substitution was localized within the domain of exon 4 encoding the RR small subunit signature, and causes an amino acid substitution in one of the most highly conserved regions of p53R2, in which human R2 and yeast RNR2 and RNR4 proteins are highly homologous. CONCLUSION: This finding provides the in vivo evidence for the infrequent involvement of alterations in p53R2 inhuman urothelial TCCs.

Aged↗

A third approach to gene prediction suggests thousands of additional human transcribed regions.

The identification and characterization of the complete ensemble of genes is a main goal of deciphering the digital information stored in the human genome. Many algorithms for computational gene prediction have been described, ultimately derived from two basic concepts: (1) modeling gene structure and (2) recognizing sequence similarity. Successful hybrid methods combining these two concepts have also been developed. We present a third orthogonal approach to gene prediction, based on detecting the genomic signatures of transcription, accumulated over evolutionary time. We discuss four algorithms based on this third concept: Greens and CHOWDER, which quantify mutational strand biases caused by transcription-coupled DNA repair, and ROAST and PASTA, which are based on strand-specific selection against polyadenylation signals. We combined these algorithms into an integrated method called FEAST, which we used to predict the location and orientation of thousands of putative transcription units not overlapping known genes. Many of the newly predicted transcriptional units do not appear to code for proteins. The new algorithms are particularly apt at detecting genes with long introns and lacking sequence conservation. They therefore complement existing gene prediction methods and will help identify functional transcripts within many apparent "genomic deserts."

Algorithms↗

Effects of the order of exposure to a binary mixture of mutagens on the induced mutation spectra in the supF gene.

We have shown previously that UVC irradiation of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-adducted DNA (BPDE/UVC) induces an increase in mutation frequency in the supF gene greater than the calculated additive value derived from either treatment alone, with a greater absolute increase in the level of BPDE signature transversions. Possible explanations were that (i) the BPDE adducts are photoactivated to a more mutagenic lesion or (ii) the presence of UV-induced DNA damage enhanced the mutagenicity of BPDE adducts elsewhere on the DNA. In the present study, to determine which of these mechanisms is responsible for the enhanced mutagenicity of the combined treatment, plasmid pSP189 containing supF was treated with UVC radiation before BPDE treatment (UVC/BPDE). If BPDE adducts were being modified by UV irradiation to more mutagenic species, then reversing the order of exposure would be predicted to lower the mutation frequency and the number of transversions. Conversely, if merely the presence of UV damage influences the mutagenicity of BPDE adducts (or vice versa), the observed mutagenicity should be independent of the order of exposure. Previously, treatment with BPDE/UVC increased the mutation frequency by >400% over the calculated additive value derived from the individual BPDE and UV exposures. In the present study, treatment with UVC followed by BPDE increased the mutation frequency by only approximately 60%, compared with the corresponding calculated additive value. However, whilst this shows that the order of treatment affects the mutation frequency, there was little change in the percentage of base substitutions in the two spectra. Hence, whilst the change in mutation frequency is consistent with UVC directly enhancing the mutagenicity of the BPDE adducts, the similarity in the types of mutations induced by BPDE/UVC and UVC/BPDE suggests that the mechanism may not be that simple.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Genomics identifies medulloblastoma subgroups that are enriched for specific genetic alterations.

PURPOSE: Traditional genetic approaches to identify gene mutations in cancer are expensive and laborious. Nonetheless, if we are to avoid rejecting effective molecular targeted therapies, we must test these drugs in patients whose tumors harbor mutations in the drug target. We hypothesized that gene expression profiling might be a more rapid and cost-effective method of identifying tumors that contain specific genetic abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression profiles of 46 samples of medulloblastoma were generated using the U133av2 Affymetrix oligonucleotide array and validated using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Genetic abnormalities were confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Unsupervised analysis of gene expression profiles partitioned medulloblastomas into five distinct subgroups (subgroups A to E). Gene expression signatures that distinguished these subgroups predicted the presence of key molecular alterations that we subsequently confirmed by gene sequence analysis and FISH. Subgroup-specific abnormalities included mutations in the Wingless (WNT) pathway and deletion of chromosome 6 (subgroup B) and mutations in the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway (subgroup D). Real-time RT-PCR analysis of gene expression profiles was then used to predict accurately the presence of mutations in the WNT and SHH pathways in a separate group of 31 medulloblastomas. CONCLUSION: Genome-wide expression profiles can partition large tumor cohorts into subgroups that are enriched for specific genetic alterations. This approach may assist ultimately in the selection of patients for future clinical trials of molecular targeted therapies.

Adolescent↗

Mutational analysis of the conserved motifs of influenza A virus polymerase basic protein 1.

