Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25504990›Full record

ArticleMolecular pharmacology2015

Engineering high-potency R-spondin adult stem cell growth factors.

Margaret L Warner, Tufica Bell, Augen A Pioszak

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular pharmacology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
14citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guiding Principles: Reporting Elements for Gastrointestinal Organoid Research.Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology · 2026
    Guideline
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  9. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2018
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Margaret L WarnerDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Tufica BellDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Augen A PioszakDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma augen-pioszak@ouhsc.edu.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center · US

Funding

RAMP-altered Class B GPCR Hormone RecognitionR01GM104251 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · PI PIOSZAK, AUGEN A · 2012 to 2024
$4.2M
NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM104251NIGMS NIH HHS R01-GM104251
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Secreted R-spondin proteins (RSPOs1-4) function as adult stem cell growth factors by potentiating Wnt signaling. Simultaneous binding of distinct regions of the RSPO Fu1-Fu2 domain module to the extracellular domains (ECDs) of the LGR4 G protein-coupled receptor and the ZNRF3 transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase regulates Wnt receptor availability. Here, we examine the molecular basis for the differing signaling strengths of RSPOs1-4 using purified RSPO Fu1-Fu2, LGR4 ECD, and ZNRF3 ECD proteins in Wnt signaling and receptor binding assays, and we engineer novel high-potency RSPOs. RSPO2/3/4 had similar signaling potencies that were stronger than that of RSPO1, whereas RSPO1/2/3 had similar efficacies that were greater than that of RSPO4. The RSPOs bound LGR4 with affinity rank order RSPO4 > RSPO2/3 > RSPO1 and ZNRF3 with affinity rank order RSPO2/3 > > RSPO1 > RSPO4. An RSPO2-4 chimera combining RSPO2 ZNRF3 binding with RSPO4 LGR4 binding was a "Superspondin" that exhibited enhanced ternary complex formation and 10-fold stronger signaling potency than RSPO2 and efficacy equivalent to RSPO2. An RSPO4-1 chimera combining RSPO4 ZNRF3 binding with RSPO1 LGR4 binding was a "Poorspondin" that exhibited signaling potency similar to RSPO1 and efficacy equivalent to RSPO4. Conferring increased ZNRF3 binding upon RSPO4 with amino acid substitutions L56F, I58L, and I63M enhanced its signaling potency and efficacy. Our results reveal the molecular basis for RSPOs1-4 activity differences and suggest that signaling potency is determined by ternary complex formation ability, whereas efficacy depends on ZNRF3 recruitment. High-potency RSPOs may be of value for regenerative medicine and/or therapeutic applications.

Indexed as

Adult Stem CellsHEK293 CellsHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsProtein BindingProtein EngineeringProtein Structure, SecondaryR-SpondinsThrombospondinsIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsRSPO1 protein, humanRspo2 protein, humanRSPO3 protein, humanRSPO4 protein, humanR-SpondinsThrombospondins

Identifiers

PMID25504990
PMCPMC4352588
OpenAlexW2096598470

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.