How post-mitotic neurons maintain precise transcription factor (TF) levels throughout life remains a fundamental open question. Here, we challenge the prevailing model of positive autoregulation by demonstrating that UNC-3 (Collier/EBF1-4), a dosage-sensitive TF continuously required for cholinergic motor neuron identity in C. elegans, negatively regulates its own expression. Using genetics, biochemistry, and inducible protein depletion, we show this self-repression occurs directly at the transcriptional level and persists beyond development. CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of negative autoregulation causes motor neuron identity and locomotion defects, establishing its functional necessity. Mechanistically, the UNC-3 DNA-binding domain is required and sufficient for self-repression, with an AlphaFold2 screen implicating chromatin factors as interaction partners. Critically, UNC-3 self-repression is continuously counterbalanced by positive input from the HOX cofactor CEH-20/PBX, revealing a dynamic "balancing act" between opposing regulatory inputs that stabilize TF dosage over time. Mutations in the unc-3 ortholog EBF3 cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome, and disease-associated variants disrupt UNC-3 self-repression, revealing a key molecular mechanism underlying the disorder. We propose that negative autoregulation continuously counteracted by positive input represents a broadly applicable principle for maintaining dosage-sensitive TF expression to secure post-mitotic cell identity.
Science Journals
Conventional diagonal stride skiing traditionally includes a glide phase, characterised by a period of relatively passive gliding on one ski. While the glide phase may take advantage of low ski-snow friction, it does not exhibit the same whole-cycle mechanical energy fluctuations seen in running or walking on foot. A new sub-technique, known as running style, substantially reduces the glide phase and may alter the role of elastic tissues, making the movement pattern more similar to uphill running on foot in its temporal organisation. We examined knee extensor and plantar flexor muscle-tendon behaviour in eight competitive skiers performing conventional diagonal and running techniques on a treadmill inclined at 10 deg. Using synchronised ultrasonography, 3D kinematics, ski forces and EMG, we quantified gastrocnemius medialis and vastus lateralis fascicle and muscle-tendon unit (MTU) dynamics in both the running (RUN) and conventional (CON) styles. Shorter glide and total cycle durations during RUN shifted MTU peak length and velocity earlier during the kick phase. Fascicles in both muscles operated at similar velocities across techniques, showing MTU-fascicle decoupling. Vastus lateralis fascicles shortened at higher absolute peak velocities than gastrocnemius in both conditions, while normalised velocities were similar. RUN increased preactivation and advanced EMG timing, while integrated EMG during the kick was lower compared to CON. These findings suggest that, despite large shifts in external mechanics between glide-based and more running-like skiing, elastic tissues may help stabilise fascicle behaviour and preserve a similar contractile strategy across muscles and techniques.
Quantifying the lipid biosynthesis rate of archaea in hot spring sediments is necessary to interpret the abundance, isotopic patterns, and environmental significance of archaeal lipid biosignatures, with implications for modern biogeochemical cycling and astrobiology. Here, we performed lipid hydrogen stable isotope probing (LH-SIP) experiments on whole sediments collected from two high-temperature, suboxic, circumneutral hot springs in Yellowstone National Park (USA) and El Tatio Geyserfield (Chile). We determined the incorporation of 2H2O into intact polar lipids (IPLs) which provides a taxon- and metabolism-agnostic quantification of biosynthesis under near-natural conditions. We targeted isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipids (IPL iGDGTs) and recovered structures with 0 to 7 cyclopentyl rings from both springs. We observed minor 2H-uptake into archaeal IPLs in spring sediments in Yellowstone, corresponding to decadal-scale apparent generation times (16 {+/-} 7 years), and no 2H-uptake in El Tatio sediments (consistent with minimum generation times of 35 {+/-} 5 years). We infer that net production of sedimentary IPL-iGDGTs is very slow, consistent with a combination of slow archaeal growth, persistence of older IPLs, lipid recycling, and/or contributions from recently sedimented planktonic biomass. These are the first direct, ex situ estimates of archaeal lipid production rates in terrestrial hydrothermal systems using LH-SIP incubations and provide critical constraints for interpreting archaeal lipids in ancient hot spring deposits. This research establishes a framework for assessing activity by slow-growing extremophilic archaea in hydrothermal environments and provides support for targeting hydrothermal deposits on Mars for biosignature detection efforts.
Collagens are key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that play a crucial role in maintaining structure, strength, and function of the lungs. Fibrillar collagens are crosslinked by enzymes such as lysyl oxidases and transglutaminases and organized into networks by proteoglycans and glycoproteins. Collagens are the main load-bearing components and along with elastin may impart a non-linear strain hardening behavior to the lung. In disease, collagen crosslinking and organization can be disrupted, possibly due to abnormal levels of enzymes or ECM components. Few studies have examined collagen crosslinking and organization in healthy and diseased human lungs. In this study, alterations in collagen crosslinking and organization were investigated in human lung control, fibrotic and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tissue sections. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography and second harmonic generation microscopy measured pyridinoline crosslinks and the distribution of mature and immature collagens within the decellularized scaffolds, respectively. Fibrotic scaffolds had higher total collagen but less crosslinking per mole of collagen compared with COPD donors. Image analysis by second harmonic generation microscopy showed mature collagens populated airway or blood vessel walls in all three groups and in the parenchyma of fibrotic scaffolds. Immature collagens, on the other hand, were mainly localized to parenchymal regions in control and COPD scaffolds, with fewer immature collagens in fibrotic parenchyma. Additionally, quantification of the mature to immature collagen ratio in defined regions of control and diseased scaffolds showed increased organized collagen in fibrotic tissue. Our study shows that collagen crosslinking and organization are disrupted in fibrotic and COPD lungs and these changes may be compartment specific and can contribute to aberrant mechanical properties of diseased lungs. Our findings highlight that along with total collagen…