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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
10:31
Real-time Live Imaging of T-cell Signaling Complex Formation
Published on: June 23, 2013
13.9K
Nucleolar condensates: A cellular machinery necessary for T cell activation
Monica Sharma1, Andrey S Shaw1
1Department of Research Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|September 21, 2023
Summary
Naive T cells require ribosome production for activation. Researchers identified DDB1 and Cul4-associated factor 13 (DCAF13) as a key protein enhancing ribosome biosynthesis by forming a complex with nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1).
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Naive T cells transition from quiescence to an active metabolic state upon activation.
- This metabolic shift necessitates increased ribosome biogenesis to support protein synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel proteins involved in T cell activation-induced ribosome biogenesis.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which T cells enhance ribosome production during activation.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence microscopy to localize DCAF13 in T cells.
- Biochemical assays to determine protein-protein interactions (DCAF13, NPM1, UTP23).
- Analysis of ribosome biogenesis markers in response to DCAF13 modulation.
Main Results:
- DDB1 and Cul4-associated factor 13 (DCAF13) is identified as a nucleolar protein upregulated upon T cell activation.
- DCAF13 forms a biomolecular condensate with nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) in the nucleolus.
- This DCAF13-NPM1 condensate recruits the endonuclease UTP23, promoting ribosome biosynthesis.
Conclusions:
- DCAF13 plays a critical role in T cell activation by enhancing ribosome biogenesis.
- The DCAF13-NPM1 condensate serves as a platform for recruiting UTP23 to facilitate ribosome production.
- This finding reveals a novel regulatory mechanism for metabolic reprogramming in activated T cells.
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