Biomedical subjects

Yihua Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Yihua Wang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Dynamic balance of CRISPR-Cas immunity and resistance plasmid anti-immunity mediated by a bifunctional protein AcrIE10.

Despite targeting by CRISPR-Cas system, antimicrobial resistance plasmids are prevalent in clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae which represent a major public health threat. A stable co-existence of plasmids and CRISPR-Cas systems is mediated by anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins. Here, we report that previously identified AcrIE10 encoded by a resistance plasmid combines two functions: it inhibits CRISPR immunity by directly binding Cas7* subunit through its Acr domain, and acts as an Acr-associated (Aca) protein that self-represses the transcription of Acr locus. AcrIE10 is an example of an Aca protein that utilizes N-terminal ribbon-helix-helix (RHH) domain to specifically recognize the inverted repeat (IR) region in its own promoter. Crucially, a dimerization of AcrIE10 dimers is required for the effective binding to the IR and self-repression, while stoichiometry-dependent interaction with Cas7* facilitates transition to de-repressed state. These findings elucidate molecular mechanisms by which AcrIE10 operates as a dual functionAcr-Aca protein to achieve a delicate balance between host CRISPR-Cas immunity and plasmid anti-defense.

Klebsiella pneumoniae↗

PubMed2025

The chromosome-level genome of Stylosanthes guianensis provides insights into genome evolution and environmental adaptation.

Stylosanthes guianensis is a leguminous forage crop of significant economic importance, primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It exhibits strong adaptability to various stresses, yet the genetic basis underlying this trait remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the first chromosome-scale reference genome of S. guianensis using a combination of Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembled genome size is 1254 Mb, with 10 pseudochromosomes. Using Nanopore full-length transcriptome data, we generated high-quality transcript-level gene annotations, identifying 36 585 gene models and 110 601 transcripts. The repetitive sequences in S. guianensis account for 79.16% of the genome, with the extensive expansion of Gypsy elements in long terminal repeats contributing to its genome size enlargement. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that flavonoid metabolism plays a pivotal role in stress adaptation, providing new insights into the genetic basis of stress tolerance. Additionally, we generated whole-genome methylation profiles under cold treatment and control conditions, offering valuable data for future epigenomic research. These findings provide essential molecular resources for understanding stress resilience in S. guianensis and advancing its molecular breeding.

Genome, Plant↗

PubMed2024

Knockdown Proteomics Reveals USP7 as a Regulator of Cell-Cell Adhesion in Colorectal Cancer via AJUBA.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is implicated in many cancers including colorectal cancer in which it regulates cellular pathways such as Wnt signaling and the P53-MDM2 pathway. With the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors, USP7 has also become a promising target for cancer therapy and therefore systematically identifying USP7 deubiquitinase interaction partners and substrates has become an important goal. In this study, we selected a colorectal cancer cell model that is highly dependent on USP7 and in which USP7 knockdown significantly inhibited colorectal cancer cell viability, colony formation, and cell-cell adhesion. We then used inducible knockdown of USP7 followed by LC-MS/MS to quantify USP7-dependent proteins. We identified the Ajuba LIM domain protein as an interacting partner of USP7 through co-IP, its substantially reduced protein levels in response to USP7 knockdown, and its sensitivity to the specific USP7 inhibitor FT671. The Ajuba protein has been shown to have oncogenic functions in colorectal and other tumors, including regulation of cell-cell adhesion. We show that both knockdown of USP7 or Ajuba results in a substantial reduction of cell-cell adhesion, with concomitant effects on other proteins associated with adherens junctions. Our findings underlie the role of USP7 in colorectal cancer through its protein interaction networks and show that the Ajuba protein is a component of USP7 protein networks present in colorectal cancer.

Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7↗