Fragility of Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals

We use tunable, vacuum ultraviolet laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to study the electronic properties of Dirac semimetal candidate cubic PtBi${}_{2}$. In addition to bulk electronic states we also find surface states in PtBi${}_{2}$ which is expected as PtBi${}_{2}$ was theoretical predicated to be a candidate Dirac semimetal. The surface states are also well reproduced from DFT band calculations. Interestingly, the topological surface states form Fermi contours rather than double Fermi arcs that were observed in Na$_3$Bi. The surface bands forming the Fermi contours merge with bulk bands in proximity of the Dirac points projections, as expected. Our data confirms existence of Dirac states in PtBi${}_{2}$ and reveals the fragility of the Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals. Because the Fermi arcs are not topologically protected in general, they can be deformed into Fermi contours, as proposed by [Kargarian {\it et al.}, PNAS \textbf{113}, 8648 (2016)]. Our results demonstrate validity of this theory in PtBi${}_{2}$.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Electronic structure of the topological superconductor candidate Au2Pb

We use magnetization measurements, high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of Au2Pb, a topological superconductor candidate. The magnetization measurements reveal three discontinuities at 40, 51, and 99 K that agree well with reported structural phase transitions. To measure the band structure along desired crystal orientations, we utilized polishing, sputtering, and annealing to obtain clean flat sample surfaces. ARPES measurements of the Au2Pb (111) surface at 110 K shows a shallow hole pocket at the center and flower-petal-like surface states at the corners of the Brillouin zone. These observations match the results of DFT calculations relatively well. The flower-petal-like surface states appear to originate from a Dirac-like dispersion close to the zone corner. For the Au2Pb(001) surface at 150 K, ARPES reveals at least one electron pocket between the Γ and M points, consistent with the DFT calculations. Our results provide evidence for the possible existence of a Dirac state in this material

Ubiquitin-mediated regulation of RIPK1 kinase activity independent of IKK and MK2

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can drive inflammation, cell survival, and death. While ubiquitylation-, phosphorylation-, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)-dependent checkpoints suppress the cytotoxic potential of TNF, it remains unclear whether ubiquitylation can directly repress TNF-induced death. Here, we show that ubiquitylation regulates RIPK1's cytotoxic potential not only via activation of downstream kinases and NF-kB transcriptional responses, but also by directly repressing RIPK1 kinase activity via ubiquitin-dependent inactivation. We find that the ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP) 1 is required for optimal ubiquitin-lysine occupancy and K48 ubiquitylation of RIPK1. Independently of IKK and MK2, cIAP1-mediated and UBA-assisted ubiquitylation suppresses RIPK1 kinase auto-activation and, in addition, marks it for proteasomal degradation. In the absence of a functional UBA domain of cIAP1, more active RIPK1 kinase accumulates in response to TNF, causing RIPK1 kinase-mediated cell death and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. These results reveal a direct role for cIAP-mediated ubiquitylation in controlling RIPK1 kinase activity and preventing TNF-mediated cytotoxicity

Autophosphorylation-based calcium (Ca2+) sensitivity priming and Ca2+/Calmodulin inhibition of Arabidopsis thaliana Ca2+-dependent protein kinase 28 (CPK28)

