@article{TauscherNakagawaVoelkeretal.2018, author = {Tauscher, Sabine and Nakagawa, Hitoshi and V{\"o}lker, Katharina and Werner, Franziska and Krebes, Lisa and Potapenko, Tamara and Doose, S{\"o}ren and Birkenfeld, Andreas L. and Baba, Hideo A. and Kuhn, Michaela}, title = {β Cell-specific deletion of guanylyl cyclase A, the receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide, accelerates obesity-induced glucose intolerance in mice}, series = {Cardiovascular Diabetology}, volume = {17}, journal = {Cardiovascular Diabetology}, number = {103}, doi = {10.1186/s12933-018-0747-3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176322}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: The cardiac hormones atrial (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP) moderate arterial blood pressure and improve energy metabolism as well as insulin sensitivity via their shared cGMP-producing guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor. Obesity is associated with impaired NP/GC-A/cGMP signaling, which possibly contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and its cardiometabolic complications. In vitro, synthetic ANP, via GC-A, stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release from cultured pancreatic islets and β-cell proliferation. However, the relevance for systemic glucose homeostasis in vivo is not known. To dissect whether the endogenous cardiac hormones modulate the secretory function and/or proliferation of β-cells under (patho)physiological conditions in vivo, here we generated a novel genetic mouse model with selective disruption of the GC-A receptor in β-cells. Methods: Mice with a floxed GC-A gene were bred to Rip-CreTG mice, thereby deleting GC-A selectively in β-cells (β GC-A KO). Weight gain, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were monitored in normal diet (ND)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. β-cell size and number were measured by immunofluorescence-based islet morphometry. Results: In vitro, the insulinotropic and proliferative actions of ANP were abolished in islets isolated from β GC-A KO mice. Concordantly, in vivo, infusion of BNP mildly enhanced baseline plasma insulin levels and glucose-induced insulin secretion in control mice. This effect of exogenous BNP was abolished in β GC-A KO mice, corroborating the efficient inactivation of the GC-A receptor in β-cells. Despite this under physiological, ND conditions, fasted and fed insulin levels, glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose tolerance and β-cell morphology were similar in β GC-A KO mice and control littermates. However, HFD-fed β GC-A KO animals had accelerated glucose intolerance and diminished adaptative β-cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our studies of β GC-A KO mice demonstrate that the cardiac hormones ANP and BNP do not modulate β-cell's growth and secretory functions under physiological, normal dietary conditions. However, endogenous NP/GC-A signaling improves the initial adaptative response of β-cells to HFD-induced obesity. Impaired β-cell NP/GC-A signaling in obese individuals might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.}, language = {en} } @article{KellerBrandelBeckeretal.2018, author = {Keller, Alexander and Brandel, Annette and Becker, Mira C. and Balles, Rebecca and Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan and Ankenbrand, Markus J. and Sickel, Wiebke}, title = {Wild bees and their nests host Paenibacillus bacteria with functional potential of avail}, series = {Microbiome}, volume = {6}, journal = {Microbiome}, number = {229}, doi = {10.1186/s40168-018-0614-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177554}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: In previous studies, the gram-positive firmicute genus Paenibacillus was found with significant abundances in nests of wild solitary bees. Paenibacillus larvae is well-known for beekeepers as a severe pathogen causing the fatal honey bee disease American foulbrood, and other members of the genus are either secondary invaders of European foulbrood or considered a threat to honey bees. We thus investigated whether Paenibacillus is a common bacterium associated with various wild bees and hence poses a latent threat to honey bees visiting the same flowers. Results: We collected 202 samples from 82 individuals or nests of 13 bee species at the same location and screened each for Paenibacillus using high-throughput sequencing-based 16S metabarcoding. We then isolated the identified strain Paenibacillus MBD-MB06 from a solitary bee nest and sequenced its genome. We did find conserved toxin genes and such encoding for chitin-binding proteins, yet none specifically related to foulbrood virulence or chitinases. Phylogenomic analysis revealed a closer relationship to strains of root-associated Paenibacillus rather than strains causing foulbrood or other accompanying diseases. We found anti-microbial evidence within the genome, confirmed by experimental bioassays with strong growth inhibition of selected fungi as well as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Conclusions: The isolated wild bee associate Paenibacillus MBD-MB06 is a common, but irregularly occurring part of wild bee microbiomes, present on adult body surfaces and guts and within nests especially in megachilids. It was phylogenetically and functionally distinct from harmful members causing honey bee colony diseases, although it shared few conserved proteins putatively toxic to insects that might indicate ancestral predisposition for the evolution of insect pathogens within the group. By contrast, our strain showed anti-microbial capabilities and the genome further indicates abilities for chitin-binding and biofilm-forming, suggesting it is likely a useful associate to avoid fungal penetration of the bee cuticula and a beneficial inhabitant of nests to repress fungal threats in humid and nutrient-rich environments of wild bee nests.