bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
F-actin as a functional target for retro-retinoids: A potential role in anhydroretinol-triggered cell death
Authors: Korichneva Irina , Hämmerling Ulrich
Published: April 2021

The retro-retinoids, metabolites of vitamin A (retinol), belong to a family of lipophilic signalling molecules implicated in regulation of cell growth and survival. Growth-promoting properties have been ascribed to 14-hydroxy-retro-retinol (14HRR), while anhydroretinol (AR) was discovered to act as a natural antagonist triggering growth arrest and death by apoptosis. Based on morphological studies and inhibition of apoptosis by the kinase blocker, herbimycin A, it has been suggested that retro-retinoids exhibit their function in the cytosolic compartment. F-actin emerged as a functional target for retro-retinoid action. By FACS analysis and fluorescence microscopy of phalloidin-FITC labeled cells we demonstrated that F-actin reorganization was an early event in AR-triggered apoptosis. Fluorescence images of AR-treated fibroblasts displayed short, thick, stick-like and

punctate structures, and membrane ruffles at the cell periphery along with an increased diffuse staining pattern. Reversal of the AR effect by 14HRR or retinol indicates that F-actin is a common site for regulation by retro-retinoids. Inhibition of both cell death and actin depolymerisation by bcl-2 implies that cytoskeleton reorganization is downstream of bcl-2-related processes. Furthermore, stabilization of microfilaments by jasplakinolide increased the survival potential of AR treated cells, while weakening the cytoskeleton by cytochalasin B abetted apoptosis. Thus the cytoskeleton is an important way station in a communication network that decides whether a cell should live or die.
The Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy phenotype arises from aberrant targeting and binding of emerin at the inner nuclear membrane
Authors: Fairley Elizabeth A. L. , Kendrick-Jones John , Ellis Juliet A.
Published: April 2021

The product of the X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy gene is a single-membrane-spanning protein called emerin, which is localized to the inner nuclear membrane of all tissues studied. To examine whether a number of the mutant forms of emerin expressed in patients are mislocalized, we transfected GFP-emerin cDNA constructs reflecting these mutations into undifferentiated C2C12 myoblasts and showed that both wild type and all the mutant emerins are targeted to the nuclear membrane, but the mutants to a lesser extent. Mutant Del236-241 (deletion in transmembrane region) was mainly expressed as cytoplasmic aggregates, with only trace amounts at the nuclear envelope. Complete removal of the transmembrane region and C-terminal tail relocated emerin to the nucleoplasm. Mutations in emerin’s N-terminal domain had a less severe effect on disrupting nuclear envelope targeting. This data suggests that emerin contains multiple non-overlapping nuclear-membrane-targeting determinants.

Analysis of material immunoisolated using emerin antibodies, from either undifferentiated C2C12 myoblasts or purified hepatocyte nuclei, demonstrated that both A- and B-type lamins and nuclear actin interact with emerin. This is the first report of proteins interacting with emerin. The EDMD phenotype can thus arise by either the absence or a reduction in emerin at the nuclear envelope, and both of these disrupt its interactions with that of structural components of the nucleus. We propose that an emerin-nuclear protein complex exists at the nuclear envelope and that one of its primary roles is to stabilize the nuclear membrane against the mechanical stresses that are generated in muscle cells during contraction.
The α3 laminin subunit, α6β4 and α3β1 integrin coordinately regulate wound healing in cultured epithelial cells and in the skin
Authors: Goldfinger Lawrence E. , Hopkinson Susan B. , deHart Gregory W. , Collawn Sherry , Couchman John R. , Jones Jonathan C. R.
Published: April 2021

Previously, we demonstrated that proteolytic processing within the globular domain of the α3 subunit of laminin-5 (LN5) converts LN5 from a cell motility-inducing factor to a protein complex that can trigger the formation of hemidesmosomes, certain cell-matrix attachment sites found in epithelial cells. We have prepared a monoclonal antibody (12C4) whose epitope is located toward the carboxy terminus of the globular domain of the α3 laminin subunit. This epitope is lost from the α3 subunit as a consequence of proteolytic processing. Antibody 12C4 stains throughout the matrix of cells that fail to process the α3 laminin subunit, but does not recognize the matrix of confluent cultures of MCF-10A cells, which efficiently process their α3 laminin chain. In subconfluent populations of MCF-10A cells, 12C4 only stains matrix deposited at the outer edges of cell colonies. In these cells, integrin α3β1 occasionally colocalizes with the staining generated by the 12C4 antibody but α6β4 integrin does not. In wounded MCF-10A cell cultures, the 12C4 antibody stains the extracellular matrix beneath those cells at the very edge of the cellular sheet that moves to cover the wound site. A similar phenomenon is observed in human skin wounds, since we also detect expression of the unprocessed α3 laminin subunit at the leading tip of the sheet of epidermal cells that epithelializes skin wounds in vivo. In addition, using α3 laminin subunit and integrin function-inhibiting antibodies, we provide evidence that LN5 and its two integrin receptors (α6β4 and α3β1) appear necessary for wound healing to occur in MCF-10A cell culture wounds. We propose a model for healing of wounded epithelial tissues based on these results.
The nuclear envelope serves as an intermediary between the ER and Golgi complex in the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Hager Kristin M. , Striepen Boris , Tilney Lewis G. , Roos David S.
Published: April 2021

