2023
Inactivation of Minar2 in mice hyperactivates mTOR signaling and results in obesity
Lotfollahzadeh S, Xia C, Amraei R, Hua N, Kandror K, Farmer S, Wei W, Costello C, Chitalia V, Rahimi N. Inactivation of Minar2 in mice hyperactivates mTOR signaling and results in obesity. Molecular Metabolism 2023, 73: 101744. PMID: 37245847, PMCID: PMC10267597, DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101744.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMTOR activationHigh-fat dietObesity-associated diseasesGlucose toleranceKO miceChronic diseasesPathophysiological roleBody fatMetabolic disordersHypertrophic adipocytesKnockout miceObesityAdipose tissuePhysiological negative regulatorType 2HEK-293 cellsImpaired expressionComplex disorderCell culture studiesAdipocytesDiseaseMiceDisordersMTORUnknown role
2022
Extracellular vimentin is an attachment factor that facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into human endothelial cells
Amraei R, Xia C, Olejnik J, White M, Napoleon M, Lotfollahzadeh S, Hauser B, Schmidt A, Chitalia V, Mühlberger E, Costello C, Rahimi N. Extracellular vimentin is an attachment factor that facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into human endothelial cells. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2022, 119: e2113874119. PMID: 35078919, PMCID: PMC8833221, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113874119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionHuman endothelial cellsSARS-CoV-2 entrySARS-CoV-2S-protein interactionEndothelial cellsIdentification of vimentinShRNA-mediated knockdownIntermediate filament proteinsBinding of vimentinHEK-293 cellsAttachment factorsViral entrySARS-CoV-2 S proteinDevelopment of therapeuticsExtracellular vimentinS protein receptorInfectious SARS-CoV-2Host cellsCellular componentsCoexpression of vimentinFilament proteinsPrimary entry receptorSARS-CoV-2 spike proteinS protein
2021
NEDD4 regulates ubiquitination and stability of the cell adhesion molecule IGPR-1 via lysosomal pathway
Sun L, Amraei R, Rahimi N. NEDD4 regulates ubiquitination and stability of the cell adhesion molecule IGPR-1 via lysosomal pathway. Journal Of Biomedical Science 2021, 28: 35. PMID: 33962630, PMCID: PMC8103646, DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00731-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell adhesion molecule IGPR-1IGPR-1Lysosomal-dependent degradationUbiquitin E3Vivo co-immunoprecipitation assaysWild-type Nedd4Knockdown of NEDD4Polyproline-rich motifCritical cellular processesCell-cell adhesionCo-immunoprecipitation assaysTreatment of cellsCell surface levelsHEK-293 cellsA375 melanoma cellsWW domainsCellular processesRich motifLysosomal pathwayC-terminusNedd4Key regulatorLysosomal inhibitorsMolecular mechanismsMelanoma cell lines
2020
Cell adhesion molecule IGPR-1 activates AMPK connecting cell adhesion to autophagy
Amraei R, Alwani T, Ho R, Aryan Z, Wang S, Rahimi N. Cell adhesion molecule IGPR-1 activates AMPK connecting cell adhesion to autophagy. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2020, 295: 16691-16699. PMID: 32978258, PMCID: PMC7864065, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014790.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid MotifsAMP-Activated Protein KinasesAnimalsAutophagyAutophagy-Related Protein-1 HomologBeclin-1CD28 AntigensCell AdhesionHEK293 CellsHumansI-kappa B KinaseIntracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsLipopolysaccharidesMicroscopy, FluorescenceMicrotubule-Associated ProteinsPhosphorylationPrimatesRNA, Guide, KinetoplastidaSirolimusSubstrate SpecificityConceptsIGPR-1Cell adhesionCell adhesion molecule IGPR-1Proline-rich receptor-1Serine/threonine kinaseKey serine/threonine kinaseAmino acid starvationBeclin-1Phosphorylation of AMPThreonine kinaseAutophagy stimuliKinase assaysLC3-II levelsCellular stressNutrient deprivationProtein kinaseCell adhesion moleculeProtein ULK1IκB kinase βEndothelial barrier functionKinase βCellular assaysPhosphorylationSubsequent activationCell detachment