}, language = {en} } @article{RatHeibyBunzetal.2018, author = {Rat, Charlotte and Heiby, Julia C. and Bunz, Jessica P. and Neuweiler, Hannes}, title = {Two-step self-assembly of a spider silk molecular clamp}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-07227-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-225016}, pages = {4779, 1-11}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Web spiders synthesize silk fibers of unique strength and extensibility through the controlled self-assembly of protein building blocks, so-called spidroins. The spidroin C-terminal domain is highly conserved and connects two polypeptide chains through formation of an all-helical, intertwined dimer. Here we use contact-induced fluorescence self-quenching and resonance energy transfer in combination with far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy as three orthogonal structural probes to dissect the mechanism of folding and dimerization of a spidroin C-terminal domain from the major ampullate gland of the nursery web spider Euprosthenops australis. We show that helices forming the dimer core assemble very rapidly and fold on association. Subsequently, peripheral helices fold and dock slowly onto the preformed core. Lability of outer helices facilitates formation of a highly expanded, partially folded dimer. The high end-to-end distance of chain termini in the partially folded dimer suggests an extensibility module that contributes to elasticity of spider silk.}, language = {en} } @article{BatzkeBuechelHansenetal.2018, author = {Batzke, Katharina and B{\"u}chel, Gabriele and Hansen, Wiebke and Schramm, Alexander}, title = {TrkB-target Galectin-1 impairs immune activation and radiation responses in neuroblastoma: implications for tumour therapy}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {3}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19030718}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-285097}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Galectin-1 (Gal-1) has been described to promote tumour growth by inducing angiogenesis and to contribute to the tumour immune escape. We had previously identified up-regulation of Gal-1 in preclinical models of aggressive neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial tumour of childhood. While Gal-1 did not confer a survival advantage in the absence of exogenous stressors, Gal-1 contributed to enhanced cell migratory and invasive properties. Here, we review these findings and extend them by analyzing Gal-1 mediated effects on immune cell regulation and radiation resistance. In line with previous results, cell autonomous effects as well as paracrine functions contribute to Gal-1 mediated pro-tumourigenic functions. Interfering with Gal-1 functions in vivo will add to a better understanding of the role of the Gal-1 axis in the complex tumour-host interaction during immune-, chemo- and radiotherapy of neuroblastoma.}, language = {en} } @article{RubioCosialsSchulzLambertsenetal.2018, author = {Rubio-Cosials, Anna and Schulz, Eike C. and Lambertsen, Lotte and Smyshlyaev, Georgy and Rojas-Cordova, Carlos and Forslund, Kristoffer and Karaca, Ezgi and Bebel, Aleksandra and Bork, Peer and Barabas, Orsolya}, title = {Transposase-DNA Complex Structures Reveal Mechanisms for Conjugative Transposition of Antibiotic Resistance}, series = {Cell}, volume = {173}, journal = {Cell}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.032}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227085}, pages = {e20, 208-220}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Conjugative transposition drives the emergence of multidrug resistance in diverse bacterial pathogens, yet the mechanisms are poorly characterized. The Tn1549 conjugative transposon propagates resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin used for severe drug-resistant infections. Here, we present four high-resolution structures of the conserved Y-transposase of Tn1549 complexed with circular transposon DNA intermediates. The structures reveal individual transposition steps and explain how specific DNA distortion and cleavage mechanisms enable DNA strand exchange with an absolute minimum homology requirement. This appears to uniquely allow Tn916-like conjugative transposons to bypass DNA homology and insert into diverse genomic sites, expanding gene transfer. We further uncover a structural regulatory mechanism that prevents premature cleavage of the transposon DNA before a suitable target DNA is found and generate a peptide antagonist that interferes with the transposase-DNA structure to block transposition. Our results reveal mechanistic principles of conjugative transposition that could help control the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.