All Publications


  • TGF-β modulates cell fate in human ES cell-derived foregut endoderm by inhibiting Wnt and BMP signaling. Stem cell reports Funa, N. S., Mjoseng, H. K., de Lichtenberg, K. H., Raineri, S., Esen, D., Egeskov-Madsen, A. l., Quaranta, R., Jørgensen, M. C., Hansen, M. S., van Cuyl Kuylenstierna, J., Jensen, K. B., Miao, Y., Garcia, K. C., Seymour, P. A., Serup, P. 2024

    Abstract

    Genetic differences between pluripotent stem cell lines cause variable activity of extracellular signaling pathways, limiting reproducibility of directed differentiation protocols. Here we used human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to interrogate how exogenous factors modulate endogenous signaling events during specification of foregut endoderm lineages. We find that transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) activates a putative human OTX2/LHX1 gene regulatory network which promotes anterior fate by antagonizing endogenous Wnt signaling. In contrast to Porcupine inhibition, TGF-β1 effects cannot be reversed by exogenous Wnt ligands, suggesting that induction of SHISA proteins and intracellular accumulation of Fzd receptors render TGF-β1-treated cells refractory to Wnt signaling. Subsequently, TGF-β1-mediated inhibition of BMP and Wnt signaling suppresses liver fate and promotes pancreas fate. Furthermore, combined TGF-β1 treatment and Wnt inhibition during pancreatic specification reproducibly and robustly enhance INSULIN+ cell yield across hESC lines. This modification of widely used differentiation protocols will enhance pancreatic β cell yield for cell-based therapeutic applications.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.05.010

    View details for PubMedID 38942030

  • Structure of the Wnt-Frizzled-LRP6 initiation complex reveals the basis for coreceptor discrimination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Tsutsumi, N., Hwang, S., Waghray, D., Hansen, S., Jude, K. M., Wang, N., Miao, Y., Glassman, C. R., Caveney, N. A., Janda, C. Y., Hannoush, R. N., Garcia, K. C. 2023; 120 (11): e2218238120

    Abstract

    Wnt morphogens are critical for embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Canonical Wnts form ternary receptor complexes composed of tissue-specific Frizzled (Fzd) receptors together with the shared LRP5/6 coreceptors to initiate β-catenin signaling. The cryo-EM structure of a ternary initiation complex of an affinity-matured XWnt8-Frizzled8-LRP6 complex elucidates the basis of coreceptor discrimination by canonical Wnts by means of their N termini and linker domains that engage the LRP6 E1E2 domain funnels. Chimeric Wnts bearing modular linker "grafts" were able to transfer LRP6 domain specificity between different Wnts and enable non-canonical Wnt5a to signal through the canonical pathway. Synthetic peptides comprising the linker domain serve as Wnt-specific antagonists. The structure of the ternary complex provides a topological blueprint for the orientation and proximity of Frizzled and LRP6 within the Wnt cell surface signalosome.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.2218238120

    View details for PubMedID 36893265

  • Activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by Zeb1 in endothelial progenitors induces vascular quiescence entry. Cell reports Yu, Q. C., Geng, A., Preusch, C. B., Chen, Y., Peng, G., Xu, Y., Jia, Y., Miao, Y., Xue, H., Gao, D., Bao, L., Pan, W., Chen, J., Garcia, K. C., Cheung, T. H., Zeng, Y. A. 2022; 41 (8): 111694

    Abstract

    The establishment of a functional vasculature requires endothelial cells to enter quiescence during the completion of development, otherwise pathological overgrowth occurs. How such a transition is regulated remains unclear. Here, we uncover a role of Zeb1 in defining vascular quiescence entry. During quiescence acquisition, Zeb1 increases along with the progressive decline of endothelial progenitors' activities, with Zeb1 loss resulting in endothelial overgrowth and vascular deformities. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) analyses reveal that Zeb1 represses Wif1, thereby activating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Knockdown of Wif1 rescues the overgrowth induced by Zeb1 deletion. Importantly, local administration of surrogate Wnt molecules in the retina ameliorates the overgrowth defects of Zeb1 mutants. These findings show a mechanism by which Zeb1 induces quiescence of endothelial progenitors during the establishing of vascular homeostasis, providing molecular insight into the inherited neovascular pathologies associated with human ZEB1 mutations, suggesting pharmacological activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling as a potential therapeutical approach.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111694