Morphological examination of the highly polarized protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii suggests that secretory traffic in this organism progresses from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus using the nuclear envelope as an intermediate compartment. While the endoplasmic reticulum is predominantly located near the basal end of the parasite, the Golgi is invariably adjacent to the apical end of the nucleus, and the space between the Golgi and nuclear envelope is filled with numerous coatomer-coated vesicles. Staining with antiserum raised against recombinant T. gondii β-COP confirms its association with the apical juxtanuclear region. Perturbation of protein secretion using brefeldin A, microtubule inhibitors or dithiothreitol disrupts the Golgi, causing swelling of the nuclear envelope, particularly at its basal end. Prolonged drug treatment leads to gross distention of the endoplasmic reticulum, filling the basal end of the parasite. Cloning and sequencing of the T. gondii homolog of the chaperonin protein BiP identifies the carboxy-terminal amino acid sequence HDEL as this organism’s endoplasmic reticulum-retention signal. Appending the HDEL motif to a recombinant secretory protein (a chimera between the parasite’s major surface protein fusion, P30, and the Green Fluorescent Protein) causes this secretory reporter to be retained intracellularly. P30-GFP-HDEL fluorescence was most intense within the nuclear envelope, particularly at the apical end. These data support a model of secretion in which protein traffic from the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi occurs via the apical end of the nuclear envelope.
The casein kinase Iα isoform is both physically positioned and functionally competent to regulate multiple events of mRNA metabolism
Authors: Gross Stefan D. , Loijens Joost C. , Anderson Richard A.
Published: April 2021

Casein kinase I is a highly conserved family of serine/threonine protein kinases present in every organism tested from yeast to humans. To date, little is known about the function of the higher eukaryotic isoforms in this family. The CKI isoforms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, however, have been genetically linked to the regulation of DNA repair, cell cycle progression and cytokinesis. It has also been established that the nuclear localization of two of these isoforms is essential for their function. The work presented here demonstrates that the higher eukaryotic CKIα isoform is also present within nuclei of certain established cell lines and associated with discrete nuclear structures. The nature of its nuclear localization was characterized. In this regard, CKIα was shown to colocalize with factors involved in pre-mRNA splicing at nuclear speckles and that its association with these structures exhibited several biochemical properties in common with known splicing factors. The kinase was also shown to be associated with a complex that contained certain splicing factors. Finally, in vitro, CKIα was shown to be capable of phosphorylating particular splicing factors within a region rich in serine/arginine dipeptide repeat motifs suggesting that it has both the opportunity and the capacity to regulate one or more steps of mRNA metabolism.
Nucleolar localization of murine nuclear DNA helicase II (RNA helicase A)
Authors: Zhang Suisheng , Herrmann Christine , Grosse Frank
Published: April 2021

Nuclear DNA helicase II (NDH II) is a highly conserved member of the DEXH superfamily of eukaryotic helicases, whose physiological role is still unclear. To explore the function of NDH II, we studied the intracellular distribution of NDH II of different mammalian species by immunofluorescence and compared these findings with the known role of the Drosophila homologue MLE that is involved in sex-specific gene dosage compensation. NDH II displayed an apparent nucleolar localization in murine cells, whereas in cells from all other mammalian species examined so far the protein was confined to the nucleoplasm and apparently excluded from the nucleoli. The nucleolar localization of mouse NDH II strongly suggests a role in ribosomal RNA biosynthesis. Immunoelectron microscopic studies revealed that the mouse NDH II was found at the dense fibrillar components of the nucleoli, and a significant percentage of NDH II molecules colocalized with the RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription factor UBF (upstream binding factor). Additionally, the nucleolar localization of NDH II coincided with a preferential immunolabeling pattern of nascent transcripts with bromouridine (BrUMP). Furthermore, mouse NDH II redistributed in mitosis in a manner highly correlated with Pol I activity. Conditions leading to the inhibition of Pol I activity in the interphase decreased the amount of NDH II in the nucleoli that diffused into the nucleoplasm and the cytosol. Contrary to the effect of inhibiting rRNA synthesis, treatment of mouse cells with the translation inhibitor cycloheximide did not compromise the nucleolar localization of murine NDH II.
mAKAP: an A-kinase anchoring protein targeted to the nuclear membrane of differentiated myocytes
Authors: Kapiloff Michael S. , Schillace Robynn V. , Westphal Ann M. , Scott John D.
Published: April 2021

The compartmentalization of second messenger-activated protein kinases contributes to the fidelity of hormone-mediated signal transduction events. For example, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is tethered at specific intracellular locations through association with A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). We now report the cloning of mAKAP, an anchoring protein found predominantly in heart, skeletal muscle and brain, and whose expression is induced in neonatal ventriculocytes by treatment with hypertrophic stimuli. mAKAP is targeted to the nuclear membrane of differentiated myocytes. Analysis of mAKAP-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion constructs revealed that nuclear membrane targeting is conferred by two regions of the protein, between residues 772-915 and 915-1065, which contain spectrin-like repeat sequences. Heterologous expression of the mAKAP targeting sequences displaced the endogenous anchoring protein from the nuclear membrane, demonstrating that mAKAP targeting is saturable. Collectively, these data suggest that a domain containing spectrin-like repeats mediates targeting of the anchoring protein mAKAP and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme to the nuclear membrane in response to differentiation signals.
Protozoan paradigms for cell biology
Authors: Vickerman Keith , Coombs Graham H.
Published: April 2021

