Protein-protein interaction dominates all major biology processes in living cells. Recent studies suggestthat the surface expression and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are the largestfamily of receptors in human cells, can be modulated by receptor activity–modifying proteins (RAMPs). Computational tools are essential to complement experimental approaches for the understanding ofmolecular activity of living cells and molecular dynamics simulations are well suited to providemolecular details of proteins function and structure. The classical atom-level molecular modeling ofbiological systems is limited to small systems and short time scales. Therefore, its application iscomplicated for systems such as protein-protein interaction in cell-surface membrane. For this reason, coarse-grained (CG) models have become widely used and they represent an importantstep in the study of large biomolecular systems. CG models are computationally more effective becausethey simplify the complexity of the protein structure allowing simulations to have longer timescales. The aim of this degree project was to determine if the applications of coarse-grained molecularsimulations were suitable for the understanding of the dynamics and structural basis of the GPCRRAMP interactions in a membrane environment. Results indicate that the study of protein-proteininteractions using CG needs further improvement with a more accurate parameterization that will allowthe study of complex systems.

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Le cancer du sein est une maladie complexe résultant de la prolifération non contrôlée des cellules mammaires. Plus de 70% des tumeurs mammaires expriment les récepteurs des oestrogènes (ER) et peuvent bénéficier d’hormonothérapies ciblées. Parmi les thérapies hormonales, on y retrouve des anti-oestrogènes tel que le Fulvestrant. Les mécanismes d’action de ERα ne sont pas encore tous connus, d’où l’importance d’étudier son interactome. Un TurboID a été effectué dans la lignée cellulaire ERα+ ZR75.1. Ceci a permis d’identifier de potentiels interacteurs de ERα en réponse à différents traitements (E2 vs Fulvestrant) : GATAD2B, une sous-unité du complexe répresseur NuRD, et AIP, un interacteur connu du récepteur d’aryl hydrocarbone (AHR). Ces deux complexes sont connus comme pouvant être impliqué dans la signalisation par ERα. Nous avons donc émis comme hypothèse que GATAD2B et AIP étaient des cofacteurs de ERα et pouvaient avoir un impact sur l’activité transcriptionnelle de ERα. Nos objectifs étaient de mieux comprendre la relation entre ces protéines et ERα. Nous avons d’abord validé la colocalisation et la proximité de ces protéines avec ERα dans les cellules ER+ ZR-75-1. Nous avons ensuite observé l’interaction de ERα avec GATAD2B et AIP. De plus, des analyses par ChIP-qPCR ont permis d’observer le recrutement de ces protéines aux EREs du promoteur de GREB1 et que ce recrutement pouvait être modulé par les ligands de ERα. Finalement, nous avons pu observer par RNAseq que l’inhibition de GATAD2B entraînait une surexpression de groupes de gènes impliquées dans la réponse oestrogénique ERα-dépendante. Ainsi, nos travaux suggèrent que GATAD2B et AIP sont des interacteurs de ERα dans les cellules ER+ ZR-75-1. De plus, les résultats préliminaires semblent indiquer que GATAD2B pourrait jouer un rôle dans la répression de l’activité transcriptionnelle de ERα en présence de Fulvestrant. / Breast cancer is a complex and heterogenous disease resulting form the uncontrolled proliferation of breast cells. More than 70% of breast tumors express ERα and can benefit from targeted hormonotherapies. Among hormonal therapies, there are antiestrogens such as Fulvestrant. The mechanism of action of ERα signaling are still not all known and therefore, more studies need to be done to better understand Erα signaling pathways. With the aim to identify potential novel Erα interactors, a TurboID screening was done in ER+ cells, ZR-75-1. This screening led to the identification of GATAD2B, a sub-unit of the NuRD repressive complex, and AIP, a known interactor of AhR. Cross-signaling pathways between these two complexes and ERα are known. We hypothesized that GATAD2B and AIP were ERα cofactors could impact ERα transcriptional activity. Therefore, we aimed to better understand the relationship between these proteins and ERα. We first validated the colocalization and proximity of these proteins with ERα in ER+ ZR-75-1 cells. We then observed the interaction of ERα with GATAD2B and AIP. In addition, ChIP-seq experiments led to the observation of the recruitment of these proteins to the EREs of GREB1 promoter and that this recruitment could be modulated by ERα ligands. Finally, we were able to observe by RNAseq that the inhibition of GATAD2B leads to an overexpression of groups of genes involved in the ERα-dependent estrogen response. To conclude, our work suggests that GATAD2B and AIP are ERα interactors in ER+ ZR-75-1 cells. Additionally, preliminary results suggest that GATAD2B may play a role in suppressing ERα transcriptional activity in the presence of Fulvestrant.

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Here, we validate novel protein interactors of TCF7L1 (also known as TCF3), a downstream transcription factor in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, from an initial protein interaction screen that utilized the BioID system in mouse embryonic stem cells. The BioID-TCF7L1 screen identified multiple proteins including several transcription factors and numerous epigenetic regulators. Notably, SALL4, a key embryonic stem cell factor belonging to the SPALT family of transcription factors was validated to interact with TCF7L1 through Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA), and Co-Immunopreciptation (Co-IP). Analysing mRNA transcriptomic signatures of TCF7L1-null mEScs and SALL4 overexpressing mESCs, we observed similarly increased output of the pluripotency-gene, Tbx3, suggesting a transcriptionally opposing function between TCF7L1 and SALL4. Furthermore, we identified that SALL4 also interacted with TCF7, suggesting that SALL4 may interact with all four members of the TCF/LEF transcription factor family to regulate Wnt targets. This work further validates the utility and effectiveness of screening transcription factor interactors through the BioID system and provides important insights into SALL4 mediated Wnt regulation through the TCF/LEFs. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The biology of cells is highly complex. The genes within are under tight regulation to promote balance that is critical to the growth and status of the cell. Cells communicate with one another to support this balance through molecule secretion signaling which dictates biology. Understanding the complex biology within cells is critical, and therefore here we study one of many signaling pathways known as the Wnt Signaling Pathway. This work contributes to the knowledge of Wnt signaling by validating the interaction of proteins that dictate the onset or offset of important genes in mouse embryonic stem cells.

3-Deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) synthase (DHS) catalyzes the first step of the shikimate pathway - a pathway involved in Tyrosine (Tyr), Tryptophan (Trp) and Phenylalanine (Phe) biosynthesis - by condensation of phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose-4-phosphate to DAHP. Our lab previously demonstrated that Arabidopsis thaliana shikimate pathway flux is regulated by Tyr and Trp. This project suggests that A. thaliana DHS1 overexpressor lines have increased Trp accumulation with Tyr treatment, and that an A. thaliana DHS2 overexpressor line treated with Tyr has unchanged Trp accumulation, indicating that AtDHS2 is Tyr-sensitive. Confocal microscopy of all 3 AtDHS isoforms fused to yellow fluorescent protein demonstrates chloroplast localization. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation indicates that protein-protein interactions occur in the cytoplasm, and not in the chloroplast, for AtDHS1 and AtDHS2 with the metabolic regulator At14-3-3ω. These findings suggest that protein-protein interactions could regulate accumulation of AtDHS2 in the chloroplast, and are perhaps modulated by Tyr.

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