    View details for PubMedID 36417861

  • Biofunctional Nanodot Arrays in Living Cells Uncover Synergistic Co-Condensation of Wnt Signalodroplets. Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Philippi, M., Richter, C. P., Kappen, M., Watrinet, I., Miao, Y., Runge, M., Jorde, L., Korneev, S., Holtmannspotter, M., Kurre, R., Holthuis, J. C., Garcia, K. C., Pluckthun, A., Steinhart, M., Piehler, J., You, C. 2022: e2203723

    Abstract

    Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) are developed to spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at the nanoscale. High-contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of 300nm are obtained by capillary nanostamping of bovine serum albumin bioconjugates, which are subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti-green fluorescence protein (GFP) clampfusions. Spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes is achieved at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co-receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, co-recruitment is observed of co-receptor Frizzled-8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin-1 and Disheveled-2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-driven assembly of Wnt "signalodroplets" at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects ofLLPSfor Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/smll.202203723

    View details for PubMedID 36266931

  • Mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk shapes intestinal regionalisation via Wnt and Shh signalling. Nature communications Maimets, M., Pedersen, M. T., Guiu, J., Dreier, J., Thodberg, M., Antoku, Y., Schweiger, P. J., Rib, L., Bressan, R. B., Miao, Y., Garcia, K. C., Sandelin, A., Serup, P., Jensen, K. B. 2022; 13 (1): 715

    Abstract

    Organs are anatomically compartmentalised to cater for specialised functions. In the small intestine (SI), regionalisation enables sequential processing of food and nutrient absorption. While several studies indicate the critical importance of non-epithelial cells during development and homeostasis, the extent to which these cells contribute to regionalisation during morphogenesis remains unexplored. Here, we identify a mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk that shapes the developing SI during late morphogenesis. We find that subepithelial mesenchymal cells are characterised by gradients of factors supporting Wnt signalling and stimulate epithelial growth in vitro. Such a gradient impacts epithelial gene expression and regional villus formation along the anterior-posterior axis of the SI. Notably, we further provide evidence that Wnt signalling directly regulates epithelial expression of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), which, in turn, acts on mesenchymal cells to drive villi formation. Taken together our results uncover a mechanistic link between Wnt and Hedgehog signalling across different cellular compartments that is central for anterior-posterior regionalisation and correct formation of the SI.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-28369-7

    View details for PubMedID 35132078

  • RTN4/NoGo-receptor binding to BAI adhesion-GPCRs regulates neuronal development. Cell Wang, J., Miao, Y., Wicklein, R., Sun, Z., Wang, J., Jude, K. M., Fernandes, R. A., Merrill, S. A., Wernig, M., Garcia, K. C., Sudhof, T. C. 2021

    Abstract

    RTN4-binding proteins were widely studied as "NoGo" receptors, but their physiological interactors and roles remain elusive. Similarly, BAI adhesion-GPCRs were associated with numerous activities, but their ligands and functions remain unclear. Using unbiased approaches, we observed an unexpected convergence: RTN4 receptors are high-affinity ligands for BAI adhesion-GPCRs. A single thrombospondin type 1-repeat (TSR) domain of BAIs binds to the leucine-rich repeat domain of all three RTN4-receptor isoforms with nanomolar affinity. In the 1.65A crystal structure of the BAI1/RTN4-receptor complex, C-mannosylation of tryptophan and O-fucosylation of threonine in the BAI TSR-domains creates a RTN4-receptor/BAI interface shaped by unusual glycoconjugates that enables high-affinity interactions. In human neurons, RTN4 receptors regulate dendritic arborization, axonal elongation, and synapse formation by differential binding to glial versus neuronal BAIs, thereby controlling neural network activity. Thus, BAI binding to RTN4/NoGo receptors represents a receptor-ligand axis that, enabled by rare post-translational modifications, controls development of synaptic circuits.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.016

    View details for PubMedID 34758294

  • Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling. PloS one Luca, V. C., Miao, Y. n., Li, X. n., Hollander, M. J., Kuo, C. J., Garcia, K. C. 2020; 15 (1): e0226928