This article introduces a miniseries of three commentaries on parasite cell biology. The reviews were written as a tribute to Keith Vickerman FRS on his retirement as Regius Professor of Zoology at the University of Glasgow and are based on presentations given at a symposium held to honour his pioneering work in the field. On page 2799 of this issue, Michael Ferguson reviews the structure and function of GPI anchors, and the contributions that studies of trypanosomes have made. In subsequent issues, James Alexander, Abhay Satoskar and David Russell discuss Leishmania species as models of intracellular parasitism, and Michael Turner presents a holistic view of antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei infections.
The structure, biosynthesis and functions of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors, and the contributions of trypanosome research
Authors: Ferguson Michael A. J.
Published: April 2021

The discovery of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchors has had a significant impact on several areas of eukaryote cell biology. Studies of the African trypanosome, which expresses a dense surface coat of GPI-anchored variant surface glycoprotein, have played important roles in establishing the general structure of GPI membrane anchors and in delineating the pathway of GPI biosynthesis. The major cell-surface molecules of related parasites are also rich in GPI-anchored glycoproteins and/or GPI-related glycophospholipids, and differences in substrate specificity between enzymes of trypanosomal and mammalian GPI biosynthesis may have potential for the development of anti-parasite therapies. Apart from providing stable membrane anchorage, GPI anchors have been implicated in the sequestration of GPI-anchored proteins into specialised membrane microdomains, known as lipid rafts, and in signal transduction events.
Subcellular localization of GFP-myosin-V in live mouse melanocytes
Authors: Tsakraklides Vasiliki , Krogh Karin , Wang Lillian , Bizario João C. S. , Larson Roy E. , Espreafico Enilza M. , Wolenski Joseph S.
Published: April 2021

Class-V myosins are two-headed actin-based mechanoenzymes that function in the transport and subcellular localization of organelles and possibly in the outgrowth of cellular processes. To determine which domains of myosin-V are involved in intracellular localization of this motor protein, we have expressed fusions of the green fluorescent protein with segments from two distinct myosin-V heavy chains. The expression patterns of constructs encoding four different domains of chick brain myosin-Va were compared to a single construct encoding the globular tail region of mouse myosin-Vb. In transfected mouse melanocytes, expression of the NH2-terminal head (catalytic domain) of chick brain myosin-Va codistributed with actin filaments throughout the cytoplasm. A similar construct encoding the myosin–Va head with the associated neck (light chain binding sites), also codistributed with actin filaments. The GFP-head-neck peptide was also highly concentrated in the tips of filopodia in B16 melanocytes wild type for myosin-Va (MYO5a gene), but was concentrated throughout the entire filopodia of S91-6 melanocytes derived from dilute mice with mutations in the MYO5a gene. Evidence is also presented that the globular tail of myosin-Va, but not myosin-Vb, targets this motor molecule to the centrosome as confirmed by colocalization in cells stained with antibodies to γ-tubulin. Expression of the GFP-myosin-Va globular tail causes displacement of endogenous myosin-V from centrosomes as visualized by immunolabeling with antibodies to the head domain of myosin-V. Treatment with the microtubule-disrupting drug nocodazole markedly reduces myosin-V staining at the centrosome. In contrast, there was no detectable diminution of myosin-V staining at the centrosome in cells treated with the actin filament-disrupting drug cytochalasin D. Thus, while localization of the myosin-V motor domain to actin-rich regions is consistent with conventional models of actomyosin-based motility, localization to the centrosome occurs in the complete absence of the myosin-V motor domain and is dependent on intact microtubules.
In vivo satellite cell activation via Myf5 and MyoD in regenerating mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Cooper R. N. , Tajbakhsh S. , Mouly V. , Cossu G. , Buckingham M. , Butler-Browne G. S.
Published: April 2021

Regeneration of adult skeletal muscle is an asynchronous process requiring the activation, proliferation and fusion of satellite cells, to form new muscle fibres. This study was designed to determine the pattern of expression in vivo of the two myogenic regulatory factors, Myf5 and MyoD during this process. Cardiotoxin was used to induce regeneration in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of heterozygous Myf5-nlacZ mice, and the muscles were assayed for the presence of β-galactosidase (Myf5) and MyoD. Adult satellite cells identified by M-cadherin labelling, when activated, initially express either MyoD or Myf5 or both myogenic factors. Subsequently all proliferating myoblasts express MyoD and part of the population is β-galactosidase (Myf5) positive. Furthermore, we demonstrate that activated satellite cells, which express either Myf5 or MyoD, do not accumulate selectively on fast or slow muscle fibres.
Src induces morphological changes in A431 cells that resemble epidermal differentiation through an SH3- and Ras-independent pathway
Authors: Jin Fang , Reynolds Albert B. , Hines Michelle D. , Jensen Pamela J. , Johnson Keith R. , Wheelock Margaret J.
Published: April 2021