Influenza virus polymerase complex is a heterotrimer consisting of polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2), and polymerase acidic protein (PA). Of these, only PB1, which has been implicated in RNA chain elongation, possesses the four conserved motifs (motifs I, II, III, and IV) and the four invariant amino acids (one in each motif) found among all viral RNA-dependent RNA or RNA-dependent DNA polymerases. We have modified an assay system developed by Huang et al. (T.-J. Huang, P. Palese, and M. Krystal, J. Virol. 64:5669-5673, 1990) to reconstitute the functional polymerase activity in vivo. Using this assay, we have examined the requirement of each of these motifs of PB1 in polymerase activity. We find that each of these invariant amino acids is critical for PB1 activity and that mutation in any one of these residues renders the protein nonfunctional. We also find that in motif III, which contains the SSDD sequence, the signature sequence of influenza virus RNA polymerase, SDD is essentially invariant and cannot accommodate sequences found in other RNA viral polymerases. However, conserved changes in the flanking sequences of SDD can be partially tolerated. These results provide the experimental evidence that influenza virus PB1 possesses a similar polymerase module as has been proposed for other RNA viruses and that the core SDD sequence of influenza virus PB1 represents a sequence variant of the GDN in negative-stranded nonsegmented RNA viruses, GDD in positive-stranded RNA virus and double-stranded RNA viruses, or MDD in retroviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interferon-driven gene signature identifies two distinct subgroups in rheumatoid factor-positive polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the demographic, clinical, serological, genetic background, course and value of the interferon (IFN)-score in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). METHODS: Monocentric retrospective study of patients with RF-positive pJIA. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. The IFN-score was calculated based on the expression levels of 24 IFN stimulated genes. Whole exome sequencing was performed in 22 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included. The IFN score was positive in 18 patients (56.2%) and negative in 14 patients (43.7%). An increased IFN score was associated with a significantly higher family history of autoimmunity (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0004), parental first-degree consanguinity (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.05) and prevalence of antibodies to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACPA) (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.01). Three patients with interstitial lung disease exhibited a positive IFN score. Conversely, demographic features and characteristics of polyarthritis did not differ between the two groups. Clinically inactive disease was achieved in 21/32 (66%) patients, with no significant difference according to the IFN score. Remission was never achieved with methotrexate alone. We identified one patient with a pathogenic de novo mutation in COPA. Additionally, ultra-rare variants in genes related to IFN and/or innate immunity were found in 21/22 (95.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: The IFN signature identified two distinct subgroups in RF-positive pJIA according to family history and immunological features. Our study suggests that patients with an elevated IFN score should be screened for pulmonary involvement. Future prospective studies are required to validate the use of the IFN score as a biomarker in RF-positive pJIA.

Rheumatoid factor↗

Current strategies in treatment of oligodendroglioma: evolution of molecular signatures of response.

Oligodendroglioma frequently (> or = 70%) responds to radiation and chemotherapy, and is the first CNS neoplasm in which a genetic signature (1p and 19q deletion) has been associated with outcome within the context of large clinical trials. Current translational investigations focus on deletions or mutations of potential tumor suppressor genes, epigenetic alterations, amplification or mutation of growth factor and regulatory genes, and characterization of signaling events and regulatory protein expression. The most compelling data has involved 1p and 19q loss, which is observed in over 50% of anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. In two randomized phase III trials (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9402 and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 26951), the addition of neoadjuvant or adjuvant procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV; respectively) to radiotherapy did not produce superior survival as compared with radiotherapy alone. A modest increase in progression-free survival was observed with the addition of PCV, but at the cost of increased toxicity. Combined 1p and 19q loss identified a favorable prognostic group in both studies, which appeared to be independent of treatment arms. However, it is unclear whether these deletions represent surrogate markers of a favorable biologic tumor behavior, or are predictive of outcome after specific treatment. Currently, there is insufficient data to allow therapeutic decisions to be made solely on the basis of 1p and 19q gene deletion status. Future phase III trials are evaluating other chemotherapeutic and targeted agents, including temozolomide, and include correlative investigations of aberrant molecular events in these neoplasms, which may lead to future therapeutic strategies that are based on specific molecular signatures.

Central Nervous System Neoplasms↗

Gene expression patterns that predict sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer cell lines and human lung tumors.

