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Peptides constitute an essential component of all organisms' protein homeostasis ranging from bacteria, plants, and animals. They have organically been evolved to perform a wide range of essential functions, including their role as neurotransmitters, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and hormones. AMPs are short peptides synthesized by almost all organisms, implicated in guarding the host from various microbial infections. Their inherent ability to differentiate the target microbes from the host confers them excellent prospects in fighting against microbial infections and affirming their robust therapeutic potential against numerous drug-resistant microbes. Amyloidogenic peptides (AMYs) represent another class of short peptides armed with inherent aggregation propensity and form fibrillar aggregates rich in cross β-sheet structure. They are often involved in various degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and type-2 diabetes. Although these two distinct classes of peptides (i.e., AMPs and AMYs) appear to be functionally divergent, recent studies suggest that they possess a significant degree of structural and functional reciprocity. Consistent with this, many AMPs display amphiphilic nature, and hence, they can facilitate membrane remodeling processes, such as pore formation and fusion, similar to AMYs. The mounting evidence suggests the inherent ability of AMPs to self-assemble to form amyloid-like structures. On the other hand, the demonstration of antimicrobial properties of AMYs in their monomeric conformation provides a hint about the existence of an evolutionary linkage between these two classes of peptides. The congregation of specific amino acids to form aggregation-prone regions in a protein/peptide might have served as an evolutionary reservoir from which AMPs and AMYs were consecutively evolved. The current article reviews the fundamental features of the AMPs, AMYs, and their inter-relatedness and emerging paradigm for their inter-conversion.

The toxicity of α-synuclein (α-syn), the amyloidogenic protein responsible for Parkinson's disease, is likely related to its interaction with the asymmetric neuronal membrane. α-Syn exists as cytoplasmatic and as extracellular protein as well. To shed light on the different interactions occurring at the different α-syn localizations, we have here modelled the external and internal membrane leaflets of the neuronal membrane with two complex lipid mixtures, characterized by phase coexistence and with negative charge confined to either the ordered or the disordered phase, respectively. To this purpose, we selected a five-component (DOPC/SM/DOPE/DOPS/chol) and a four-component (DOPC/SM/GM1/chol) lipid mixtures, which contained the main membrane lipid constituents and exhibited a phase separation with formation of ordered domains. We have compared the action of α-syn in monomeric form and at different concentrations (1 nM, 40 nM, and 200 nM) with respect to lipid systems with different composition and shape by AFM, QCM-D, and vesicle leakage experiments. The experiments coherently showed a higher stability of the membranes composed by the internal leaflet mixture to the interaction with α-syn. Damage to membranes made of the external leaflet mixture was detected in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, the membrane damage was related to the fluidity of the lipid domains and not to the presence of negatively charged lipids.

Simple Summary Abiotic and biotic stress conditions result in profound changes in plant lipid metabolism. Vegetable oil consists of triacylglycerols, which are important energy and carbon storage compounds in seeds of various plant species. These compounds are also present in vegetative tissue, and levels have been reported to increase with different abiotic stresses in leaves. This work shows that triacylglycerols accumulate in roots and in distal, non-treated leaves upon treatment with a fungal pathogen or lipopolysaccharide (a common bacterial-derived elicitor in animals and plants). Treatment of leaves with a bacterial pathogen or a bacterial effector molecule results in triacylglycerol accumulation in leaves, but not systemically in roots. These results suggest that elicitor molecules are sufficient to induce an increase in triacylglycerol levels, and that unidirectional long-distance signaling from roots to leaves is involved in pathogen and elicitor-induced triacylglycerol accumulation. Abstract Interaction of plants with the environment affects lipid metabolism. Changes in the pattern of phospholipids have been reported in response to abiotic stress, particularly accumulation of triacylglycerols, but less is known about the alteration of lipid metabolism in response to biotic stress and leaves have been more intensively studied than roots. This work investigates the levels of lipids in roots as well as leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to pathogens and elicitor molecules by UPLC-TOF-MS. Triacylglycerol levels increased in roots and systemically in leaves upon treatment of roots with the fungus Verticillium longisporum. Upon spray infection of leaves with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, triacylglycerols accumulated locally in leaves but not in roots. Treatment of roots with a bacterial lipopolysaccharide elicitor induced a strong triacylglycerol accumulation in roots and leaves. Induction of the expression of the bacterial effector AVRRPM1 resulted in a dramatic increase of triacylglycerol levels in leaves, indicating that elicitor molecules are sufficient to induce accumulation of triacylglycerols. These results give insight into local and systemic changes to lipid metabolism in roots and leaves in response to biotic stresses.