The role of Src family tyrosine kinases in cellular proliferation is well established; however, their role in cellular differentiation is less well understood. In this study we have investigated the role played by Src in the differentiation of squamous epithelial cells. Transfection of activated Src into A431 cells resulted in morphological changes that resembled epidermal differentiation. When we used Src mutants to characterize the observed phenotypic changes, we found that protein tyrosine kinase activity, correct membrane localization and the activity of the SH2 domain were required, but the SH3 domain was not. Furthermore, downstream activity of Ras was not required for the Src-mediated changes in A431 cells.
A staufen-like RNA-binding protein in translocation channels linking nurse cells to oocytes in Notonecta shows nucleotide-dependent attachment to microtubules
Authors: Hurst Suzanne , Talbot Nicholas J. , Stebbings Howard
Published: April 2021

In Drosophila melanogaster the staufen gene encodes an RNA-binding protein that is essential for the correct localization of certain nurse cell-derived transcripts in oocytes. Although the mechanism underlying mRNA localization is unknown, mRNA-staufen complexes have been shown to move in a microtubule-dependent manner, and it has been suggested that staufen associates with a motor protein which generates the movement. We have investigated this possibility using Notonecta glauca in which nurse cells also supply the oocytes with mRNA, but via greatly extended nutritive tubes comprised of large aggregates of parallel microtubules. Using a staufen peptide antibody and RNA probes we have identified a staufen-like protein, which specifically binds double-stranded RNA, in the nutritive tubes of Notonecta. We show that while the staufen-like protein does not co-purify with microtubules from ovaries using standard procedures it does so under conditions of motor-entrapment, specifically in the presence of AMP-PNP. We also show that the staufen-like protein is subsequently removed by ATP and GTP, but not ADP. Nucleotide-dependent binding to microtubules is typical of a motor-mediated interaction and the pattern of attachment and detachment of the staufen-like protein correlates with that of a kinesin protein within the ovaries. Our findings indicate that the staufen-like RNA-binding protein attaches to, and is transported along, Notonecta ovarian microtubules by a kinesin motor.
A mouse model of intestinal stem cell function and regeneration
Authors: Slorach Euan M. , Campbell F. Charles , Dorin Julia R.
Published: April 2021

We present here an in vivo mouse model for intestinal stem cell function and differentiation that uses postnatal intestinal epithelial cell aggregates to generate a differentiated murine small intestinal mucosa with full crypt-villus architecture. The process of neomucosal formation is highly similar to that of intestinal regeneration. Both in vivo grafting and primary culture of these cells reveal two different epithelial cell populations, which display properties consistent with intestinal epithelial transit amplifying and stem cell populations.

Using this model system with a mixture of wild-type and transgene marked cells, we have shown that neomucosae originally develop from single aggregates, but that over time the mucosae fuse to form chimaeric mucosae. Despite fusion, the chimaeric mucosae maintain crypt clonality and villus polyclonality, demonstrating that clonal segregation persists during intestinal epithelial regeneration.
The S. pombe zfs1 gene is required to prevent septation if mitotic progression is inhibited
Authors: Beltraminelli Nicola , Murone Maximilien , Simanis Viesturs
Published: April 2021

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc16p is required to limit the cell to forming a single division septum per cell cycle; the heat-sensitive loss-of-function mutant cdc16-116 completes mitosis, and then undergoes multiple rounds of septum formation without cell cleavage. cdc16p is a homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae BUB2p, and has also been implicated in the spindle assembly checkpoint function in S. pombe. To identify other proteins involved in regulating septum formation, we have screened for multicopy suppressors of the cdc16-116 mutation. In this paper, we describe one of these suppressors, zfs1. The null allele (zfs1-D1) is viable. However, at low temperatures it divides at a reduced size, while at higher temperatures, it partially suppresses heat sensitive mutants in genes signalling the onset of septum formation. Zfs1-D1 cells show an increased rate of chromosome loss during exponential growth. Moreover, if assembly of the spindle is prevented, zfs1-D1 cells do not arrest normally, but the activity of cdc2p kinase decays, and cells form a division septum without completing a normal mitosis. We conclude that zfs1 function is required to prevent septum formation and exit from mitosis if the mitotic spindle is not assembled. The suppression of cdc16-116 by zfs1 is independent of dma1 function and the spindle assembly checkpoint genes mad2 and mph1. The genetic interactions of zfs1 with genes regulating septum formation suggest that it may be a modulator of the signal transduction network controlling the onset of septum formation and exit from mitosis.
Mechanical loading regulates tenascin-C expression in the osteotendinous junction
Authors: Järvinen Tero A. H. , Jozsa Laszlo , Kannus Pekka , Järvinen Teppo L. N. , Kvist Martti , Hurme Timo , Isola Jorma , Kalimo Hannu , Järvinen Markku
Published: April 2021

Elastic extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C (TN) has very restricted expression in normal tissues, but is expressed in large quantities during embryogenesis and hyperplastic processes. To examine the importance of mechanical stress on the regulation of TN expression in vivo, the effects of various mechanical loading states (immobilization and three forms of subsequent remobilization) on the expression of TN were studied immunohistochemically at the bone-tendon attachment of the rat quadriceps muscle. This osteotendinous junction (OTJ) was selected as study site, since it receives its mechanical stimuli only from muscle contracting activity, which is easy to block by cast immobilization. TN was expressed abundantly in the normal OTJ. Following the removal of the mechanical stress from the junction by cast-immobilization of three weeks, the immunoreactivity of TN was almost completely absent. Normal mechanical stress in the form of free remobilization of eight weeks (free cage activity) resulted in a slight increase in TN expression, but could not restore the expression of TN to the level of the healthy contralateralleg. After the application of the increased mechanical stress (intensified remobilization of the eight weeks by low- or high-intensity treadmill running), the distribution and immunoreactivity of TN reached the level of the healthy contralateral limb in the low-intensity running group or even exceeded that in the high-intensity running group. High TN expression was seen around the chondrocytes and fibroblasts of the OTJ as well as around the collagen fibers of the tendon belly.

