@unpublished{ScheitlMieczkowskiSchindelinetal.2022, author = {Scheitl, Carolin P. M. and Mieczkowski, Mateusz and Schindelin, Hermann and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Structure and mechanism of the methyltransferase ribozyme MTR1}, series = {Nature Chemical Biology}, journal = {Nature Chemical Biology}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1038/s41589-022-00976-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-272170}, year = {2022}, abstract = {RNA-catalysed RNA methylation was recently shown to be part of the catalytic repertoire of ribozymes. The methyltransferase ribozyme MTR1 catalyses the site-specific synthesis of 1-methyladenosine (m\(^1\)A) in RNA, using O\(^6\)-methylguanine (m\(^6\)G) as methyl group donor. Here we report the crystal structure of MTR1 at a resolution of 2.8 {\AA}, which reveals a guanine binding site reminiscent of natural guanine riboswitches. The structure represents the postcatalytic state of a split ribozyme in complex with the m1A-containing RNA product and the demethylated cofactor guanine. The structural data suggest the mechanistic involvement of a protonated cytidine in the methyl transfer reaction. A synergistic effect of two 2'-O-methylated ribose residues in the active site results in accelerated methyl group transfer. Supported by these results, it seems plausible that modified nucleotides may have enhanced early RNA catalysis and that metabolite-binding riboswitches may resemble inactivated ribozymes that have lost their catalytic activity during evolution.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{LoefflerMayerTrujilloVieraetal.2018, author = {L{\"o}ffler, Mona C. and Mayer, Alexander E. and Trujillo Viera, Jonathan and Loza Valdes, Angel and El-Merahib, Rabih and Ade, Carsten P. and Karwen, Till and Schmitz, Werner and Slotta, Anja and Erk, Manuela and Janaki-Raman, Sudha and Matesanz, Nuria and Torres, Jorge L. and Marcos, Miguel and Sabio, Guadalupe and Eilers, Martin and Schulze, Almut and Sumara, Grzegorz}, title = {Protein kinase D1 deletion in adipocytes enhances energy dissipation and protects against adiposity}, series = {The EMBO Journal}, journal = {The EMBO Journal}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176093}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Nutrient overload in combination with decreased energy dissipation promotes obesity and diabetes. Obesity results in a hormonal imbalance, which among others, activates G-protein coupled receptors utilizing diacylglycerol (DAG) as secondary messenger. Protein kinase D1 (PKD1) is a DAG effector which integrates multiple nutritional and hormonal inputs, but its physiological role in adipocytes is unknown. Here, we show that PKD1 promotes lipogenesis and suppresses mitochondrial fragmentation, biogenesis, respiration, and energy dissipation in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent manner. Moreover, mice lacking PKD1 in adipocytes are resistant to diet-induced obesity due to elevated energy expenditure. Beiging of adipocytes promotes energy expenditure and counteracts obesity. Consistently, deletion of PKD1 promotes expression of the β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) in a CCAAT/enhancerbinding protein (C/EBP)-α and δ-dependent manner, which leads to the elevated expression of beige markers in adipocytes and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Finally, deletion of PKD1 in adipocytes improves insulin sensitivity and ameliorates liver steatosis. Thus, loss of PKD1 in adipocytes increases energy dissipation by several complementary mechanisms and might represent an attractive strategy to treat obesity and its related complications.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{NeitzBessiKuperetal.2023, author = {Neitz, Hermann and Bessi, Irene and Kuper, Jochen and Kisker, Caroline and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Programmable DNA interstrand crosslinking by alkene-alkyne [2+2] photocycloaddition}, series = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, edition = {submitted version}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.3c01611}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311822}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Covalent crosslinking of DNA strands provides a useful tool for medical, biochemical and DNA nanotechnology applications. Here we present a light-induced interstrand DNA crosslinking reaction using the modified nucleoside 5-phenylethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (\(^{Phe}\)dU). The crosslinking ability of \(^{Phe}\)dU was programmed by base pairing and by metal ion interaction at the Watson-Crick base pairing site. Rotation to intrahelical positions was favored by hydrophobic stacking and enabled an unexpected photochemical alkene-alkyne [2+2] cycloaddition within the DNA duplex, resulting in efficient formation of a \(^{Phe}\)dU-dimer after short irradiation times of a few seconds. A \(^{Phe}\)dU dimer-containing DNA was shown to efficiently bind a helicase complex, but the covalent crosslink completely prevented DNA unwinding, suggesting possible applications in biochemistry or structural biology.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{BrennerZinkWitzingeretal.2024, author = {Brenner, Marian and Zink, Christoph and Witzinger, Linda and Keller, Angelika and Hadamek, Kerstin and Bothe, Sebastian and Neuenschwander, Martin and Villmann, Carmen and von Kries, Jens Peter and Schindelin, Hermann and Jeanclos, Elisabeth and Gohla, Antje}, title = {7,8-Dihydroxyflavone is a direct inhibitor of pyridoxal phosphatase}, series = {eLife}, journal = {eLife}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.93094.2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-350446}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to cognitive impairment in human brain disorders for decades. Still, the molecular mechanisms linking vitamin B6 to these pathologies remain poorly understood, and whether vitamin B6 supplementation improves cognition is unclear as well. Pyridoxal phosphatase (PDXP), an enzyme that controls levels of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the co-enzymatically active form of vitamin B6, may represent an alternative therapeutic entry point into vitamin B6-associated pathologies. However, pharmacological PDXP inhibitors to test this concept are lacking. We now identify a PDXP and age-dependent decline of PLP levels in the murine hippocampus that provides a rationale for the development of PDXP inhibitors. Using a combination of small molecule screening, protein crystallography and biolayer interferometry, we discover and analyze 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) as a direct and potent PDXP inhibitor. 7,8-DHF binds and reversibly inhibits PDXP with low micromolar affinity and sub-micromolar potency. In mouse hippocampal neurons, 7,8-DHF increases PLP in a PDXP-dependent manner. These findings validate PDXP as a druggable target. Of note, 7,8-DHF is a well-studied molecule in brain disorder models, although its mechanism of action is actively debated. Our discovery of 7,8-DHF as a PDXP inhibitor offers novel mechanistic insights into the controversy surrounding 7,8-DHF-mediated effects in the brain.}, language = {en} }