Lipids in biological membranes are thought to be functionally organized, but few experimental tools can probe nanoscale membrane structure. Using brominated lipids as contrast probes for cryo-EM and a model ESCRT-III membrane remodeling system, we observed leaflet-level and protein-localized lipid structural patterns within highly constricted and thinned membrane nanotubes. These nanotubes differed markedly from protein-free, flat bilayers in leaflet thickness, lipid diffusion rates, and lipid compositional and conformational asymmetries. Simulations and cryo-EM imaging of brominated SDPC showed how a pair of phenylalanine residues scored the outer leaflet with a helical hydrophobic defect where polyunsaturated docosahexaenoyl (DHA) tails accumulated at the bilayer surface. Combining cryo-EM of halogenated lipids with molecular dynamics thus enables new characterizations of the composition and structure of membranes on molecular length scales.One-Sentence SummaryCryo-EM imaging of halogenated lipids and MD simulations provide molecular-scale insight into constricted bilayer structure.

Synaptic membrane-remodeling events such as endocytosis require force-generating actin assembly. The endocytic machinery that regulates these actin and membrane dynamics localizes at high concentrations to large areas of the presynaptic membrane, but actin assembly and productive endocytosis are far more restricted in space and time. Here we describe a mechanism whereby autoinhibition clamps the presynaptic endocytic machinery to limit actin assembly to discrete functional events. We found that collective interactions between the Drosophila endocytic proteins Nwk/FCHSD2, Dap160/intersectin, and WASp relieve Nwk autoinhibition and promote robust membrane-coupled actin assembly in vitro. Using automated particle tracking to quantify synaptic actin dynamics in vivo, we discovered that Nwk-Dap160 interactions constrain spurious assembly of WASp-dependent actin structures. These interactions also promote synaptic endocytosis, suggesting that autoinhibition both clamps and primes the synaptic endocytic machinery, thereby constraining actin assembly to drive productive membrane remodeling in response to physiological cues., eLife digest Neurons constantly talk to each other by sending chemical signals across the tiny gap, or ‘synapse’, that separates two cells. While inside the emitting cell, these molecules are safely packaged into small, membrane-bound vessels. Upon the right signal, the vesicles fuse with the external membrane of the neuron and spill their contents outside, for the receiving cell to take up and decode. The emitting cell must then replenish its vesicle supply at the synapse through a recycling mechanism known as endocytosis. To do so, it uses dynamically assembling rod-like ‘actin’ filaments, which work in concert with many other proteins to pull in patches of membrane as new vesicles. The proteins that control endocytosis and actin assembly abound at neuronal synapses, and, when mutated, are linked to many neurological diseases. Unlike other cell types, neurons appear to ‘pre-deploy’ these actin-assembly proteins to synaptic membranes, but to keep them inactive under normal conditions. How neurons control the way this machinery is recruited and activated remains unknown. To investigate this question, Del Signore et al. conducted two sets of studies. First, they exposed actin to several different purified proteins in initial ‘test tube’ experiments. This revealed that, depending on the conditions, a group of endocytosis proteins could prevent or promote actin assembly: assembly occurred only if the proteins were associated with membranes. Next, Del Signore et al. mutated these proteins in fruit fly larvae, and performed live cell microscopy to determine their impact on actin assembly and endocytosis. Consistent with the test tube findings, endocytosis mutants had more actin assembly overall, implying that the proteins were required to prevent random actin assembly. However, the same mutants had reduced levels of endocytosis, suggesting that the proteins were also necessary for productive actin assembly. Together, these experiments suggest that, much like a mousetrap holds itself poised ready to spring, some endocytic proteins play a dual role to restrain actin assembly when and where it is not needed, and to promote it at sites of endocytosis. These results shed new light on how neurons might build and maintain effective, working synapses. Del Signore et al. hope that this knowledge may help to better understand and combat neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, which are linked to impaired membrane traffic and cell signalling.