We conclusively show that mechanical strain regulates the expression of TN in vivo, and propose that mechanical stress is a major regulator of TN expression in fibroblasts and chondrocytes. This may be an important aspect of the regulation of TN expression during embryogenesis, tendon degeneration, wound healing, bone formation, and in the other normal or regenerative morphogenetic processes TN is postulated to take part in.
Commentary Antigenic variation in Trypanosoma brucei infections: an holistic view
Authors: Turner C. Michael R.
Published: April 2021

Trypanosoma brucei parasites undergo clonal phenotypic (antigenic) variation to promote their transmission between mammals and tsetse-fly vectors. This process is classically considered to be a mechanism for evading humoral immune responses, but such an explanation cannot account for the high rate of switching between variable antigens or for their hierarchical (i.e. non-random) expression. I suggest that these anomalies can be explained by a new model: that antigenic variation has evolved as a bifunctional, rather than as a unifunctional, strategy that not only evades humoral immune responses but also enables competition between parasite strains in concomitantly infected hosts. This competition causes a depression of cellular responses. My proposal gives rise to a number of testable predictions. First, low numbers of trypanosomes should express some variable antigen types (VATs) in infections several weeks before these VATs are detectable. Second, as an infection progresses, the number of VATs expressed simultaneously in the population should decrease. Third, immunisation to generate a T helper 1 response against those VATs that are expressed most frequently should lower parasitaemias and reduce virulence.
Ligand-receptor interactions and trans-endocytosis of Delta, Serrate and Notch: members of the Notch signalling pathway in Drosophila
Authors: Klueg Kristin M. , Muskavitch Marc A. T.
Published: April 2021

Molecular evidence has established that direct heterotypic interactions occur between the Drosophila receptor Notch and the ligands Delta and Serrate, and that homotypic interactions occur between Delta molecules on opposing cell surfaces. Using an aggregation assay developed for Drosophila cultured cells, we have compared the affinities of these interactions. We find that the heterotypic interactions between Notch and the ligands Delta and Serrate have higher affinities than homotypic interactions between Delta molecules. Contrary to previous suggestions, our evidence implies that the interactions between Serrate and Notch are similar in affinity to those between Delta and Notch. We find that Fringe does not detectably affect the ligand-receptor interactions of the Notch pathway in cultured cells. Furthermore, we find that Serrate, like Delta, is a transmembrane ligand that can participate in reciprocal trans-endocytosis of ligand and receptor between expressing cells. Our findings imply that qualitative differences between Delta- and Serrate-mediated Notch signalling depend on characteristics other than intrinsic ligand-receptor affinities or the ability to participate in reciprocal ligand and receptor trans-endocytosis.
A FERM domain governs apical confinement of PTP-BL in epithelial cells
Authors: Cuppen Edwin , Wijers Mietske , Schepens Jan , Fransen Jack , Wieringa Bé , Hendriks Wiljan
Published: April 2021

PTP-BL is a cytosolic multidomain protein tyrosine phosphatase that shares homologies with several submembranous and tumor suppressor proteins. Here we show, by transient expression of modular protein domains of PTP-BL in epithelial MDCK cells, that the presence of a FERM domain in the protein is both necessary and sufficient for its targeting to the apical side of epithelial cells. Furthermore, immuno-electron microscopy on stable expressing MDCK pools, that were obtained using an EGFP-based cell sorting protocol, revealed that FERM domain containing fusion proteins are enriched in microvilli and have a typical submembranous location at about 10-15 nm from the plasma membrane. Immunofluorescence microscopy suggested colocalization of the FERM domain moiety with the membrane-cytoskeleton linker ezrin. However, at the electron microscopy level this colocalization cannot be confirmed nor can we detect a direct interaction by immunoprecipitation assays. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments show that PTP-BL confinement is based on a dynamic steady state and that complete redistribution of the protein may occur within 20 minutes. Our observations suggest that relocation is mediated via a cytosolic pool, rather than by lateral movement. Finally, we show that PTP-BL phosphatase domains are involved in homotypic interactions, as demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid assays. Both the highly restricted subcellular compartmentalization and its specific associative properties may provide the appropriate conditions for regulating substrate specificity and catalytic activity of this member of the PTP family.
Differential role of mannose and glucose trimming in the ER degradation of asialoglycoprotein receptor subunits
Authors: Ayalon-Soffer Michal , Shenkman Marina , Lederkremer Gerardo Z.
Published: April 2021