    Abstract

    Secreted R-spondin1-4 proteins (RSPO1-4) orchestrate stem cell renewal and tissue homeostasis by potentiating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. RSPOs induce the turnover of negative Wnt regulators RNF43 and ZNRF3 through a process that requires RSPO interactions with Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptors (LGRs), or through an LGR-independent mechanism that is enhanced by RSPO binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Here, we describe the engineering of 'surrogate RSPOs' that function independently of LGRs to potentiate Wnt signaling on cell types expressing a target surface marker. These bispecific proteins were generated by fusing an RNF43- or ZNRF3-specific single chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) to the immune cytokine IL-2. Surrogate RSPOs mimic the function of natural RSPOs by crosslinking the extracellular domain (ECD) of RNF43 or ZNRF3 to the ECD of the IL-2 receptor CD25, which sequesters the complex and results in highly selective amplification of Wnt signaling on CD25+ cells. Furthermore, surrogate RSPOs were able substitute for wild type RSPO in a colon organoid growth assay when intestinal stem cells were transduced to express CD25. Our results provide proof-of-concept for a technology that may be adapted for use on a broad range of cell- or tissue-types and will open new avenues for the development of Wnt-based therapeutics for regenerative medicine.

    View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0226928

    View details for PubMedID 31914456

  • Structure of human Frizzled5 by fiducial-assisted cryo-EM supports a heterodimeric mechanism of canonical Wnt signaling. eLife Tsutsumi, N. n., Mukherjee, S. n., Waghray, D. n., Janda, C. Y., Jude, K. M., Miao, Y. n., Burg, J. S., Aduri, N. G., Kossiakoff, A. A., Gati, C. n., Garcia, K. C. 2020; 9

    Abstract

    Frizzleds (Fzd) are the primary receptors for Wnt morphogens, which are essential regulators of stem cell biology, yet the structural basis of Wnt signaling through Fzd remains poorly understood. Here we report the structure of an unliganded human Fzd5 determined by single-particle cryo-EM at 3.7 Å resolution, with the aid of an antibody chaperone acting as a fiducial marker. We also analyzed the topology of low-resolution XWnt8/Fzd5 complex particles, which revealed extreme flexibility between the Wnt/Fzd-CRD and the Fzd-TM regions. Analysis of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in response to Wnt3a versus a 'surrogate agonist' that cross-links Fzd to LRP6, revealed identical structure-activity relationships. Thus, canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling appears to be principally reliant on ligand-induced Fzd/LRP6 heterodimerization, versus the allosteric mechanisms seen in structurally analogous class A G protein-coupled receptors, and Smoothened. These findings deepen our mechanistic understanding of Wnt signal transduction, and have implications for harnessing Wnt agonism in regenerative medicine.

    View details for DOI 10.7554/eLife.58464

    View details for PubMedID 32762848

  • Mutational signature in colorectal cancer caused by genotoxic pks+ E. coli. Nature Pleguezuelos-Manzano, C. n., Puschhof, J. n., Huber, A. R., van Hoeck, A. n., Wood, H. M., Nomburg, J. n., Gurjao, C. n., Manders, F. n., Dalmasso, G. n., Stege, P. B., Paganelli, F. L., Geurts, M. H., Beumer, J. n., Mizutani, T. n., Miao, Y. n., van der Linden, R. n., van Elst, S. n., Garcia, K. C., Top, J. n., Willems, R. J., Giannakis, M. n., Bonnet, R. n., Quirke, P. n., Meyerson, M. n., Cuppen, E. n., van Boxtel, R. n., Clevers, H. n. 2020

    Abstract

    Various species of the intestinal microbiota have been associated with the development of colorectal cancer (CRC)1,2, but it has not been demonstrated that bacteria have a direct role in the occurrence of oncogenic mutations. Escherichia coli can carry the pathogenicity island pks, which encodes a set of enzymes that synthesize colibactin3. This compound is believed to alkylate DNA on adenine residues4,5 and induces double-strand breaks in cultured cells3. Here we expose human intestinal organoids to genotoxic pks+ E. coli by repeated luminal injection over five months. Whole-genome sequencing of clonal organoids before and after this exposure revealed a distinct mutational signature that was absent from organoids injected with isogenic pks-mutant bacteria. The same mutational signature was detected in a subset of 5,876 human cancer genomes from two independent cohorts, predominantly in CRC. Our study describes a distinct mutational signature in CRC and implies that the underlying mutational process results directly from past exposure to bacteria carrying the colibactin-producing pks pathogenicity island.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41586-020-2080-8