Several signaling processes in the plasma membrane are intensified by ceramides that are formed by sphingomyelinase‐mediated hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. These ceramides trigger clustering of signaling‐related biomolecules, but how they concentrate such biomolecules remains unclear. Here, the spatiotemporal localization of ganglioside GM1, a glycolipid receptor involved in signaling, during sphingomyelinase‐mediated hydrolysis is described. Real‐time visualization of the dynamic remodeling of the heterogeneous lipid membrane that occurs due to sphingomyelinase action is used to examine GM1 clustering, and unexpectedly, it is found that it is more complex than previously thought. Specifically, lipid membranes generate two distinct types of condensed GM1: 1) rapidly formed but short‐lived GM1 clusters that are formed in ceramide‐rich domains nucleated from the liquid‐disordered phase; and 2) late‐onset yet long‐lasting, high‐density GM1 clusters that are formed in the liquid‐ordered phase. These findings suggest that multiple pathways exist in a plasma membrane to synergistically facilitate the rapid amplification and persistence of signals., This work investigates how sphingomyelinase‐mediated hydrolysis of sphingomyelin concentrates ganglioside GM1 in heterogeneous lipid membranes. The sphingomyelinase reaction aggregates GM1 at different spatiotemporal scales via two mechanisms: 1) early, temporary GM1 clustering in ceramide‐rich domains; and 2) late, permanent GM1 clustering in cholesterol‐rich lipid rafts. These multiple clustering pathways can synergistically facilitate the amplification and persistence of signals.

Many bacteria secrete toxic protein complexes that modify and disrupt essential processes in the infected cell that can lead to cell death. To conduct their action, these toxins often need to cross the cell membrane and reach a specific substrate inside the cell. The investigation of these protein complexes is essential not only for understanding their biological functions but also for the rational design of targeted drug delivery vehicles that must navigate across the cell membrane to deliver their therapeutic payload. Despite the immense advances in experimental techniques, the investigations of the toxin entry mechanism have remained challenging. Computer simulations are robust complementary tools that allow for the exploration of biological processes in exceptional detail. In this review, we first highlight the strength of computational methods, with a special focus on all-atom molecular dynamics, coarse-grained, and mesoscopic models, for exploring different stages of the toxin protein entry mechanism. We then summarize recent developments that are significantly advancing our understanding, notably of the glycolipid–lectin (GL-Lect) endocytosis of bacterial Shiga and cholera toxins. The methods discussed here are also applicable to the design of membrane-penetrating nanoparticles and the study of the phenomenon of protein phase separation at the surface of the membrane. Finally, we discuss other likely routes for future development.

Metabolic suppression is an essential strategy to cope with chronic hypoxia. This review examines the physiological processes used to survive in low oxygen environments. It proposes a novel mechanism–the remodeling of membrane lipids–to suppress ATP use and production. Temperature (homeoviscous adaptation), diet (natural doping in migrant birds) and body mass (membrane pacemaker of metabolism) have an impact on the lipid composition of membranes, which, in turn, modulates metabolic capacity. Vertebrate champions of hypoxia tolerance show extensive changes in membrane lipids upon in vivo exposure to low oxygen. These changes and those observed in hibernating mammals can promote the downregulation of ion pumps (major ATP consumers), ion channels, mitochondrial respiration capacity (state 3, proton leak, cytochrome c oxidase), and energy metabolism (β-oxidation and glycolysis). A common membrane signal regulating the joint inhibition of ion pumps and channels could be an exquisite way to preserve the balance between ATP supply and demand in hypometabolic states. Membrane remodeling together with more traditional mechanisms could work in concert to cause metabolic suppression.