To gain insight into how sugar chain processing events modulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/proteasomal degradation we looked at human asialoglycoprotein receptor polypeptides H2a and H2b, variants which differ only by an extra pentapeptide (EGHRG) present in H2a. Membrane-bound H2a is a precursor of a soluble secreted form while H2b reaches the plasma membrane. Uncleaved precursor H2a molecules are completely retained in the ER and degraded as well as a portion of H2b. Inhibition of N-linked sugar chain mannose trimming stabilized both variants. In contrast, inhibition of glucose trimming with castanospermine greatly enhanced the degradation rate of H2a but not that of H2b. We studied a possible involvement of the ER chaperone calnexin, as inhibitors of glucose trimming are known to prevent calnexin binding. Incubation of cells with low concentrations of castanospermine (30 µg/ml) did not interfere with calnexin binding to H2a while causing the same accelerated degradation as high concentrations (>100 µg/ml) which did inhibit the association. Castanospermine treatment after calnexin binding blocked the dissociation of the chaperone but still caused accelerated degradation. The increased degradation could be blocked by a specific proteasome inhibitor, ZL3VS. Our results suggest that extensive mannose trimming or retention of glucose residues due to lack of glucose trimming are signals for ER/proteasomal degradation independent of interaction with calnexin.
The Drosophila GMII gene encodes a Golgi α-mannosidase II
Authors: Rabouille Catherine , Kuntz Douglas A. , Lockyer Anne , Watson Rose , Signorelli Tara , Rose David R. , Heuvel Marcel van den , Roberts David B.
Published: April 2021

In this paper we show the organisation of the Drosophila gene encoding a Golgi α-mannosidase II. We demonstrate that it encodes a functional homologue of the mouse Golgi α-mannosidase II. The Drosophila and mouse cDNA sequences translate into amino acid sequences which show 41% identity and 61% similarity. Expression of the Drosophila GMII sequence in CHOP cells produces an enzyme which has mannosidase activity and is inhibited by swainsonine and by CuSO4. In cultured Drosophila cells and in Drosophila embryos, antibodies raised against a C-terminal peptide localise this product mainly to the Golgi apparatus as identified by cryo-immuno electron microscopy studies and by antibodies raised against known mammalian Golgi proteins. We discuss these results in terms of the possible use of dGMII as a Drosophila Golgi marker.
The C-terminal domain of the Cdc2 inhibitory kinase Myt1 interacts with Cdc2 complexes and is required for inhibition of G2/M progression
Authors: Wells Nicholas J. , Watanabe Nobumoto , Tokusumi Tsuyoshi , Jiang Wei , Verdecia Mark A. , Hunter Tony
Published: April 2021

Activation of Cdc2, is the universal event controlling the onset of mitosis. In higher eukaryotes, Cdc2 activity is in part regulated by inhibitory phosphorylation of Thr14 and Tyr15, catalyzed by Wee1 and Myt1, which prevents catastrophic premature entry into mitosis. In this study we defined the function of Myt1 by overexpression studies in both S. pombe and a human osteosarcoma cell line. Similar to Wee1, overexpression of human Myt1 prevented entry into mitosis in both cell types; however, Myt1 catalytic activity was not essential for the cell cycle delay observed with human cells. Myt1 expression was restricted to proliferating cells. Furthermore, we detected no major decline in Myt1 protein abundance prior to the entry into mitosis, which coincides with the loss of Myt1 activity. We localized mitotic phosphoepitopes, recognized by the monoclonal antibody MPM-2, to the C-terminal domain of Myt1. The mitotic peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, Pin1, was able to associate with this domain in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Truncation of the C-terminal domain of Myt1 prevented its ability to induce G2/M phase arrest in overexpression studies in human cells and dramatically reduced its ability to phosphorylate Cdc2 in vitro. We demonstrate that the C-terminal domain of Myt1 was required for recruitment of Cdc2, and we infer that this domain lies in the cytoplasm because it can interact with and is phosphorylated by Cdc2. In conclusion, we propose that Myt1 can negatively regulate Cdc2/cyclin B1 and inhibit G2/M progression by two means, both of which require the C-terminal domain; first, Myt1 can bind and sequester Cdc2/cyclin B1 in the cytoplasm preventing entry into the nucleus, and, second, it can phosphorylate associated Cdc2/cyclin B1 at Thr14 and Tyr15 thus inhibiting its catalytic activity.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3β phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 1B regulates the stability of microtubules in growth cones
Authors: Goold Robert G. , Owen Rebecca , Gordon-Weeks Phillip R.
Published: April 2021

We have recently shown that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) phosphorylates the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 1B in an in vitro kinase assay and in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Mapping studies identified a region of MAP1B high in serine-proline motifs that is phosphorylated by GSK3β. Here we show that COS cells, transiently transfected with both MAP1B and GSK3β, express high levels of the phosphorylated isoform of MAP1B (MAP1B-P) generated by GSK3β. To investigate effects of MAP1B-P on microtubule dynamics, double transfected cells were labelled with antibodies to tyrosinated and detyrosinated tubulin markers for stable and unstable microtubules. This showed that high levels of MAP1B-P expression are associated with the loss of a population of detyrosinated microtubules in these cells. Transfection with MAP1B protected microtubules in COS cells against nocodazole depolymerisation, confirming previous studies. However, this protective effect was greatly reduced in cells containing high levels of MAP1B-P following transfection with both MAP1B and GSK3β. Since we also found that MAP1B binds to tyrosinated, but not to detyrosinated, microtubules in transfected cells, we propose that MAP1B-P prevents tubulin detyrosination and subsequent conversion of unstable to stable microtubules and that this involves binding of MAP1B-P to unstable microtubules. The highest levels of MAP1B-P are found in neuronal growth cones and therefore our findings suggest that a primary role of MAP1B-P in growing axons may be to maintain growth cone microtubules in a dynamically unstable state, a known requirement of growth cone microtubules during pathfinding. To test this prediction, we reduced the levels of MAP1B-P in neuronal growth cones of dorsal root ganglion cells in culture by inhibiting GSK3β with lithium. In confirmation of the proposed role of MAP1B-P in maintaining microtubule dynamics we found that lithium treatment dramatically increased the numbers of stable (detyrosinated) microtubules in the growth cones of these neurons.
αS1-casein is required for the efficient transport of β- and κ-casein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus of mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Chanat Eric , Martin Patrice , Ollivier-Bousquet Michèle
Published: April 2021