    View details for PubMedID 32106218

  • Next-Generation Surrogate Wnts Support Organoid Growth and Deconvolute Frizzled Pleiotropy In Vivo. Cell stem cell Miao, Y. n., Ha, A. n., de Lau, W. n., Yuki, K. n., Santos, A. J., You, C. n., Geurts, M. H., Puschhof, J. n., Pleguezuelos-Manzano, C. n., Peng, W. C., Senlice, R. n., Piani, C. n., Buikema, J. W., Gbenedio, O. M., Vallon, M. n., Yuan, J. n., de Haan, S. n., Hemrika, W. n., Rösch, K. n., Dang, L. T., Baker, D. n., Ott, M. n., Depeille, P. n., Wu, S. M., Drost, J. n., Nusse, R. n., Roose, J. P., Piehler, J. n., Boj, S. F., Janda, C. Y., Clevers, H. n., Kuo, C. J., Garcia, K. C. 2020

    Abstract

    Modulation of Wnt signaling has untapped potential in regenerative medicine due to its essential functions in stem cell homeostasis. However, Wnt lipidation and Wnt-Frizzled (Fzd) cross-reactivity have hindered translational Wnt applications. Here, we designed and engineered water-soluble, Fzd subtype-specific "next-generation surrogate" (NGS) Wnts that hetero-dimerize Fzd and Lrp6. NGS Wnt supports long-term expansion of multiple different types of organoids, including kidney, colon, hepatocyte, ovarian, and breast. NGS Wnts are superior to Wnt3a conditioned media in organoid expansion and single-cell organoid outgrowth. Administration of Fzd subtype-specific NGS Wnt in vivo reveals that adult intestinal crypt proliferation can be promoted by agonism of Fzd5 and/or Fzd8 receptors, while a broad spectrum of Fzd receptors can induce liver zonation. Thus, NGS Wnts offer a unified organoid expansion protocol and a laboratory "tool kit" for dissecting the functions of Fzd subtypes in stem cell biology.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.stem.2020.07.020

    View details for PubMedID 32818433

  • Wnt Activation and Reduced Cell-Cell Contact Synergistically Induce Massive Expansion of Functional Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Cell stem cell Buikema, J. W., Lee, S. n., Goodyer, W. R., Maas, R. G., Chirikian, O. n., Li, G. n., Miao, Y. n., Paige, S. L., Lee, D. n., Wu, H. n., Paik, D. T., Rhee, S. n., Tian, L. n., Galdos, F. X., Puluca, N. n., Beyersdorf, B. n., Hu, J. n., Beck, A. n., Venkamatran, S. n., Swami, S. n., Wijnker, P. n., Schuldt, M. n., Dorsch, L. M., van Mil, A. n., Red-Horse, K. n., Wu, J. Y., Geisen, C. n., Hesse, M. n., Serpooshan, V. n., Jovinge, S. n., Fleischmann, B. K., Doevendans, P. A., van der Velden, J. n., Garcia, K. C., Wu, J. C., Sluijter, J. P., Wu, S. M. 2020; 27 (1): 50–63.e5

    Abstract

    Modulating signaling pathways including Wnt and Hippo can induce cardiomyocyte proliferation in vivo. Applying these signaling modulators to human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in vitro can expand CMs modestly (<5-fold). Here, we demonstrate massive expansion of hiPSC-CMs in vitro (i.e., 100- to 250-fold) by glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) inhibition using CHIR99021 and concurrent removal of cell-cell contact. We show that GSK-3β inhibition suppresses CM maturation, while contact removal prevents CMs from cell cycle exit. Remarkably, contact removal enabled 10 to 25 times greater expansion beyond GSK-3β inhibition alone. Mechanistically, persistent CM proliferation required both LEF/TCF activity and AKT phosphorylation but was independent from yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling. Engineered heart tissues from expanded hiPSC-CMs showed comparable contractility to those from unexpanded hiPSC-CMs, demonstrating uncompromised cellular functionality after expansion. In summary, we uncovered a molecular interplay that enables massive hiPSC-CM expansion for large-scale drug screening and tissue engineering applications.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.stem.2020.06.001