Tseng et al. show the Bro1 V domain stimulates Vps4 to promote ESCRT-III–driven intralumenal vesicle formation. This mode of stimulation is required for coordinated cargo incorporation during ESCRT-mediated multivesicular body biogenesis., Endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT-0, -I, -II, -III) execute cargo sorting and intralumenal vesicle (ILV) formation during conversion of endosomes to multivesicular bodies (MVBs). The AAA-ATPase Vps4 regulates the ESCRT-III polymer to facilitate membrane remodeling and ILV scission during MVB biogenesis. Here, we show that the conserved V domain of ESCRT-associated protein Bro1 (the yeast homologue of mammalian proteins ALIX and HD-PTP) directly stimulates Vps4. This activity is required for MVB cargo sorting. Furthermore, the Bro1 V domain alone supports Vps4/ESCRT–driven ILV formation in vivo without efficient MVB cargo sorting. These results reveal a novel activity of the V domains of Bro1 homologues in licensing ESCRT-III–dependent ILV formation and suggest a role in coordinating cargo sorting with membrane remodeling during MVB sorting. Moreover, ubiquitin binding enhances V domain stimulation of Vps4 to promote ILV formation via the Bro1–Vps4–ESCRT-III axis, uncovering a novel role for ubiquitin during MVB biogenesis in addition to facilitating cargo recognition.

Particular dramatic macromolecule proteins are responsible for various cellular events in our body system. Lipids have recently recognized a lot more attention of scientists for understanding the relationship between lipid and cellular function and human health However, a biological membrane is formed with a lipid bilayer, which is called a P–L–P design. Our body system is balanced through various communicative signaling pathways derived from biological membrane proteins and lipids. In the case of any fatal disease such as cancer, the biological membrane compositions are altered. To repair the biological membrane composition and prevent cancer, dietary fatty acids, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, are essential in human health but are not directly synthesized in our body system. In this review, we will discuss the alteration of the biological membrane composition in breast cancer. We will highlight the role of dietary fatty acids in altering cellular composition in the P–L–P bilayer. We will also address the importance of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to regulate the membrane fluidity of cancer cells.

Parkinson's disease is associated with aggregation of pathological α-synuclein (αSyn) proteins. The central hydrophobic region of αSyn, called NAC, encodes the segment that is crucial and sufficient for the toxic aggregation of αSyn. However, if any other region, including the NAC flanking region, modulates αSyn, aggregation is still unknown. A master-regulator sequence motif is now identified that is critical to controlling the aggregation of the αSyn NAC region. Interestingly, this region was also found to be important for membrane vesicle fusion. This master-regulator region could be targeted to prevent αSyn aggregation. The results reveal several unanswered questions about the αSyn aggregation mechanism.

ESCRT proteins fulfill an important function in membrane remodeling and scission. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Pieper et al. reveal that the ESCRT machinery releases the inner nuclear membrane protein Lem2 from heterochromatin, thus ensuring its function in nuclear envelope resealing after mitosis.

Summary A new study has uncovered three mechanisms of motor-independent membrane tubulation. In vitro reconstitution using a minimal set of proteins shows that the accumulation of crosslinking proteins at the membrane–microtubule interface is sufficient to drive tubulation, which is enhanced by coupling with microtubule dynamics.

Lipid membranes routinely undergo protein-mediated morphological remodeling during vital processes such as cellular transport and division. These membrane remodeling proteins can be broadly classified into two categories: one that generates a spherical shape and another that generates a cylindrical shape. To gain physical insights into membrane shape transitions, it is important to investigate the stability of membranes in the presence of these two types of proteins. However, the existing membrane theory is mostly restricted to the class of membranes that interact with the sphere shape-generating proteins and possess isotropic symmetry. In this work, we use curvature elasticity of the lipid membranes to derive the stability criterion for membranes that interact with the cylindrical-shape-generating proteins that possess orthotropic symmetry. We derive the convexity condition followed by the stability criterion for a generalized form of strain energy that can entertain material heterogeneity. The proposed framework would allow for a rigorous analysis of a broader set of membrane–protein interactions during key cellular processes.

