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A 96-well culture platform enables longitudinal analyses of engineered human skeletal muscle microtissue strength.

Sci Rep. 2020 04 24;10(1):6918

Authors: Afshar ME, Abraha HY, Bakooshli MA, Davoudi S, Thavandiran N, Tung K, Ahn H, Ginsberg HJ, Zandstra PW, Gilbert PM

Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models of human skeletal muscle mimic aspects of native tissue structure and function, thereby providing a promising system for disease modeling, drug discovery or pre-clinical validation, and toxicity testing. Widespread adoption of this research approach is hindered by the lack of easy-to-use platforms that are simple to fabricate and that yield arrays of human skeletal muscle micro-tissues (hMMTs) in culture with reproducible physiological responses that can be assayed non-invasively. Here, we describe a design and methods to generate a reusable mold to fabricate a 96-well platform, referred to as MyoTACTIC, that enables bulk production of 3D hMMTs. All 96-wells and all well features are cast in a single step from the reusable mold. Non-invasive calcium transient and contractile force measurements are performed on hMMTs directly in MyoTACTIC, and unbiased force analysis occurs by a custom automated algorithm, allowing for longitudinal studies of function. Characterizations of MyoTACTIC and resulting hMMTs confirms the capability of the device to support formation of hMMTs that recapitulate biological responses. We show that hMMT contractile force mirrors expected responses to compounds shown by others to decrease (dexamethasone, cerivastatin) or increase (IGF-1) skeletal muscle strength. Since MyoTACTIC supports hMMT long-term culture, we evaluated direct influences of pancreatic cancer chemotherapeutics agents on contraction competent human skeletal muscle myotubes. A single application of a clinically relevant dose of Irinotecan decreased hMMT contractile force generation, while clear effects on myotube atrophy were observed histologically only at a higher dose. This suggests an off-target effect that may contribute to cancer associated muscle wasting, and highlights the value of the MyoTACTIC platform to non-invasively predict modulators of human skeletal muscle function.

PMID: 32332853 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

BraInMap Elucidates the Macromolecular Connectivity Landscape of Mammalian Brain.

Cell Syst. 2020 Apr 22;10(4):333-350.e14

Authors: Pourhaghighi R, Ash PEA, Phanse S, Goebels F, Hu LZM, Chen S, Zhang Y, Wierbowski SD, Boudeau S, Moutaoufik MT, Malty RH, Malolepsza E, Tsafou K, Nathan A, Cromar G, Guo H, Abdullatif AA, Apicco DJ, Becker LA, Gitler AD, Pulst SM, Youssef A, Hekman R, Havugimana PC, White CA, Blum BC, Ratti A, Bryant CD, Parkinson J, Lage K, Babu M, Yu H, Bader GD, Wolozin B, Emili A

Abstract
Connectivity webs mediate the unique biology of the mammalian brain. Yet, while cell circuit maps are increasingly available, knowledge of their underlying molecular networks remains limited. Here, we applied multi-dimensional biochemical fractionation with mass spectrometry and machine learning to survey endogenous macromolecules across the adult mouse brain. We defined a global "interactome" comprising over one thousand multi-protein complexes. These include hundreds of brain-selective assemblies that have distinct physical and functional attributes, show regional and cell-type specificity, and have links to core neurological processes and disorders. Using reciprocal pull-downs and a transgenic model, we validated a putative 28-member RNA-binding protein complex associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, suggesting a coordinated function in alternative splicing in disease progression. This brain interaction map (BraInMap) resource facilitates mechanistic exploration of the unique molecular machinery driving core cellular processes of the central nervous system. It is publicly available and can be explored here https://www.bu.edu/dbin/cnsb/mousebrain/.

PMID: 32325033 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 is necessary for AML survival.

Blood. 2020 07 02;136(1):81-92

Authors: Khan DH, Mullokandov M, Wu Y, Voisin V, Gronda M, Hurren R, Wang X, MacLean N, Jeyaraju DV, Jitkova Y, Xu GW, Laister R, Seneviratne A, Blatman ZM, Ketela T, Bader GD, Marhon SA, De Carvalho DD, Minden MD, Gross A, Schimmer AD

Abstract
Through a clustered regularly insterspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screen to identify mitochondrial genes necessary for the growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, we identified the mitochondrial outer membrane protein mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2). In AML, knockdown of MTCH2 decreased growth, reduced engraftment potential of stem cells, and induced differentiation. Inhibiting MTCH2 in AML cells increased nuclear pyruvate and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), which induced histone acetylation and subsequently promoted the differentiation of AML cells. Thus, we have defined a new mechanism by which mitochondria and metabolism regulate AML stem cells and gene expression.

PMID: 32299104 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.

Nature. 2020 04;580(7803):402-408

Authors: Luck K, Kim DK, Lambourne L, Spirohn K, Begg BE, Bian W, Brignall R, Cafarelli T, Campos-Laborie FJ, Charloteaux B, Choi D, Coté AG, Daley M, Deimling S, Desbuleux A, Dricot A, Gebbia M, Hardy MF, Kishore N, Knapp JJ, Kovács IA, Lemmens I, Mee MW, Mellor JC, Pollis C, Pons C, Richardson AD, Schlabach S, Teeking B, Yadav A, Babor M, Balcha D, Basha O, Bowman-Colin C, Chin SF, Choi SG, Colabella C, Coppin G, D'Amata C, De Ridder D, De Rouck S, Duran-Frigola M, Ennajdaoui H, Goebels F, Goehring L, Gopal A, Haddad G, Hatchi E, Helmy M, Jacob Y, Kassa Y, Landini S, Li R, van Lieshout N, MacWilliams A, Markey D, Paulson JN, Rangarajan S, Rasla J, Rayhan A, Rolland T, San-Miguel A, Shen Y, Sheykhkarimli D, Sheynkman GM, Simonovsky E, Taşan M, Tejeda A, Tropepe V, Twizere JC, Wang Y, Weatheritt RJ, Weile J, Xia Y, Yang X, Yeger-Lotem E, Zhong Q, Aloy P, Bader GD, De Las Rivas J, Gaudet S, Hao T, Rak J, Tavernier J, Hill DE, Vidal M, Roth FP, Calderwood MA

Abstract
Global insights into cellular organization and genome function require comprehensive understanding of the interactome networks that mediate genotype-phenotype relationships1,2. Here we present a human 'all-by-all' reference interactome map of human binary protein interactions, or 'HuRI'. With approximately 53,000 protein-protein interactions, HuRI has approximately four times as many such interactions as there are high-quality curated interactions from small-scale studies. The integration of HuRI with genome3, transcriptome4 and proteome5 data enables cellular function to be studied within most physiological or pathological cellular contexts. We demonstrate the utility of HuRI in identifying the specific subcellular roles of protein-protein interactions. Inferred tissue-specific networks reveal general principles for the formation of cellular context-specific functions and elucidate potential molecular mechanisms that might underlie tissue-specific phenotypes of Mendelian diseases. HuRI is a systematic proteome-wide reference that links genomic variation to phenotypic outcomes.

PMID: 32296183 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]