In lactating mammary epithelial cells, interaction between caseins is believed to occur after their transport out of the endoplasmic reticulum. We show here that, in αS1-casein-deficient goats, the rate of transport of the other caseins to the Golgi apparatus is highly reduced whereas secretion of whey proteins is not significantly affected. This leads to accumulation of immature caseins in distended rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Casein micelles, nevertheless, were still observed in secretory vesicles. In contrast, no accumulation was found in mammary epithelial cells which lack β-casein. In mammary epithelial cells secreting an intermediate amount of αS1-casein, less casein accumulated in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the transport of αS1-casein to the Golgi occurred with kinetics similar to that of control cells. In prolactin-treated mouse mammary epithelial HC11 cells, which do not express αS-caseins, endoplasmic reticulum accumulation of β-casein was also observed. The amount of several endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins increased in conjunction with casein accumulation. Finally, the permeabilization of rough endoplasmic reticulum vesicles allowed the recovery of the accumulated caseins in soluble form. We conclude that optimal export of the caseins out of the endoplasmic reticulum is dependent upon αS1-casein. Our data suggest that αS1-casein interacts with the other caseins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and that the formation of this complex is required for their efficient export to the Golgi.
Transdifferentiation of NRP-152 rat prostatic basal epithelial cells toward a luminal phenotype: regulation by glucocorticoid, insulin-like growth factor-I and transforming growth factor-beta
Authors: Danielpour David
Published: April 2021

The role of basal epithelial cells in prostatic function, development and carcinogenesis is unknown. The ability of basal prostatic epithelial cells to acquire a luminal phenotype was explored in vitro using the NRP-152 rat dorsal-lateral prostate epithelial cell line as a model system. NRP-152, which was spontaneously immortalized and clonally derived, is an androgen-responsive and nontumorigenic cell line that has a basal cell phenotype under normal growth conditions. However, when placed in mitogen-deficient media, these cells undergo a dramatic morphological change to a luminal phenotype. Under these growth-restrictive conditions, immunocytochemical analysis shows that NRP-152 cells acquire the luminal markers Z0-1 (a tight-junction associated protein), occludin (integral tight-junction protein), and cytokeratin 18, and lose the basal markers cytokeratins 5 and 14. Total protein and mRNA levels of cytokeratins 8, 18, c-CAM 105 (the calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule) and Z0-1, as detected by western and/or northern blot analyses, respectively, are induced, while cytokeratin 5 and 15 are lost, and occludin is unchanged. Concomitant with this differentiation, expression of transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-2), TGF-3, and TGF- receptor type II (TRII) is induced, while those of TGF-1 and TRI remain essentially unchanged. Mitogens, such as insulin-like growth factor-I and dexamethasone inhibit luminal differentiation, while exogenous TGF- induces such differentiation. These data together with TGF- neutralization experiments using pan-specific antibody implicate an important role for autocrine TGF- in the induction of the luminal differentiation.
Simple fluctuation of Ca2+ elicits the complex circadian dynamics of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in Paramecium
Authors: Hasegawa Kenji , Kikuchi Hiroto , Ishizaki Shigeo , Tamura Akiko , Tsukahara Yasuo , Nakaoka Yasuo , Iwai Eiichi , Sato Toshiro
Published: April 2021

The circadian dynamics of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) were simulated in Paramecium multimicronucleatum. The mathematical functions determined closely mimic the Ca2+ dependence of adenylate cyclase (AC) and guanylate cyclase (GC) activities as documented in P. tetraurelia. Patterns of cAMP concentration ([cAMP]), cGMP concentration ([cGMP]), and the ratio [cGMP]/[cAMP] were calculated with respect to Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]) fluctuating sinusoidally with a period of 24 hours at three different levels: low, medium, and high. The functions displayed varying patterns of [cAMP] characteristic for [Ca2+] fluctuating at each level, while patterns of [cGMP] and [cGMP]/[cAMP] almost paralleled [Ca2+] fluctuations. Similar patterns were observed for actual [cAMP] and [cGMP] measured during the light/dark cycle in P. multimicronucleatum, grown in axenic media additionally containing [Ca2+] at 25 (low), 100 (medium), or 400 (high) μM, respectively. The coincidence between simulated and measured fluctuations of [cAMP] and [cGMP] suggests that the circadian fluctuations of intracellular [Ca2+] primarily stimulate activities of AC and GC via their different degrees of Ca2+ dependence, which are ultimately responsible for the circadian spatiotemporal organization of various physiological functions in Paramecium.
Dynamics of the nuclear lamina as monitored by GFP-tagged A-type lamins
Authors: Broers Jos L. V. , Machiels Barbie M. , van Eys Guillaume J. J. M. , Kuijpers Helma J. H. , Manders Erik M. M. , van Driel Roel , Ramaekers Frans C. S.
Published: April 2021