}, language = {en} } @article{JarickBertscheStahletal.2018, author = {Jarick, Marcel and Bertsche, Ute and Stahl, Mark and Schultz, Daniel and Methling, Karen and Lalk, Michael and Stigloher, Christian and Steger, Mirco and Schlosser, Andreas and Ohlsen, Knut}, title = {The serine/threonine kinase Stk and the phosphatase Stp regulate cell wall synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {13693}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-32109-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177333}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The cell wall synthesis pathway producing peptidoglycan is a highly coordinated and tightly regulated process. Although the major components of bacterial cell walls have been known for decades, the complex regulatory network controlling peptidoglycan synthesis and many details of the cell division machinery are not well understood. The eukaryotic-like serine/threonine kinase Stk and the cognate phosphatase Stp play an important role in cell wall biosynthesis and drug resistance in S. aureus. We show that stp deletion has a pronounced impact on cell wall synthesis. Deletion of stp leads to a thicker cell wall and decreases susceptibility to lysostaphin. Stationary phase Δstp cells accumulate peptidoglycan precursors and incorporate higher amounts of incomplete muropeptides with non-glycine, monoglycine and monoalanine interpeptide bridges into the cell wall. In line with this cell wall phenotype, we demonstrate that the lipid II:glycine glycyltransferase FemX can be phosphorylated by the Ser/Thr kinase Stk in vitro. Mass spectrometric analyses identify Thr32, Thr36 and Ser415 as phosphoacceptors. The cognate phosphatase Stp dephosphorylates these phosphorylation sites. Moreover, Stk interacts with FemA and FemB, but is unable to phosphorylate them. Our data indicate that Stk and Stp modulate cell wall synthesis and cell division at several levels.}, language = {en} } @article{BoertleinDraegerSchoenaueretal.2018, author = {B{\"o}rtlein, Charlene and Draeger, Annette and Schoenauer, Roman and Kuhlemann, Alexander and Sauer, Markus and Schneider-Schaulies, Sybille and Avota, Elita}, title = {The neutral sphingomyelinase 2 is required to polarize and sustain T Cell receptor signaling}, series = {Frontiers in Immunology}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, number = {815}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2018.00815}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176572}, year = {2018}, abstract = {By promoting ceramide release at the cytosolic membrane leaflet, the neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (NSM) is capable of organizing receptor and signalosome segregation. Its role in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling remained so far unknown. We now show that TCR-driven NSM activation is dispensable for TCR clustering and initial phosphorylation, but of crucial importance for further signal amplification. In particular, at low doses of TCR stimulatory antibodies, NSM is required for Ca\(^{2+}\) mobilization and T cell proliferation. NSM-deficient T cells lack sustained CD3ζ and ZAP-70 phosphorylation and are unable to polarize and stabilize their microtubular system. We identified PKCζ as the key NSM downstream effector in this second wave of TCR signaling supporting dynamics of microtubule-organizing center (MTOC). Ceramide supplementation rescued PKCζ membrane recruitment and MTOC translocation in NSM-deficient cells. These findings identify the NSM as essential in TCR signaling when dynamic cytoskeletal reorganization promotes continued lateral and vertical supply of TCR signaling components: CD3ζ, Zap70, and PKCζ, and functional immune synapses are organized and stabilized via MTOC polarization.}, language = {en} } @article{KohlRutschmann2018, author = {Kohl, Patrick Laurenz and Rutschmann, Benjamin}, title = {The neglected bee trees: European beech forests as a home for feral honey bee colonies}, series = {PeerJ}, volume = {6}, journal = {PeerJ}, number = {e4602}, doi = {10.7717/peerj.4602}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176512}, year = {2018}, abstract = {It is a common belief that feral honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) were eradicated in Europe through the loss of habitats, domestication by man and spread of pathogens and parasites. Interestingly, no scientific data are available, neither about the past nor the present status of naturally nesting honeybee colonies. We expected near-natural beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests to provide enough suitable nest sites to be a home for feral honey bee colonies in Europe. Here, we made a first assessment of their occurrence and density in two German woodland areas based on two methods, the tracing of nest sites based on forager flight routes (beelining technique), and the direct inspection of potential cavity