BACKGROUND: Increased focus surrounds identifying patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who will benefit from treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). EGFR mutation, gene copy number, coexpression of ErbB proteins and ligands, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers all correlate with EGFR TKI sensitivity, and while prediction of sensitivity using any one of the markers does identify responders, individual markers do not encompass all potential responders due to high levels of inter-patient and inter-tumor variability. We hypothesized that a multivariate predictor of EGFR TKI sensitivity based on gene expression data would offer a clinically useful method of accounting for the increased variability inherent in predicting response to EGFR TKI and for elucidation of mechanisms of aberrant EGFR signalling. Furthermore, we anticipated that this methodology would result in improved predictions compared to single parameters alone both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Gene expression data derived from cell lines that demonstrate differential sensitivity to EGFR TKI, such as erlotinib, were used to generate models for a priori prediction of response. The gene expression signature of EGFR TKI sensitivity displays significant biological relevance in lung cancer biology in that pertinent signalling molecules and downstream effector molecules are present in the signature. Diagonal linear discriminant analysis using this gene signature was highly effective in classifying out-of-sample cancer cell lines by sensitivity to EGFR inhibition, and was more accurate than classifying by mutational status alone. Using the same predictor, we classified human lung adenocarcinomas and captured the majority of tumors with high levels of EGFR activation as well as those harbouring activating mutations in the kinase domain. We have demonstrated that predictive models of EGFR TKI sensitivity can classify both out-of-sample cell lines and lung adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that multivariate predictors of response to EGFR TKI have potential for clinical use and likely provide a robust and accurate predictor of EGFR TKI sensitivity that is not achieved with single biomarkers or clinical characteristics in non-small cell lung cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in the Netherlands between 1994 and 2022: a genomic and phenotypic study.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillus fumigatus is the main cause of invasive aspergillosis and triazole antifungals are the primary treatment option. The effectiveness of triazole therapy is hampered by the emergence of resistance, mainly caused by mutations in the cyp51A gene and a tandem repeat (TR) of 34 bases (TR34/Leu98His) and 46 bases (TR46/Tyr121Phe/Thr289Ala) in the promoter region, which correspond with signature triazole resistance phenotypes. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of triazole phenotype and genotype variation over a 29-year period in the Netherlands. METHODS: In this genomic and phenotypic study, we screened all clinical A fumigatus isolates from Dutch hospitals collected between Jan 6, 1994, and Dec 31, 2022, for resistance to triazole using agar-based methods, and characterised them by sequencing the cyp51A gene and in vitro susceptibility testing using the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing reference method. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on selected isolates, including those harboring TR34 variants, high-frequency single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and wild-type strains. Clinical information such as age, underlying disease, diagnosis, therapy, and outcomes was collected for patients who had isolates cultured at the Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands, between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2022. FINDINGS: 1979 (15&#xb7;6%) of the screened 12&#x2009;679 A fumigatus isolates harboured cyp51A triazole resistance mutations, predominately TR34/Leu98His sensu stricto in 1338 (67&#xb7;6%) resistant isolates and TR46/Tyr121Phe/Thr289Ala sensu stricto in 332 (16&#xb7;8%) resistant isolates. Phenotype and genotype variations were observed in 325 (17&#xb7;2%) triazole resistant isolates harbouring a TR-resistance mechanism, including 12 cyp51A genotype variants. Whole-genome sequencing showed that isolates with combinations of TR34-based and TR46-based polymorphisms seemed to be derived from separate populations, but there was some overlap. 59 cases of proven or probable invasive aspergillosis were identified, including 13 triazole-resistant cases, of which three were caused by genotype variants. Mixed genotype infection was observed in 11 (84&#xb7;6%) of 13 triazole-resistant patients and the number of antifungal treatment switches was higher compared with triazole-susceptible disease (p<0&#xb7;0001). INTERPRETATION: Our study showed variation in triazole genotypes and phenotypes in clinical A fumigatus isolates with cyp51A-mediated resistance, some of which were cultured from triazole-resistant invasive aspergillosis cases. Triazole resistance variation and mixed A fumigatus genotypes represent a major challenge in clinical management of Aspergillus diseases because current molecular diagnostic tools will increasingly fail to predict the resistance phenotype, underscoring the need for improved detection methods. FUNDING: National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Wellcome Trust.

Aspergillus fumigatus↗

CUTLL1, a novel human T-cell lymphoma cell line with t(7;9) rearrangement, aberrant NOTCH1 activation and high sensitivity to gamma-secretase inhibitors.

Activating mutations in NOTCH1 are present in over 50% of human T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) samples and inhibition of NOTCH1 signaling with gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSI) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease. Here, we report a new human T-cell lymphoma line CUTLL1, which expresses high levels of activated NOTCH1 and is extremely sensitive to gamma-secretase inhibitors treatment. CUTLL1 cells harbor a t(7;9)(q34;q34) translocation which induces the expression of a TCRB-NOTCH1 fusion transcript encoding a membrane-bound truncated form of the NOTCH1 receptor. GSI treatment of CUTLL1 cells blocked NOTCH1 processing and caused rapid clearance of activated intracellular NOTCH1. Loss of NOTCH1 activity induced a gene expression signature characterized by the downregulation of NOTCH1 target genes such as HES1 and NOTCH3. In contrast with most human T-ALL cell lines with activating mutations in NOTCH1, CUTLL1 cells showed a robust cellular phenotype upon GSI treatment characterized by G1 cell cycle arrest and increased apoptosis. These results show that the CUTLL1 cell line has a strong dependence on NOTCH1 signaling for proliferation and survival and supports that T-ALL patients whose tumors harbor t(7;9) should be included in clinical trials testing the therapeutic efficacy NOTCH1 inhibition with GSIs.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