Gene Therapy of Dominant CRX-Leber Congenital Amaurosis using Patient Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids.

Mutations in the photoreceptor transcription factor gene cone-rod homeobox (CRX) lead to distinct retinopathy phenotypes, including early-onset vision impairment in dominant Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with CRX-I138fs48 mutation, we established an in vitro model of CRX-LCA in retinal organoids that showed defective photoreceptor maturation by histology and gene profiling, with diminished expression of visual opsins. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRX gene augmentation therapy partially restored photoreceptor phenotype and expression of phototransduction-related genes as determined by single-cell RNA-sequencing. Retinal organoids derived from iPSCs of a second dominant CRX-LCA patient carrying K88N mutation revealed the loss of opsin expression as a common phenotype, which was alleviated by AAV-mediated augmentation of CRX. Our studies provide a proof-of-concept for developing gene therapy of dominant CRX-LCA and other CRX retinopathies.

Multi-Drug Resistance ABC Transporter Inhibition Enhances Murine Ventral Prostate Stem/Progenitor Cell Differentiation.

Multi-drug resistance (MDR)-ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 participate in the efflux of steroid hormones, estrogens, and androgens, which regulate prostate development and differentiation. The role of MDR-ABC efflux transporters in prostate epithelial proliferation and differentiation remains unclear. We hypothesized that MDR-ABC transporters regulate prostate differentiation and epithelium regeneration. Prostate epithelial differentiation was studied using histology, sphere formation assay, and prostate regeneration induced by cycles of repeated androgen withdrawal and replacement. Embryonic deletion of Abcg2 resulted in a decreased number of luminal cells in the prostate and increased sphere formation efficiency, indicating an imbalance in the prostate epithelial differentiation pattern. Decreased luminal cell number in the Abcg2 null prostate implies reduced differentiation. Enhanced sphere formation efficiency in Abcg2 null prostate cells implies activation of the stem/progenitor cells. Prostate regeneration was associated with profound activation of the stem/progenitor cells, indicating the role of Abcg2 in maintaining stem/progenitor cell pool. Since embryonic deletion of Abcg2 may result in compensation by other ABC transporters, pharmacological inhibition of MDR-ABC efflux was performed. Pharmacological inhibition of MDR-ABC efflux enhanced prostate epithelial differentiation in sphere culture and during prostate regeneration. In conclusion, Abcg2 deletion leads to activation of the stem/progenitor cells and enhances differentiating divisions; and pharmacological inhibition of MDR-ABC efflux leads to epithelial differentiation. Our study demonstrates for the first time that MDR-ABC efflux transporter inhibition results in enhanced prostate epithelial cell differentiation.

Multisite phosphorylation of C-Nap1 releases it from Cep135 to trigger centrosome disjunction.

During mitotic entry, centrosomes separate to establish the bipolar spindle. Delays in centrosome separation can perturb chromosome segregation and promote genetic instability. However, interphase centrosomes are physically tethered by a proteinaceous linker composed of C-Nap1 (also known as CEP250) and the filamentous protein rootletin. Linker disassembly occurs at the onset of mitosis in a process known as centrosome disjunction and is triggered by the Nek2-dependent phosphorylation of C-Nap1. However, the mechanistic consequences of C-Nap1 phosphorylation are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Nek2 phosphorylates multiple residues within the C-terminal domain of C-Nap1 and, collectively, these phosphorylation events lead to loss of oligomerization and centrosome association. Mutations in non-phosphorylatable residues that make the domain more acidic are sufficient to release C-Nap1 from the centrosome, suggesting that it is an increase in overall negative charge that is required for this process. Importantly, phosphorylation of C-Nap1 also perturbs interaction with the core centriolar protein, Cep135, and interaction of endogenous C-Nap1 and Cep135 proteins is specifically lost in mitosis. We therefore propose that multisite phosphorylation of C-Nap1 by Nek2 perturbs both oligomerization and Cep135 interaction, and this precipitates centrosome disjunction at the onset of mitosis.

Oscillation of APC/C activity during cell cycle arrest promotes centrosome amplification.

Centrosome duplication is licensed by the disengagement, or 'uncoupling', of centrioles during late mitosis. However, arrest of cells in G2 can trigger premature centriole disengagement. Here, we show that premature disengagement results from untimely activation of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C), leading to securin degradation and release of active separase. Although APC/C activation during G2 arrest is dependent on polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1)-mediated degradation of the APC/C inhibitor, early mitotic inhibitor 1 (Emi1), Plk1 also has a second APC/C-independent role in promoting disengagement. Importantly, APC/C and Plk1 activity also stimulates centriole disengagement in response to hydroxyurea or DNA damage-induced cell-cycle arrest and this leads to centrosome amplification. However, the reduplication of disengaged centrioles is dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) activity and Cdk2 activation coincides with a subsequent inactivation of the APC/C and re-accumulation of cyclin A. Although release from these arrests leads to mitotic entry, the presence of disengaged and/or amplified centrosomes results in the formation of abnormal mitotic spindles that lead to chromosome mis-segregation. Thus, oscillation of APC/C activity during cell cycle arrest promotes both centrosome amplification and genome instability.