Plant calcium (Ca2+) dependent protein kinases (CPKs) are composed of a dual specificity (Ser/Thr and Tyr) kinase domain tethered to a Calmodulin-like domain (CLD) via an autoinhibitory junction (J) and represent the primary Ca2+-dependent protein kinase activities in plant systems. While regulation of CPKs by Ca2+ has been extensively studied, the contribution of autophosphorylation in the control of CPK activity is less well understood. Furthermore, whether Calmodulin (CaM) contributes to CPK regulation, as is the case for Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) outside the plant lineage, remains an open question. We screened a subset of plant CPKs for CaM-binding and found that CPK28 is a high-affinity Ca2+/CaM-binding protein. Using synthetic peptides and native gel electrophoresis, we coarsely mapped the CaM-binding domain to a site within the CPK28 J domain that overlaps with the known site of intramolecular interaction between the J domain and CLD. Peptide kinase activity of fully dephosphorylated CPK28 was Ca2+-responsive and inhibited by Ca2+/CaM. Using in situ autophosphorylated protein, we expand on the known set of CPK28 autophosphorylation sites, and demonstrate that, unexpectedly, autophosphorylated CPK28 had enhanced activity at physiological concentrations of Ca2+ compared to dephosphorylated protein, suggesting that autophosphorylation functions to prime CPK28 for Ca2+-activation. Furthermore, CPK28 autophosphorylation substantially reduced sensitivity of the kinase to Ca2+/CaM inhibition. Overall, our analyses uncover new complexities in the control of CPK28 and provide mechanistic support for Ca2+ signaling specificity through Ca2+ sensor priming

OTULIN deficiency in ORAS causes cell type‐specific LUBAC degradation, dysregulated TNF signalling and cell death

Abstract The deubiquitinase OTULIN removes methionine‐1 (M1)‐linked polyubiquitin signals conjugated by the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) and is critical for preventing TNF‐driven inflammation in OTULIN‐related autoinflammatory syndrome (ORAS). Five ORAS patients have been reported, but how dysregulated M1‐linked polyubiquitin signalling causes their symptoms is unclear. Here, we report a new case of ORAS in which an OTULIN‐Gly281Arg mutation leads to reduced activity and stability in vitro and in cells. In contrast to OTULIN‐deficient monocytes, in which TNF signalling and NF‐κB activation are increased, loss of OTULIN in patient‐derived fibroblasts leads to a reduction in LUBAC levels and an impaired response to TNF. Interestingly, both patient‐derived fibroblasts and OTULIN‐deficient monocytes are sensitised to certain types of TNF‐induced death, and apoptotic cells are evident in ORAS patient skin lesions. Remarkably, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation leads to complete resolution of inflammatory symptoms, including fevers, panniculitis and diarrhoea. Therefore, haematopoietic cells are necessary for clinical manifestation of ORAS. Together, our data suggest that ORAS pathogenesis involves hyper‐inflammatory immune cells and TNF‐induced death of both leukocytes and non‐haematopoietic cells

Fragility of Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals

We use tunable, vacuum ultraviolet laser based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of Dirac semimetal candidate cubic PtBi 2 . In addition to bulk electronic states we also find surface states in PtBi 2 , which is expected as PtBi 2 was theoretically predicated to be a candidate Dirac semimetal. The surface states are also well reproduced from DFT band calculations. Interestingly, the topological surface states form Fermi contours rather than double Fermi arcs that were observed in Na 3 Bi . The surface bands forming the Fermi contours merge with bulk bands in proximity to the Dirac point projections, as expected. Our data confirm the existence of Dirac states in PtBi 2 and reveal the fragility of the Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals. Because the Fermi arcs are not topologically protected in general, they can be deformed into Fermi contours, as proposed by M. Kargarian et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 8648 (2016)]. Our results demonstrate the validity of this theory in PtBi 2 .</p

Electronic structure of the topological superconductor candidate Au2Pb

We use magnetization measurements, high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of Au2Pb, a topological superconductor candidate. The magnetization measurements reveal three discontinuities at 40, 51, and 99 K that agree well with reported structural phase transitions. To measure the band structure along desired crystal orientations, we utilized polishing, sputtering, and annealing to obtain clean flat sample surfaces. ARPES measurements of the Au2Pb (111) surface at 110 K shows a shallow hole pocket at the center and flower-petal-like surface states at the corners of the Brillouin zone. These observations match the results of DFT calculations relatively well. The flower-petal-like surface states appear to originate from a Dirac-like dispersion close to the zone corner. For the Au2Pb(001) surface at 150 K, ARPES reveals at least one electron pocket between the Γ and M points, consistent with the DFT calculations. Our results provide evidence for the possible existence of a Dirac state in this material.</p