ssDNA and ssRNA Promote Phase Condensation of SAMHD1.

SAMHD1 (SAM domain and HD domain-containing protein 1) is a deoxynucleoside triphosphate triphosphohydrolase (dNTPase) with functions in viral restriction, R-loop resolution, DNA repair, telomere maintenance, ssRNA homeostasis, and regulation of self-nucleic acids. As a dNTPase, SAMHD1 functions as an allosterically activated tetramer, where binding of GTP to the A1 activator site of each monomer initiates dNTP-dependent tetramerization. cEM structures reveal that the nucleic-acid-related functions of SAMHD1 involve binding of guanine residues to the A1 site, leading to oligomeric forms that appear as beads-on-a-string on single-stranded RNA and DNA.

Ablating UNG activity in a mouse model inhibits colorectal cancer growth by increasing tumor immunogenicity.

Uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) excises uracil and 5-fluorouracil bases from DNA and is implicated in fluorodeoxyuridine (FdU) resistance. Here we explore the effects of inhibiting UNG activity, or depleting the UNG protein, in 2 mouse syngeneic models for colorectal cancer. Overexpressing the small UNG inhibitor protein (UGI) in mismatch repair-deficient (MMR-deficient) MC38 cells injected into C57BL/6J mice delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival when combined with FdU.

Quantification of Early-Stage Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Cancer Requires Excluding Basophils.

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous group of immature cells that accumulate in the peripheral blood and tumor microenvironment and are barriers to cancer therapy. MDSCs serve as prognostic biomarkers and are targets for therapy. On the basis of surface markers, three subsets of MDSCs have been defined in humans: granulocytic, monocytic, and early stage (e-MDSC).