Aim. TKS5 is a key scaffold protein of invadopodia. In its absence, the cells completely lose the ability to form invadopodia. This fact makes TKS5 a potential target for cancer cure and one of the central proteins in the investigation of cancer cell invasion. Additionally, the question remains about the function of TKS5 in normal cells. Therefore, in order to extend knowledge about TKS5 role in healthy and invasive cells, we tested the TKS5 interaction with the proteins involved in signal transduction: PLCγ1, SRC, CRK, CSK; the proteins involved in plasma membrane remodeling: AMPH1, BIN1, CIN85, ITSN1, ITSN2; the protein involved in the actin cytoskeleton rearrangement: CTTN. Methods. We used the GST Pull-down assay to identify the protein-protein interaction. Results. We revealed that TKS5 SH3 domains interact with CIN85. There were identified TKS5 interactions with SH3 domains of CTTN, ITSN1, ITSN2, AMPH1 and BIN1. Conclusions. TKS5 interacts with CIN85, CTTN, ITSN1, ITSN2, AMPH1 and BIN1, which take part in membrane remodeling, endo-/exocytosis and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. Keywords: TKS5, scaffold proteins, actin cytoskeleton, plasma membrane.

Cells are shaped by the cytoskeleton, a network of dynamic biopolymers and associated proteins. Among the cytoskeleton family, microtubules (MTs) are essential for processes such as cell division and intracellular transport. These processes require the coordination of the MT network and its interaction partners, MT associated proteins and motor proteins. The former regulate MT dynamics and the latter are known to transport cargoes along MT. In this thesis, I use well-controlled in vitro reconstitutions to explore the interplay between microtubules and different microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) and motors. I first examine how the interplay between microtubules and MAPs can organize membranes and demonstrate three distinct mechanisms by which membranes can be remodeled by MTs in a motor-independent fashion. The remainder of the thesis concentrates on the interaction of MTs and motor proteins. First, I use purified optogenetic modules and demonstrate that these can be used to manipulate motor-dependent forces with high spatiotemporal precision. Furthermore, I explore the mechanism by which free tubulin can enhance the motility of kinesin-1. Finally, I explore the motility of different kinesin family members on different MT subtypes. The studies presented in the thesis provide fundamental understandings of force generation in MT-membrane contacts and provide new insight into the regulation of motor proteins. These insights may support future research to better understand and control cellular processes.

Summary Membrane remodeling and repair are essential for all cells. Proteins that perform these functions include Vipp1/IM30 in photosynthetic plastids, PspA in bacteria, and ESCRT-III in eukaryotes. Here, using a combination of evolutionary and structural analyses, we show that these protein families are homologous and share a common ancient evolutionary origin that likely predates the last universal common ancestor. This homology is evident in cryo-electron microscopy structures of Vipp1 rings from the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme presented over a range of symmetries. Each ring is assembled from rungs that stack and progressively tilt to form dome-shaped curvature. Assembly is facilitated by hinges in the Vipp1 monomer, similar to those in ESCRT-III proteins, which allow the formation of flexible polymers. Rings have an inner lumen that is able to bind and deform membranes. Collectively, these data suggest conserved mechanistic principles that underlie Vipp1, PspA, and ESCRT-III-dependent membrane remodeling across all domains of life., Graphical abstract, Highlights • PspA, Vipp1, and ESCRT-III are members of the same polymer-forming protein family • ESCRT-III-like polymers function to remodel membranes across all domains of life • Hinges in the Vipp1 monomer enable it to form a diverse set of flexible polymers • The inner lumen of the dome-shaped Vipp1 ring binds and deforms membranes, Phylogenetic and structural characterization of Vipp1 and PspA identifies them as ESCRT-III homologs and part of an ancient family of protein polymers that remodel membranes across the domains of life.

