Publications by authors named "Christopher Walczak"

Ubiquitin fold modifier 1 (UFM1) is a small, metazoan-specific, ubiquitin-like protein modifier that is essential for embryonic development. Although loss-of-function mutations in UFM1 conjugation are linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, neither the biological function nor the relevant cellular targets of this protein modifier are known. Here, we show that a largely uncharacterized ribosomal protein, RPL26, is the principal target of UFM1 conjugation.

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The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) maintains the integrity of the proteome by selectively degrading misfolded or mis-assembled proteins, but the rules that govern how conformationally defective proteins in the secretory pathway are selected from the structurally and topologically diverse constellation of correctly folded membrane and secretory proteins for efficient degradation by cytosolic proteasomes is not well understood. Here, we combine parallel pooled genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 forward genetic screening with a highly quantitative and sensitive protein turnover assay to discover a previously undescribed collaboration between membrane-embedded cytoplasmic ubiquitin E3 ligases to conjugate heterotypic branched or mixed ubiquitin (Ub) chains on substrates of endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). These findings demonstrate that parallel CRISPR analysis can be used to deconvolve highly complex cell biological processes and identify new biochemical pathways in protein quality control.

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Hrd1 is the core structural component of a large endoplasmic reticulum membrane-embedded protein complex that coordinates the destruction of folding-defective proteins in the early secretory pathway. Defining the composition, dynamics, and ultimately, the structure of the Hrd1 complex is a crucial step in understanding the molecular basis of glycoprotein quality control but has been hampered by the lack of suitable techniques to interrogate this complex under native conditions. In this study we used genome editing to generate clonal HEK293 (Hrd1.

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We report herein the preparation of two families of secondary amines by the reactions of two equivalents of monoamines with either 2,4 or 2,6-difluoronitrobenzenes in -dimethylacetamide in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate, as precursors of biologically important nitric oxide donating -nitrosamines. In both instances, these compounds could be prepared in quantitative yield when the reaction temperature was held below 130°C. Above this reaction temperature, an unexpected cyclization reaction between the nitro and newly formed adjacent secondary amine group leads to the formation of benzimidazole or quinoxaline rings in low yields.

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Unlabelled: The nonenveloped simian virus 40 (SV40) hijacks the three endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-bound J proteins B12, B14, and C18 to escape from the ER into the cytosol en route to successful infection. How C18 controls SV40 ER-to-cytosol membrane penetration is the least understood of these processes. We previously found that SV40 triggers B12 and B14 to reorganize into discrete puncta in the ER membrane called foci, structures postulated to represent the cytosol entry site (C.

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Nonenveloped viruses undergo conformational changes that enable them to bind to, disrupt, and penetrate a biological membrane leading to successful infection. We assessed whether cytosolic factors play any role in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane penetration of the nonenveloped SV40. We find the cytosolic SGTA-Hsc70 complex interacts with the ER transmembrane J-proteins DnaJB14 (B14) and DnaJB12 (B12), two cellular factors previously implicated in SV40 infection.

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Significance: Protein misfolding within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is managed by an ER quality control system that retro-translocates aberrant proteins into the cytosol for proteasomal destruction. This process, known as ER-associated degradation, utilizes the action of ER redox enzymes to accommodate the disulfide-bonded nature of misfolded proteins. Strikingly, various pathogenic viruses and toxins co-opt these redox components to reach the cytosol during entry.

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Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-cytosol membrane transport is a decisive infection step for the murine polyomavirus (Py). We previously determined that ERp29, a protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) member, extrudes the Py VP1 C-terminal arm to initiate ER membrane penetration. This reaction requires disruption of Py's disulfide bonds.

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Members of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family of molecular chaperones are emerging as potential therapeutic targets. Their ATPase activity has classically been measured using colorimetric phosphate detection reagents, such as quinaldine red (QR). Although such assays are suitable for 96-well plate formats, they typically lose sensitivity when attempted in lower volume due to path length and meniscus effects.

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4,6-Dinitro-N,N'-di-n-octylbenzene-1,3-diamine, C(22)H(38)N(4)O(4), (I), 4,6-dinitro-N,N'-di-n-undecylbenzene-1,3-diamine, C(28)H(50)N(4)O(4), (II), and N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)octane-1,8-diamine, C(20)H(24)N(6)O(8), (III), are the first synthetic meta-dinitroarenes functionalized with long-chain aliphatic amine groups to be structurally characterized. The intra- and intermolecular interactions in these model compounds provide information that can be used to help understand the physical properties of corresponding polymers with similar functionalities. Compounds (I) and (II) possess near-mirror symmetry, with the octyl and undecyl chains adopting fully extended anti conformations in the same direction with respect to the ring.

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1,3-Bis(ethylamino)-2-nitrobenzene, C(10)H(15)N(3)O(2), (I), and 1,3-bis(n-octylamino)-2-nitrobenzene, C(22)H(39)N(3)O(2), (II), are the first structurally characterized 1,3-bis(n-alkylamino)-2-nitrobenzenes. Both molecules are bisected though the nitro N atom and the 2-C and 5-C atoms of the ring by twofold rotation axes. Both display intramolecular N-H.

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N-(n-Dec-yl)-4-nitro-aniline, C(16)H(26)N(2)O(2), crystallizes with two essentially planar mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. The decyl chains are fully extended in an anti conformation. The mol-ecules pack in planar layers, within which mol-ecules are linked into chains by two approximately linear N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the amine N atom and one O atom of the nitro group of an adjacent mol-ecule.

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