    View details for PubMedID 32619518

  • Receptor subtype discrimination using extensive shape complementary designed interfaces NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Dang, L. T., Miao, Y., Ha, A., Yuki, K., Park, K., Janda, C. Y., Jude, K. M., Mohan, K., Ha, N., Vallon, M., Yuan, J., Vilches-Moure, J. G., Kuo, C. J., Garcia, K., Baker, D. 2019; 26 (6): 407-+
  • Topological control of cytokine receptor signaling induces differential effects in hematopoiesis. Science (New York, N.Y.) Mohan, K., Ueda, G., Kim, A. R., Jude, K. M., Fallas, J. A., Guo, Y., Hafer, M., Miao, Y., Saxton, R. A., Piehler, J., Sankaran, V. G., Baker, D., Garcia, K. C. 2019; 364 (6442)

    Abstract

    Although tunable signaling by G protein-coupled receptors can be exploited through medicinal chemistry, a comparable pharmacological approach has been lacking for the modulation of signaling through dimeric receptors, such as those for cytokines. We present a strategy to modulate cytokine receptor signaling output by use of a series of designed C2-symmetric cytokine mimetics, based on the designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) scaffold, that can systematically control erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) dimerization orientation and distance between monomers. We sampled a range of EpoR geometries by varying intermonomer angle and distance, corroborated by several ligand-EpoR complex crystal structures. Across the range, we observed full, partial, and biased agonism as well as stage-selective effects on hematopoiesis. This surrogate ligand strategy opens access to pharmacological modulation of therapeutically important cytokine and growth factor receptor systems.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.aav7532

    View details for PubMedID 31123111

  • RasGRP1 is a potential biomarker to stratify anti-EGFR therapy response in colorectal cancer. JCI insight Gbenedio, O. M., Bonnans, C. n., Grun, D. n., Wang, C. Y., Hatch, A. J., Mahoney, M. R., Barras, D. n., Matli, M. n., Miao, Y. n., Garcia, K. C., Tejpar, S. n., Delorenzi, M. n., Venook, A. P., Nixon, A. B., Warren, R. S., Roose, J. P., Depeille, P. n. 2019; 5

    Abstract

    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent neoplastic disorder and is a main cause of tumor-related mortality as many patients progress to stage IV metastatic CRC. Standard care consists of combination chemotherapy (FOLFIRI or FOLFOX). Patients with WT KRAS typing are eligible to receive anti-EGFR therapy combined with chemotherapy. Unfortunately, predicting efficacy of CRC anti-EGFR therapy has remained challenging. Here we uncover that the EGFR-pathway component RasGRP1 acts as CRC tumor suppressor in the context of aberrant Wnt signaling. We find that RasGRP1 suppresses EGF-driven proliferation of colonic epithelial organoids. Having established that RasGRP1 dosage levels impacts biology, we focused on CRC patients next. Mining five different data platforms, we establish that RasGRP1 expression levels decrease with CRC progression and predict poor clinical outcome of patients. Lastly, deletion of one or two Rasgrp1 alleles makes CRC spheroids more susceptible to EGFR inhibition. Retrospective analysis of the CALGB80203 clinical trial shows that addition of anti-EGFR therapy to chemotherapy significantly improves outcome for CRC patients when tumors express low RasGRP1 suppressor levels. In sum, RasGRP1 is a unique biomarker positioned in the EGFR pathway and of potential relevance to anti-EGFR therapy for CRC patients.

