We generated a global genetic interaction network for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, constructing over 23 million double mutants, identifying ~550,000 negative and ~350,000 positive genetic interactions. This comprehensive network maps genetic interactions for essential gene pairs, highlighting essential genes as densely connected hubs. Genetic interaction profiles enabled assembly of a hierarchical model of cell function, including modules corresponding to protein complexes and pathways, biological processes, and cellular compartments. Negative interactions connected functionally related genes, mapped core bioprocesses, and identified pleiotropic genes, whereas positive interactions often mapped general regulatory connections among gene pairs, rather than shared functionality. The global network illustrates how coherent sets of genetic interactions connect protein complex and pathway modules to map a functional wiring diagram of the cell.

Loss of function of the Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) tumor suppressor gene is associated with many human cancers. In the cytoplasm, PTEN antagonizes the Phosphatidylinositol 3′ kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. PTEN also accumulates in the nucleus, where its function remains poorly understood. We demonstrate that SUMOylation (SUMO) of PTEN controls its nuclear localization. In cells exposed to genotoxic stress, SUMO-PTEN was rapidly excluded from the nucleus dependent on the protein kinase Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). Cells lacking nuclear PTEN were hypersensitive to DNA damage, while PTEN-deficient cells were susceptible to killing by a combination of genotoxic stress and a small molecule PI3K inhibitor both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings may have implications for individualized therapy for patients with PTEN-deficient tumors.

A complex interplay of signaling events, including the Wnt pathway, regulates sprouting of blood vessels from preexisting vasculature during angiogenesis. Here we show that two distinct mutations in the (uro)chordate-specific Gumby/Fam105b gene cause an embryonic angiogenic phenotype in gumby mice. Gumby interacts with Disheveled 2 (Dvl2), is expressed in canonical Wnt-responsive endothelial cells and encodes an Ovarian Tumor Domain (OTU) class of deubiquitinase (DUB) that specifically cleaves linear ubiquitin linkages. A crystal structure of Gumby in complex with linear di-ubiquitin reveals how the identified mutations adversely impact substrate binding and catalytic function in line with the severity of their angiogenic phenotypes. Gumby interacts with HOIP/Rnf31, a key component of the linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC), decreases linear ubiquitination and activation of NFκB dependent transcription. This work provides support for the biological importance of linear (de)ubiquitination in angiogenesis, craniofacial and neural development and in modulating Wnt signaling.

miRNAs recruit the miRNA-induced silencing complex (miRISC), which includes Argonaute and GW182 as core proteins. GW182 proteins effect translational repression and deadenylation of target mRNAs. However, the molecular mechanisms of GW182-mediated repression remain obscure. We show here that human GW182 independently interacts with the PAN2-PAN3 and CCR4-NOT deadenylase complexes. Interaction of GW182 with CCR4-NOT is mediated by two newly discovered phylogenetically conserved motifs. Although either motif is sufficient to bind CCR4-NOT, only one of them can promote processive deadenylation of target mRNAs. Thus, GW182 serves as both a platform that recruits deadenylases and as a deadenylase coactivator that facilitates the removal of the poly(A) tail by CCR4-NOT.

Photosynthetic organisms provide food and energy for nearly all life on Earth, yet half of their protein-coding genes remain uncharacterized 1 , 2 . Characterization of these genes could be greatly accelerated by new genetic resources for unicellular organisms. Here, we generated a genome-wide, indexed library of mapped insertion mutants for the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . The 62,389 mutants in the library, covering 83% of nuclear, protein-coding genes, are available to the community. Each mutant contains unique DNA barcodes, allowing the collection to be screened as a pool. We performed a genome-wide survey of genes required for photosynthesis, which identified 303 candidate genes. Characterization of one of these genes, the conserved predicted phosphatase-encoding gene CPL3 , showed it is important for accumulation of multiple photosynthetic protein complexes. Notably, 21 of the 43 highest-confidence genes are novel, opening new opportunities for advances in our understanding of this biogeochemically fundamental process. This library will accelerate the characterization of thousands of genes in algae, plants and animals.

The silane self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modification of a SiO2 gate dielectric surface improved the molecular ordering of organic channel semiconductor in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), leading to a significant improvement in transistor performance. Mobility of up to 0.18cm2∕Vs (current on∕off ratio of 107) was obtained for OTFTs with a liquid-crystalline polythiophene semiconductor built on an octyltrichlorosilane-modified SiO2 gate dielectric layer, a 450 times improvement over those built on a nonmodified dielectric layer. The mobility enhancement was attributed to the edge-on orientation of the polythiophene molecules induced by the silane SAM layer as deduced from the crystal domain structures in the atomic force microscopic images.

Type III effectors are virulence factors of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens delivered directly into host cells by the type III secretion nanomachine where they manipulate host cell processes such as the innate immunity and gene expression. Here, we show that the novel type III effector XopL from the model plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria exhibits E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in vitro and in planta, induces plant cell death and subverts plant immunity. E3 ligase activity is associated with the C-terminal region of XopL, which specifically interacts with plant E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes and mediates formation of predominantly K11-linked polyubiquitin chains. The crystal structure of the XopL C-terminal domain revealed a single domain with a novel fold, termed XL-box, not present in any previously characterized E3 ligase. Mutation of amino acids in the central cavity of the XL-box disrupts E3 ligase activity and prevents XopL-induced plant cell death. The lack of cysteine residues in the XL-box suggests the absence of thioester-linked ubiquitin-E3 ligase intermediates and a non-catalytic mechanism for XopL-mediated ubiquitination. The crystal structure of the N-terminal region of XopL confirmed the presence of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, which may serve as a protein-protein interaction module for ubiquitination target recognition. While the E3 ligase activity is required to provoke plant cell death, suppression of PAMP responses solely depends on the N-terminal LRR domain. Taken together, the unique structural fold of the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain within the Xanthomonas XopL is unprecedented and highlights the variation in bacterial pathogen effectors mimicking this eukaryote-specific activity.

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