Flavivirus replication is intimately associated with re-organized cellular membranes. These virus-induced changes in membrane architecture form three distinct membranous “organelles” that have specific functions during the flavivirus life cycle. One of these structures is the replication complex in which the flaviviral RNA is replicated to produce progeny genomes. We have previously observed that this process is strictly dependent on cellular cholesterol. In this study we have identified a putative cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) motif within the West Nile virus strain Kunjin virus (WNVKUN) NS4A protein. Site-directed mutagenesis of this motif within a WNVKUN infectious clone severely attenuated virus replication and the capacity of the mutant viruses to form the replication complex. Replication of the mutant viruses also displayed reduced co-localization with cellular markers recruited to replication sites during wild-type virus replication. In addition, we observed that the mutant viruses were significantly impaired in their ability to remodel cytoplasmic membranes. However, after extensive analysis we are unable to conclusively reveal a role for the CRAC motif in direct cholesterol binding to NS4A, suggesting additional complex lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions. We believe this study highlights the crucial role for this region within NS4A protein in recruitment of cellular and viral proteins to specialized subdomains on membrane platforms to promote efficient virus replication.

Shaping and remodeling of biomembranes is essential for cellular trafficking, with membrane-binding peripheral proteins playing the key role in it. Significant membrane remodeling as in endo- and exocytosis is often due to clusters or aggregates of many proteins whose interactions may be direct or mediated via the membrane. While computer simulation could be an important tool to disentangle these interactions and understand what drives cooperative protein interactions in membrane remodeling, this has so far been extremely challenging: protein-membrane systems involve time- and lengthscales that make detailed atomistic simulations impractical, while most coarse-grained models lack the degree of detail needed to resolve the dynamics and physical effect of protein and membrane flexibility. Here, we develop a coarse-grained model of the bilayer membrane bestrewed with rotationally-symmetric flexible membrane-bound proteins. We show how this model can be parameterized based on local curvatures, protein flexibility, and the in-plane dynamics of proteins. We measure the effective interaction potential for the membrane-mediated interactions between peripheral proteins. Furthermore, we investigate the kinetics, equilibrium distributions, and the free energy landscape governing the formation and break-up of protein clusters on the surface of the membrane. We demonstrate how the flexibility of the protein plays a deciding role in highly selective macroscopic aggregation behavior. Finally, we present large-scale simulations of membrane tubulation, and discuss the sequence of events and the stability of intermediates.

The sorting nexin (SNX) family of proteins deform the membrane to generate transport carriers in endosomal pathways. Here, we elucidate how a prototypic member, SNX1, acts in this process. Performing cryoelectron microscopy, we find that SNX1 assembles into a protein lattice that consists of helical rows of SNX1 dimers wrapped around tubular membranes in a crosslinked fashion. We also visualize the details of this structure, which provides a molecular understanding of how various parts of SNX1 contribute to its ability to deform the membrane. Moreover, we have compared the SNX1 structure with a previously elucidated structure of an endosomal coat complex formed by retromer coupled to a SNX, which reveals how the molecular organization of the SNX in this coat complex is affected by retromer. The comparison also suggests insight into intermediary stages of assembly that results in the formation of the retromer-SNX coat complex on the membrane.

Coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow us to access much larger length and time scales than atomistic MD simulations, providing an attractive alternative to the conventional simulations. Based on the well-known MARTINI CG force field, the recently developed Gō-MARTINI model for proteins describes large-amplitude structural dynamics, which has not been possible with the commonly used elastic network model. Using the Gō-MARTINI model, we conduct MD simulations of the F-BAR Pacsin1 protein on lipid membrane. We observe that structural changes of the non-globular protein are largely dependent on the definition of the native contacts in the Gō model. To address this issue, we introduced a simple cutoff scheme and tuned the cutoff distance of the native contacts and the interaction strength of the Lennard-Jones potentials in the Gō-MARTINI model. With the optimized Gō-MARTINI model, we show that it reproduces structural fluctuations of the Pacsin1 dimer from atomistic simulations. We also show that two Pacsin1 dimers properly assemble through lateral interaction on the lipid membrane. Our work presents a first step towards describing membrane remodeling processes in the Gō-MARTINI CG framework by simulating a crucial step of protein assembly on the membrane.

The endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) mediate various membrane remodeling processes in cells by mechanism that are incompletely understood. Here we combined genetic experiments in budding yeast with site-specific cross-linking to identify rules that govern the self-assembly of individual ESCRT-III proteins into functional ESCRT-III complexes on endosomes. Together with current structural models of ESCRT-III, our findings suggest that, once nucleated, the growing Snf7 protofilament seeds the lateral co-assembly of a Vps24 - Vps2 heterofilament. Both Vps24 and Vps2 use positively charged amino acid residues in their helices α1 to interact with negatively charged amino acids in helix α4 of Snf7 subunits of the protofilament. In the Vps24 - Vps2 heterofilament, the two subunits alternate and interact with each other using hydrophobic interactions between helices α2/α3. The co-assembly of the Vps24 - Vps2 heterofilament restricts the lateral expansion of Snf7 protofilaments and leads the immediate recruitment of the AAA-ATPase Vps4. This self-assembly process of three ESCRT-III subunits results in the formation of a Snf7 protofilament and the co-assembly of a Vps24 - Vps2 heterofilament. This sets the stage for Vps4 recruitment and the subsequent ATP-driven dynamic self-organization of ESCRT-III / Vps4 assemblies and the ensuing membrane budding and scission events.

Membrane remodeling is required for dynamic cellular processes such as cell division, polarization, and motility. BAR domain proteins and dynamins are key molecules in membrane remodeling that work together for membrane deformation and fission. In striated muscles, sarcolemmal invaginations termed T-tubules are required for excitation–contraction coupling. BIN1 and DNM2, which encode a BAR domain protein BIN1 and dynamin 2, respectively, have been reported to be causative genes of centronuclear myopathy (CNM), a hereditary degenerative disease of skeletal muscle, and deformation of T-tubules is often observed in the CNM patients. However, it remains unclear how BIN1 and dynamin 2 are implicated in T-tubule biogenesis and how mutations in these molecules cause CNM to develop. Here, using an in cellulo reconstitution assay, we demonstrate that dynamin 2 is required for stabilization of membranous structures equivalent to T-tubules. GTPase activity of wild-type dynamin 2 is suppressed through interaction with BIN1, whereas that of the disease-associated mutant dynamin 2 remains active due to lack of the BIN1-mediated regulation, thus causing aberrant membrane remodeling. Finally, we show that in cellulo aberrant membrane remodeling by mutant dynamin 2 variants is correlated with their enhanced membrane fission activities, and the results can explain severity of the symptoms in patients. Thus, this study provides molecular insights into dysregulated membrane remodeling triggering the pathogenesis of DNM2-related CNM.

Flaviviruses pose a constant threat to human health. These RNA viruses are transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes and ticks and regularly cause outbreaks. To identify host factors required for flavivirus infection, we performed full-genome loss of function CRISPR-Cas9 screens. Based on these results, we focused our efforts on characterizing the roles that TMEM41B and VMP1 play in the virus replication cycle. Our mechanistic studies on TMEM41B revealed that all members of the Flaviviridae family that we tested require TMEM41B. We tested 12 additional virus families and found that SARS-CoV-2 of the Coronaviridae also required TMEM41B for infection. Remarkably, single nucleotide polymorphisms present at nearly 20% in East Asian populations reduce flavivirus infection. Based on our mechanistic studies, we propose that TMEM41B is recruited to flavivirus RNA replication complexes to facilitate membrane curvature, which creates a protected environment for viral genome replication., Graphical Abstract, Hoffmann et al. determine that the transmembrane protein, TMEM41B, is required for infection by members of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. Loss of TMEM41B reduces viral RNA replication and increases innate immune activation in response to flavivirus infection. Thus, TMEM41B is a potential host target for antiviral therapeutics.