    View details for DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.127552

    View details for PubMedID 31237864

  • A RECK-WNT7 Receptor-Ligand Interaction Enables Isoform-Specific Regulation of Wnt Bioavailability. Cell reports Vallon, M., Yuki, K., Nguyen, T. D., Chang, J., Yuan, J., Siepe, D., Miao, Y., Essler, M., Noda, M., Garcia, K. C., Kuo, C. J. 2018; 25 (2): 339

    Abstract

    WNT7A and WNT7B control CNS angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation by activating endothelial Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. The GPI-anchored protein RECK and adhesion G protein-coupled receptor GPR124 critically regulate WNT7-specific signaling in concert with FZD and LRP co-receptors. Here, we demonstrate that primarily the GPR124 ectodomain, but not its transmembrane and intracellular domains, mediates RECK/WNT7-induced canonical Wnt signaling. Moreover, RECK is the predominant binding partner of GPR124 in rat brain blood vessels in situ. WNT7A and WNT7B, but not WNT3A, directly bind to purified recombinant soluble RECK, full-length cell surface RECK, and the GPR124:RECK complex. Chemical cross-linking indicates that RECK and WNT7A associate with 1:1 stoichiometry, which stabilizes short-lived, active, monomeric, hydrophobic WNT7A. In contrast, free WNT7A rapidly converts into inactive, hydrophilic aggregates. Overall, RECK is a selective WNT7 receptor that mediates GPR124/FZD/LRP-dependent canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling by stabilizing active cell surface WNT7, suggesting isoform-specific regulation of Wnt bioavailability.

    View details for PubMedID 30304675

  • Structural and In Vivo Studies on Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase from Pathogenic Fungi Provide Insights into Its Catalytic Mechanism, Biological Necessity, and Potential for Novel Antifungal Drug Design MBIO Miao, Y., Tenor, J. L., Toffaletti, D. L., Maskarinec, S. A., Liu, J., Lee, R. E., Perfect, J. R., Brennan, R. G. 2017; 8 (4)

    Abstract

    The disaccharide trehalose is critical to the survival of pathogenic fungi in their human host. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) catalyzes the first step of trehalose biosynthesis in fungi. Here, we report the first structures of eukaryotic Tps1s in complex with substrates or substrate analogues. The overall structures of Tps1 from Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are essentially identical and reveal N- and C-terminal Rossmann fold domains that form the glucose-6-phosphate and UDP-glucose substrate binding sites, respectively. These Tps1 structures with substrates or substrate analogues reveal key residues involved in recognition and catalysis. Disruption of these key residues severely impaired Tps1 enzymatic activity. Subsequent cellular analyses also highlight the enzymatic function of Tps1 in thermotolerance, yeast-hypha transition, and biofilm development. These results suggest that Tps1 enzymatic functionality is essential for the fungal stress response and virulence. Furthermore, structures of Tps1 in complex with the nonhydrolyzable inhibitor, validoxylamine A, visualize the transition state and support an internal return-like catalytic mechanism that is generalizable to other GT-B-fold retaining glycosyltransferases. Collectively, our results depict key Tps1-substrate interactions, unveil the enzymatic mechanism of these fungal proteins, and pave the way for high-throughput inhibitor screening buttressed and guided by the current structures and those of high-affinity ligand-Tps1 complexes.IMPORTANCE Invasive fungal diseases have emerged as major threats, resulting in more than 1.5 million deaths annually worldwide. This epidemic has been further complicated by increasing resistance to all major classes of antifungal drugs in the clinic. Trehalose biosynthesis is essential for the fungal stress response and virulence. Critically, this biosynthetic pathway is absent in mammals, and thus, the two enzymes that carry out trehalose biosynthesis, namely, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (Tps2), are prominent targets for antifungal intervention. Here, we report the first eukaryotic Tps1 structures from the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus in complex with substrates, substrate analogues, and inhibitors. These structures reveal key protein-substrate interactions, providing atomic-level scaffolds for structure-guided drug design of novel antifungals that target Tps1.

    View details for DOI 10.1128/mBio.00643-17

    View details for Web of Science ID 000409384300062

    View details for PubMedID 28743811

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5527307

  • Trehalose pathway as an antifungal target VIRULENCE Perfect, J. R., Tenor, J. L., Miao, Y., Brennan, R. G. 2017; 8 (2): 143-149

    Abstract

    With an increasing immunocompromised population which is linked to invasive fungal infections, it is clear that our present 3 classes of antifungal agents may not be sufficient to provide optimal management to these fragile patients. Furthermore, with widespread use of antifungal agents, drug-resistant fungal infections are on the rise. Therefore, there is some urgency to develop the antifungal pipeline with the goal of new antifungal agent discovery. In this review, a simple metabolic pathway, which forms the disaccharide, trehalose, will be characterized and its potential as a focus for antifungal target(s) explained. It possesses several important features for development of antifungal agents. First, it appears to have fungicidal characteristics and second, it is broad spectrum with importance across both ascomycete and basidiomycete species. Finally, this pathway is not found in mammals so theoretically specific inhibitors of the trehalose pathway and its enzymes in fungi should be relatively non-toxic for mammals. The trehalose pathway and its critical enzymes are now in a position to have directed antifungal discovery initiated in order to find a new class of antifungal drugs.