trees. Further, we established experimental swarms at forest edges and decoded dances for nest sites performed by scout bees in order to study how far swarms from beekeeper-managed hives would potentially move into a forest. We found that feral honey bee colonies regularly inhabit tree cavities in near-natural beech forests at densities of at least 0.11-0.14 colonies/km\(^{2}\). Colonies were not confined to the forest edges; they were also living deep inside the forests. We estimated a median distance of 2,600 m from the bee trees to the next apiaries, while scout bees in experimental swarms communicated nest sites in close distances (median: 470 m). We extrapolate that there are several thousand feral honey bee colonies in German woodlands. These have to be taken in account when assessing the role of forest areas in providing pollination services to the surrounding land, and their occurrence has implications for the species' perception among researchers, beekeepers and conservationists. This study provides a starting point for investigating the life-histories and the ecological interactions of honey bees in temperate European forest environments.}, language = {en} } @article{KruegerEngstler2018, author = {Kr{\"u}ger, Timothy and Engstler, Markus}, title = {The fantastic voyage of the trypanosome: a protean micromachine perfected during 500 million years of engineering}, series = {Micromachines}, volume = {9}, journal = {Micromachines}, number = {2}, doi = {10.3390/mi9020063}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-175944}, pages = {63}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The human body is constantly attacked by pathogens. Various lines of defence have evolved, among which the immune system is principal. In contrast to most pathogens, the African trypanosomes thrive freely in the blood circulation, where they escape immune destruction by antigenic variation and incessant motility. These unicellular parasites are flagellate microswimmers that also withstand the harsh mechanical forces prevailing in the bloodstream. They undergo complex developmental cycles in the bloodstream and organs of the mammalian host, as well as the disease-transmitting tsetse fly. Each life cycle stage has been shaped by evolution for manoeuvring in distinct microenvironments. Here, we introduce trypanosomes as blueprints for nature-inspired design of trypanobots, micromachines that, in the future, could explore the human body without affecting its physiology. We review cell biological and biophysical aspects of trypanosome motion. While this could provide a basis for the engineering of microbots, their actuation and control still appear more like fiction than science. Here, we discuss potentials and challenges of trypanosome-inspired microswimmer robots.}, language = {en} } @article{HofrichterMojaradDolletal.2018, author = {Hofrichter, Michaela A. H. and Mojarad, Majid and Doll, Julia and Grimm, Clemens and Eslahi, Atiye and Hosseini, Neda Sadat and Rajati, Mohsen and M{\"u}ller, Tobias and Dittrich, Marcus and Maroofian, Reza and Haaf, Thomas and Vona, Barbara}, title = {The conserved p.Arg108 residue in S1PR2 (DFNB68) is fundamental for proper hearing: evidence from a consanguineous Iranian family}, series = {BMC Medical Genetics}, volume = {19}, journal = {BMC Medical Genetics}, number = {81}, doi = {10.1186/s12881-018-0598-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-175755}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Background: Genetic heterogeneity and consanguineous marriages make recessive inherited hearing loss in Iran the second most common genetic disorder. Only two reported pathogenic variants (c.323G>C, p.Arg108Pro and c.419A>G, p.Tyr140Cys) in the S1PR2 gene have previously been linked to autosomal recessive hearing loss (DFNB68) in two Pakistani families. We describe a segregating novel homozygous c.323G>A, p.Arg108Gln pathogenic variant in S1PR2 that was identified in four affected individuals from a consanguineous five generation Iranian family. Methods: Whole exome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of 116 hearing loss-associated genes was performed in an affected individual from a five generation Iranian family. Segregation analysis and 3D protein modeling of the p.Arg108 exchange was performed. Results: The two Pakistani families previously identified with S1PR2 pathogenic variants presented profound hearing loss that is also observed in the affected Iranian individuals described in the current study. Interestingly, we confirmed mixed hearing loss in one affected individual. 3D protein modeling suggests that the p.Arg108 position plays a key role in ligand receptor interaction, which is disturbed by the p.Arg108Gln change. Conclusion: In summary, we report the third overall mutation in S1PR2 and the first report outside the Pakistani population. Furthermore, we describe a novel variant that causes an amino acid exchange (p.Arg108Gln) in the same amino acid residue as one of the previously reported Pakistani families (p.Arg108Pro). This finding emphasizes the importance of the p.Arg108 amino acid in normal hearing and confirms and consolidates the role of S1PR2 in autosomal recessive hearing loss.}, language = {en} }