Dengue virus (DENV) constitutes one of the most important arboviral pathogens affecting humans. The high prevalence of DENV infections, which cause more than 20,000 deaths annually, and the lack of effective vaccines or direct-acting antiviral drugs make it a global health concern. DENV genome replication occurs in close association with the host endomembrane system, which is remodeled to form the viral replication organelle that originates from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes. To date, the viral and cellular determinants responsible for the biogenesis of DENV replication organelles are still poorly defined. The viral nonstructural protein 4A (NS4A) can remodel membranes and has been shown to associate with numerous host factors in DENV-replicating cells. In the present study, we used reverse and forward genetic screens and identified sites within NS4A required for DENV replication. We also mapped the determinants in NS4A required for interactions with other viral proteins. Moreover, taking advantage of our recently developed polyprotein expression system, we evaluated the role of NS4A in the formation of DENV replication organelles. Together, we report a detailed map of determinants within NS4A required for RNA replication, interaction with other viral proteins, and replication organelle formation. Our results suggest that NS4A might be an attractive target for antiviral therapy. IMPORTANCE DENV is the most prevalent mosquito-borne virus, causing around 390 million infections each year. There are no approved therapies to treat DENV infection, and the only available vaccine shows limited efficacy. The viral nonstructural proteins have emerged as attractive drug targets due to their pivotal role in RNA replication and establishment of virus-induced membranous compartments, designated replication organelles (ROs). The transmembrane protein NS4A, generated by cleavage of the NS4A-2K-4B precursor, contributes to DENV replication by unknown mechanisms. Here, we report a detailed genetic interaction map of NS4A and identify residues required for RNA replication and interaction between NS4A-2K-4B and NS2B-3 as well as NS1. Importantly, by means of an expression-based system, we demonstrate the essential role of NS4A in RO biogenesis and identify determinants in NS4A required for this process. Our data suggest that NS4A is an attractive target for antiviral therapy.

This chapter discusses the particular function of lipids and fatty acids and their metabolism are discussed in light of metabolomic, lipidomic, and observational studies of the elderly population with and without diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases. The major mechanistic and dietary conclusions are examined in the light of potential prevention and treatment intervention aspects focusing on fatty acids. The chapter also discusses the importance of lipids and fatty acids for optimal neurological health throughout the lifespan, with particular emphasis on cognitive functions and major metabolic pathways, as well as the conclusions originating from basic mechanistic studies and numerous clinical and observational studies. The products of lipid peroxidation, resulting from cell metabolism as well as the action of external environmental factors, have a significant impact on cell functions. The process of aging of the brain, and particularly pathological aging, is also considered to be a consequence of sustained chronic inflammation.

Positive-strand RNA viruses universally remodel host intracellular membranes to form membrane-bound viral replication complexes, where viral offspring RNAs are synthesized. In the majority of cases, viral replication proteins are targeted to and play critical roles in the modulation of the designated organelle membranes. Many viral replication proteins do not have transmembrane domains, but contain single or multiple amphipathic alpha-helices. It has been conventionally recognized that these helices serve as an anchor for viral replication protein to be associated with membranes. We report here that a peptide representing the amphipathic &alpha, helix at the N-terminus of the poliovirus 2C protein not only binds to liposomes, but also remodels spherical liposomes into tubules. The membrane remodeling ability of this amphipathic alpha-helix is similar to that recognized in other amphipathic alpha-helices from cellular proteins involved in membrane remodeling, such as BAR domain proteins. Mutations affecting the hydrophobic face of the amphipathic alpha-helix severely compromised membrane remodeling of vesicles with physiologically relevant phospholipid composition. These mutations also affected the ability of poliovirus to form plaques indicative of reduced viral replication, further underscoring the importance of membrane remodeling by the amphipathic alpha-helix in possible relation to the formation of viral replication complexes.