    View details for DOI 10.1080/21505594.2016.1195529

    View details for Web of Science ID 000395377700005

    View details for PubMedID 27248439

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5383216

  • Structures of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase from pathogenic fungi reveal the mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Miao, Y., Tenor, J. L., Toffaletti, D. L., Washington, E. J., Liu, J., Shadrick, W. R., Schumacher, M. A., Lee, R. E., Perfect, J. R., Brennan, R. G. 2016; 113 (26): 7148-7153

    Abstract

    Trehalose is a disaccharide essential for the survival and virulence of pathogenic fungi. The biosynthesis of trehalose requires trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, Tps1, and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, Tps2. Here, we report the structures of the N-terminal domain of Tps2 (Tps2NTD) from Candida albicans, a transition-state complex of the Tps2 C-terminal trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase domain (Tps2PD) bound to BeF3 and trehalose, and catalytically dead Tps2PD(D24N) from Cryptococcus neoformans bound to trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P). The Tps2NTD closely resembles the structure of Tps1 but lacks any catalytic activity. The Tps2PD-BeF3-trehalose and Tps2PD(D24N)-T6P complex structures reveal a "closed" conformation that is effected by extensive interactions between each trehalose hydroxyl group and residues of the cap and core domains of the protein, thereby providing exquisite substrate specificity. Disruption of any of the direct substrate-protein residue interactions leads to significant or complete loss of phosphatase activity. Notably, the Tps2PD-BeF3-trehalose complex structure captures an aspartyl-BeF3 covalent adduct, which closely mimics the proposed aspartyl-phosphate intermediate of the phosphatase catalytic cycle. Structures of substrate-free Tps2PD reveal an "open" conformation whereby the cap and core domains separate and visualize the striking conformational changes effected by substrate binding and product release and the role of two hinge regions centered at approximately residues 102-103 and 184-188. Significantly, tps2Δ, tps2NTDΔ, and tps2D705N strains are unable to grow at elevated temperatures. Combined, these studies provide a deeper understanding of the substrate recognition and catalytic mechanism of Tps2 and provide a structural basis for the future design of novel antifungal compounds against a target found in three major fungal pathogens.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1601774113

    View details for Web of Science ID 000379033400056

    View details for PubMedID 27307435

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4932955

  • Structures of EV71 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in complex with substrate and analogue provide a drug target against the hand-foot-and-mouth disease pandemic in China PROTEIN & CELL Wu, Y., Lou, Z., Miao, Y., Yu, Y., Dong, H., Peng, W., Bartlam, M., Li, X., Rao, Z. 2010; 1 (5): 491-500

    Abstract

    Enterovirus 71 (EV71), one of the major causative agents for hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), has caused more than 100 deaths among Chinese children since March 2008. The EV71 genome encodes an RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), denoted 3D(pol), which is central for viral genome replication and is a key target for the discovery of specific antiviral therapeutics. Here we report the crystal structures of EV71 RdRp (3D(pol)) and in complex with substrate guanosine-5'-triphosphate and analog 5-bromouridine-5'-triphosphate best to 2.4 Å resolution. The structure of EV71 RdRp (3D(pol)) has a wider open thumb domain compared with the most closely related crystal structure of poliovirus RdRp. And the EV71 RdRp (3D(pol)) complex with GTP or Br-UTP bounded shows two distinct movements of the polymerase by substrate or analogue binding. The model of the complex with the template:primer derived by superimposition with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3D/RNA complex reveals the likely recognition and binding of template:primer RNA by the polymerase. These results together provide a molecular basis for EV71 RNA replication and reveal a potential target for anti-EV71 drug discovery.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s13238-010-0061-7

    View details for Web of Science ID 000208510900012

    View details for PubMedID 21203964

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4875138