The behavior of chimeric proteins consisting of A-type lamins and green fluorescent protein (GFP) was studied to investigate the localization and dynamics of nuclear lamins in living cells. Cell line CHO-K1 was transfected with cDNA constructs encoding fusion proteins of lamin A-GFP, lamin AΔ10-GFP, or lamin C-GFP. In the interphase nucleus lamin-GFP fluorescence showed a perinuclear localization and incorporation into the lamina for all three constructs. Our findings show for the first time that the newly discovered lamin AΔ10 protein is localized to the nuclear membrane. The GFP-tagged lamins were processed and behaved similarly to the endogenous lamin molecules, at least in cells that expressed physiological levels of the GFP-lamins. In addition to the typical perinuclear localization, in the majority of transfected cells each individual A-type lamin-GFP revealed an extensive collection of branching intra- and trans-nuclear tubular structures, which showed a clear preference for a vertical orientation. Time-lapse studies of 3-D reconstructed interphase cells showed a remarkable stability in both number and location of these structures over time, while the lamina showed considerable dynamic movements, consisting of folding and indentation of large parts of the lamina. Fluorescence recovery after bleaching studies revealed a low protein turnover of both tubular and lamina-associated lamins. Repetitive bleaching of intranuclear areas revealed the presence of an insoluble intranuclear fraction of A-type lamins. Time-lapse studies of mitotic cells showed that reformation of the lamina and the tubular structures consisting of A-type lamins did not occur until after cytokinesis was completed.
Interaction of the universal mRNA-binding protein, p50, with actin: a possible link between mRNA and microfilaments
Authors: Ruzanov Peter V. , Evdokimova Valentina M. , Korneeva Nadya L. , Hershey John W. B. , Ovchinnikov Lev P.
Published: April 2021

We have shown previously that p50 is the most abundant protein associated with a variety of eukaryotic mRNAs and exhibits about 98% amino acid sequence identity to mammalian Y-box binding transcription factors. The dual function of p50 in the cell as a regulator of both transcription and translation has been suggested. To gain insight into the role of p50 in these processes, we performed the yeast two-hybrid screen to identify p50 molecular partners. Here we report the identification of actin as a p50-interacting protein. Coimmunoprecipitation of p50 and actin from HeLa extracts as well as in vitro binding studies indicate specificity and a high affinity for the interaction between p50 and actin. Interestingly, p50 binding to actin is affected by mRNA; binding was observed at a low p50/mRNA ratio and was greatly reduced at higher ratios. Since the p50/mRNA ratio appears to be important for mRNA translatability, we speculate that p50 can regulate the attachment of mRNA to the actin network depending on its translational activity. Using immunofluorescence, we show that p50 binds to actin filaments in permeabilized cells and causes actin fibers to bundle in vitro. Together, these findings support the view that p50 may play an important role in mRNA transport, anchoring, and localization on actin filaments in the cell.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe protein kinase C homologues, pck1p and pck2p, are targets of rho1p and rho2p and differentially regulate cell integrity
Authors: Arellano Manuel , Valdivieso M. Henar , Calonge Teresa M. , Coll Pedro M. , Duran Angel , Perez Pilar
Published: April 2021

Schizosaccharomyces pombe rho1 + is required for maintenance of cell integrity and polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. However, no other effector besides the (1,3)β-D-glucan synthase enzyme has been identified in S. pombe. We have further investigated if rho1+ signalling could be also mediated by the two protein kinase C homologues, pck1p and pck2p. We show in this study that both kinases interact with rho1p and rho2p only when bound to GTP, as most GTPase effectors do. Interestingly, the interaction was mapped in a different part of the proteins than in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pkc1p. Thus, active rho1p binds to the amino-terminal region of the pcks where two HR1 motifs are located, and binding to the GTPase dramatically stabilizes the kinases. Detailed biochemical analysis suggests that pck2p is more important in the regulation of the enzyme (1-3)β-D-glucan synthase. Thus, overexpression of pck2+, but not pck1+, caused a general increase in cell wall biosynthesis, mainly in β-glucan, and (1-3)β-D-glucan synthase activity was considerably augmented. When this activity was separated into soluble and membrane fractions and reconstituted, the increase caused by pck2+ overexpression was exclusively detected in the membrane component. We also show that both protein kinase C homologues are required for the maintenance of cell integrity. pck1Δ and pck2Δ strains present a number of defects related to the cell wall, indicating that this structure might be co-ordinately regulated by both kinases. In addition, pck2p, but not pck1p, seems to be involved in keeping cell polarity. Genetic evidence indicates that both pck1+ and pck2+ interact with cps1+ and gls2+, two genes similar to S. cerevisiae FKS1 and FKS2 that encode membrane subunits of the (1-3)β-D-glucan synthase. pck1+ also showed a genetic interaction with ras1+ and ral1+ suggesting the existence of a functional link between both signalling pathways.
Data not shown. Why not?
Authors: A Caveman
Published: April 2021

We are taught to be rigorous in the design of our experiments, to include controls, to repeat experiments at least three times, to be critical in the evaluation of our data, to publish data that are representative and complete, and to show all data in support of a conclusion â€¦